I love this time of year. My creativity seams to flow much better after I’ve done a good round of goal setting.

I’ve done goal setting for years. In 2005 I wrote down “new business”, and two weeks later we got a call about YTB. In 2006 I did a round of goal setting and within minutes of putting down on paper the word “writing”, I got a call about some new thing called a blogging. Two years ago I started our Newsletter, complete with a full “7 Day Quick Start” guide to help team members get up and running. None of these ideas were anything more than a thought that was transferred from my head to a piece of paper and then circled as one of the things I wanted to focus my time on.

I couldn’t tell you if any of these opportunities would have come to me if I didn’t spend time thinking about what I wanted to do in my life. Ever since I was introduced to “The Secret” some years ago, I have found some compelling evidence both from personal experience and from what I’ve read that what the mind can conceive it can achieve.

One of the things I’ve learned over the years is to take “inspired action”. Joe Vitale (as well as many others) tell you to follow your small hunches. You may not know where it will lead, but if you do – you’ll be doing exactly what you suppose to do. I know there are many “Christians” who read this blog, and you call that force God. For others who feel more comfortable with “The Universe”  – you can use that terminology if you want.

Think about this phrase for a minute.

“Ask and you shall receive.”

What kills me is that so many people ask for things like a new car, a million dollars, a new soul mate and then just sit there waiting – and waiting – aaaand waiting.

Then end up complaining that it never happens.

That’s because they forgot about another quote that I know they’ve heard over and over again – but never actually do.

“Faith without works is dead.”

The point here is that when you ask for things like a new car, a million dollars, or a new soul mate and focus your energy thinking about those things, opportunities begin to present themselves to nudge you in that direction. It’s up to you to not only recognize what those opportunities are, but to actually move in that direction. If you do, you’ll find that thought an “inspired step” in the direction you want not only moves you closer to your intended goal, but this simple step turns out to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Why? Because that’s what God (or The Universe) wants you to do!

Look…here’s a recent example of what I’m talking about.

One of the items on my list of goals was an overhaul of our newsletters auto-responder “7 Day Quick Start Guide”. I’ve changed this guide a few times since I first created it two years ago. One of the nice things about auto-responders is that once it’s written it works on auto-pilot from then on. That being said – it can often take a back seat because it’s done and you really don’t have to think about it much longer.

This series however has been in need of an overhaul or some time. With all the changes to YTB since it was first published there were areas that needed to be updated and produced to provide a more timely and effective program.

Thanks to GoodDay@YTB and Andy Cauthen’s Goal Setting Tips that I published here on the blog and also provided in our Newsletter a brand new stream of subscribers have been opting-in to our Newsletter. I see spikes in subscribers from time to time, but this particular spike got me thinking.

“What if all these subscribers could get that new series I want to do from my goals list?”

That one little hunch or thought – prompted me to actually start my overhaul of the series – and as a result my series has been taken to a whole new level. It’s like being in “The Zone”. New ideas – new topics – new documents – a completely new look and feel that I feel really – really good about. The more I dive into this project – the more I know that this is exactly what I should be doing right now.

What I first thought to be a major “chore” and really didn’t want to do because of all the work it entails has completely turned around to be a truly inspiring and moving experience for me.

Why? I took “Inspired Action”. This thought – opportunity – project – whatever you want to call it – was presented at the best possible time for me because without knowing it – I was ready to do it.

But I would have never known unless I followed up on this hunch.

I think back a rainy night in January some five years ago after our introduction to YTB with an Opportunity Meeting. I remember talking with Ronda about this business as we weighed the possibilities and the obstacles that presented itself during our drive home. I had no idea if this business was for real – nor was it a proven leader like it is today.

But that one small voice – a hunch – a gut feeling told me that this was the right place at the right time for me.

Based on that hunch am I a millionaire? No.

Do I live in some mansion sitting beside the water? No

Am I financially independent with no worries or problems? Hardly.

But I DO have a business that’s provided for myself and my family. Not only that,  I’ve probably grown more as a person and as a business man over the last five years than any other time in my life. I also have a closer relationship with family and more friends than I could ever ask for. It’s been one of the most rewarding, most productive, and most enjoyable times of my entire life.

I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Stop and actually think the next time an idea or thought comes and rattles around in your head. Most of the time our past programming automatically negates it as either too hard or even worse -  impossible.

Kennedy wanted to put a man on the moon before the end of the 1960′s. Was that too hard? Was that impossible?

Just because you set a goal or state an intention of what you want doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. There’s work involved in anything worth while and many times you have to swim out to it instead of just having it was up on shore.

But if you follow your hunches – your gut instinct – not only will it lead you in the right direction – but you’ll have a blast doing it.

Take hold of that thought and use it to take Inspired Action. You’ll never know until you do how enjoyable life can really be.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

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I don’t get to watch many movies these days, other than ones that my son Brian (4) and daughter Brittany (6) want to watch. We must have the entire Pixar collection here at the house for Brian which include “Toy Story“, “Finding Nemo“, “Monsters Inc.“, “The Incredibles“, and the latest release this past summer, “Cars“. Of course Brittany enjoys all things Disney Princess including movies like “Cinderella“, “The Princess Diaries“, and “Beauty and The Beast“.

On Friday when I picked up Brian from Pre-K he had been asking if we could go to the movie store all week, and since he had good week at school I offered to take him to the movie store to pick out a movie for the weekend. Based on his resounding “YEEEEAAH!”, I concluded that this was not only something he would enjoy, but was extremely excited about. So we headed to the movie store.

When we got there, I figured he wanted to head straight for the “kids section”, which we intended on doing, but on the way Brian stopped dead in his tracks and yelled “Daddy, a spaceman in a horse!” He immediately picked up the DVD and handed it to me, the decision was made right then and there that he wanted to take home “The Astronaut Farmer“. I barley remember seeing some trailers for this movie, so I didn’t really know if this was something that would be something Brian should even watch let alone enjoy. Typically, I’m very cautious obviously when it comes to movies that I allow my kids to watch, so I flipped the cover over and read what this story was all about.

The first thing I noticed about the back cover was the name of the rocket, “The Dreamer”. There was a picture of the main character played by Billy Bob Thornton, saying goodbye to his family before he launched into space in a rocket he has build in his barn on a farm in Texas. I then went on to read description of the movie which stated:

“All systems are “Go” for Charles Farmer. He’s faced bank foreclosure, neighborhood naysayer’s and a government alarmed by his huge purchase of high-grade fuel, but now he’s ready to blast into space inside the homemade rocket he built in his barn. Just be home in time for dinner, Charlie. Billy Bob Thornton portrays Charlie in this charmer about chasing dreams…and about what it means to be a family. 10,000 pounds of rocket fuel alone can’t lift Charlie into the heavens. He needs a launch/recovery crew, and he has one of the best: his wife (Virginia Madsen) and children, dreamers all. They have liftoff. Our spirits have uplift. Gravity cannot hold down our dreams. “The Astronaut Farmer” is that kind of movie.”

Honestly, I still didn’t have any idea based on this description of what this movie truly meant to me as a “dreamer”, but it looked innocent enough to bring home for may son so we did.

Of course, just as soon as we got home, we had to put the movie in, and I got to tell you, after watching this film, I think it meant more to me than it did to Brian. The little man with a Big Dream who is determined to make that dream come true at any and all costs and despite the seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against him. As someone who has dreams of his own, I could also relate to the skeptics and cynics in the film from NASA, the FBI, and the town folks – who, making fun of and belittle Farmer for even thinking he could possibly pull something like this off. What’s even more telling of the film is that the children in the film, (who haven’t been totally brain washed yet), are not only interested but believe in what Farmer is doing.

The entire film can be summed up in one scene where Farmer must go before a committee to plead his case and ask for permission to launch his rocket from his Texas ranch. After being poked and prodded for hours by the folks at NASA, the FAA and various other Government officials, Farmer gets the last word about his dream.

I thought to myself, “Why didn’t this film get more notoriety? This is a really good film!” There are a couple of reasons for this. Director Michael Polish is noted more for his independent films with lower budgets. Second, fantasy certainly meets reality as reviews and critics berate this film in many of the same ways portrayed in the film itself. Using words and phrases like bounding leap of faith required, glosses over so many of its logistical details, or I’ve heard of “suspension of disbelief” before, but this is ridiculous! After watching this film, knowing the message it was trying to impress, I found many of these reviews quite ironic, and wonder if some of the critics even “got it”.

I certainly did, and I found this film not only utterly refreshing in it’s portrayal of how we should never let go of our dreams, but how we need to instill in our family that dreams are not only good, but very important.

For any adult who still has dreams left inside them and seem to be facing incredible odds and ridicule from those outside, “The Astronaut Farmer” is a must see film.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight AKA: TravelPro Travel Agent / Networker Phone: 678.458.5812

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

TSO #588629