Gregg H. Hawkins

In my economics of poverty, discrimination, and immigration class we began to cover the reasons why some people get head and succeed in life while others don’t. There are many reasons why people succeed not just in life, but in any endeavor they go through with. I believe that this topic relates to blogging and thought it would be a good idea to show the statistics that were gathered in a Gallup Pool (Social Audit) in 1999.

The Statistics Revealed
In the 1999 Gallup Pool there was a sample size, n, taken of 5,001 people in the population. The 5,001 people were to rate reasons on a 1 to 5 (1 being not at all important and 5 being very important) scale of why they thought some people succeed and others do not. There were 3 categories that the sample rated a 4 or 5. “Hard work and initiative” and “getting the right education or training” were both at the top with 92% of people rating it most important. The third item was the “willingness to take risks” with 69% of the sample size rating it a 4 or 5.

Hard Work and Initiative
As bloggers, business owners, and human beings hard work and initiative are needed for success. We as a society (of bloggers) need hard workers and others who are willing to take initiative and help the community prosper. As an individual [blogger] hard work is something that cannot be left out of the picture. If I were to leave hard work out of the picture I definitely wouldn’t have the loyal readers coming to my blog everyday. Hard work is something to appreciate and something that others should appreciate as well. We, as bloggers, work hard to be “the next big thing” in the blogsphere and in the real world.

Getting The Right Education or Training
Well, I don’t really know where to go with this one. As bloggers we don’t really receive any special education or training on the subject. I, for one, haven’t had any classes that covered blogging as one of the main topics! Anyhow, carrying the right education and training for a specific job or task will help you succeed. As bloggers and students we are investing in our human capital. Something of which will benefit us in the long term. Every time I sit in class, I’m investing in human capital. The money I spend on tuition and books is also going towards my human capital. I know for a fact that the education, organizational skills, and experience I gain through college will help me succeed later in life.

Willingness to Take Risks
This has to be my favorite category of the three. Why? Because this is where an entrepreneur stands and I consider myself an entrepreneur. Without people who are willing to take risks we wouldn’t be living in the world that we live in today. We are all taking a risk by being bloggers and not knowing what the future holds for the blogsphere or the internet. Innovative minds are the things that better our society and economy as a whole. I’ve read about many business ventures and risks that other bloggers are taking, even friends that I’ve personally made. It’s a great thing to see and watch your friends take on a challenge, especially with something that they have a passion for. In order to succeed you must be willing to take risks, calculated and educated risks. Yes, you may lose some fights, but in the end you won’t have regrets. Take the risks now so that when you’re older the phrases “I should have,” “I could have,” and “That should have been me” won’t be thrown around. But remember, it’s never too late to risk all that you’ve got. Never.

“Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something. The world is yours, conquer it.”

Good evening. Many people tend to forget what’s going on in the present and worry about the future or won’t let go of the past. When you worry, you’re avoiding what you should really be doing in the present and you’re living in the future. You can’t resolve problems through being worried. Unwanted thoughts create tension, anger, and stress and we simply miss the present moment right in front of our eyes. When we can’t let go of the past, we create more pain and suffering rather than enjoying the littler things in life that pass us by every second. The “present” wouldn’t be called the present if it wasn’t a gift. Value it, cherish it, and hold onto it, because you won’t be able to live a moment ever again.

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.” - Henry David Thoreau

“Opportunities fly by while we sit regretting the chances we have lost, and the happiness that comes to us we heed not, because of the happiness that is gone.” - Jerome K. Jerome

“Forget the past, live in the present, and smile when thinking of the future.” - Unknown

E Pluribus Unum,
Gregg

Good morning. Be true to yourself. Be honest to yourself and to others. Don’t live a life surrounded by lies and deceit, because eventually people will find out – especially the ones closest to you. Honesty may not always be the best option, but it shows the level of maturity in a person. If someone can’t handle the honest truth, then maybe they shouldn’t be one you associate yourself with. Healthy relationships revolve around honesty. You won’t receive the honesty and trust if you aren’t able to be honest and trust those you love. Honesty is the best policy even though it may be hard to overcome, especially when the truth may hurt another. Remember, the people you’re honest with will look back in the future and realize who their true friends really were.

E Pluribus Unum,
Gregg

Good afternoon. Accomplishing goals doesn’t just happen; it takes the initiative of the person to make something happen. Goals are only accomplished through hard work. If the end result isn’t what you desired, you can at least say that you tried and gave it your best. The reward at the end of the road is and should be the greatest feeling of accomplishment. Don’t live your life without trying something and putting forth your best effort. Life brings forth many challenges on a daily basis, and those who “give it all that they’ve got” will eventually accomplish their goals. Work hard and stay focused, so that when you grow old you don’t look back on the past and have regrets for things you didn’t accomplish or end up doing.

E Pluribus Unum,
Gregg

No matter how you’re feeling, keep from thinking negative thoughts about the situation you’re in. Thinking negatively will only worsen the situation. The outcomes of life are determined by the actions you take. If you think positively, the outcome of any situation should and will be one that you desire. Remember that everything happens for a reason. Whether it’s to help you mature and build character or see something from a different perspective. If you lose your positive attitude in life then there’s nothing to enjoy or look forward to. Keep your head held up high and never look back.

E Pluribus Unum,
Gregg

Good afternoon. I’ve come to realize that it’s important to grasp onto the things that matter to you in life. If you don’t, you’re going to miss out on a lot. Hold onto those things and never let go because when you come back later on it may not be there waiting for you. Cherish those things with your heart and if it’s a person, let them know how much they mean to you. These “things” may be the little things others hardly notice and realize exist or they can even be the bigger things that everyone encounters on a daily basis. Grasping onto the things that matter may be difficult sometimes, it may even seem impossible, but don’t let them slip away because those are the things that are most valuable in life.

E Pluribus Unum,
Gregg

Good Evening. When opportunity comes your way, don’t be afraid to challenge it head first. Success doesn’t come without risk and those willing to take the risk will eventually make their way to the top. Each failure shouldn’t be considered a failure; it should be considered a lesson learned. With each lesson you learn success becomes that much closer, because the knowledge you gain is worth more than anything else. Don’t let others bring you down, keep dreaming, keep working hard, and stay motivated. You only define yourself by the things you do in life, not by watching others do them for you.

E Pluribus Unum,
Gregg