Strawberries "AND" Ice Cream

By Dan Miller

Remember how many times in your life you’ve been given a choice.  You can go to the party OR you can study for your test tomorrow.  You can start generating income now OR you can go to college.  Were you really forced to choose only one?

Recently I was on a radio show where a caller presented this choice.  She had been teaching at a Christian school where the parents were supportive, the kids were excited and there was a match with her own personal values.  But her pay was extremely low.  So in order to contribute more family income she took a teaching position in another school.  Now the kids were rebellious, the parents non-supportive and there was a mismatch in values, but the pay was excellent.  Her question – which environment should she choose?

Does that really need to be a choice?   Is it unreasonable to think a position exists where the environment is great AND the pay is excellent?

In his new book Great by Choice, author Jim Collins clarifies this artificial choice.  He says people who end up “great” don’t oppress themselves with the Tyranny of the OR, which pushes people to think things must be either A OR B, but not both.  Instead, these people liberate themselves with the Genius of the AND.

You can:

• Start making money AND go to school
• Have a job where you love the environment AND get paid very well
• Be disciplined AND creative
• Set goals AND be spontaneous
• Live out your passion AND make extraordinary income
• Go to college AND stay debt-free
• Drive a fun car AND be responsible

Don’t get caught in artificial OR choices.   In most situations you can look for AND solutions and enjoy the best of both.  Remember the Genius of the AND.

What choice did you make where now you see you could have had both?

Dan Miller specializes in creative thinking for increased personal and business success. He believes that meaningful work blends our natural skills and abilities, our unique personality traits and our dreams and passions. Dan is active in helping individuals redirect careers, evaluate new income sources, and achieve balanced living. He believes that a clear sense of direction can help us become all that God designed us to be.  Dan is the author of the widely acclaimed 48 Days to the Work You Love and No More Mondays.

To view the original newsletter article by Dan Miller, visit:

http://www.ziglar.com/newsletter/?p=1365