You can choose to have a great day today!
Today’s message is short and sweet.
Have a nice day.
Do not let anyone take your smile away.
No not today.
Do not give in to bad news, spread good news.
You can choose.
You can choose to have a great day today!
Have a nice day, today
How to find the job you want! The Three Types of Jobs in your career.
How to find the job you want! The Three Types of Jobs in your career.
Are you looking for a job? Have you found a job and you are not happy? Are you looking for a Career? Most of us will change jobs to make more money, or because the job we had has been transitioned or lost due to the ups and downs of the economy. We will search the want ads and the jobs boards and interview any number of times as a working adult. While you are looking for a job you need to realize there are really only three types of jobs in your career; the job you have, the job you need and your dream job.
The Job you have.
Do you have a job? If not, then you need to find any job. Stop looking for your dream job. We live in a “What have you done for me lately” society. The job you need right now may not be the job you want, more on that later; If you do not have a job, take any job you can find that does not put your life in danger or have you doing anything illegal or immoral.
The job you have right now is the foundation of your career. The job you have right now will supply some kind of income to make living possible. It may not be the job you want, but it will at least give you something to put on your resume and also give you some kind of reference. The job you have may not be your dream job, but it is a start. If you are not working, find a job; any job.
Most of us when looking for a job are looking for the job we want. We should be looking for the job we need. Let’s say I want to be the Guitar Player for the Beatles Reunion Tour. Well unless Paul and Ringo decide to tour together, I am barking up the wrong tree. Also, if I am not known as the Preeminent Second Coming of George or John, why would they hire me for the job? Sometimes the job we want does not exist. Other times the job we want is a real stretch to say the least. Now let’s say that I am a really good Beatles Songs Session Player, I may have to start or settle for playing in a Beatles Tribute Band. Now if I am not working as a musician, I need to start, get a gig, any gig and get my name out there. If I do not have a job, the job I need is any job. If I have a job, say as a plumber, then the job I need is a steady gig as a musician.
The job you have pays the bills and gives you a chance at the job you need. The job you need gives you the experience to be ready for the job you want. Let’s say I want to own a bank. I may have to take a job as a bank teller, and then try to get a job as a bank manager, so I can be in line to open a bank one day. Say I want to be President of the United States. Unless my name is very well known, I may have to start out running for the local school board or working on another person’s campaign. Once I get the a job any job, then the job I need may be running for a higher position like city council or becoming a campaign manager. First I need a job, any job. If I have a job; then I need to look for a job that will give me the experience to be in line for the job I want.
Sometimes you are next in the line for your dream job. Then the job you have is the job you need. This is the time that life is pretty good. People may offer you jobs that you don’t want while you are waiting for a shot at the job you do want. Keep your focus. The job you need gives you experience for the job you want.
Sometimes the job you have will not get you in line for the job you want or even the job you need. This is a great time to volunteer nights or weekends in a place where you can get the experience you need and build a network of references. If you try to volunteer at a place and they don’t want your help, move on to the next place. Someone out there is looking for what you can bring to the table, it may not be the first place you call or walk into.
Do you have a job? If yes then the job you need is the one that will get you more experience. If you do not have a job, then the job you need is any job that does not break the law or comprise your morals and principals. Are you in line for the job you want? If yes, then do a great job at the job you have. Help others be good at their job. Be the go to person that makes things better for everyone. If you are not in line for the job you want, expand your search. Do you need to go back to school, or attend some workshops? Can you volunteer somewhere to get the skills you need to be considered for the job you want?
Do you have the job you want? How will you know? You will know because you like what you are doing and you can get ahead of your bills. You will know because you are helping others be successful and you can control your destiny. You will know because other job offers do not appeal to you. This is also true when you are working at the job you need. You will feel needed and appreciated and you will feel like you are growing and learning. You will feel ready and able to take the next job, your dream job when called upon; and the people around you will feel like you are the right choice for your dream job when it comes open. When you are really on top of your game, someone may create a position just for you, or you may start your own business doing what you always dreamed of doing.
If Paul and Ringo called me up and needed a guitar player, I would ask them for a list of songs and jam all night to be ready to go first thing tomorrow. It would be a little late to not know how to play the guitar or not even have one to play. So the real question is how do I get on that short list?
So let’s recap. If you do not have a job; take any job that you kind find and build up your references. Volunteer while you are searching, network and someone may help you find that first job. If you have a job but you need more experience; volunteer somewhere or attend classes or workshops to gain the experience you need for the job you want. Find the job you need that will put you in line for the job you want. Don’t’ take it for granted. Be thankful for each day you are given and make the most of it.
Would have, Could have and Should have:
Would have, Could have and Should have:
How many times have you heard these before? How many times have you said these before? I would have, I could have, I should have; are they just excuses for what we wanted to do or needed to do but were maybe too afraid or too distracted or just too busy? These words are a trap, they maybe make us feel better for a little while, but nothing changes; we did not do the thing we wanted to do or even worse, we did not do the thing we needed to do.
Stop saying I would have, stop saying I could have and stop saying I should have; start saying I will, and then actually make time to try. It is better to say I tried and failed than to not try. It is even better to say I tried and failed and here is what I learned than to once again not try. It is better to say I tried, I failed, here is what I learned and I will try again than to not try.
Stop saying “Would have” “Could have” and “Should have” they are a trap to make you feel better about doing nothing new or different. If you do not try you will not learn. Start saying I will study, learn, try and learn more by doing. Find the time.
You could have, you should have; these words are piercing when they come from others. No one likes being told what they could have or should have done. How about Try this, or Try that? Why not offer positive advice and take away the negative overtures. You cannot do things for others, they have to learn for themselves. But you can be part of their learning experience through mentoring and coaching. Giving people suggestions is tough; you have to find the way they need to hear it to receive it. Could have and should have are too after the fact. Let’s try this and let’s try that are a more easily received and are before the fact. Time hunts us all, but as long as we are alive we have time. We have time to try something new. Study Learn, Try Learn More and Mentor to learn even more.
We could have, we should have stings a little less, but they are not as strong as we can and we will. We can and we will mean that we are in this together. Are you ready to Mentor, Coach and Team with someone for more than just your success? Are you ready to Try and Fail as a Team or are you only a Team when you Win? I am still looking for the magic formula. I have tried and failed at many things, I have tried and succeed at others. I am trying to learn from my failures and teach others my successes; again, I am still looking how to be a good mentor and a good coach and make sure I am lending a helping hand as often as I can.
Would have, Could have and Should have are weak compared to This is how you do it! Telling people to do something is not often received well, showing people how to do something is always better. Showing people, hands on mentoring and coaching is a win – win situation for everyone involved. The person being coached learns something new and the person coaching learns from another perspective. It may take a little more time than the “do it myself” approach, it may take a little more time in the beginning, but when two people can work together; they can get a lot more done than if they are working separately. Teamwork does not happen by accident, it happens because someone took the time to build the team in the first place. You see teamwork gets a bad reputation when people do not see the efforts of the mentors and coaching in a way they can understand.
Here is how you do it, let’s do this together, try this and I will you help you the best I can; these words are so much stronger than would have, could have and should have. We can and we will, I can and I will mean your will try again. It is ok to try and fail, but it is not ok to not try and it is even worse to not learn. Study, learn, try and learn more and then succeed; “Would have” “Could have” and “Should have” do not lead to success. Here let me help you, Let’s try this, We can and We will are the way to find the success you are looking for! I can and I will, you can and you will, we can and we will; Let’s try this together!
Crazy does not mean dumb.
Crazy does not mean dumb.
Have you ever been called crazy? Have you ever had an idea that was so far out there, people thought you had lost your mind? Have you ever wanted to shake things up and try something that had never been done before, or put a new spin on the same old song and dance? Have you wanted to be the one that helps other’s when no one else will? I am taking about the positive sense of the word crazy. I have blogged about the fact, that if no one has called you crazy you are not trying hard enough.
So let’s think about crazy. Maybe you want to build your own airplane, or maybe you want to walk on the moon, or maybe you want to escape bondage and then help others do the same. People may call you crazy. I am sure they will, but will you let that stop you?
I am sure they called Neil Armstrong crazy. I am sure they called the Wright Brothers Crazy. I am sure they called Harriet Tubman crazy. Who are they anyway? Don’t listen to them. Listen to that little voice inside of you that tells you that you can do it, listen when it means helping others and helping change the world for the better. Crazy does not mean dumb; crazy means you may change the world one day.
I am sure that as a kid Neil Armstrong told people he was going to walk on the moon one day. I am sure that people called him crazy. Many people had tried to reach the moon and failed. Little by little, more and more was learned from each failure, until one day there was successful space launches and then the first successful trip to the moon, and even more remarkably a successful return trip to earth to go with it. How many people still think that man has never been to the moon? That is crazy! Crazy does not mean dumb, crazy means you may walk on the moon one day!
And before we went to the moon, we had to learn to fly. For many, many years people have dreamed of flying. I am sure many people had tried many times to invent flying machines. Before the Wright Brothers, people used Hot Air Balloons and Gliders; but to be the first to build an Airplane, I am sure that meant people called them crazy all the time. I am sure they tried and they failed, and with each failure they learned. Can you imagine a world without airplanes now? Because of the Wright Brothers and all the crazy people who came before them the modern economy depends on air travel with thousands of airplanes taking off and landing safely every day. I have been half way around the world twice thanks to air travel and I know people who are afraid to fly, I think that is crazy! Crazy does not mean dumb, crazy means you may learn to fly one day!
So maybe your dreams are not about walking on the moon, or flying in an airplane. Maybe you dream of freedom. Maybe you dream of freedom from bills or freedom from bondage. Many people once they are free vow to never return to from which they came. Imagine if your life was in danger, and you went back to the land where you were held captive. Harriet Tubman not only escaped slavery, but made 13 return trips to help others escape bondage. Now you want to talk about being called crazy. What do you think they told her when after she escaped slavery she told people she was going back to lead others to freedom? This time failure was not something you could learn from, in this case failure meant return to bondage if not the difference between life and death. Harriet Tubman was part of a network of people who risked their lives to help others. Crazy does not mean dumb, crazy means you might help others escape bondage if you have the guts.
So if everyone is calling you crazy, don’t listen to them. Listen to the people who will actually help you win your freedom; listen to those who will help you fly. Listen to those people who will help you land on the moon and then get home safely. Listening to people who will not help you is crazy. Neil Armstrong, The Wright Brothers and Harriet Tubman were all called crazy in their time, I am sure of it. Now we call them heroes! I can’t imagine living in the world without their accomplishments, but the work is not done. We still need crazy people to stand up and chase their dreams and help each other change the world, for the better! Crazy does not mean dumb, crazy means do the work and miracles might happen.
Neil Armstrong: Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and the first person to walk on the Moon.
The Wright Brothers: The Wright brothers, Orville (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were two American brothers, inventors, and aviation pioneers who are credited[1][2][3] with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight
Harriet Tubman: Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross; c. 1822 – March 10, 1913) was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy during the American Civil War. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made about thirteen missions to rescue approximately seventy enslaved family and friends,[1] using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. She later helped John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harpers Ferry, and in the post-war era struggled for women’s suffrage.
Good enough is never good enough.
I have tried to learn from my mistakes. I have tried to give the kind of advice that works universally no matter who is listening. I try to give the kind of advice that I will follow. That is the only real measure of advice isn’t it? Does it work for everyone, and will you follow the advice you give?
So I have learned from my mistakes and the one thing I have learned is that “Good Enough” is not “Good Enough.” I have learned that “Good Enough” is not “Good” or “Enough.” There have been times in my life where I was the one who said, “We have done good enough.” Pretty much every time I said “Good Enough” it was basically a cop-out. I was either bored or tired or just plain being lazy. Pretty much every time I said “Good Enough” it was to deaden the pain of not really doing my best.
So if you set a goal and you fall short is it ok to say “Good Enough?” Well, do you want to be the best? Do you want to have fun? What are your goals? “Good Enough” is usually a way to say, we did not reach our goal but we did good or we did enough. Did you really? Did you do your best? Did you go above and beyond the call of duty? Let me say it again, whenever I said “Good Enough” it was pretty much a cop-out. The times I have failed, really failed is because I did not try. If I did not put out my best effort I pretty much almost always fell short. It is great to say hey we are in this to have fun and do our best. So stop saying “Good Enough!” Start saying, “Do your best!” Start saying “Give it your all!” Start saying “Enjoy the ride!”
“Good Enough” is not “Good” or “Enough”. Did you do good? Did you do enough? Then say it, say “We did our best.” But do not say “We did our best” unless you really did your best! Say “We gave it our all” only after you gave it your all! Say “We had the most fun” if and only if you set out to have the most fun! I have stopped saying “Good Enough” and have started asking, “What can I do to help?” I have stopped saying “Good Enough” and started asking “What is needed the most that I can do?” I have stooped saying “Good Enough” and started asking “What is our goal?” What is our target? Have we reached our goal? Are we on target? Are we ahead of schedule? How do we get back on track?
“Good Enough” is neither “Good” or “Enough.” Good is doing your best! Enough is giving it your all! The only person you are fooling by saying “Good Enough” is yourself, your team and everyone who is listening to you. So stop Fooling yourself and for God’s sake don’t fool your team into believing that “Good Enough” is OK when it is based on a second-rate effort. Did you really do your best? Did you really give it your all? Did you really enjoy the ride? The only person you are fooling is yourself.
Always reach for that little extra instead of saying we did “Good Enough.” A little extra effort, a little smarter approach and a little time to enjoy the ride; that little extra is what makes it “Good!” That little extra is what makes it “Enough!” So learn from my mistake, and try this little piece of advice. If you are going to do something, do your best. If you are going to learn, then learn. If you want to have fun, then have fun. Give it your all!
Back to the Basics: August 2014
Do you love what you do? Really, do you? I love to play music. I am not at place where I am able to make a living making music, but I love to play any musical instrument I can get my hands on. I have the honor and privilege to play the Drums and Play the Bass Guitar on a pretty regular basis over the past few months. More and more often I am seeing Drummers and Bass players stepping up as Band Leaders and Musical Directors, so I cannot say that it is rare to see a Drummer or Bass Player as a Leader.
People can tell if you love what you do. I have tried to make things better for the Praise Band that I am playing in; I would say gigging with, but we are not getting paid. Getting paid is not the point. Loving what you do is the point. I have blogged about being the guy who carries extra cables, converters and drum sticks, and working with the sound man to make sure everyone is being heard. I am the guy who tries to make it better for everyone involved. When I play the drums, people say they enjoy the way I play the drums. When I play the Bass Guitar, I get more compliments from Musicians than from anyone else. I have started to notice, people may not be able to tell what I am playing; but they can tell if I am having fun playing.
When I play the Bass Guitar, my sound level and tone is in the hands of the sound man. I run directly into the main Sound System with No Amp and No Monitor. This makes it easier for everyone else to hear what they are doing. I am the last person to hear the sound of the Bass. I do this because it challenges me as a musician and because it is fun. It is more fun when the Bass is louder in the mix. This seems to depend on how many people are playing other instruments. The more guitars in the mix and the more the Bass seems to get lost. Again, this is not the point. The point is people can tell if I am having fun whether I am playing the Drums or playing the Bass.
When I play the Drums, it is obvious I am playing the Drums and I have control over the volume of the drums. The harder I play, the louder the drums are in the mix. Again, I try to make sure everyone else is heard so I try not to drown everyone out. I play loud enough to set a solid foundation and I listen for everyone else. I have found that when I miss a beat or make a mistake, I seem to laugh. I just love to make music. I get a sense of joy that over takes me, even when I mess up and make a mistake. I love that I get a chance to play.
When I play the Bass, it means we have a Drummer and at the Very least, Someone Playing Piano. It may also mean we have anywhere from 1 to 3 Guitar players in the mix also. I am the guy who makes sure everyone else is plugged in and heard in the mix. I am the guy who asked the sound man to take me out of the monitors so everyone else can hear themselves more clearly. I did this not because anyone can tell, I did this to challenge myself. Can I give it my all and not be a prima-donna while I am playing the Bass Guitar? Playing the Bass Guitar is a thankless job. Most people do not know who the Bass Player is unless they sing or write the songs. Running Sound is a Thankless Job. Most people do not know what the sound man does. That is why I thank the sound man and help him out as much as possible. The more I help others be heard, the more they accept me as a leader in the band even though I am not the lead musician.
I know others can sing better than I can. I know there are better drummers than I am. I am not ready to tell you there are a lot of better Bass players than me; because I have worked very hard to perfect the gifts and talents I have been given. But that does not matter, I will let someone else play the bass and have volunteered to step aside, if something else is needed more. The point is that people cannot always tell what I am playing. People have thought I was playing the Guitar when I was on the Bass. People have thought they could hear me play, when the sound man had turned me off by mistake. The challenge is not being the loudest. The challenge is to love what you are doing. People can always tell if I am having fun, even if I cannot hear what I am playing. I love having the chance to play anything, the Drums, the Bass Guitar; I would even play the tambourine, if that is what is needed.
I believe that you cannot be an effective leader if you are not willing to help others succeed. I also believe that you cannot be an effective leader if you do not love what you are doing. People can tell who is willing to help others. People can tell who is ready to sacrifice so that others can succeed. People can also tell if you truly love what you are doing. Are you having fun? Do you love what you do?
Deal with reality.
Welcome to 60 Seconds of Motivational Mojo. Give me please just a minute of your time to try to brighten your day. I know that life is not always the way we want it to be. Life is not fair, so we are left to deal with reality. You can do it. I can do it; in the end we have to do it. In the end we have to deal with reality.
Let’s say there are three versions of the life we lead. There is the life we want, the life we believe we can have and the life lead day in and day out. So what drives us? We all have a dream don’t we? More than hitting the lottery, if you could write you own life story, what would you write? The live you wish you had is what motivates you to chase your dreams. The life you believe you can have is where you think you will more than likely end up. Then there is the reality of your day to day life. The closer you can get those three visions to line up, the happier you will be. That is what I believe.
So, I ask you again. What is your dream life? If you could write it down on paper, what would you write? Now, I ask you this question. Do you think that the life you wish you have is possible? If the answer is yes, you are more than likely doing something every day to get closer to that life. If the answer is no, no you do not believe your dream life is possible; then you are still doing something, you are doing something to get you close to the life you believe you can have. If you truly believe you will hit the lottery you will buy lottery tickets; if you do not believe you will hit the lottery, you won’t buy lottery tickets. It is that simple. In the end you will do the things you believe you can get done, not the things you wish you can get done. Do you see where I am heading? Finding balance between your wishes, your beliefs and your reality are very important.
Why do people give up? Why do people seem to self-destruct? I believe it is when people feel like they do not deserve anything better or more than what they already have. What they wish for is so far out of sight and what they believe is less than what they can really accomplish. This is a total loss of hope. Again, this is why I believe there is a need for balance in what you are wishing for, what you believe and your reality. Yes it all sounds so simple, and really it is just that simple.
It is easy to want the best in life. Advertisement agencies develop campaigns every day that you deserve the best. It doesn’t matter if it is fast food or luxury cars. You deserve the best. The only question is do you believe it? I am not talking about the angry customer who wants something for nothing. I am talking about the person who is happy with their life and their choices. Are you happy with your choices? Do you believe that you deserve the best? If so, it will be easier for you to deal with your reality.
We all have to deal with reality, but that does not mean we cannot change our reality. If it is possible then it is possible for us to be a part of it. If it is probable, then it is more than likely that we will try, at least once. So there is your possibility which might not happen; your probability, which will more than likely happen and your reality which is happening now. Things change because you apply your energy to change them. Either you change things or things will change you. If you do nothing, than slowly but surely life will pass you by and time will rob you not only of your dreams, but also of the things that you could have had. Time will rob you of your possibilities and your probabilities if you let it.
Now, people can also rob you of your dreams. People can be very negative and take away not only what is possible for you, but also take away what is probable for you. Let’s say you want to be a Singer but you are working at a deli. So maybe you are in line for a promotion at the deli, and maybe there is a tryout for a talent show. Negative people will convince not to try for either. They will tell you that you are dreaming and you need to know your place. Negative people have lost hope of their dream so they do not want to see you reach your dream. So not only will they kill your dream, that talent show tryout; they will kill your promotion at the deli also. You are the one who in the end will have to deal with the reality, either you tried or you let someone else talk you out of trying.
Deal with your reality. Believe in your dreams. Make sure the life you want and the life you believe you can have line up with your reality. Do not let negative people crush your dreams to the point where you no longer want to even try for the life you want. Make sure the life you believe you can have is better than the life you are already living. Bad things happen when you feel like you do not deserve the best in life.
I have never climbed the same mountain twice.
To be clear I have never climbed a mountain. I have been to mountains and I have seen mountains in my dreams, but I have never climbed one. I am typing this post after thinking about it for weeks. I am typing this post after learning of a tragedy on one of the world’s most famous mountains. I type this post in honor of those who guide others up mountains both real and metaphorical. I have never climbed the same mountain twice.
Imagine for a second that a Rich Man decides he wants to climb a mountain. So he trains his body and prepares his mind to climb a mountain. As he learns more and more about the equipment he will need to aid in his climb and the condition he needs to be in to endure the terrain he also learns that he should hire a guide to help in his journey. He asks for the guide who has successfully climbed the mountain the most times to help increase his chances of success. The rich man asks around and finds the most experience guide he can find.
After asking around and picking a guide, the rich man sits with him to ask him for tips. He asks the guide what is the secret to climbing a mountain so many times. The guides simple answer “I have never climbed the same mountain twice.” This answer confuses the rich man at first. You have climbed this mountain many times; everyone says you are the best. Again the guide answers “I have never climbed the same mountain twice.” “How can that be?” asks the rich man. “A mountain is a living breathing thing” the guide replies. “Each time I have climbed the mountain it has been different.” The rich man began to understand when the guide asked him about his business. “You have made many business deals have you not?” “Yes!” the rich man replied. “And where they all the same?” asked the guide. “Of course not.” answered the rich man. “It is the same with the mountain.”
I have looked at my dreams and the only time I have failed is when I only looked at the mountain and never climbed it. Each time I have climbed the mountains in my dream, each time I have tried I have learned something new; even if I have never made it to the top. Sometimes I wake up from the same dreams, of being in school and not being able to find me class room, or not being ready for a test, or not being able to run. I have these dreams over and over at night; but it is my daydreams that I really want to see come true. I dream of being a successful musician and a better leader and maybe a motivational speaker one day. I dream of growing wiser not older. I dream these dreams over and over; and each day I approach these dreams, my approach changes. The dream may seem the same, but it always slightly changes based on where I am at in life. Each time I climb the mountains in my dream I have learned I never change the same mountain twice. Each time is a new experience and a chance to learn something new and take that knowledge with you on the next attempt. Each attempt to chase the dream has an effect on the dream itself.
The only failure in chasing your dreams is to not try. Each time you try you will see, it is never the same mountain twice. I have read many books and have been told many stories on different people’s journey to fame or success. Yes there are basic common principles that stay the same, but the stories are all different. It is never the same story just like it is never the same mountain. See your dream as a living breathing thing and do not expect things to go the same way as you have planned or the same way twice.
I have tried time and time again to chase my dreams, and I am still trying. I have climbed those metaphorical mountains and learned something different every time. I have never climbed the same mountain twice. My thoughts in prayers go out to all the people who put their lives on the line so we can climb mountains and chase our dreams.
The Wannabe, Has Been and Never-Was.
Welcome to 60 Seconds of Motivational Mojo. I try to find a positive spin on a daily basis. I try to post on an average of 3 times a week. So after almost two years of blogging, I have noticed I have a strange take on thing sometimes. Maybe my humor is not for everyone. I don’t need that much pressure to try to make everyone happy or like me. So today’s topic “The Wannabe, Has Been and Never-Was” may seem strange to some. Try to give it a minute and see if you can get through it.
A Has Been is someone whose fame has peaked. Now a lot of time a Has Been is made fun of by the younger and cooler people who come after them. No it is not fair, but it is part of this cruel dog eat dog world we live in. One thing I can say for the Quote – Unquote “Has Been.” They chased their dream and got to live in some Real or Nightmare version of it. They took their shot. The Morality Lesson that should be learned is that fame is fleeting and you must adjust to life after being “Number One.” Those who adjust are celebrated; those who don’t can lead tragic lives or worse end up in tragic deaths.
A “Wannabe” carries a mixed meaning: 1) One who aspires to a role or position, or 2) One who imitates the behavior, customs, or dress of an admired person or group. Those of you whom have read my posts before know where I am going with this… Chase your dream not someone else’s. It is ok to aspire to a role or position. This is what I am spending my days encouraging. Dream and dream big; so go out there and be a “Wannabe” but back it up. Action speaks louder than words. You have to be you, not try to be someone else.
The “Never-was” is a sad story in itself: one that has attained no rank, success, or eminence. The only thing worse than being a Never-was is the regret of not trying. Day after day I blog that you must get out there and try, if you can’t reach your dream; at least help others reach theirs. Life is full of small victories. Sometimes we get so caught up in making it to the top of the heap we forget about great things that happen along the way. Helping others, learning something new, making new friends and teaching a kid to get up and try again. The only way to be a “Never-was” is to never try.
So you may ask where is the positive spin? You should be able to see it plain as day. Never give up. Never stop trying. It is ok to be called a “Wannabe” as long as you are doing you own thing. Never let someone else define you or stop you from trying. It is ok to be called a “Has Been” as long as you can adjust to the fact that you can’t stay on top forever, but at least you got there, even if it was only for a short time. After you make it to the top, maybe you should try to help others find their way. You may find out, you can hang around longer if you are willing to help others. It is even ok to be called a “Never-was” as long as you made an honest run at it. The only truly sad option is the “Never tried.” Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, “It might have been” Kurt Vonnegut
There are Three Americas:
Welcome to 60 Seconds of Motivational Mojo. I recently took a bus trip from Metro Detroit to Greater Milwaukee. I was meeting with some friends to plan a Motivational and Empowerment Conference. I took the bus to save a little money on trip. It was on this bus ride that I discovered there is not one or two but there are at least Three Americas if not more. There are Three Americas.
I have heard it said as a Political Catch Phrase there are Two Americas. That is not true; there are at least Three Americas. There is a basic Class System in the United States. The Upper, Middle and Lower Class, you see lately there has been so much talk of the Top One Percent, and the Rich and the Poor, the “Haves” and the “Have Nots;” but I think this is all a smoke screen. There are Three Americas.
Why do I make this stand? I make this stand based on my point of view and my personal experience. I base this opinion on what I see when I drive to work everyday and when I go to the airport and my experience riding the bus across four states. When I go the Airport, I see the view from above, I see what is like to fly over city after city and get where you are going traveling though the air. When I drive to work everyday, I see what is like to get on the freeway and drive and be in control of where I want to go. And when I took the bus, I saw what people who may not have the option to drive or fly where they are going. Riding the bus I saw small towns and I saw neighborhoods that were abandoned after the jobs have left for greener pastures. There are Three Americas.
Sometimes we take things for granted. When we go the airport we complain about the lines and the time we have to wait, and living out of hotels when we travel. We complain about being away from home and the people we love. We forget that we get to travel in a manner that some people will never experience. Sometimes when we get in our cars and drive to work, we forget about the people who may not be able to afford a car or may not have a job. We drive our cars to and from home and work and sometimes take for granted that some people may not have a home, or a job or a car. Sometimes when we take the bus we wish we were in our car or on a plane forgetting that there are people who may not even be able to afford a bus ticket, or may not have been able to afford a hot meal and a place to stay. There are Three Americas.
There are those of us who can afford to fly and stay in hotels and get paid to travel. There are those of us who can afford a car and a place to stay but may rarely get a chance to fly. There are those of us who are lucky to be able to catch the bus and have a quite corner to rest. There are Three Americas and maybe more. You see some people can afford to Fly First Class and stay in Five Star Hotels everywhere they go, and there are some people who do not have a home or a job or a car. There are some people who take for granted how much they have and there are some people who have nothing at all. There are Three Americas.
Riding the Bus across the Midwest reminded me that we all need hope. We all need hope of a safe today and a better tomorrow. Riding the bus taught me to appreciate what I have and still have hope for more. People need hope and people need help. Riding the bus and driving past abandoning buildings and seeing people who have no place to go reinforced the belief that I have that we need to help; we need to spread hope everywhere we go. There are Three Americas.
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