Here’s some inspirational quotes (favorites of mine) I’ve been sharing using the App.

Oh, and if you care to follow me- i’m “ramseymohsen” on Instagram.

“It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It’s not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can be a catalyst for profound re-invention.”

- Conan O’Brien

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.

This quote circulates the creative design and UX presentation/blog circuit(s) all the time. It’s refreshing to know, this “design advice” came long before the masses used computers and the internet. And this advice applies to more than just software design…

My friends and I used to have this saying, that anything that was really good, you could build in 24-hours, because most of the really good ideas out there start off really simple. Facebook, the first version of it, I coded in a couple weeks.

- Mark Zuckerberg

He’s right. And this applies to more than just coding a website. Are you over-thinking it? You don’t have to be thinking about building the next Facebook to apply this advice to your life. Sometimes the best plan, is to not have a plan at all.
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- Dr Seuss

“Do or do not. There is no try.”
- Yoda

So, naturally, as a blogger at heart, I figure the best way to relieve myself is to write and share 2 things with you that have jarred my mental senses.

During the holiday break- I was able to knock-out several items from my official “things I’ve been meaning to do but life is too crazy to do it now so I’ll just get to it later” list (i’m not lying, this is a real list, I have an inbox folder + a dedicated Google Doc for this). On the list was 1 Movie and 1 YouTube video to see. After watching both, I was swiftly hit over the head with the same message, “remember this dude- you can learn from it.” Hence, this blog post is my release to share with you what I learned from both…

1.) “The Movie”
I watched the movie “Up in the Air”, starring George Clooney. Without ruining the movie, I can tell you it’s a story about a man who spends most of his time traveling in airplanes and basks in detachment. He has no close ties to other people, including his family, holds few possessions and makes good money. Movie synopsis aside, it had some powerful underlying life lessons. There were two easy takeaways from the flick I interpreted:

• Your family is a big darn deal- don’t ever forget that- put them first no matter how crazy your life gets.




• Life is what happens when you’re busy making plans (John Lennon). Don’t let it slip by because you’re trying to “organize it” perfectly.

As good as those two are, my favorite souvenir from the movie can be summarized by a recent quote my friend Sam blogged:

• “Everyone needs something to do, something to look forward to and something to love.*”

You might have missed it while reading it, but I placed an “*asterisk” at the end of the quote because I think it requires some elaboration. While all those things are true, I would add this must be genuine and come from your heart. I also acknowledge, this might require some soul searching, experiments, risks and failing [gasp, yes- I said it]. All which take persistence, patience and time.

2.) “The YouTube video”
Ask any geek, anything that comes from the mouth of the living-prophet-on-earth a.k.a. Steve Jobs is almost always brilliant (or at least in our minds it is). Recently, I watched YouTube video of a commencement speech Steve Jobs gave at Standford University back in 2005 (written transcript here). His delivery wasn’t exactly polished, but the message was definitely received. He shares 3 very intimate stories about his own personal life that paints the message, “…pursue your dreams and see the opportunities even when life seems to set you back.”

It’s a 15-minute speech. Watch it. When you have time on your lunch break or you can play it in the background while you’re doing other things. It’s worth your time. There is one quote that resonated above all others:

“Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

Watching and listening to the Steve Jobs YouTube video + “Up in the Air” the movie certainly got the juices flowing for my learning’s from 2009 and thinking about my goals for 2010. Both great motivational food for the soul and a potent dose of inspiration. (big thank to Lynds for the title of the bpost)
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Anyways, ever since that conversation, I’ve been thinking about what my goals are going to be for 2010. Which in turn has reminded me of a quote I recently posted to Twitter (follow me if you want).

The life hack advice embedded in this quote is important. In my opinion, you should extend yourself by setting goals and having dreams and aspirations in life. However, having confidence in yourself and who you are NOT makes all the difference in the world. This quote is a great reminder of that.
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While sitting in a Starbucks I noticed this great quote in a book for sale. This quote reiterates a simple truth- have the right attitude and maintain a positive mindset.

I’m often intrigued by successful people and individuals who are affecting greater change in the world. A common thread with all these individuals, is they’ve always persevered through the odds, critics, their own failures and difficult circumstances. More importantly, their passion in life is so great- it drives them to have a seemingly unreachable goals or a dreams that challenge the status quo.

This quote encapsulates to me an important point- set goals outside of the bounds of what a realist would do. You have to extend yourself to do this even if you’re a linear thinker who requires rationale for everything. If you don’t- you’re going through life operating with nothing to reach for. Everyone has dreams, no matter the stage in life you’re in (young and old).

Dream and dream big. Have the patience to piece together “the ladder” in what it takes to get you there. Use your passion to follow through with doing what it takes to accomplish that dream.
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I took the following picture with my iPhone (above) tonight while at Allen Fieldhouse, it was the second Kansas Jayhawks basketball game of the season (my alma mater). While the picture quality isn’t great, it also can’t express the emotions I felt …going back to Allen Fieldhouse to watch a game gave me chills (hey, stick with me, this blog post isn’t about sports- I promise).

You almost feel like a kid again with the stimulating emotions that flow through you when you walk into Allen Fieldhouse. Looking around, gazing, taking the rich old history of the arena (you can almost smell it), soaking it up for everything it’s worth. And nothing can replace the excitement you get of the pre-game traditions and in-game cheers ‘n chants you yell along with the entire band + student section.

As a loyal KU grad, the experience certainly takes me back and I bask in the moment every time I’m lucky enough to attend a game. Going to tonight’s basketball game reminded me of a great quote I love to share because it rings so true:

“Experiences satisfy the soul”.

This quote can be interpreted into several meanings -but what it encapsulates, is what we all long for…

…in this world of smartphones, iPhones, g-chat, crackberrys, the Internet, HDTVs, Facebook, iPods, Wii’s …there’s a lot of “virtual” technology out there that certainly keeps us entertained. Everything is moving so fast and screaming for your attention with alerts and asking you to multi-task just to get it all done. However, with all of these electronics and virtual entertainment that exist, they can’t replace the compelling and moving experience of a great- authentic- real life experience. For me, I know going to a KU game is one way I “satisfy the soul” with an experience that I cherish.

I’ve realized on any given day the things I choose to do (work or play), for the most part, are all very carefully calculated choices. Everything has rationale, justification and is prioritized accordingly. However, I make sure to never lose sight of the fact a great experience is worth a lot. Living in the moment- devoting your full attention to things that matter most- enjoying the experience …it makes all the difference.

It’s the experience that you remember and walk away with. So regardless if you are the one providing the experience OR you’re just there to take it in yourself- just remember the weight in which it’s worth. It can mean the world to someone.
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[ Web 3.0, a "semantic Web" where sites can understand the quirks and relationships in the data they mine, much in the way that humans differentiate between cheesy nachos and cheesy pickup lines. ]

“The only thing worse than starting something and failing… is not starting something.”
-Seth Godin

I believe you can never be to busy to search for inspiration. Your elementary teachers and mom & dad had it right when they told you, having the right attitude is essential.  Make sure you are not only inspired, but inspired frequently.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
-Winston Churchill

I think this quote can take on several meanings. I don’t think it just refers to charitable giving, but it also applies to the act of “creating” as well. Short and powerful. I love it.

I went to the grocery store tonight and was extremely close to scratching the chicken breast from my list of things to buy for dinner — it was hard to crave chicken when this delicious treat was staring me right in the face. Look how HUGE this cupcake is! Glorious.

Things like this, while it may seem silly to get excited about — they remind me of a quote that’s actually the tag line for a co-worker’s mommy blog:

“…it’s all about the little things in life that make it good.”

I believe happiness in life is a moment which can take many forms; sometimes even as a delicious small cupcake

“…still amazed that a few 20-year-olds built things that people twice their age are now experts on.”

A powerful thought. One that deserves some thought of it’s own. Is it fair to consider that the older people being recognized as experts in social media are even qualified when you factor in the measurement of time? Why should we consider people like Chris Brogan, Steve Rubel, Shel Israel and Robert Scoble to be experts? None of which are digital natives.

Webster dictionary (i know, i played the ‘the definition card’) defines that an expert is, “Having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience.”

This begs one to think — how do you even measure training or sufficient experience in social media? It’s such a dynamic space that has taken many shapes and forms as different tools have been created or enhanced over the years.

Speaking of years — my own independent research on social networking websites shows that back in ‘ol 1997, www.sixdegrees.com was the first significant social networking website. From there, the next major blip on the radar was in Friendster in 2002, MySpace in 2003 and Facebook making a splash on a national scale in 2004. What I’m getting at – is that it isn’t so long ago that these social networks were all just getting started. It’s been around barely over 10 years. And the mass adoption of social networks into mainstream usage is even shorter than that.

• If the word “expert” requires that either experience or training must be displayed — have the people who consider themselves experts done that? Have they completed enough of either to quantify them as experts?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not skeptical on either social media or the influencers I’ve listed above. However, I am skeptical if anyone actually has no proof of ‘how’ they’ve done it themselves — and executed it well. The influencers I’ve listed (above) are of value in my opinion and it’s not fair to bucket them as ‘self claimed’ experts (without proof). But the more important point, was that this quote makes me question if anyone is an expert at this stuff at all? Aren’t the best people out there still learning even 10+ years into their careers? (I sure hope so, or else I’m going to get bored doing my job).

This quote is from a conversation with Neal Sharma and is one I consider a powerful lesson. An “expert” is too strong of a word for anyone in the social media industry. These people who are viewed as valued sources of opinion might be better categorized as just “pundits”. The bottom line is they are great communicators and story tellers. In fact, they may be more of an expert in communication than anything else. I’m more curious to see us millennials and digital natives who have social media woven into our blood, what will we do? How will we evolve social media in the coming years?
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“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.”
– General George Patton

Sam continues by writing, “When was the last time someone challenged your thinking?” In a corporate environment, it’s easy to fall subject to groupthink (just ask “the bobs”). This quote really hits at the concept that while you shouldn’t challenge everything just for the sake of it — make sure you are thinking from all perspectives and asking the right questions (even if it is just to yourself). If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking. Don’t let that person be you.

While I was DJ’ing my friend’s wedding this weekend — I read this great quote on the sign-in book. This quote is pretty powerful. In my opinion, fate only takes you so far. It’s up to you to make something of the opportunities you get in life …and sometimes they only happen once.
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“OMG it’s a t-shirt!”

It’s amazing to think that someone anyone has the power to create, publish and distribute all through a free medium — the Internet. Furthermore, this example proves you have the ability to affect mainstream culture with JUST the Internet, so much so that you can create product offerings around them! The OMG SHOES video has over 21 MILLION views to date. Insane.

If you want see what this silly viral video craze is/was all about — here’s the original YouTube video:

Have the passion and patience to dream and dream big. Have the patience to piece together “the ladder” in what it takes to get you there. Have the passion to follow through with doing what it takes to accomplish that dream.

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change. – Charles Darwin

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“…many B2B marketers are failing to realize that good blogging style should resemble a coffee shop conversation, not a whitepaper.”

You’ll lose readers before you even get a chance to win them if you use the same corporate tone that white papers carry on your blog. The context of a blog is much more casual. Readers expect it. Don’t call it a blog if it isn’t going to written like one.

“YouTube now does more search queries than Yahoo.”

If you don’t think YouTube traffic is significant — think again.

“Experiences satisfy the soul.”

This quote can be interpreted into several meanings — but what it encapsulates is what we all long for. The act of DOing. No marketing pitch, tag line, blog post, business card can replace a positive interaction. It’s the experience that you remember and walk away with.

What I mean is that he’s a amazing athlete who is so above and beyond his competitors — his only real competition is himself (much like Lance Armstrong was). Frankly, after watching the replays on his flip turns — Phelps is a freakin’ dolphin if you ask me.

The greatest possession you have is the 24-hours in front of you.

I can’t pinpoint exactly when or what — but at some point of my life a light switched on in my head that gave me perspective, motivation and more importantly the drive to want to be the difference in the world (yes, this is going to be one of those motivational blog posts, so strap in and hang on tight, cue motivational music).

Matt, a fellow consultant I work with, was speaking at our staff meeting about his previous life prior to working at our company. He described how he took an entire year off to travel/backpack the world after essentially “burning out” at his previous workplace (he worked there for 8 years). One quote changed his world perspective (and BLEW my mind). It was the following:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

- Mark Twain

[ca-ching!] The philosophy and motivation that is encapsulated in that quote is truly what it is all about. I want the most out of life and am looking to spend my time where it makes the most impact. Of course life doesn’t just hand things to you — YOU have to get out there and make things happen for yourself.

The keys to fulfill this hunger takes hard work. But it’s the little things in life that make all the difference. For what it’s worth, here’s my advice:

• Embrace what you are passionate about in life. Once you’ve done that — don’t just be good at it, strive to be the best at it. Want to take it a step further?…get paid to do it!

• Surround yourself with people who motivate you. Nobody likes hanging out with “debbie downer”. If your circle of friends don’t fill that void — constantly read the books or blogs of people that do, follow their presence online, subscribe to their podcasts.

• Do what works for you. Learn what works. Try out lots of things. Understand failure comes with the territory and you must persist.

• Get inspired. That moment of inspiration you get when your neurons “spark” you to do something or take action is what life is all about. Whatever it is that ignites that, do it. You can also never be to busy to search for inspiration. Make sure you are not only inspired, but inspired frequently. It can’t be every other month, strive to make it daily or at least weekly. Make post-it notes, put quotes on your bathroom mirror, send yourself reminders, setup alerts — you must foster an enviornment for inspiration. I personally have a fear of mediocricy and you should too.

• Make a “bucket list“. Toss in your bucket things that are personal and professional. Never mind how crazy the notion or idea, make sure you have a list. It’s only then after you’ve committed and identifyed these things, in which you then begin to step through and plan out how they can be achieved. Remind yourself instant gratification in completing your “bucket list” isn’t realistic… “We do what we have to do in order to do what we want to do.” The current tagline of my blog is very fitting to reference, “If at first the idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it”.

I love to write, communicate/interact with people, share and explore. At my roots, I consider myself an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs understand the “now” but live in the future. My own personal view of entrepreneuralism is having an inherent drive and personality to thrive on innovation and achievement. While the city I live in, Kansas City, may not be thought of as a place that breeds successful entrepreneurs in the Internet space (an honor usually left to the coasts) — I’m determined to make my mark.

Every endeavor I’ve embarked upon; web consulting, video blogging, photography, lifecasting on Justin.TV — they all started with single thought and the notion I can do it.

I’m excited to be here.

You should be too. Now you get out there. Explore. Dream. Discover.

“I’ve never viewed myself as particularly talented. Where I excel is with a ridiculous, sickening work ethic. “While the other guy’s sleeping, I’m working. While the other guy’s eating, I’m working. While the other guy’s making love, I mean, I’m making love, too, but I’m working really hard at it!”

“People want to deal with people …they trust human beings more than brands or institutions.”

I came across this great quote from Chris Baggott’s blog post — it really hit home in encapsulating where the shift of “trust” has moved to with people (specifically online).  Its amazing the power of word of mouth and more so the effect friends have on how we make decisions and assign credibility everyday.
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