“What If Your Guy Loses?”
by John G. Miller
Author of QBQ! and Flipping the Switch

Well, every four years in America we vote for the POTUS (President of the United States), and every four years on the day after there is weeping and gnashing of teeth by the losing side. And the truth is, the losing side is just about as large as the winning side. Amazingly, there could be 60 million people who vote for the ticket that does not win on November 4th, 2008. That’s a ton of people who’ll have a choice to make.

The choice to whine, complain, bemoan, and blame – or simply bring personal accountability to their daily walk by asking The Question Behind the Question (QBQ), “What can I do today to move on?” “How can I be my best on the job?” and “What can I do to serve people?” These questions enable those whose candidate remains a U.S. Senator, to avoid the humanness of finger-pointing, victim thinking, and discouragement.

And for the slightly larger winning side, where does personal accountability come into play? Will this group think that now all is right with the world? It’s so easy to give a U.S. President too much power – in our minds – over our lives. It always makes me laugh when, with our massive, ever-changing, and complex economy, we think it’s all about the man in the Oval Office. The truth is, economies go up and they go down – and then they go up again. By their very nature they are cyclical. When they’re strong, the President gets too much applause, and when they slump he’s buried in way too much blame. And so, in that vein, for the winning voters on Wednesday morning November 5, how dangerous these thoughts would be: “Yes! My guy won! Now I’ll have a better job and more income and good finances and perfect health and a happier life and … !”

Really? Does the POTUS have that much power, influence, and control? Would we, in a democracy, want him to? Can he give and take away joy? Will he help me get my personal finances in order? Will his tenure improve my relationships or keep me in shape? Do I really need my guy to be in the Oval Office for me to excel at my work, love and provide for my family, and contribute to the lives of others?

My wife, Karen, gave me a t-shirt that reads: It’s All About Me! I don’t think it was a positive statement the day she handed it to me, but in reality, aren’t my successes and set backs all about me? Isn’t it about me taking ownership for my personal growth; me contributing; me setting and reaching goals?

Me loving life? Me loving my country?

Yes, regardless of who’s in the Oval Office and what political party is in charge of Congress, it’s really all about personal responsibility – individuals making good choices each day, and being accountable for those choices.

And for all of you who vote for the guy who doesn’t make it, I say TAKE HEART! There’ll be another election in 2012 and another round of advertising and debates. And that campaign will begin in January … 2009.

Meanwhile, I recommend using what we call the Ultimate QBQ! – “What can I do right now to let go of what I can’t control?” Remember, no matter who is elected as the next POTUS, for each American there is no debate: The answers are still in the questions, and personal accountability is still the secret to our success.

Edited by Kristin Lindeen
QBQ! speaker/workshop facilitator

This is the advice given by a 93 year old woman when asked what she would do differently if she had her life to live over again.

“If I had my life to live over, I would dare to make more mistakes next time. I would relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I’ve been this time. I would take fewer things seriously, and I would take more chances. I’d take more trips; I’d climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream, and fewer beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones. “You see, I am one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, but if I had it to do over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else -just moments – one after another instead of living so many years ahead.“I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring, and I would stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.” — Nadine Stair

. . .the sun is always shining!

James, due to financial obligations / responsibitilty, was unable to do his annual fireworks “extravaganza”. He showed such self control that he did not purchase a single firework!

I know that the Lord blessed James this Independence Day morning. Our pastor treated James to a plane ride! Pastor is an avid pilot. He flew James all over our metropolitan area! They did three touch-n-go landings at different airports. Touch-n-go means you land, skim the runway and take off again. Pilots get licensing credit for doing this. James said it was an absolute blast! I am so pleased he had such a thrill on his favorite holiday!

I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws be expanded, and interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings. . . . If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them. ~Henry David Thoreau

In the last several years, while meeting and spending time with people who have become inordinately successful, I have observed several common traits among them. Two of those traits stand out. One is they have a calling, which they have discovered and are implementing. The other is they have made mountains of mistakes in the process of becoming “successful.” The gleaming mountain of success is actually a pile of trash–a pile of the mistakes we have made. The difference between the successful and the troubled is not error-free living; it is that by discovering and implementing a life calling, the successful stand on their pile of trash while the troubled sit under theirs.   — Dave Ramsey, 48 Days To The Work You Love

ARM PIT HAIR!!

Lydia caught a big one with Grandpa’s help!

Thanks so much to those of you that wished us a happy anniversary. School started and I completely lost what little blogging momentum I had left. I really enjoy blogging and I need to start making the time to post and chat. I hope I still have a few readers left out there.

Continue Reading…

Lydia took a painting class this summer at a fun, little art studio! She loved going and beamed proudly when I picked her up. Sometimes we’d get halfway home before she’d let me see her artwork. She loved keeping me in suspense. The studio, with it’s easels and coffee cans full of brushes and little girls with paint caddies, looked like a fantastic place to spend three hours. I went to Hobby Lobby today to have mats cut so I can frame and display my two favorite pieces.

I’m proud of her beautiful paintings!

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Lydia has had a difficult time adjusting to sleeping alone in our new home. We prayed with her each night and asked God to help her with her fears. I was vacuuming one afternoon when the idea to call a family friend popped into my head. In the past she’s sold really nice furniture pieces as she changes her mind often. She didn’t have any living room furniture for sale but she told me about a really beautiful trundle day bed that she wanted to sell. Once we saw it we knew we wanted it for Lydia. It’s a beautiful, high quality bed. Now that Lydia has a trundle her sisters and friends sleep in her room with her often. The trundle pulls out from under her bed easily. I know the Holy Spirit prompted me to call Vicki. We had been praying with Lydia and God answered. She’s been doing soooooo much better at night with her new bed. I would’ve never guessed that a new bed would help her so much.