Brian and I had a conversation earlier about how our natural entrepreneurial spirits have made us both stand out and feel separated from our peers. We know we have something special within us and are destined for greatness but at times we are left out of the "typical" activities our peers are involved in. How will your young entrepreneurial spirit save your business?
I used to question if I was enjoying my youth to the fullest. Between networking, business meetings, and research, it doesn't leave much time for anything else. As Brian and I discussed, when our peers are "enjoying their youth" we are working on projects or thinking of ways to optimize our opportunities. In a sense, even when I am out on a date or with friends I feel I have to optimize my time, lol. I believe it is the reap what you sow mentality. We have realized, if we're going to retire by 25 we have to put in the work at 20 and 21.
Don't misunderstand, I do know how to have a good time, as you may see from my features on YouTube (Keyword: RilaxUrMind). Tomorrow I am taking a trip to New York, with a couple friends, to see a play. And next week I have a few things scheduled in the nation's capital, including capitol visits and running on the mall lawn!
Having this mindset does many things including:
1) Opens up the door for limitless opportunities 2) Places you in a greater positions to help people 3) Sets you up for a relaxing future
To conclude, I disagree with the old adage that believes young people have the opportunity to make up for their mistakes in the future or we have all the time in the world to get things in order. I'm glad I have this young entrepreneurial spirit and know it will pay off in the end...I just have to find a more effective balance.
How will your young entrepreneurial spirit save your business?
I know two kinds of working people. Those who are happy to keep doing what they are doing for as long as they go undisturbed and those who are always looking for an opportunity to do something better! We won’t judge the former, but I like the second kind of person more.
In this day, people who switch jobs often are termed: “job-hoppers.” According to most sources, people aged 18 to 38 change jobs an average of 10 times (that’s once every 2 years!). This is not a bad thing if the changes lead to discovery of more engaging and more challenging opportunities. Change, is apparently quite good for maintaining the passion you have for what you do. The opportunity seekers understand this and some do it well.
In his article: It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Much You Want It, David Maister explains it this way:
If you truly want to succeed (and many people do not want it badly enough to make it happen) then you must never settle, never give up, never coast, never just accept what is, even if you are currently performing at a high level.
If what you have now isn’t what you dream (or dreamed) of, then you must keep looking, experimenting, and adapting. You must always search for the next thing you think you can feel passionate about, so that you will have a burning reason to show the discipline and drive that will distinguish you.
Once you have found something to try, you must then throw yourself into it and work at it with as much commitment as you can muster until you can answer three questions:
¨Is it as exciting as I thought it was going to be?
¨Is there a market for this? (Will anyone pay me to do it?) and
¨Can I make a contribution that others are not (yet) making?
All three must be present to succeed. If any component is missing you must move on.
I’m only on my first job in the real world and it’s a shame I’ll have to move forward because I quite like it here but as soon as my dream opportunity comes around, I’ll happily hop on that train!
Friday is the last day at my current job, well same office different position...you know how that goes. Nonetheless I went to lunch today with my division for a farewell celebration, at Elephant & Castle (I've been there twice in one week!!!!!) The lunch was awesome but the feeling was unbearable. A mixture of happiness and sadness mixed into one. With that bundled up inside how could one imagine wanting to move on to the next position. How will your new beginning allow you to soar past your current ending?
I have worked with the team for the last two years...in government terms it is about 5 lol. One of the things I mentioned in my brief farewell speech and will speak to on Friday during the official speech, is the learning experience. I briefly explained how I will be stealing from each of them (pause jaws dropped)...stealing from them in the sense of taking what I learned professionally and holding on to it! Also, thanks to them, I have the best head start any young professional can have in his career...except for maybe Chris Huges, Facebook.:-)
There are three things to keep in mind when exiting, transitioning, and beginning new beginnings:
1) Be thankful for the experience...and EXPRESS the gratitude! - there are many without jobs and experiences like your own 2) Don't burn any bridges - you never know when you'll see anyone again 3) Embrace the change and go into the new beginning with optimism like no other and the mindset of achievement and you will come out victorious.
A promotion is always awesome but when you're one to break the well oiled machine, it gets a little tough.
How will your new beginning allow you to soar past your current ending?
This week. I am taking time off. I am still engaging in various activities, but basically doing whatever I want to do. I am writing. I am cleaning. I am reading. I am resting. Resting is very important, that is why God commanded us to do it! In Armerican culture it is seen as a weakness to rest, and busyness is glorified. However, busyness does not equal success or importance. Busyness equals..well..busyness. I know plenty of busy people that are busy going nowhere. I dont want to be one of those people. I am taking extra time to make sure that I do not become one of those people. My problem is simple. I have too many interests and too many dreams, if that is possible. Right now that is the only way I can explain it. Many people have dreams, that never come to pass and scripture says " a dream deferred makes the heart sick". Many hearts have been stricken because of a lack of fulfillment. There are many reasons the dream may not have been fulfilled Perhaps:
1. Lack of Risk Taking 2. Social Pressure 3. Lack of Faith 4. Laziness 5. Procrastination 6. Lack of Focus.
I most identify with number 6 because , I have so many interests and talents that it is hard for me to focus. For instance, I am cleaning my room, sending emails, and writing this blog at the same time. And any second I will probably have a supposed brilliant thought or remember a task I forgot to do, and forget to actually post this. I am working on it this summer though. My three pillars for the summer are
1. Slow down, to speed up- Get back to basics 2. Focus- Focus on the actual task, and get it done before moving on 3. Discipline- Do what you say your going to do, keep your word to yourself first!
I met up with a friend earlier today after a few hours of studying. His his laptop in hand, he proceeded to show me a blog he was creating for himself. It was qute remarkable. Needless to say, I will be one of his subscribers as I think he has some brilliant things to tell the world.
I had a blog once too. It was not used for the purposes of putting professional opinions into the blogosphere, it was used to keep in contact with friends in far away places. So while I was with my friend tonight, I asked him to visit my blog as a treat of what my life was like 2004-2006. Those were my first 2 years of college and I had not made many friends as I missed my old friends too much. I was away from my home in South East Asia immersed in a completely different culture and the blog (in the absence of skype and the likes) was my way of keeping in touch.
Today, I am glad I have an archive of some of the thoughts and emotions I felt in various snapshot moments of my life in college. Blogging is not just for experts. Blogging gives everyone a chance to share their thoughts with multiple people at one time, to improve their writing by having to write often to stay accountable to readers. I think it's a mighty fine hobby and it keeps me looking out for interesting things to talk to others about and gather opinions about.
Are you a blogger or a blog follower? What other great advantages do you see in blogging?
As you have read; Brian, Omi, and I have been working feverously to build an online aid that will help young professionals communicate more effectively within the corporate environment.We’ve had many advances…and setbacks.Brian has been researching how to build the site, I’ve been building relationships with key players, and Omi has been studying the market.You would think that we never see each other, as we mention conference calls, constant emails, and even Tweets.While it has been a demanding, busy, worthwhile endeavor, last night we had the opportunity to break from our blackberries, twitter accounts, and emails to enjoy each other’s company not as business partners, but as true friends.How can time with your team, away from work, save your business?
Last week, while sitting in my D.C. office, I stumbled upon a “BREAKING NEWS” article that spoke of President Obama and Vice President Biden going to grab burgers.When I read that I was impressed, amazed, and grateful to know that even America’s top executives take the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and enjoy burgers, away from the monotony.
In true President and Vice President fashion; Brian, Omi, and I, accompanied by our Lasting Impressions CEO, Monica Reid, took to the streets of Washington, D.C. for a break from the office.We met at Elephant & Castle to break bread and enjoy each other’s company.The conversation spanned over topics from immigration reform, to religion, to the Bromantic ways of Brian and me.After dinner we all went for a stroll passed the White House, in hopes of the President walking Bo.
It is important for business partners, team members, and any working in general to take a breather from the office.It provides an opportunity to bond, relax from stresses from work and ultimately pursue the mission with a clear mind.
How can time with your team, away from work, save your business?
There was an article today about how right-brained people will rule this century. The argument in this article centered around right-brained people being able to think creatively in a way that the logical, fact-oriented, left-brained people are not able to think. I'm thinking, does this give right-brained people the edge career-wise?
I heard of a kid who got into Princeton by sending a shoe in instead of the required essay. He apparently got in. Then there was the lady who put her resume on a t-shirt and wore it around the place to get a job. I'm pretty sure that was hard to ignore. My only question? Why didn't I think of that?
For someone who appreciates the arts, I have little application for the arts in my daily events. Or do I? Could I find a creative way to put together a spreadsheet or spruce up a power-point that would wow the higher ups? If right-brained people have that going for them, it would be worth exploring thinking the way they do right? Hmmm... there's got to be a snag with this thing. There have been many-a-time when I have tried to allow my right-brain to have it's outside-the-box escapade and my left-brain has replied with a chiding: "No, no, what are you doing? That's not what sensible people do! Stop it!" This might require some training but it would be wise to allow myself on an adventure with the creative side of me sometime. Plus, people like those kinds of people, they seem to have a gravitational pull to themselves.
Are you predominantly right-brained or left-brained? How do you think your style works for or against you at work?
Did you know that current opportunities create new opportunities that benefit the current opportunities to create far greater new opportunities?Confusing right, I thought the same thing when it came into my fast paced entrepreneurial mind.I try to wrap my mind around how things happen the way they do.How I capitalized on the opportunity to volunteer over the weekend at a character education summit (I meet BILL COSBY!!), which lead to making new contacts, which lead to another great opportunity I can’t yet speak of.Or how I began partnering to build this site, which created an opportunity to be the New Media Strategist for a candidate in next year’s election, which will benefit our endeavor by exposing me to more social media techniques and networking opportunities.I am excited the New Media Strategist position.As you’ve seen, I attended the Politics Online Conference, and have been in and out of meeting, Tweeting, and Facebooking many social networking experts.Heading up this operation is going to be a challenge but I know it will all pay off in the end.
I will say one drawback to doors opening left and right would be time.I have to constantly change the way I am allocating my time to different projects (including my job and school), working out, and social outings.Brian and I will be meeting more this summer, so everything should be culture.
When you have the opportunity congratulate my partner @BrianCitizen (Tweet him!!!!) on his internship with social media giant New Media Strategies, in the Washington, D.C.
Did you know that current opportunities create new opportunities that benefit the current opportunities to create far greater new opportunities?
I am almost done with Exams in school. I did not get straight A's like I wanted to, but I think that my grades will come out ok. Yesterday I found out that I will be interning at New Media Strategies this summer, crafting campaigns for companies that want to be innovative in how they market their brand online! I actually set up the interview via Twitter....a twitterview if you will. I am loving what social media is doing right now and I plan to position myself to take full advantage of where it is going. Now that school is almost over I will be able to focus more on our project and do the things that need to be done. Also, I have been feeling better which has helped me be more productive! I am configuring our blog and coming up with new ideas to make it stand out in the crowd.
Working at New Media Strategies will also help with our endeavor by seeing the inner workings of online brand promotion. Companies are getting more comfortable in social space and I want to be one the people that helps them integrate successfully. Along with that opportunity, I had the opportunity to email one of my PhD professors in Marketing and consumer behavior about how we would correctly handle a survey. We are in the process of getting target market feedback to see how viable our idea is. We want to make sure that our questions are coherent and comprehensive. Stay tuned for our questions so that you can help us build something for you!
I think on the journey to greater things, there is some obvious excitement about what lies ahead. Yet, when I sold my 96' Fender Stratocaster (Electric Guitar) today, I missed it. In fact, I still miss it although I had not played it in nearly 6 years. I purchased an acoustic (which I have wanted for a while) with the money I got from my sale but I haven't quite gotten over my sadness over what was lost to be so excited about my new acquisition. This made me wonder... what will I miss about where I am now when I get to where I want to be?
Despite how much I want my dreams to come true, there are certain aspects of my life right now that I will miss when I move on. I expect the future to get busier and more complicated as it concerns working and relationships but I must say I will miss not having time to sleep in for fear that I might not have enough time to study when I am in Medical School. I will miss not being able to spontaneously take a weekend trip to see good friends...
On the brighter side of things, there will be much to appreciate about a new life. There will be the sense of peace that comes with knowing that I am doing exactly what I was made to do. There will be the satisfaction of seeing so much good come directly from my actions. Indeed, this is something to yearn for, something I must strive for, and with time, I should keep photographs of the old in a box and hold the new in my hand.
What will you miss about times in the past when your dream comes true?
Today I attended a Character Education Partnership Summit, with special guest Bill Cosby. This summit encourage increasing awareness and teaching of character education in schools, to ensure students understand what it means to have good character. At the networking portion of the summit I was working my way around the room and noticed I had run out of business cards. This was a positive and negative situation at the same time. Positive because I was shaking hands and working the room relentlessly, but negative because my networking and building relationships was somewhat put on a "professional hold". Business cards are used add a professional look and make for a quick follow up.
On Thursday, I had lunch with PR Prescriptions' Chief Blogger James Walker. As mentioned PR Prescriptions' goal is to advise companies of their PR strategies, in regards to Generation Y. He is a personable, inspiring, and intelligent young professional. We spoke on many issues including social media, the education status in D.C. public schools, and our current means of income. When I asked him about the best strategies for our endeavors, he advised:
1) Specifically identify our market: We said 18-24, when in actuality we need to expand the focus to probably about 28 2) Go to where the young professionals live: Which currently seem to be social networks 3) Begin looking to build strategic alliances with local job and recruiting sites before going worldwide
Of course, we will take that advice and run with it! Catch James Walker on Jun Loayza's videoblog at JunLoayza.com.
I gave James Walker a business card and we followed up with each other!...He gave me one too!
