That's right, Crazy Enough To Try has been updated with new content!
You may have noticed that there haven't been too many posts here lately. That's because over the past few months, I've been dedicating most of my writing time to pushing out the 2nd edition of Crazy Enough To Try. And I'm happy to say that it came out wonderful.
Read MoreFor those who know me, I'm always working on at least three things, if not more. Currently, I'm working full time as a strategy consultant, painting two websites (this one and TheNewTutor.com), finishing up the second edition of Crazy Enough To Try (surprise!), and a host of other smaller activities.
I'm also trying to fit in time for fun, spending time with my girlfriend, family and friendships, and continuously learning. So the questions is, how do I do it?
Read MoreI've known Dr. Karl Reid for many years, beginning when I started at MIT and he served as my first academic advisor. Since then, I've watched him grow and change others in ways that I can only hope to do one day. From continuing on to receive his Ed.D. in education while heading the Office of Minority Education at MIT, to affecting change on a national scale in the education system for minorities, Karl has been incredibly passionate about helping others and a true mentor to me. I'm very humbled that we were able to sit down a few months ago and discuss his thoughts on passion and his path that led him to where he is today.
Read MoreA few days ago, I had the opportunity to address some of the best students at my old high school as the keynote speaker at the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony. It was a great honor and I spent a lot of time planning and thinking about what I was going to say. I came up with different ideas about what passion really means, or how to incorporate it into a life, or what great potential these students had. As the event drew near though, I felt compelled to speak on something a little different.
In the end, I decided to focus on 3 points: Challenges, Mistakes and Support.
Read MoreWhat do you think about in the shower?
What comes to mind when you are relaxed?
When you are not rushing about, doing five things at once, or balancing life's priorities, what do you think about? Do you day dream about the future? Relive the past? Maybe you just focus on getting clean.
For me the shower is the source of a crazy amount of ideas and solutions to problems I don't always realize I have. It give me a chance to let my mind wander and attack what's going on in my life that doesn't have to do with the daily grind.
Read More"I want my dream and I want it now."
That's really what we're saying when we rush to complete something we're passionate about in hopes of becoming successful.
I'm all for working very hard on what we're passionate about, but along the way there are bound to be hiccups and missteps. People will get in the way or plans won't work quite as well as they should have. It's going to happen.
Achieving dreams and building success from that desire to work a passion will take time. And unfortunately that's probably going to take more time than you think.
Read MoreAt least not yet.
Often times we come up with reasons why need to leave our jobs. It could be that we hate our boss, or the work is incredibly boring, or the office politics are getting to us, or something else. These can be valid concerns and despite trying hard to be passionate about your work, may be issues that just can't be resolved without leaving.
But before you quit your job, either to find work elsewhere or to start your own business, I would suggest a slightly different approach.
Set a date six months from today. On that day, you will be giving your two weeks notice.
Read MoreDespite numerous attempts, I've learned that it is in fact impossible to be the best at everything and know everything.
Actually, it's almost impossible to be the best at anything.
However, it's not necessary to the best in order to be successful, whatever your definition of success is. You just need to be good enough. Good enough to do what you want and actually enjoy it.
Read More"You're never going to find your passion."
"You're never going to make the necessary changes in your life to make that passion your reality."
When you hear words like that, you should get angry. Real angry. You may feel frustrated right now in your current situation, but never is a long time, and who is to tell you what your future holds?
Statements like those may float around in your head, or you may hear it coming from people you know and thought had your best interests at heart.
If you're really going to make that change and introduce passion into your life, either as your career or as a hobby, you have to be able to take comments like these and get angry at them. Get angry at the idea that someone (including yourself) has the nerve to say you can't do something.
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