The face that launched a thousand ships had nothing on those that love ships in Franklin. TN.

Everyone loves maritime themes right? Well besides those that get sea sick or are scared of the water. Ship wheel with a blank editable center area boat and ship steering wheel as a nautical control design element and symbol of direction and guidance by a boating captain or director on a yacht or ocean water vessel leading the vessel to safe waters, love ships

This past weekend I personally found out the difference between dipping your toe in the water and launching out into the wild blue yonder. Spending the weekend with around a hundred and fifty other dreamers and builders launching many dreams out to sea. There were authors, bloggers, pop makers and coloring book creators. From perfectly brewed Liquid Hustle to Moon-pies galore. So many entrepreneurs with dreams and aspirations and big hairy audacious goals.

Now I have been to many conferences in the past so I thought I knew what to expect. I mean how awkward could it be to shake hands, or better yet hug a hundred or so people you never met in person right?

What I should have done is tossed my presumptions out to sea with the empty barrels of coffee beans. Like a ship without a rudder I was welcomed into a fleet of skilled sailors.

What better way to open up the event with a picnic in the vineyards of the local winery. Over tables of food and Red and

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If you are like me you are pretty competitive. Okay maybe really really competitive at times. That’s a good thing right?
Like many people I am trying to get a few things done. Since I sit at a desk in a cubicle for my day job. I bought a FitBit Surge to improve my health. Replacing the FitBit Flex I had been using so I could better track my 10,000 steps. Crushing it right.. wrong! I am in a Facebook group where some people treat the 10,000 steps as a starting point.
I set a blogging goal for myself, even committed to my readers (you can see here). Although I control my own destiny I failed. Instead of blogging three times a week, I currently average …. that’s not crushing it. Sure my stats have improved with my consistency. Compared to other bloggers it is just a drop on the edge of the bucket. See not even enough to make a ripple.. so not yet crushing it.
Then there is school, yes I am in my eh hem forties and in school. Finishing what many of my friends and colleagues did a long time ago. I will graduate this May (God willing). Did I crush it .. nope.
I mean sure I have been on the dean’s list and president’s list every term since I went back. Sure I will finally have my degree after many years of blood sweat and alot of tears. I struggled.

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How do you know you are being called to your real passion?

No I don’t mean on your cell phone in the middle of the night. Your calling is going to sound different. But how do you know when you found your passion? That gravitational pull to do something bigger. The one that keeps you awake at night, and gets you up early. You will even skip meals, gatherings with friends and family to chase it down.

We all pass through life hoping to make a dent in the universe. Many of us will spend our whole life searching. Jumping from job to job, hobby to hobby. All meanwhile searching for meaning. A meaning, where not only are we making a living but we a living a life of purpose. Where you no longer hide your ambitions, because your audacious dreams are too big to silence any longer.

We like to think we were born to do something bigger and better. Whether it is to become a writer, lawyer, preacher or singer. No matter what it is there is a design for your passion. This design is a calling that you and only you can fill. Designed by the hand of God, our purpose is determined. Now what do you do?

“Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Living our lives just to make ends meet. Many will let fear get in the way of their passion. Although they dream about it at night. Taking a leap is more than they can bargain. They would rather sit on the seashore watching all the boats go by than take a chance. How about trying to jump off that cliff and build your wings on the way down? How about today, better yet how about now?

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