Photo by DeviantArt user karwahe

There’s a part of me that wants to drop everything I’m doing on a daily basis, give it up, and do something that truly makes me happy (or that I think will make me happy). I want to forget about the past and everything that has happened and start a clean slate. As much as I want to do that today; start fresh and pretend like it’s a whole new life, I won’t. Why? Because there’s doubt running through my head. Then I start thinking about how this doubt is able to spawn within my own thoughts. Where is this all coming from? Me. I’m slowly letting it happen to myself.

I believe that self-doubt presents itself within our thoughts, minds, and through our emotions because we let society influence our lives. The inevitable will occur whether or not it’s through your family, friends, government, etc. So let me repeat myself again…OUR LIVES. Something of which we have complete control over, but for some odd reason let society and other people dictate what we do with this thing so called life. One of the few things we only have one of. Now, please explain to me why we’re letting society set expectations for ourselves when we should be setting our own expectations and defying the conventional way to do things? Why do we let others control what we do and how we do it (influenced decisions because of a fear or doubt that the way you want to do something may not be acceptable)? By this I mean, we may believe in something but get told that that something is not possible or it’s stupid. This leads into the why do we ultimately base our decisions from these critics? We live once. Ignore them and pursue your dreams. Our most valuable asset in this life is time. It’s this intangible concept that we can’t put a price on or say to someone “hey, I’m going to the bank to withdraw more time!” It just doesn’t happen like that.

Forgetting about the past and starting fresh may be scary for some. It’s hard, but the truth is it’s the past. Let go and move on. Great people have come into my life and for that I am grateful. Whether or not some of these people will be a factor in my life in the future, only God knows. What I have learned, however, is to surround yourself by like-minded individuals who will constantly and consistently challenge you by pushing you to your limits in regards to all aspects of life (you interpret that how you’d like). Ultimately, the qualities of trust and character are two key ingredients (and variables?) that you must find and learn about with another individual.

I decided to include this into the post as well because it’s what’s going through my head right now. I know if I put it off I’ll forget about it and won’t write about it either. Along the lines of being “happy” and in constant search for this other concept, which is also intangible like life, that I hope to experience and pump my veins with one day. And I would also like to share happiness with those I care about. The ones who have been there for me through thick and thin. The ones who have shun a positive light when I may have been sitting in a dimly lit or dark room. You know who you are.

In recent posts you’ve seen me write about how I’m going to start a business and this and that. Blah blah blah, right? This is, I guess in some way, my journey to hopefully hop on the right path in the pursuit of happyness and to find a passion that I truly care about.

As you’ve read in previous posts I thought happiness was getting rich and living the lifestyle of a celebrity or athlete. I also thought that getting rich was going to happen quickly. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works and it’s hard for me to accept, but these last few years have put things into perspective and I’ve accepted the fact that I’m not going to be a millionaire by the end of this year. Damn. What I’ve learned is that it takes commitment, hard work, dedication, and passion to make something into a reality. You want to build a business? Great! Well, ask yourself what you’re going to need to do in order to start that business. For most of us, myself included, we haven’t started a business or gone through the trials and tribulations that our predecessors have. I truly believe that you can’t understand something to the fullest extent until you’ve actually experienced it yourself. You’ve experienced something, learned from it, and now you have the knowledge and a new acquired skill set for the future. You’ll have a new found understanding that you didn’t have before. You’ll probably be thinking, “Wow, my parents were actually right!” Getting rich isn’t just about money either. You can be rich with the right people in your life (wow that was corny..sorry)!

It’s almost been a year since I graduated. No, not high school (since people still say I look 18)…yes…college! This is my experience that I’ve gone through. I know some of you probably haven’t experienced “real life” yet, and I don’t expect you to understand what I’m saying here. I’m not all that wise yet, either. Maybe one day I’ll be able to grow a long grey berard and look wise I probably sound like your parents or professors right now, whatever I’m saying right now is probably going in one ear out the other. Then you have that ah hah! moment where you realize, “HOLY SH*T thaaaaaat’s what they were talking about.” So here it goes…

What I learned and applied in the classroom taught me absolutely nothing about the real world. Books with case studies that we read gave me the knowledge how to do the basics in accounting, finance, conducting research, and writing marketing plans and strategies…sometimes for made up businesses and the list goes on. It was a matter of who could memorize the most amount of information in the least amount of time before the exam! I sometimes think why I wasted, let me rephrase that, spent 4 years of my life attending a university! We could go back and forth about the benefits of attending college, this and that, but I don’t want to go there. Don’t take me as a fool who thinks there was absolutely no benefit to college. There was.

This is my experience. After graduating and sending in / applying to jobs left and right I realized one thing. College didn’t prepare me for this. Sure, the career center offered workshops on how to “fix up” your resume, write a cover letter, and how to go into an interview but it wasn’t the nitty gritty stuff. I showed up to a few interviews (never having done formal interviews in the past) and just like any newbie I was caught off guard with a few questions. My nerves were tense, my pits were sweaty, and I had no clue if the bullsh*t coming out of my mouth was even making sense. I was later asked back for a few second and third round interviews. Let me tell you, my classes didn’t at all prepare me what it was going to be like working a 5 hour day and analyzing data to the core with some of these companies. Especially since most of this stuff was internet related (pay-per-click advertising data, analytical data, eCommerce data, trends, etc.). None of which most schools don’t offer courses in, but need to adapt to our generation’s evolving technology and offer these freaking courses! Fortunately, I’ve taught myself most of this stuff and understand the surface of it all, but never really had any formal training or guidance on how to interpret some of the analytical data. I understand that we’re all human and should have our own level of competencies and creativeness. That these interviews are designed to see who can think on top of their feet and all that nonsense. I just wish I was more prepared [for the unknown].

Then we get to the part of my life where I started a sales job. I learned more at that job in four months than I learned in any of my classes. I learned basic sales techniques, how to be an effective leader, and time/territory management. We didn’t have classes in college that were geared solely on leadership, which is an essential quality for anyone to have in this thing referred to as life. This is knowledge I can take with me anywhere in the future and apply. And I paid how much for a college degree? I’ve moved on and am now working full-time as a marketing analyst. What I’ve learned in my first three weeks at this J.O.B. cannot be compared to what little I learned in the classroom or from reading a book. The pay may suck, but I’m learning and that’s all that matters to me. If I’m not learning (about something I’m genuinely interested in), I get bored. Fact.

I completely lost where I was going with this. But the point I want to get across is that you must build the necessary fundamentals to go on and do great things. Build a solid foundation to grow from. Once you’ve built a solid foundation then start building another on top of that. It’s like a…pyramid? Except your foundation shouldn’t get smaller as you build upon it! You can’t skip a level either, that’s just impossible (there can’t be an invisible foundation in the middle of two solid foundations!). It’s all about your experiences and how you utilize those experiences to keep building and growing as a person. Some experiences may be negative. Don’t ignore them, take something away from it so the next time you run into that situation you can avoid it or approach it differently.

This was a long rambling by me…I hope it made sense to whoever may be reading this. I have a difficult time expressing how I feel and putting them to words, but need to let my fingers flow and get it out occasionally. Thanks for reading this 1,805 word post. Until next time my friends and silent readers…!

On another note, this is one of my favorite songs right now. Surprisingly inspirational. It’s titled Breathe & Shine a mashup of John Legend’s Shine and Sia’s Breathe Me by LeeDM101. Don’t forget to Download this great song!

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Photo by DeviantArt User ~Silvery-Lily

After four months with The Southern California Group I decided to thrown in the towel and call it quits. I could walk door-to-door all day long if I wanted to. I don’t have a problem with that. However, after pondering for about two weeks I came to conclusion that there were too many variables that weren’t within my control. Aside from the variables beyond my control everything else was great. I didn’t know jack diddle squat going into the job and came out with a wealth of knowledge, skills, and experience that I would have found hard to come by at any other job. This was raw get your hands and feet dirty stuff. You grind it out until you make it. What I love about it is that I have the experience and skills to take with me anywhere I go in life. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again that on a daily basis, we as individuals or business owners, are selling our dreams, visions, ideas, products, and services to others. In doing so it’s a transfer of our enthusiasm that makes or breaks a deal. Just like Ted said, if one of your friends called you up and said to get over to the party because no one else is there and bring friends along you probably wouldn’t go. BUT, if a friend called you up and was yelling with excitement to get over to the party as soon as possible that there were a lot of girls, the alcohol was flowing, and it was going off you’d be jumping off the couch in a heartbeat. Sold.

The knowledge, skills, and experience I gained from my time with The Southern California Group was priceless. I learned boatload of stuff in such a short amount of time. I gained knowledge of sales, developed leadership skills that were hiding deep within that I didn’t know I had, and now carry with me a thick skin that’s difficult to penetrate. I built relationships and gained friendships that will last a lifetime.

It’s funny how you can tell your friends and family what you do for a living and everyone can nod or say that they understand. I laugh because I know not everybody in a roomful of friends or family really understands or have experienced working 60-70 hour work weeks going door-to-door. A salesman can look at another salesman in the eye and both knows and understands exactly what each has been through. There’s a common ground that we can all relate to and understand the hardships and difficult times through the highs and lows of our job. One of my favorite quotes, “Never criticize a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes.” You don’t know and you probably will never know.

Going in on Monday (November 1, 2010) was more difficult than I could imagine. When I got out of my car and started walking towards the building I had to stop for a little bit to gather myself. I felt anxiety. “Wait, what? Why am I feeling like this right now?” was going through my head as my heart kept beating faster. In a few moments I was going to tell David and Ted, both of whom I look up to, admire, and consider friends, that I was calling it quits. It was hard to go one-on-one with David in his office, look him in the eyes, and let him know of the news. I felt guilty and to some extent like I was letting David down. I felt pain, sadness, and maybe even somewhat a little depressed on the drive home. A million thoughts were running through my head about whether or not I made the right decision. In the end, what I’ve learned, is that you have to look out for yourself. Bottom line. You make a decision and move on or the world is going to pass you by.

Now that my time with The Southern California Group is over I can look back and appreciate everything I learned and experienced first hand. I have the future ahead of me and can only hope for the best. Things always work out. It’s weird how they always do even when you don’t think they will. I guess it’s all about faith. Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.

Looking back, I have calmed down quite a bit. From that I mean that I am a very optimistic individual, but also a realist when it comes down to it. I used to think that I was going to get rich fast. That all my dreams and fantasies would come true overnight. What I’ve learned the past four months is that nothing comes instantly (success for this post’s sake), without hard work. When reality hits, it hits you hard. The shitty thing is that it keeps hitting you and you have to learn to get back up. Over and over again or you lie on the ground defeated and a failure. Take a moment and think about someone you look up to, see as a model figure, or a mentor. They didn’t get to where they are at by sitting around doing nothing. They were proactive and gave it their all to get where they are today.

Here’s a little rant I hope you don’t mind in the middle of this post. Take a look at star athletes. Many of them never started on their high school teams and were told they weren’t good enough to play. Now, we see many of those athletes and hear about their stories in the media. Many athletes have natural talent. They take that talent for granted and don’t work as hard as other athletes. A naturally gifted athlete misses a shot, strikes out, or fails in some way or another they brush it off and wait for the next game. Many of the star athletes miss a shot, strike out, or fails in some way or another they’re taking shots, hitting balls, or practicing when everybody else has showered and gone home. Why are the misfits usually better? Because they had to work twice as hard to get where they were at. It takes a strong will, strong work ethic, and dedication. You can’t let others pull you down to their level. They wanted to prove the critics wrong. So what did it take? Laser focus on the goal at hand to be the best. An unrelenting work ethic. Their goal had to be higher than any obstacle in their way. In their mind the end picture was 100% clear.

When making a decision you must follow your heart. You can’t let anyone hold you back from your true potential. Remember, you are what you say and believe you are. If your heart is telling you to do something… heck freakin’ go for it. You’ll never know what could have been unless you tried. What you make of life is totally up to you and the decisions you make. Control your destiny by taking action now. You can’t wait for something to happen you have to make something happen.

Cultivate and encompass a mindset that you are what you say you are. That you can become what you say you will become. And lastly, act as if. Act as if you’re anything you say you are. When you believe in something it becomes your perception and what your perception of something is becomes your reality.

In due time success and happiness will cross paths in my life. For now, I understand that it truly is in due time. All the small things I do today, tomorrow, a week from now, will get me to the end result I desire. “Victory is not always winning the race. Sometimes it’s simply beating your best.” (Gloria Plaisted)

Related posts:

1. Become a Quitter at Quitting
2. Don’t Be An Average Joe, Be A Champion!
3. Put Two Feet In…

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images | Life.com

In my last post “Put Two Feet In” I mentioned that we must be quitters at quitting. I will stand by that statement and guard it with my life.

Take a second to reflect on the past. I’ve been doing quite a bit of soul searching and self-reflection lately and realized that I have quit many things during my short 23 years on this planet. I didn’t practice the piano when I was younger and stopped receiving lessons, I got bored with Tae Kwon Do and quit, I dedicated countless hours to practicing and playing baseball wanting to play in college and decided not to play, and I could keep going if I wanted to.

Why have I been doing a lot of soul searching and self-reflection lately? Because I’m not really enjoying life right now. We all have these dreams of our ideal lives and…most of the time…it doesn’t work out as planned. I never, for the life of God, even wanted to consider about getting a sales job post college, but I did. And like I’ve mentioned in previous posts I’m actually enjoying it to an extent. However, lately I’ve had probably a million thoughts running through my head. I wanted to write this in my journal, but decided I’d rather share it on my blog for others to relate to. Sharing is giving, right?

Anyway, during the last few weeks I haven’t been performing very well out in the field. Specifically, the week of August 2nd through the 7th. During that week I closed two accounts. Fuck. As the week went on I felt like giving up. Quitting a job that I, in a sense, voluntarily show up to every morning since I don’t clock in. I was having a hard time out in the field letting objections from customers get to my head. It was affecting my performance and day after day I was letting it drag me deeper into a hole. Instead of walking door-to-door thinking about how I could have better rebutted the previous customer the thoughts running through my head were somewhere along the lines of, “fuck my life why the hell am I doing this?,” “this is bullshit I could be doing something else,” “I’d rather be working for minimum wage,” and the list goes on. I was putting a front up at the office. Smiling and appearing as if I was still confident and happy, when inside I was hurting and down right miserable.

Fortunately, on August 5th, 2010 I knocked on the door of a man by the name of Frank in Yorba Linda. I saw him the previous day and he blew me off. Since I was in a shitty mood I decided to knock on his door again and see if I could get my pitch and presentation in before he closed the door on me. First of all, I was shocked he actually answered his door. I had knocked on his door a previous six times without him answering knowing he was home. Frank comes out stands behind the gate and listens to my pitch. As I moved into the why I was there he stopped me and said that he didn’t want to upgrade his services, but wished me luck going to the doors down the street. This kind of caught me off guard, but I went into deeper questioning and so forth. Skip forward a bit, he looked at me straight in the eyes without the slightest of movement. Our eyes locked and after a few moments of silence he said that my pitch was good, my overall appearance was good, and that I was personable–to him all great qualities to have in the field. He said that he understood what I was going through. I asked him how he knew what I was going through? He pointed to his withered faced and said “I’ve done sales my whole life. Started off commission only just like you going door to door and made a damn good living off of it.” I asked him is he had any advice for a young guy like me just starting off. Frank said, “Stick with it and don’t give up. You’ll have your ups and downs, but guys who can overcome the downs and stay persistent will make it.” He also told me not to rely on what we call “go backs” that they mean shit. The only day that matters is the day you speak with the person and you better damn well get them to sign on the dotted line.

He also told me many things of which I’ve learned in the office. Set short-term goals and learn from the best. To set realistic goals, ones that I don’t fall short on every day, week, month, but ones that I accomplish and set a higher standard for next time. To look at the best performing person in the office as my mentor. To ask questions and keep track of my closing ratio always trying to improve on it. To have a vision that’s crystal clear. A plan of exactly how I’m going to get to where I want to be a year from now.

As I walked away from Franks house I had more thoughts and emotions running through my head. This guy has done sales his whole life and has obviously done well for himself. He was a complete dick, asshole for that matter, the first time I saw him outside and that day he shared with me his story and gave me advice and words of encouragement that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

I’ll be honest, I was going to quit my job after the 7th. I was going to set up a one on one and tell my leader that I was throwing in the towel and calling it quits. But after my encounter with Frank my whole perspective changed. I also couldn’t build the courage to actually tell David face-to-face that I was done. I look up to him and he’s done a lot for me. I didn’t want to see the disappointment on his face after I told him that I was quitting. I’m glad that I became a quitter at quitting.

Now you’re probably wondering how I did the following week (this last week August 9-14). I started the week strong by closing 2 accounts on Monday. I thought to myself that “hmm, something’s working here,” and came to the conclusion that it was the change in my attitude. I finished the week with 6 accounts ending up 2 short of my goal of 8 for the week. I’m going to be fully committed this upcoming week. I’ve decided that I’m going to stick with this NO MATTER WHAT for at least a year and see where I get.

Related posts:

1. Put Two Feet In…
2. What is the Key to Staying Motivated?
3. To Wake Up with a Smile

Photo by Flickr User Pixelinthebox

Some of you may recognize this poem, some you may not. I came across this poem in Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, of which I’m currently reading. It was written by Jessie B. Rittenhouse.

In this economy many people have been hit hard. It has forced the masses to think differently and redefine the conventional way of doing things. For some, that may come in the form of inventing products or services that improve our way of life and for others it may be to improve upon what is already existing by effectiveness and efficiency.

Let me tell you something. I’m a dreamer. Not just a dreamer…a BIG dreamer. You’re probably a big dreamer as well. What we all have in common is that we let others tell us something can’t be done and that whatever it is that we’re on a mission to accomplish is impossible. GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR LIVES! THEY’RE POISON. The difference between you and those people is that you have not been defeated. “No one ever is defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality” (Napoleon Hill). Dominating thoughts, negative or positive, consume our mind. Our minds are like a magnet and will ultimately believe what we think and what others tell us. If, for some reason, you believe you can’t do something, guess what? Whatever it is that you thought you couldn’t do or accomplish will become a reality. If you believe you can do something you WILL be able to do that something. It’s not that hard of a concept to grasp. Magical isn’t it?

There’s nothing wrong believing in a dream or goal that is not yet tangible; something that’s just a pigment of your imagination. If you believe in a dream or goal so much that you believe it’s really there, actually happening, it will become a reality sooner or later. Assuming that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to get there! To have faith, overcome obstacles, and have courage when it seems like you have nothing more to give. Believe in your dreams and goals and they will eventually come true.

I hope this lesson has helped you in some small way. It may seem like I’m regurgitating what is said in Think and Grow Rich. My word may not seem a lot to you, but take it as you please. I was in a position, we’ll say 3 weeks ago for the sake of this post, where my mind was full of misdirection and doubt. I have finally understood what others have been trying to tell me and the message authors such as Napoleon Hill try to help guide people and understand. To think positively about success and put that energy in my daily life to attract the things I desire. To believe in myself.

Don’t get me wrong either. I still have days of doubt, but I’m working on it. What I’ve realized is that it takes time and that I must have the courage and desire to change. If I don’t have the willingness to change or take risks than the lifestyle I’m living won’t change. If I don’t change my bad habits, thinking process, or take on challenges that seem impossible to overcome then what I want and desire will never become a reality (so help me God if anyone or anything gets in my way!). I’m finding out that I must grasp onto what I desire most and run with my gut feeling, my first instinct, and what I believe in most. I don’t want to get old sitting around regretting decisions I made in the past. We only live once and I want to make the most of it. Personal development is something I must accept. It’s been a rough journey really thinking about why I want to change. I know what I want in life and it’s just a matter of getting there.

All I want for you to get out of this is that you should follow your dreams and believe in yourself. There’s no reason why you should be working for another man’s dreams your whole life. We all have aspirations, dreams, and goals. Too many people have thrown those aspirations, dreams, and goals out the window because they lose faith in themselves. Regain that faith and know that you are capable of doing anything you set your mind to.

I keep hearing successful people say that the journey to the top was the most gratifying thing and what they appreciate most. That the journey was worth it. My journey hasn’t been quite so sunny…pretty gloomy if you ask me, but I know when I finally make it to the top by accomplishing my personal and financial goals. I’ll be able to look back and appreciate everything that I will have learned and the person I became.

Related posts:

1. A Kid’s Mentality…Dream Big or Go Home
2. To Wake Up with a Smile

Photo by Flickr User jtravism

I have really been troubled the last few months. It seems as though the direction my life is headed in is uncertain. I hate not knowing what’s going to happen, where I’m going to to be, and who I’m going to become. Thus far, it seems as though many of the decisions I have made lead me in the wrong direction. That everything I have done has been a waste of time. I want success so badly that I can taste it at the tip of my tongue and I’ll do anything to achieve the level of success I desire. I’m willing to make commitments. To put in the effort. To put in the time. To learn.

Why am I bringing this up? Because I think about my future literally everyday. I realize that the decisions I make today will directly affect the outcome of my life. It seems as though my conscious has placed two miniature Greggs on each of my shoulders telling me to do something completely different. It’s tiresome and, quite frankly, irritating.

I’ve tried so hard to land a job after graduating from a “respectable” university only to be declined time and time again. My moral has reached an all time low. I feel betrayed. Betrayed that the thought and expectations of our society telling us to pursue a higher education beyond high school will, somehow, guarantee a better way of life [and guarantee us entry-level positions in Corporate America]. Oddly enough, statistics show that higher education does, in fact, help one achieve a higher level of income during his/her lifetime. However, I still feel discouraged. Discouraged to the point where I want to give up. I’ve come to conclusion that there really are no guarantees in life. Everything is based on the individual–what that individual is willing to do and what sacrifices that individual is willing to make. “One-half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it” (Sidney Howard).

So here I am today. Stuck with a few more difficult decisions to make. They have required me to dig deeper and think harder than I ever have before. It seems as though I’ve been caught in a web and can’t figure out a way to escape. That the spider (failure) is breathing down my back ready to make me its 6 o’clock meal.

There’s one side of me that wants to be conservative and play it safe because there is no certainty of my success. Then there’s the other side of me that says to take that risk, it’s a great opportunity. Isn’t it weird how all tough decisions come at a time when uncertainty is surrounding your life? When a would be not-so-tough decision at one point of your life is now, all of a sudden, becomes one of the toughest decisions you’ll make because of the current circumstances you’re in (in this case that I’m in). It seems like I’ve been walking around with the weight of the world on my shoulders.

It’s tough to choose and make a decision for the “what will improve my way of life” and “what’s the best for my future” factors. It’s tough to leave a surrounding I’m comfortable in. To leave behind people I truly and dearly care about. Ultimately, I have to look out for myself and answer the question; what is best for me? Sadly, I know the answer to that question but acting upon the answer is a lot harder than I thought it would be. And I have no freakin’ clue as to why.

What are the facts to consider? The fact that I’m young. I really don’t have any commitments or obligations being 23 years old. I don’t have a family with children, a house, or life savings to worry about. I can afford to risk a year, or a couple of years, of my life pursuing and doing something that may or may not work out. If it doesn’t work out hopefully I will have learned something that will help guide me in the right direction for future endeavors. In order to be successful I’m going to have to make decisions that take me out of my comfort zone. I’ve gotta start somewhere, right?

I just hope things turn out the way I hope for them to turn out. Lately, my life has been filled with disappointments and just plain bad luck. People say that the when you’re ready to quit is when you’re closer than you think. I sure hope it’s true…

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Photo by Flickr user TylerKnott

Take a minute to reflect upon the past. Not the recent past, but when you were between the ages of 5 to 10 years old. When you were a little kid not yet a “grown up” you probably had a lot of ideas and dreams. Big, out of the ordinary, what the heck was I thinking sort of ideas and dreams. Your parents, while speaking about you, would say “my kid’s a dreamer.” Everybody thought you were crazy–except you. You believed in every idea and dream that you conceived in your mind. You could and would build a rocket ship, fly to outer space, and land on the moon. You would become an astronaut. You would become a fighter pilot. You would be the pitcher or batter in game 7 of the World Series in the 9th inning with two outs, bases loaded, and a full count. You could be anything. You thought the impossible was possible. ANYTHING you could dream of was a reality. Nothing held you back and nobody told you that it couldn’t be done.

Let’s flash forward 10, 20, 30 years to the present. Where are you now? Did those ideas and dreams become a reality? In most cases, those ideas and dreams were tossed out the window many years ago. Why? Because we were told over and over that it wasn’t possible and that it couldn’t be done. Our optimistic outlook was challenged by pessimists. Eventually, we began to let the negative overcome the positive.

Why is it that we let others and our society dictate our beliefs, the way we think, and what we individually value in life? I just don’t understand. I’m a victim of it all as well. I used to dream big, I’m not afraid to admit it, and I’m not afraid to share my dreams. However, this is going to sound hypocritical to the last sentence, but I still dream big. The problem now is that I sometimes doubt myself, my knowledge, and my ability to become who I want to become. When I was younger I used to never doubt or even question what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be like. I vision my future and let me tell you…it’s pretty extraordinary. Will my dreams come true? I hope so… No. Wait. I know so. I’ll make the assumption that, in my opinion, we were all once big dreamers; gratefully, some of us still are. The problem today is that as we grow up and mature we set boundaries, which limit our success. We put up these invisible and imaginary walls, which stop us from achieving and becoming who we want to become. We set these boundaries and put up these walls that used to never exist when we were younger. Those ideas and dreams we thought were possible are now, for some reason, unreasonable or unrealistic. We lose faith in ourselves.

Many of us have heard or read about O.J. Simpson’s story. For those of you who haven’t here’s the short version of it. In his childhood, O.J. Simpson developed a disease called Rickets in his legs. This left him pigeon towed and bowlegged unable to be a normal kid. He had to wear braces on his legs and was the subject to constant ridicule by his peers. One day he met Jim Brown, a phenomenal running back, and told Jim that someday he would break all of his records. Guess what? Those records were broken.

Just because our society, or friends, or family tell us that something can’t be done doesn’t mean that it can be done. For many of us, life becomes a daily routine. There’s the expected, conventional way to do things and the, what is considered ‘risky’, unconventional way to do things. What we used to believe in is now a distant thought and breaking the boundaries is oddly looked down upon by some. There’s this understanding of how to do things the “right” way and rather than being our own unique individuals we let ourselves be governed by the explicit and implicit rules or social norms.

I think that sometimes people are afraid of what they’re capable of. That they’re afraid of success because they’ve grown away from it for such a long time they have forgotten what success actually feels like. Everyday we see people achieve something that we always dreamed of accomplishing. We see that 10,000 people completed an Ironman event–surely I could do it if they could do it. But now look at it. What if only 1 person EVER, was to complete an Ironman event–it was just THAT difficult. In this situation some people wouldn’t give themselves the light of day and would never try. Some people would say that it’s unreasonable or unrealistic to complete the event themselves or to see 100 people complete an Ironman event. They have the wrong mindset. The perspective you have to look at it from is that if 1 person was able to complete an Ironman event it can be completed by yourself as well as many others. If I was approached by someone and they were to tell me, “Hey Gregg, I have this business opportunity for you. There’s one million people doing this thing, but only 1 person is making millions while the rest of the 999,999 people are only making a couple thousand of dollars.” Some people would run away and never look back. I wouldn’t let that opportunity pass. If 1 person can achieve a level of success it can be achieved by someone else. It may require a lot of time, effort, and work but it isn’t impossible. It shows me that it isn’t unreasonable and that it isn’t unrealistic.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that you should never question your ability to succeed based on how many people have accomplished something before you. If something hasn’t been accomplished yet, then why can’t the first person be you?

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I have found that it’s true…if you read, listen to, or watch something positive everyday for at least 15 minutes it changes the way you process things. It’s amazing what happens to your thinking, to your beliefs, and your commitment level towards wanting to be successful, the desire to accomplish something, and to achieve a goal.

With this post I wanted to get into what makes a good leader. You’ve probably noticed that I’ve added a MonaVie page and banners to my site. That’s because my brother and I have become independent distributors for the company. That’s a whole other post, though. Anyways, I was reading one of MonaVie’s on the move magazines from last year and a Hawaiian Blue Diamond Executive, Paul Barrios, made a list of what makes a MonaVie leader. I don’t think that this applies to ONLY MonaVie, but other professions and areas in life as well. Here’s the list:

• A leader doesn’t look at how things are; A leader looks at how things can become.
• A leader knows time will expose you; A leader also knows time will promote you.
• A leader will never succeed with self-doubt; A leader has complete belief in his convictions.
• A leader is not lazy and never procrastinates; A leader knows that nothing happens without a sense of urgency.
• A leader remains consistent; A leader does not want to become non-existent.
• A leader doesn’t ask, ‘why me;’ A leader asks, ‘why not me.’
• A leader knows that it’s not the skill of the man; A leader knows that it’s the will of the man.
• A leader is never arrogant; A leader is humble and always ready to learn more.
• A leader is not afraid of the future; A leader looks forward to the future, full of courage.
• A leader understands that he is not the leader of his group; A leader is a leader in his group.
• A leader knows when it’s time to quit; A leader will never quit if the dream is big enough.
• A leader knows that tough times never last; A leader knows that tough people do.

There are many areas that I agree with Paul Barrios and can relate to. I know that I’m a great leader, or so I think I am, but I also know that there is always more to learn and improve on. I really like the last line “A leader knows that tough times never last; A leader knows that tough people do.” It’s about overcoming adversity in every aspect of life and never giving up. We’ve all heard the cliché, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” I wish life was easy, but I know that in order to become who I want to become and to live the life I envision myself living in the future that I must face each challenge that presents itself with courage and the heart of a lion. I must be persistent and consistent to find success and to be a good leader.

Leaders instill in their people a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals. -Unknown

It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up. -Babe Ruth

The difference between the impossible and possible lies in a person’s determination. -Unknown

I dream of men who take the next step instead of worrying about the next thousand steps. -Theodore Roosevelt

Leaders are not born. They are made. They are made just like anything else…through hard work. That’s the price we have to pay to achieve that goal or any goal. -Vince Lombardi

A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way, and goes the way. -Unknown

Real leaders are ordinary people, with extraordinary determinations. -John Seaman Garns

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he
wants to do it. -Dwight D. Eisenhower

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According to many analysts the 2009 Leonid Meteor Shower’s prime viewing time in the United States was around 1:00 p.m. PST early this morning.

This year I decided to go out late night into the wee hours of the morning to try to get a glimpse of some shooting stars from the Leonid Meteor Shower. Luckily it was a clear day in San Luis Obispo as well as in Avila Beach where I did my star gazing with a good friend of mine. It was very cold and chilly outside, but the view of the sky and the sound of the ocean was amazing. The great thing about Avila is that there isn’t much light in the area to interfere with the visibility of the stars.

Lying on the beach, drinking an amp energy drink, and snacking on Doritos and gummy candies…It was peaceful, beautiful, and exciting. Every time a ‘shooting star’ zipped through the sky you could hear the other people out on the beach talk with enthusiasm and yell with excitement. The supposedly peak viewing time wasn’t so “peak” after all. We saw the most shooting stars probably around the hours of 2-3 a.m. There were all kinds of shooting stars–dim small ones and bright large ones. I even think I saw the largest shooting star I’ve seen in my whole 23 years on this planet. Trust me, it was huge. Unfortunately, fog began to form and roll in around 2-3 a.m., but cleared out rather quickly. Before we left the beach around 4 a.m. the sky was spectacular. You could virtually see every star in the sky. Even though I’ve been tired all day and fell asleep in class (not like I don’t do that on a regular days) it was well worth it. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. You can count me in to star gaze for the next meteor shower–whenever that will be.

I had a great time. I was able to enjoy and witness something fantascular (made up word) and also relax at the same time while doing some personal reflection and thought. I loved being out there. I wasn’t worrying about anything. Anything from the past or anything about the future–it felt like I was at peace.

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What the heck am I going to do? I always thought that I would be making millions by now (it’s great to dream big!), but that didn’t quite happen. It will, I promise you that. Anyways, as I mentioned earlier a lot has been going through my mind. Should I apply to jobs? If so, which company would I be most happy at? Which company offers the best working environment? Which company would best fit my character, personality, and determination to become successful? In the company as well as from a personal standpoint. Which company will I be able to learn and grow as a person–professionally and as an individual? I’ve been thinking about my interests, hobbies, work ethic, experience, and knowledge and I’ve somewhat arrived at an answer to what I will pursue.

Everyone says that you need to experience an industry before you go into business in that industry. To learn the ropes so to speak. I’ve been interested in Pay-Per-Click advertising for a while now. Have I been successful? Yes and no. I’ve made money doing affiliate marketing, but I’ve also put in more time for such little returns. There seems to be this hump that I just can’t quite get over. I’m also interested in eCommerce. Basically, any way you can make money online I want to be apart of.

I’d like to say that my knowledge of the internet and it’s components is more than the average person. I know the very basics of coding, how to register a domain, change nameservers, manage my way through cpanel, installing stuff such as a content management systems (i.e. WordPress, which is the backbone to GreggHawkins.com), how affiliate marketing works, how to track visitors and the importance of analytics, how to create PPC campaigns from scratch; creating ad copies, keyword lists, ad groups and implementing them into Yahoo Search Marketing (YSM!) and Google Adwords, how to track affiliate conversions, how to utilize and import data feeds (just learning these), and much more. Even though I’ve had some success online (explain later) it hasn’t panned out the way I thought it would. But I never give up and will keep trying until one day it pays off!

So I mentioned that I’ve had some success. Here’s one example. About three years ago my brother and I were lying in bed, just about to go to bed, one summer away from college and flipped on the TV to watch some MTV before dozing off. There was this show, Newport Harbor, that was airing and was on the third episode. As I was lying in bed I mumbled something to my brother, who was on top of me (don’t get the wrong picture) because we have bunk beds at home, about creating a fansite for this show. The entrepreneur in me saw an opportunity that we could capitalize on and make some money, hopefully. Keep in mind this is the summer my brother and I taught ourselves everything we know about the internet. We were newbies. So what was my reasoning behind the idea? The cast members in Newport Harbor weren’t celebrities and this was season one of the show. Cool! We could probably rank pretty high in search engines for the cast member names and the show’s title. The next morning we purchased www.NewportHarborFans.com. I just recently let this domain expire because the promised second season never occurred and it was an unnecessary expense since type in traffic essentially came to a halt and our two expenses, renewing the domain registration and monthly hosting expense, weren’t being covered by our fansite’s earnings anymore.

Long story short, we threw up everything about the show. This included cast member pictures, biographies, episode summaries, video, and featured songs. It took about three weeks before we ranked in Google and saw our traffic jump from under a 100 visitors to over 1,000 in one night. Gradually, traffic increased to a steady 1,000 visitors a day and when new episodes aired we saw 3,000+ unique visitors reach our site. We were ranking #1 in Google for many of the cast member’s names, rank #3 for the term “Newport Harbor,” getting traffic from image searches, and other various sources. In about two and a half months we made over $3,000 dollars from Google Adsense alone. The only other income source we had for that site was our LinkShare affiliate links to download the featured songs featured in the show. If only there was a second season and my brother and I knew how to optimize, promote, and advertise a site like we do now. It was a great ride and experience nonetheless.

Anyways, back to the point. I’ve decided that, since I’m going to be graduating with a Marketing Management degree, I want to either work for a marketing and advertising firm/agency or work for an affiliate network as an account manager/executive. I’d be happy with any position with a reputable marketing and/or advertising firm or an affiliate network. I don’t mind working from the bottom up–you appreciate your job more in the future by doing so. Having done affiliate marketing I think I know what affiliates are looking for and can relate to many of their struggles. At the same time I want to start a business with a friend my brother and I are currently talking/planning things out with.

Though I don’t plan on working for someone my whole life I have finally realized that I will benefit greatly by starting out. I’m an entrepreneur by heart. I sit in classes not paying attention to my professors because I’m thinking of business ideas that I want to pursue. I visualize my life in the future, ALL THE FREAKIN TIME, living in my dream home with my family, having a successful business with my brother and friends, and driving my Lamborghini Murcielago.

I want to have the financial freedom to do as I please. I want to live free and be free.

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Photo by Flickr User believer9

A lot of you have probably heard, seen, or read this quote before. I believe it does a great job summing up what life should be about. Make your life be worth living for and live it to the fullest. Value the people in your life who matter, have influenced, and made you, you. Not everyone is granted a second chance at something. One thing is for certain that we don’t get a second chance at life. Be fortunate if you are presented a second chance with anything and don’t take it for granted. I know that I’ve taken many things for granted and I don’t like to admit it, but I also regret a few things in my life. Rather than sitting around and thinking about past decisions and how things turned out take a stand and make the change in your life that you want and deserve.

I love the last two lines, “Nobody said life would be easy…They just promised it would be worth it.” Hopefully my life will be meaningful, as well as yours. I know that life is priceless and for the most part I’ve enjoyed it. I just want to be free to do as I please and find the happiness that I’ve been seeking.

And I’ll leave you with one more thought. You can find unexpected beauty in the most simplest and inconsequential things. Something that is absolutely ordinary can be stunningly beautiful.

Update: It seems as though I get a lot of visitors who searched for the life is too short to wake up with regrets quote in Google. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section. Almost 8,000 views and one comment… Let’s help inspire, motivate, and empower others!

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