Your email shouldn’t be your to-do list. Break that habit and it will change your world. Promise.

— Ramsey Mohsen (@rm) March 19, 2012

i have my own organizational tips and things i do to keep it together…

I’m going to learn to cook.
I want to read more books.
Give up TV.
I’m going to exercise more.
I’m going to wake up earlier.
Call a family member every day.

Resolutions come and go. But in order for you to make a change, you’ve got to work hard.

They say it takes 30-days to develop a new habit. And 30-days to break a habit.
So have you started yet? 30 days of dedication to do something. If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way.

Commit and do it. I’m in.

–

…yeah, you read that right. Let me share with you why.

It’s inevitable. Mondays come every week, no matter what happens over the weekend- it’s guaranteed to be staring you in the face 7 days from now. Here’s how I look at it:

A fresh start.

Mondays are a perfect chance to clear your mind and forget whatever happened last week that didn’t work. Tear-up and reset your to-do list. Get a fresh start with prioritizing what you really need to do. Don’t bring in the emotional or physical baggage you had last week into Monday. Forget it. Refocus.

No excuses.

There is no better day than Monday. If you truly want something bad enough (work or personal), it’s only you that can make it happen. Only you to blame. Only you to rely on. If you really want it badly, you’ll do something different and put it in your hands to make it happen.

Make it a priority.

I often get the question, “Where do you find the time?” The answer is: I make the time. I didn’t learn about things like video blogging, digital strategy, event planning, or photography in college. Or by taking instructional classes. I found the time by giving up a TV show here and there. Using days off like Memorial or President’s day to work on side projects. Skip the “big sports game” and take the time to experiment and learn. Use 1 day a week in the evening to focus on a project or furthering your education in a specific topic. Or steal 1 hour on the weekend to yourself or learn from other people smarter than you. It’s all about making time outside of your 9-5 job to do your homework.  Make it a priority- and piece it all together.

Don’t put it off.

Time is finite.

And life is too short.

If you don’t know where to start, it’s OK to stumble into the first step, you don’t always have to understand how it’s going to end or where it will go. I’ve observed from the most successful people I’ve met, they never over-think or over-analyze anything. They have a goal. They do everything they can now to get that much closer to achieving it. They also don’t stutter or pause on the path. They may shift- but they always continue.

I’ve always said the greatest possession you have is the 24-hours in front of you. Get inspired. Go do it now.
–

I thought it was just us adults, that would be teaching the kids new things- but what actually happened was the kids today taught me something too. (stick with me here, I promise this blog post isn’t that cheesy, okay?)

Kids truly are a fascinating study.

Their youthful passion, energy, and bi-polar personalities are overflowing. It can be contagious …and exhausting. But the one thing that literally put a smile-on-my-face-so-big-it-hurt, was the positive and brightened spirits that everyone in the office experienced. You could walk desk to desk and see the subtle grins everyone had on their faces. You would look at each other, and without exchanging words, you knew already what the other was thinking in their head. Which was something like, “We’re supposed to act like they’re not here, but it’s hard not to ignore the kid spinning himself in the office chair behind you. Hilarious.”

Now I’m not saying we work in a boring office. Yes, we sit behind computers. And yes, we attend those same meetings you do in corporate-land. But for the most part, our culture is relaxed and fun. Yet, these kids today really reinvigorated everyones spirits.

But this is what hit me the hardest…

Throughout the day, kids would come into our section of the office and say hi. Or they’d shoot some hoops with the new mini-basketball goal we purchased (not kidding). And I observed a common thread when talking to them.

…their sense of wonder.

Everything (and i do mean everything) had their attention. Things that normally we pass off as just something you do or see everyday, they were fascinated with it. And when they would ask questions, they really wanted to know the answer. It was this sense of wonder that hit me the hardest, realizing it is “the thing” we all lose with age. Naturally, it makes sense that as we learn and experience life over time, the emotion of wonder is something we experience less frequently.

Observing the kids today (and hearing them literally scream periodically throughout the day) it’s obvious they all are fueled by this high-octane passion for life. And the world to them is amazing. They’re filled with wonder. And it’s this- almost palpable emotion- that stuffed the office today from wall to wall.

“Wonder” is something I personally believe can still exist within all of us …but it requires some work. It takes things like surrounding yourself with people are smarter than you. And people who motivate you (and supporting them in return). You must embrace what you’re passionate for in life. And being not only inspired, but inspired frequently. But it’s only *you* that can foster an environment around you that does all this. And there’s no better time to start than now. I personally have a fear for mediocrity, and you should too.
–

So what happens when you takeaway someone’s cell phone?
You would think people become anxious. Right? And, perhaps it also might give people the jitters (her initial theory). But actually, when using a biofeedback meter, she found something different…

“I found addictive tendencies in my subjects. They almost went through withdrawal symptoms. And the way that I like to explain that is that cell phones and other sorts of technology are very inherently stimulating. And so when you take them away, a kid becomes understimulated, and almost doesn’t know how to entertain himself.”

There is something we can learn from this.

Other than the painfully obvious truth, that this study explains why we are addicted to these shiny object devices (i’m guilty) …there is another learning here. If we are constantly stimulating ourselves with these bright, backlit screen phones, are we allowing ourselves to experience the real life moments in front of us? We should never let technology take over experiencing every real life moment.

Or worse yet, it’s likely we don’t realized that because smart phones are inherently stimulating, we are not letting our minds wander, with empty moments to organize our thoughts, our lives and enabling our brains to be creative. My best ideas have never come while sitting at a desk, or in a conference room. What about you? They certainly have not come when trying to quickly send a Tweet while waiting for the elevator.

Relax your mind and let your conscious be free.

(that’s a Warren G rap lyric, BTW) On a weekly basis, I force myself to have time in which I’m doing things that are unproductive and not filled with stimulation from TV, computers or other technology. I’m not talking about therapy sessions or anything. It’s things like running for me (when you mute the music). Or sitting in silence for the 5-minutes after I wake-up. And recently, I’ve found that after working out, the sauna for some reason has been my go-to-place for letting my mind wander, decompressing …and every time I go, I’m coming up with new ideas or getting clarity of things that have been on my mind.

You have to learn how to control the technology. Do not let the technology control you.

And make time to be unproductive. Even if it’s for 5-minutes here and there. No TV. Intentionally do nothing. Your mind will thank you for not forcing a screen in-front of your face, just to watch Modern Family or make your move on the Words With Friends App.
–

“Playing to the level of your competition” is a phrase I first learned because my high school soccer coach used to yell at me about it. And much like my soccer team back in high school, it requires a team effort to step their game up. (And the “coach” still matters in the workplace. It always starts at the top.) That said, in the workplace- I’m seeing how when you surround yourself with others who are smarter than you …how it drives you to play up.

My point is, there is something to be said about the human interaction you have with others- when plugged into the right system + with the right people, it allows you to actualize your potential <– and that’s the best place to be. Right?
–

I like to glance at Mark Zuckerberg‘s (i like to call him Zucky) own Facebook profile + wall every once and a while, just to see what has his attention (annnnnd it’s not always thrilling, recently he “Liked” miniature pencil art <– but who can blame him, it’s pretty damn cool).

But it got me to thinking, if I sent him a message- what would I say? His platform decisions are affecting the world. Arguably reaching more people on a daily basis than even the President (in a much different way of course).

So.

What would you say?
What would you tell him?

He thinks that the best way to say “Thank You”, is to send them a hand-written card. 100% of the time.

My take is that the message that someone writes or sends to me is all that matters. It’s all about what they say. Not how they sent it. I could care less if they email it, Tweet it, post it on Facebook, or carve it in stone …it’s the sentiment in the message that they’re writing. I’ll be able to tell if what they’re writing is just fluff or obligatory words vs. sharing true, genuine and thoughts.

So who is right?

I’ll add, that I’m not opposed to sending Thank You cards. I still send them. But again, it’s the message that matters most. I make a conscious choice on how to send it based on the person I’m sending it too.

[Bonus Thoughts] As social media technologies continue to be used more and more for communication and interactions, does the medium or platform matter as much? How much of a role does the way it’s delivered matter anymore? Or has the bar been raised for all of use to be better writers with the words we use, because the proliferation of new channels?

What do you think? Who is right?
The comments are yours…
–

My theory behind the “2-of-3 rule” is simple…

As long as a person is happy with 2 of the 3 criteria (listed below), …they will be comfortable and satisfied with their job. However, if things change, in which only 1 of 3 things are being met from these criteria, then a person will leave their job or have extreme dissatisfaction with their career (and over time, eventually will leave).

Here are the 3 criteria for my “2-of-3 rule”:

#1.) Money you earn.
Are you getting paid enough? Every one has an opinion on this. You might be getting paid well, or you might not. Again, this is only 1 of the factors in the 3 part equation.

#2.) People you work with.
Do you enjoy who you work with? Do you really value the people you have to interact with every day (this includes your clients or customers).

#3.) The work you are doing.
Is the work you do each day something that you truly love? Are you a 5PM clock-watcher because you can’t stand what it is you do for work?

Given those 3 criteria, you can test it with different scenarios. I’m willing to bet that if you are satisfied with 2-of-3 of the criteria, you’ll stick with your job (and if you are happy with all 3, then you’re in a great place). Only when you get knocked down to 1-of-3 will you jump ship.

Some examples with the rule applied:

• You might not be making much money, but if you really love your job and the people you’re working with…
• If you making a ton of money and love the work you’re doing, it can be just enough to avoid and deal with the annoying people you work with…

Try it yourself.

See?

I can’t explain why my “2-of-3 rule” works (i think it applies to everyone). It forces you to break-down the root elements of how satisfied you are with your job.

I could be wrong. Am I? What say you?
–

So it got me to thinking.

I sit in a lot of meetings and situations that required me to present ideas or plans. Within the past year, I made a deliberate effort to remove from my vocabulary and phrases of uncertainty like “I’m not sure if you’ll think this is a good idea…” or “you might not like this idea but…”

…there’s something to be said about giving yourself a chance, by first giving yourself a chance.

Take those same phrases and replace them with ones like, “I have this great idea to tell you” or “I have this great story to tell you.” Or more subtle, “I have something you should consider.”

…see the difference?

Give yourself a chance. Don’t sell yourself short. If you’re leading the conversation with uncertainty, you may think you’re coming across as being humble, but you’re more than likely doing yourself a disservice. Speak with confidence when you are telling a story or presenting an idea. If the way you present your thoughts are uncertain, why should anyone rally behind your idea? In short speak with conviction and enthusiasm, it makes all the difference.

(btw, i couldn’t stop laughing at the Jack Donaghy photo when I found it- i felt it was appropriate for the blog post)
–

No excuses.
Amber explains a simple truth about resolutions, “I can do this, today and every day, if I want it badly enough …change is in your hands, and if you want to do something differently, you can. No one is going to do it for you.” >> more here

The right way to write goals.
Chris provides some great advice about how to write down your goals. He advises that they should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely). Without following this structure, you don’t have a way to reflect if you “did” or “did not” achieve your goals.

Throw away your TV.
Gary Vee tells us that we need to “stop watching LOST” (or more appropriately for this time of year, NFL football or The Bachelor). Why give it up? Use your free time to do your homework. Give up 1 or 2 things each week, or each day (e.g. a TV show) and use that time to plan, study, and just plain DO whatever it is that gets you closer to your goals.

New Year’s “fresh start” is rubbish.
…it’s true (this is my advice). It should not take an event that only happens 1-time a year to make a change to better your life. Aristotle once said, “We are what we frequently do”. If 3 months from now, you’ve realized priorities have shifted, switch-up your routines and systems. Don’t get caught in a rut.

Don’t put it off.

Time is finite.

And life is too short.

If you don’t know where to start, it’s OK to stumble into the first step, you don’t always have to understand how it’s going end or where it will go. Often, I’ve observed from the most successful people I’ve met, they never over-think or over-analyze anything. They have a goal. They do everything they can now to get that much closer to achieving it. They also don’t stutter or pause on the path. They may shift, but they always continue.

I’ve always said the greatest possession you have is the 24-hours in front of you. And there are 361 more “fresh starts” you have in front of you now.  Get inspired.  Go do it now.
–

I then remembered a quote I once read at Starbucks while waiting for my coffee… (i know, it’s pathetic that I found this quote @Starbucks, but it’s still a great quote)

I’m intrigued by successful individuals who are affecting greater change in the world. A common thread I’ve observed with these types of people, is they’ve always persevered through the odds, critics, their own failures and difficult circumstances. “Success” didn’t come on their first try. Or their second. Most 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. They’ve followed their heart and intuition.

Dream and dream big.

We’ve all heard that phrase before. If you don’t- you’re going through life operating with nothing to reach for. Everyone has dreams, no matter how old you are.

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

That is my 2 cents. Who’s with me?

–

Some people don’t know how to start meaningful conversations anymore because they hide in their gadgets in public social situations.

Put down your phone.

Look up. Look around you.
Say hi to someone and smile.
Start a conversation with a stranger.
Experience the moment in front of you, don’t take a picture with the camera on your phone.

Don’t let the technology control you.

Do you get my point?

–

“What do you do for a living?”

This is the question everyone asks, to strike up conversation. And whether you like to admit it or not, when you ask this question, you then make judgements from the answer they respond with. Unfair assumptions on their wealth, personality, experiences and values.

That sucks.

Why do we make these judgments from 1 answer about their job?

I recently was on a plane in this very situation. I asked the question to the person sitting next to me, “What do you do?” He told me he sold industrial equipment. However, when I asked him what he did, I noticed he struggled with his response. He shifted in his seat and sighed. I then asked him, “What do you really want to do for work?” He paused, and I nervously waited for him to respond, not knowing if I may have offended him. It turns out he would rather own his own business and open a restaurant. After talking to him longer, I realized he was actually a really interesting person with a lot of passion for things that had nothing to do with his job. I was almost embarrassed for asking about it first.

So perhaps the lesson here is leading with the question “What do you do?” isn’t always the best policy. I hate that we do this. Too much judgement is inadvertently placed all on this 1 question. It’s the wrong way to start a conversation. And there’s always awkward moments and pauses after you ask the question.

There are easier ways to start conversation with people you meet. Like, asking where someone is from, or what the best AND worst part of their week has been (not how are you doing …that’s too generic, you won’t get an honest answer from most people). What has your attention right now? Perhaps I should just ask, what are you passionate about in life? It would certainly make you think of a good answer. You’d jump into a real conversation and perhaps avoid the surface chit-chat crap.

I’m going to challenge myself to avoid asking the job question from now on. Perhaps I’ll enforce a “break glass for an emergency” rule in using it. I just don’t see the benefit in leading with it. Even if you’re only interested in networking, most sales professionals tell you to establish the relationship first, then sell.

What do you think?
Do you agree? Do you struggle with this too?

Do you see my point?
–

“Getting old only sucks if you let it suck.”
@Jason

Well said Jason.

Every year that you get a little older, I’ve noticed people just complain and blame whatever it is they’re not doing or wish they were doing …all because of their age. You can see it in their eyes, they seem jaded from experiences and old age. Yet in retrospect, I’ve met several people in life that have proved age does not matter. They seem younger than ever, extremely motivated for life and out taking on the world.

Which leads me to believe…

Age is nothing but a number. The people who play the complain and blame game of not being able to do something because “their time has passed” is rubbish. There’s no better time than right now.

Take for example something that happened to me this year. I made a pact with my closest friends to go sky diving. I jumped (and survived). After my jump I threw a high-five to the next guy who was jumping after me. Guess how old he was? He had just turned 80-years old (it was his birthday). His family was there, talking about how excited and alive more than ever he was …even at age 80.

A couple years ago, a friend shared with me this quote…

“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

Everyone has dreams, no matter the stage in life you are in (young and old). So I say, dream and dream big. Do you have your inspiration? Are you acting upon these and moving forward?

I’m excited to be here. You should be too. Now you get out there. Explore. Dream. Discover.
–

We should never let technology take over experiencing every real life moment.

While these awesome devices like our iPhones and FlipVideos can do incredible things, it doesn’t mean we should always obsess over trying to capture everything all the time. Recently, I was reading blog post by Mitch Joel, in which he was discussing a different topic, email- and referring to it as a technology. He writes, “You have to learn how to control the technology. Do not let the technology control you.”

What a fantastic way to say it.

In my opinion, this means…

• Know when to put the iPhone down at dinner and just talk to the person in front of you.
• Don’t use your phone as a crutch or easy way out from having to strike up conversation with strangers in a public place.

Life isn’t meant to be experienced through a screen.

Now, I’m sure many of you are reading this thinking everything I’m saying here is hypocritical given it’s coming from me (and how ironic, given your reading this on my blog or Facebook right now). Fair enough. But I still mean it. And I make a conscious effort to know how to experience moments AND still satisfy my geek/nerd cravings with my tech gadgets. Am I perfect at it? Heck no. But I try very hard.

I’ve always said social media is most powerful when it is used to augment existing relationships or create real interactions with new people of like interests. The same statement is true for technology in general. It’s important to understand how to live in the moment and not get lost in the technology.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Now put away your phone, iPad and computer and go talk to your mother in-law

**UPDATE**
Some of my readers have pointed me to some fantastic blog posts and articles about this topic:

1.) Chris Brogan blogs and shares, “If you’re looking at your phone and not me, you’re saying, “You’re not as important as these people who aren’t here with us right now.” If you’re checking your phone while we’re talking, you’re saying, “I really don’t care what you’re talking about.” [more here]

2.) NPR posted a fantastic article/POV on, The iPhone I Can’t Keep In My Pants. Dave Pell writes, “I captured some digital snapshots, but missed the moment. We walk around with what seems like infinite access in our pockets and yet we often experience our lives through two-inch screens.” [more here]

3.) TechCrunch published a good piece on checking your phone at dinner.

–

In this time, I’ve noticed + learned 3 common traits that all these people share, that make them great leaders.

1.) Great leaders are incredible storytellers.
The ability to captivate an entire room when they speak comes naturally. They command your attention 1-on-1, in personal conversations. It’s having the ability to take any topic or subject and tell a great story. Whether they are talking about what they did this weekend, or a project or new idea they have, leaders have the ability to structure a great story out of anything. Often, they can make you feel like they’re talking directly to you (and not addressing a big group). It’s powerful. And great leaders do this well.

I’ve also noticed, the best storytellers speak with passion. People can’t help but listen when you speak with passion. There is authenticity. It’s believable. There is a difference. And people can tell.

2.) …they remember everyone, including *your* name.
Often people dismiss that fact that they’re too busy or they meet too many people to remember everyone. I think that’s rubbish. One of the best character traits a great leader can have, is just to remember people’s names. While it’s simple to say, but hard to do, there’s no denying that it’s impressive when a person just remembers who you are, even if they’ve only met you once.

3.) No classical training is required.
I’m always curious to find out the background of great leaders and “how they got there”. 9 times out of 10, I’ve noticed the most successful people are not classically trained. They didn’t go to Harvard or Yale. They may not even have an MBA or advanced education at all. No book or six sigma formula was followed to get them to where they are. More often than not, great leaders just make things happen for themselves. Often they go against the norms. And at some point in their life (or many), they took a big risk to try something …and it paid off.

When I was growing up, my dad taught me that I should always be open to learning new things. No matter who you are, what you’ve accomplished or experienced …everyone and everything can teach you something.

I haven’t forgot that advice from my dad. Every morning I wake up anxious to start my day more motivated than the next. I’m determined to make my mark.

So what do you think makes a great leader?

What have you’ve observed?

Any advice you have to share?

–

Or share as much excitement for anything like this guy?

A great blog post dropped-in my Tweet stream from Trent, who shared, “If you want to succeed in life, stop relying on your future self to take care of things. Now.”

Well said Trent.

Videos like this, while funny and hilarious at their face value- they are a reminder that passion counts. It makes all the difference. If you do anything in life with this much passion, you’re destined for success.

• The greatest possession you have is the 24-hours in front of you.
  (And listen to Trent, take care of things. Now.)
• Embrace what you are passionate about in life. Once you find that — don’t just be good at it, strive to be the best. Be better than anyone at it. Be remarkable at it.

I’m determined to make my mark. How about you?
–

I was with two of my co-workers, and when we were leaving, we mistakenly picked up what we thought was “free”. It was wrapped in a napkin placed next to the mints. As we were walking to the car, we realized we actually picked up something that was actually for sale. It was a plastic “lobster magnet”. Our better judgment got to us, and we all agreed we should give them back. So, we turned around and went back inside. Things actually turned out pretty laughable- we joked with the restaurant employees and actually ended up purchasing one of the lobster magnets.

On the car ride back to the hotel, I remember thinking about what it meant to “do the right thing”? For me personally, I knew it meant a lot. But what I realized through this silly “lobster magnet mix-up” was that I also held in high regards the value of knowing my co-workers did the same. I felt this sense of warm glowing pride knowing the company I work for, as well as my friends all were aligned with such a personal belief.

I, certainly am far from being perfect. I attribute everyone from my friends, my parents to Mrs. White from my days of Student Council VP in high school, as all people who have influenced and shaped what it means to “do the right thing”.

…and it means a lot. It’s that piece of your character of what you do when you think no one else is looking.

–

NFL Draft

Somewhere in between watching the emotional reactions of the families and players, to hearing the coaches excitement in their voices speaking on their newest draft pick…

…I started thinking about what a galvanizing event the NFL Draft is for a team.

Think about it. So much faith and motivation is behind this 1 person being selected for the team. This underlying “hope” that this 1 person will change things, and make things better.

It’s incredible to think about the high value that is placed on 1 person.

I started extrapolating these thoughts…

• Do businesses understand the total effect of 1 person? 1 human; not software, not a system. How a new hire can effect not only their everyday business but shape the culture? Leaders within businesses could also learn something from the NFL in the sense that the “socialization” of adding a new hire is important, so the entire team feels comfortable and confident of how they fit in.

• I also started thinking about how 1 person does have the power to change any team in my life. I’m on several teams already; the company I work for is a team, I play on an indoor recreational soccer team, the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party steering committee is a team …all these teams are in my life.

The NFL draft reminded me that 1 person can make a difference on any team or organization. And the selection of a team member shouldn’t ever be taken lightly or undervalued. The same is true about integrating and socializing a new team member in your life. What’s your take?

–

I’ve skied for many years with my friends and family- and it’s comfortable. It’s in no way an intimidating sport for me. Prior to this trip I had always wondered what snowboarding was like. I knew that sticking with skiing would be the “easy thing to do”. The thought of starting new again and having to learn new things …it was overwhelming. What if I suck at it? Does that make me a failure? Why not stick with skiing since I know how-to already? Nevertheless, I committed myself to learning how to snowboard and told myself, “I’m doing this, no excuses.”

I wanted to learn something new.

And guess what happened? I had the time of my life learning how to snowboard and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to skiing. (I also want to mention how great it was to have one of my best friends, Adam, teach me how to snowboard)

As I’m getting older, I’m beginning to think that life inconveniently gets in the way of learning new things. New experiences seem to be harder to “schedule” or “find the time to do”.

That sucks.

The rich sense of fulfillment you get from new experiences is one of the best things in life, IMHO. Finding time to do this, I think, is essential- and anything else is negligent.

Are you finding the time to make sure you try new things? Or are you quick to make excuses? It’s easy to find reasons not to try new things or tell yourself you just don’t have the time.

Think of the things you’ve always wanted to try, make a list. Then figure out ways in which you can do them- what steps you have to take in order to do it. Ask smarter people who can help you in achieving them.

Now you get out there. Take advice from my friend Matt, who once told me, “Explore. Dream. Discover.”

–

It is eloquently, inspiring and well delivered.

I’ll stop here, because I worry I’ll ruin the brilliance in her delivery. Just watch it already.
…don’t forget to share your thoughts on her speech in the comments section.

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

…inspiration can strike us in the strangest ways (like looking down at a sweetheart, sitting on your desk.).

This one happened to catch my attention, at work, when I was eating some leftover candy from Valentine’s Day. 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, “have the right attitude.” Adding to that, I say; have the right attitude about inspiration.

Inspiration can’t be episodic. Find a way to be inspired frequently.
Read books, blogs, listen to speeches, podcasts, TV programs of people that truly motivate you.  Surround yourself with friends that motivate you. 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 never be to busy to search for inspiration. Make sure you are not only inspired, but 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 the right environment. I personally have a fear of mediocrity and you should too.

Each dose of inspiration fades, but once you figure out how to continual reignite that spark — it’s addictive… in a GREAT way.

So that’s my take… what’s yours? How do you get motivated?
–

I came across a short video of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, it’s the 2nd largest aquarium in the sea. Watch the video (make sure the HD is on if your computer can handle it, the clarity is stunning).

When you’re watching, I couldn’t help but think and appreciate the beautiful “other” world that exists on our planet, the sea. This video is incredible because it captures the amazing diversity of all these species all coexisting …in this one giant fish tank.

Yes, everyone is in full swing of the fast paced start to the new year (i’m guilty), but occasionally we need to make time to slow down, step back and appreciate the beauty all around us.

[record scratch]

I know, I know cheezy stuff …but perhaps I was brainwashed by James Cameron after watching Avatar in 3D, but I mean it. Make sure you’re not moving to fast to lose sight of the beauty right in front of you. Or in this case, right below us.

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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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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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“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

The philosophy and motivation that is encapsulated in this quote is truly what I believe life is all about. That said, the photo you see below is myself and a friend of mine, Morgan. Recently, she had asked if I would donate my photography services to take photos at a 5k benefit race (supports brain cancer, www.headforthecure.org). The mere action of asking me to take photos prompted several thoughts in my head- much deeper than the sterile face value of just the simple one question.

Let me explain. Two years ago, the idea of “photography” was just a shelved hobby that seemed to be far from reality. It was “wish list” hobby- that required me to dedicate time I didn’t have. However, several things all happened in a short amount of time that made me realize I want the most out of life and am looking to spend my time where it makes the most impact. Mark Twain’s quote cites “Explore. Dream. Discover.” which was a motto I instantly adopted then and took off running with it. So I quickly figured out how to finance and purchase the camera and became as resourceful as I could in regards to learning as much as I could about photography (I’m an amateur at best, but I’m improving). I practiced, practiced, practiced (still am) and quickly realized how much I loved the challenge and joys of photography.

All that said- when my friend Morgan had asked me to take photos, it was a “come to fruition” moment that I’m proud of. Two years ago I had set forth personal goals and now have accomplished many of them, one of them being taking up photography as a hobby. Furthermore, taking the time to help others is now both an addiction and something I personally enjoy- and it provides me with a rich sense of fulfillment knowing I’m truly helping those in need (e.g. www.kcsweaterparty.com). It was an indirect compliment that I had matured my photography skills far enough along that Morgan asked for my services- and it’s even more fulfilling that I can take my new found hobby + skill and use it for good to help others.

So now I’ll turn this around to ask you- do you have your inspiration? Are you actively acting upon these and moving forward with your goals? I hope your answer is yes.

I’m excited to be here.

You should be too. Now you get out there. Explore. Dream. Discover.
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In Eric’s speech, he says, “Live your life and forgo your plans- and you can also forgo fear.”

It’s important to not stop yourself from doing something because you’re unsure on it’s possible outcome. Not knowing how it will “end” shouldn’t be reason to stop you from trying it. Far too often do people cross things off their list or dismiss their ideas because they think of 1 negative possible outcome. Figure it out, don’t hold back from trying something, learn from it, tweak, then keep trying again.

Originally I thought the idea of “do not have a plan” was a ridiculous notion- but I’ve realized that I have adopted and practiced this myself already. Personally, when I started blogging, shooting my video blogs, trying out photography or started planning the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party benefit- I did not have experience, a road map with instructions, or even the slightest clue where it would end. And I still don’t. But I do have more information now than I did before- which has influenced what step to take next. More importantly, not knowing outcome to each of these activities didn’t stop me from trying.

For people who are linear thinkers and require rationale for everything, it’s hard to exercise this “no plan” mindset. But, I believe John Lennon got it right when he wrote, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
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