The Unexpected Path to Greatness

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path. – Proverbs 3:6

Great success and happiness await those who allow God to be the guiding force in their lives? God has a magnificent plan for you. Your existence was by design. You see successful living requires that we live our purpose. It is unique and personal to every individual. To live our purpose with passion requires that we first and foremost align our lives with God through reading and studying his word, prayer and meditation, trusting and surrendering. However, our purpose isn’t always what we expect it to be. Sometimes the Lord leads us in certain directions as preparation for an unexpected future.

I am reminded of Don Thompson the president of McDonald’s USA, a job he never expected to hold when he first started out. He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in electrical engineering. While he was working for a government contractor he received a cold call from a recruiter regarding a new job opening. The recruiter explained that the job would involve things like robotics and control circuitry and it piqued Thompson’s interest. At first Thompson rejected the proposal after learning that the company was McDonald’s restaurant but he later reconsidered and accepted the position. Even though he excelled in his position he eventually left his engineering career to immerse himself in the operations side of the company for greater advancement possibilities. At one point, he even worked for six months in a restaurant—flipping burgers and cleaning toilets. There he discovered a love for working with people and customers, and a love for learning how to run an operation. Today after rising rapidly through the company Don Thompson is the president and he’s only in his mid-forties. He’s also the company’s highest-ranking African-American executive. Our past doesn’t determine our future, but God can use it as a springboard to doing His work.

God used Don’s electrical engineering training as an entrée into McDonald’s. Now He’s using Don’s high profile to show how to live in purpose. At the top of one of the world’s most recognized brands, Don Thompson lives and spreads the Gospel as he attributes his success to putting God first in his life. It is true that man has a plan, but God orders our steps. We are all a part of a bigger plan other than just working a certain profession, or living in a certain neighborhood or even making a lot of money. God owns all of these things; he’s not impressed by them. You were designed with a bigger idea in mind. And when we fulfill that bigger idea or his purpose for our very existence we get out of it what we truly desire; happiness, joy, peace, prosperity and living life with passion.

Ken Brown is one of America’s most inspiring, insightful life coaches, motivational speakers, entrepreneurs and authors of the 21st century.  If you’re ready to change your life and make your dreams a reality visit www.KenBrownInternational.com.