Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Motivational Speaker, Author and TV show host, Edward W. Smith, who specializes in quick tips on how to move your life ahead even faster, offers this advice on how to find out what you love to do
This is the "manila envelope" technique. Obtain a manila envelope, notepad and pen and carry it with you throughout the day. Each time you see something that interests you, find a way to save it in the envelope. Rip things out of publications, print things off the web, make notes on your pad, whatever, but preserve the thought in some way and put it in the manila envelope. Don't edit or censor your thoughts, if it interests you, put it in the folder. Nothing is too silly or out of bounds in any way. At the end of the day, save the manila envelope and start a new one for the next day.
Do the "manila envelope" exercise each day for 10 days straight. At the end of the 10 days empty all the envelopes and begin to sort the contents by a pattern, or something that lies beneath the specific thing that triggered the attraction to it. Some things were just random ideas, but you will find a pattern of things in others that stayed with you over the 10 days. These ideas that stayed with you over time is where you should concentrate your efforts to find what you truly want to do.
Take these core interests and explore jobs related to them without concern for money, or other factors. Can you do them part time, can you take courses related to them? As you go though you day, constantly look for jobs or careers that relate to the interests you have discovered. Find out what training or experience is required to obtain that job and put together a plan to start down that road. You will then be on your way to your dream job.
Virtual Envelope:
Human rights, genocide, conflict resolution and peace studies, international diplomacy, public policy, China, Cambodia, Central Asia, Latin America, sailing around the world, swimming with sharks, skiing, tennis, surfing, China, communism studies, studying Marxism adopting a Cambodia boy, organization building, making money, social entrepreneurship, sea kayaking, photography, hiking in the mountains, going to the mountains, playing with dogs, eating street food in developed countries, traveling with the locals in developing countries, living in emerging economies and developing countries, studying people, places and culture, international affairs, public policy and politics, the United States government, international economic development: the role of economics in international development, microfinance, cultural anthropology, coffee, tea, the production of raw materials in the developing world, supply chains and value chains as it relates to the developing world, I AM OBSESSED WITH THE DEVELOPING WORLD!, Moving to Africa and living in a village, retiring wealthy, blogging,
Things I am good at, but hate doing: managing people, scheduling people, coordinating projects, managing events, event planning, travel, camping, swimming in the ocean, chocolate, the arts, music, dancing (when no one watches), being a smart ass, being goofy, sex, research, researching things, learning, education, being in leadership positions, smart, deep, intellectual conversations, reading, strategist about anything, wine drinking, doing sophisticated things, owning a great home, running in the forest, sun on trees, culture, culture, culture of other people and indigenous groups, traveling on your own, speaking foreign languages, writing, blogging, founding my own organization, working and living abroad and making a great living, being in the foreign service, working for USAID, joining the Peace Corps, going back to school, getting my PhD, Buddhism, Hinduism, bathing in a river, lonely walks, thinking, philosophizing, challenging myself in everything I do, solving problems, analyzing, figuring out tangled systems, living in Beijing, living in Paris, living in Montreal, living in San Francisco, living in DC, partying in Miami, visiting Spain, Australia, Croatia, Turkey, Israel, Italy, Mongolia, Darfur, Sudan, Ethiopia, India, China, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand, flags, Olympics, watching the Olympics, playing in an out games, volleyball, jet setting the world, living abroad, eating great food, spaghetti, lasagna, having it all, burning down my childhood home, working in Government, working at an Embassy, smart people, international affairs, State Department, Fellowship of the Academic sort, Rotary Scholary, Ashoskha Scholar, Saving Green fellow, the Environment, rainbows, dogs, puppies, pugs, my family, my nephews and nieces, studying.
Career Goal: To work in the Foreign Service and to open up my own international non profit organization based in another country (with hostel). taking care of my skin, hair, smelling good, looking good, fine restaurants ,fine establishments, great dinner and wine tasting parties, classy stuff, art shows, flying on planes, airports, places Ive never been, sandals and dirty feet, cute Cambodian men, United Nations, Tribunal Court,
Greatest fears: being poor, not being successful, not having everything I want, not having the career I want, being unhappy
I WILL-
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ABROAD AND MAKE A GREAT LIVING AND ACCEPT IT!
HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL CAREER
STUDY FOR THE FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER EXAM AND TAKE THE TEST
STUDY SPANISH AND LEARN SPANISH
STUDY FRENCH AND LEARN FRENCH
STUDY CHINESE AND LEARN CHINESE
OBTAIN ANOTHER DEGREE
Law Schools: American, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Northeastern
MPP/MPA Schools: Monterrey, Tufts, GW, American, Harvard, Monterrey (International Policy), Brandeis (Sustainable Development)
What are your dreams? I want to own a home in a beautiful developing country, work there with a hostel and an NGO I have created. I want the entire place to be totally self-sustainable and I want it to be an intellectual and educational haven for young people from around the world. I want it to benefit the local community. I want to expand my business globally.
I want to work in Washington D.C. for the federal government. I want to get a job as a Foreign Service Officer and with USAID.
I want to be tri-lingual.
I want an advanced degree.
MBA: Thunderbird, Harvard, GW, American, Brandeis, Monterrey
Jay, Stephanie, Ink, Scott, Karen
This is the "manila envelope" technique. Obtain a manila envelope, notepad and pen and carry it with you throughout the day. Each time you see something that interests you, find a way to save it in the envelope. Rip things out of publications, print things off the web, make notes on your pad, whatever, but preserve the thought in some way and put it in the manila envelope. Don't edit or censor your thoughts, if it interests you, put it in the folder. Nothing is too silly or out of bounds in any way. At the end of the day, save the manila envelope and start a new one for the next day.
Do the "manila envelope" exercise each day for 10 days straight. At the end of the 10 days empty all the envelopes and begin to sort the contents by a pattern, or something that lies beneath the specific thing that triggered the attraction to it. Some things were just random ideas, but you will find a pattern of things in others that stayed with you over the 10 days. These ideas that stayed with you over time is where you should concentrate your efforts to find what you truly want to do.
Take these core interests and explore jobs related to them without concern for money, or other factors. Can you do them part time, can you take courses related to them? As you go though you day, constantly look for jobs or careers that relate to the interests you have discovered. Find out what training or experience is required to obtain that job and put together a plan to start down that road. You will then be on your way to your dream job.
Virtual Envelope:
Human rights, genocide, conflict resolution and peace studies, international diplomacy, public policy, China, Cambodia, Central Asia, Latin America, sailing around the world, swimming with sharks, skiing, tennis, surfing, China, communism studies, studying Marxism adopting a Cambodia boy, organization building, making money, social entrepreneurship, sea kayaking, photography, hiking in the mountains, going to the mountains, playing with dogs, eating street food in developed countries, traveling with the locals in developing countries, living in emerging economies and developing countries, studying people, places and culture, international affairs, public policy and politics, the United States government, international economic development: the role of economics in international development, microfinance, cultural anthropology, coffee, tea, the production of raw materials in the developing world, supply chains and value chains as it relates to the developing world, I AM OBSESSED WITH THE DEVELOPING WORLD!, Moving to Africa and living in a village, retiring wealthy, blogging,
Things I am good at, but hate doing: managing people, scheduling people, coordinating projects, managing events, event planning, travel, camping, swimming in the ocean, chocolate, the arts, music, dancing (when no one watches), being a smart ass, being goofy, sex, research, researching things, learning, education, being in leadership positions, smart, deep, intellectual conversations, reading, strategist about anything, wine drinking, doing sophisticated things, owning a great home, running in the forest, sun on trees, culture, culture, culture of other people and indigenous groups, traveling on your own, speaking foreign languages, writing, blogging, founding my own organization, working and living abroad and making a great living, being in the foreign service, working for USAID, joining the Peace Corps, going back to school, getting my PhD, Buddhism, Hinduism, bathing in a river, lonely walks, thinking, philosophizing, challenging myself in everything I do, solving problems, analyzing, figuring out tangled systems, living in Beijing, living in Paris, living in Montreal, living in San Francisco, living in DC, partying in Miami, visiting Spain, Australia, Croatia, Turkey, Israel, Italy, Mongolia, Darfur, Sudan, Ethiopia, India, China, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand, flags, Olympics, watching the Olympics, playing in an out games, volleyball, jet setting the world, living abroad, eating great food, spaghetti, lasagna, having it all, burning down my childhood home, working in Government, working at an Embassy, smart people, international affairs, State Department, Fellowship of the Academic sort, Rotary Scholary, Ashoskha Scholar, Saving Green fellow, the Environment, rainbows, dogs, puppies, pugs, my family, my nephews and nieces, studying.
Career Goal: To work in the Foreign Service and to open up my own international non profit organization based in another country (with hostel). taking care of my skin, hair, smelling good, looking good, fine restaurants ,fine establishments, great dinner and wine tasting parties, classy stuff, art shows, flying on planes, airports, places Ive never been, sandals and dirty feet, cute Cambodian men, United Nations, Tribunal Court,
Greatest fears: being poor, not being successful, not having everything I want, not having the career I want, being unhappy
I WILL-
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ABROAD AND MAKE A GREAT LIVING AND ACCEPT IT!
HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL CAREER
STUDY FOR THE FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER EXAM AND TAKE THE TEST
STUDY SPANISH AND LEARN SPANISH
STUDY FRENCH AND LEARN FRENCH
STUDY CHINESE AND LEARN CHINESE
OBTAIN ANOTHER DEGREE
Law Schools: American, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Northeastern
MPP/MPA Schools: Monterrey, Tufts, GW, American, Harvard, Monterrey (International Policy), Brandeis (Sustainable Development)
What are your dreams? I want to own a home in a beautiful developing country, work there with a hostel and an NGO I have created. I want the entire place to be totally self-sustainable and I want it to be an intellectual and educational haven for young people from around the world. I want it to benefit the local community. I want to expand my business globally.
I want to work in Washington D.C. for the federal government. I want to get a job as a Foreign Service Officer and with USAID.
I want to be tri-lingual.
I want an advanced degree.
MBA: Thunderbird, Harvard, GW, American, Brandeis, Monterrey
Jay, Stephanie, Ink, Scott, Karen
Sunday, February 21, 2010
What areas do you really like to do:
Consulting
Strategic Planning
Market Research and Strategy
Communications Strategy
Business Development
Project Management
Sectors of Interest: International Affairs Management Consulting industry
SO that is what I am saying.
Foreign Service Officer
Graduate with a graduate or professional degree with an international focus
Private Sector: Management Consultant, Strategic Planner, Market Research Analyst,Supply and Value Chain Management, Trade and Logistics, Asian Business Development Specialist
Public Sector: Foreign Service Officer, USAID Operations/Manager/Executive, Think Tank, Researcher on International Development
Non Profit Sector: International Development based management. Social entreprenuership.
DOES IT MAKE YOUR HEART SING/DO YOU EXPERIENCE JOY? Right now, No. I hate working in Educational-based areas. I hate working with YOUTH! FUCK I HATE IT!!!!!! I do not want to work with youth at all. Bottom line.
DO THE DILIGENCE-ASK OTHERS: Payoffs/Rewards/Costs
TRUST YOURSELF
Choosing a Career
1) Have to be passionate about it
2) You have to want it
30 You
Consulting
Strategic Planning
Market Research and Strategy
Communications Strategy
Business Development
Project Management
Sectors of Interest: International Affairs Management Consulting industry
SO that is what I am saying.
Foreign Service Officer
Graduate with a graduate or professional degree with an international focus
Private Sector: Management Consultant, Strategic Planner, Market Research Analyst,Supply and Value Chain Management, Trade and Logistics, Asian Business Development Specialist
Public Sector: Foreign Service Officer, USAID Operations/Manager/Executive, Think Tank, Researcher on International Development
Non Profit Sector: International Development based management. Social entreprenuership.
DOES IT MAKE YOUR HEART SING/DO YOU EXPERIENCE JOY? Right now, No. I hate working in Educational-based areas. I hate working with YOUTH! FUCK I HATE IT!!!!!! I do not want to work with youth at all. Bottom line.
DO THE DILIGENCE-ASK OTHERS: Payoffs/Rewards/Costs
TRUST YOURSELF
Choosing a Career
1) Have to be passionate about it
2) You have to want it
30 You
Saturday, February 20, 2010
My heart is in International Development
My mind is on money and an MBA
Neither are mutually exclusive.
What I really enjoy doing is strategic planning and consulting.
So get practical. I am feeling so unconfident right now and I need to really act on my instinct. Try it.
You do not want cookies because eating them will not make you feel better in the long run. You need to stop procrastinating because you know that procrastination will bring you the same results which in turn make you feel worse.
You know what you want. You know what you love to do. You once dreamed of being a Senator, a Congressman, a CEO, an Executive Director of a non profit, a management consultant for an international NGO, an international entrepreneur, a leader in your community, a gay rights activist, a human rights attorney, a public interest attorney, an international development practitioner, an FBI agent, a CIA agent. Well....
Okay, here is what I know...I know that after all this time, I have come to realize that I deserve success if I work for success and success means many things to different people. Right now, my life is completely unbalanced. I do not feel confident in what I am doing. I am not confident in what I am doing at all.
I know that with my personality what I would be good at, but that I really need to get out there and just feel my passion and let it go.
One, I want to own an operate my own international NGO. That much I know. I do not expect it to be overly large, but I do expect it to be good. Scratch that. Aim high Willis. Aim high!
Fuck, I do this all the time. I just sit here and make no forward movement. UGH!
Okay
Pros and Cons
MBA
Pro: Gateway to more money probably faster than other degrees.
International focus could mean study abroad opportunities and a plug-in to an international network.
Con: I really just want to be a consultant, then a social entrepreneur.
Management consultant, social entrepreneur, CIA agent, Foreign Service officer, author, international development director/expert, human rights attorney
From this-Social entreprenuer, CIA agent, Foreign Service officer, international development director/expert are non degree specific.
PRIVATE SECTOR DREAM JOB (non-entrepreneurial): Consultant, McKinsey and Company, attend global rotation program
PUBLIC SECTOR DREAM JOB: Foreign Service Officer 2) High level executive with USAID
NON PROFIT DREAM JOB: Founder and CEO of my own non profit/for profit social enterprise based in Cambodia.
What is your plan?
1) Study for and take the Foreign Service exam during your last semester of graduate school.
2) Get back to studying Chinese, take another class, find a program that allows you to take language lessons. Take language lessons in graduate school.
3) Study Spanish
So what is the plan" Apply to the Foreign Service in the last semester of your graduate program
-Graduate from graduate school
Attend graduate school, get a great international development focused internship, study Chinese and Spanish, study abroad
Things to consider-The Peace Corps is going nowhere, you can always join the Peace Corps in a few more years.
Job:
Foreign Service officer is the ideal job for me because it combines my interest in international affairs, development and relations with prestige, service financial security and
What are you passionate about? Foreign Service/International Development/International Entrepreneurship
What are you good at?
YOU WILL NOT BE GOOD AT ANYTHING IF YOU ARE NOT PASSIONATE ABOUT IT!
Eventually what do you want do do: Consult international development
My mind is on money and an MBA
Neither are mutually exclusive.
What I really enjoy doing is strategic planning and consulting.
So get practical. I am feeling so unconfident right now and I need to really act on my instinct. Try it.
You do not want cookies because eating them will not make you feel better in the long run. You need to stop procrastinating because you know that procrastination will bring you the same results which in turn make you feel worse.
You know what you want. You know what you love to do. You once dreamed of being a Senator, a Congressman, a CEO, an Executive Director of a non profit, a management consultant for an international NGO, an international entrepreneur, a leader in your community, a gay rights activist, a human rights attorney, a public interest attorney, an international development practitioner, an FBI agent, a CIA agent. Well....
Okay, here is what I know...I know that after all this time, I have come to realize that I deserve success if I work for success and success means many things to different people. Right now, my life is completely unbalanced. I do not feel confident in what I am doing. I am not confident in what I am doing at all.
I know that with my personality what I would be good at, but that I really need to get out there and just feel my passion and let it go.
One, I want to own an operate my own international NGO. That much I know. I do not expect it to be overly large, but I do expect it to be good. Scratch that. Aim high Willis. Aim high!
Fuck, I do this all the time. I just sit here and make no forward movement. UGH!
Okay
Pros and Cons
MBA
Pro: Gateway to more money probably faster than other degrees.
International focus could mean study abroad opportunities and a plug-in to an international network.
Con: I really just want to be a consultant, then a social entrepreneur.
Management consultant, social entrepreneur, CIA agent, Foreign Service officer, author, international development director/expert, human rights attorney
From this-Social entreprenuer, CIA agent, Foreign Service officer, international development director/expert are non degree specific.
PRIVATE SECTOR DREAM JOB (non-entrepreneurial): Consultant, McKinsey and Company, attend global rotation program
PUBLIC SECTOR DREAM JOB: Foreign Service Officer 2) High level executive with USAID
NON PROFIT DREAM JOB: Founder and CEO of my own non profit/for profit social enterprise based in Cambodia.
What is your plan?
1) Study for and take the Foreign Service exam during your last semester of graduate school.
2) Get back to studying Chinese, take another class, find a program that allows you to take language lessons. Take language lessons in graduate school.
3) Study Spanish
So what is the plan" Apply to the Foreign Service in the last semester of your graduate program
-Graduate from graduate school
Attend graduate school, get a great international development focused internship, study Chinese and Spanish, study abroad
Things to consider-The Peace Corps is going nowhere, you can always join the Peace Corps in a few more years.
Job:
Foreign Service officer is the ideal job for me because it combines my interest in international affairs, development and relations with prestige, service financial security and
What are you passionate about? Foreign Service/International Development/International Entrepreneurship
What are you good at?
YOU WILL NOT BE GOOD AT ANYTHING IF YOU ARE NOT PASSIONATE ABOUT IT!
Eventually what do you want do do: Consult international development
Friday, February 19, 2010
The next step in figuring most of it out.
Where am I today? Today, I am 29 years old. I have graduated from high school and made it out of my hometown. I graduated with two Bachelor of Arts degrees. I have worked part time through undergrad and completed an internship. I moved to Florida by myself in 2003 for an internship and graduate school. I worked nearly full time in graduate school and received a masters degree. I then got my first job in Virginia and built a department from scratch. I became an AmeriCorps and WorldTeach China volunteer and successfully completed both programs. I returned to the organization I worked with before I traveled to China and now fulfill a duplicitous role. I am well traveled having been to 19 countries and 47 states, including most major cities in the United States. I have worked in both the non-profit sector and the public sector. I have nearly 7 years of leadership experience in both. I have lived abroad in China and developed intercultural sensitivity and communication skills. I have come out of the closet.
Where do I want to be tomorrow? I believe that my path looks somewhat like this A) If I stay in my current position, I believe that I can work and possibly be selected as the next Executive Director of the Virginia Conflict Resolution Center. While I enjoy working at the VCRC, I do not have a passion for the subject matter, that is: mediation, conflict resolution services and education. I also do not have a passion for helping at-risk youth, I do not enjoy teaching. I get frustrated here by the A) money that I make, a lousy 27,000 a year and the lack of benefits, including high medical insurance. I also get very frustrated by the Center's ability to be innovative, though I am bringing that vision to the Center. I do enjoy the people and for the most part, I enjoy the tasks I have in front of me. That is, there is a lot of room to create, innovate and be an entrepreneur. At the same time, the area (Hampton Roads) is not my favorite. I have had a hard time feeling like this place could be my home. I just do not want to be here long term. I think it is because the area is so small and void of any culture. It is also a very blue collar and military area and it is hard to be a part of that community. For the most part, the people I work with are smart. I took the position in part because I realized that the current Executive Director would be a good mentor to have and I think that is important. I also know that the flexibility is something I enjoy. However, at the end of the day, I hate being trapped in the office, dealing with all things youth related and getting down to the nitty gritty details of non-profit work (constantly looking for donors, grant writing, collaboration, selling a hard to sell item-our services). I think it is very important to work for organizations that you truly believe in, or at least, be doing work that you truly believe in, even if the organization has problems. BUT, it has to be one or the other, you have to be either passionate about the organization, so much so that you are willing to do whatever it takes for it to succeed (not easy to do?!?!) or passionate about your role, despite the organization.
I also know with me personally that I am a good student. I have accomplished a lot. In high school (cannot believe I am saying this) I really bared down and ending up drastically improving my GPA my senior year. My weakest points were always in math and the physical sciences (chemistry, physics, etc.) Which is ironic because my personality trait (INTJ) is right in line with being a brilliant physical scientist. I also tried my knack at medicine, but found the subject matter dull. Constant memorization and lack of innovation. Why both medicine and physical sciences could have allowed me to satisfy my insatiable curiosity, the reliance on science would (I believe) been a hampering to me. That being said, I do enjoy working with statistics and looking at statistics. However, the actual nitty-gritty of coming up with statistics is daunting to me. I find it boring. So boring.
In undergrad, the best classes I took were the History of Western Civilization, Mass Communication Theories, Mass Communication Speech, Broadcast Seminar: Capitalism and Mass Communication: Anthropology of Sex. The most boring classes I took were math based classes, trade based PR classes, and basically any non-social science sport management class. I look back now and though I have to start believing that I am gifted and that I should be proud that I have my college degree, I also wish I would have majored in something more liberal arts based. At the time, I was so concerned that I would not get a good job without something that was practical. But, I also said at the time that I hated business and that I would never be a lawyer. Now, ironically, my attitude has changed and I have seen the possibilities in both.
Of course, I believe that what is really important is to feel that you are growing as an individual, that your home is indeed your home, that you embrace the fact that life can be difficult and trying but it does not have to be a struggle. I am stressed right now because of my living situation and the fact that I have had to come back to Hampton Roads for the second time in my life to LAUNCH my career. My career has not went as planned, but I made a decision in the past to do some things that would not have prolonged it. I know now that I was not as passionate about higher education administration or sport management than I previously have thought, and I can honestly admit to this day, that I am glad that I do not work in either the recreation, fitness, higher education or sport industry. I detested all of it and the main reason that I did was the feeling of being immobile in my career (always at the same place) and the feeling of not ever really branching out and doing something different. It has taken me a long time to discover who I truly am, and I do believe that I am somewhat of a late bloomer. I hate that term by the way.
In the summer of 2005, I spent a month in Europe. It was my first real trip overseas for a long period of time. Since that time, the travel bug has been contagious. I have always wanted to get under the exterior of the places I travel, but I also realize now that you have to be practical in how you go about it or you end up falling off the deep end in ending up in a place stuck between two worlds: you don't fit in back home and definitely not in your new culture.
I also know from spending time in China, that I would love to go back there and live as well as move abroad again. I have applied to the Peace Corps in the past but turned down offerers to serve as a business development volunteer in Kazakhstan and then the Ukraine, really out of fear. Oh, I WISH I WOULD have went now! But I did not, I think I need to forgive myself for that. I do not want to be a WOULDA COULDA SHOULDA. In fact, my whole life I have been plagued by a fear of striving for what i want: At first, I felt to old to become a professional mountain biker, a college football or basketball athlete. I should have went after it. But I lacked self confidence. The same lack that I have fought everyday of my life. I want so bad to be the envy of the world, but that is the wrong attitude to have. I need to focus on becoming the best person I can be and really just chasing the dreams that I have.
For me though, I have always grown frustrated when forced to take a back seat. I am a natural leader. Meaning, people turn to me without cause and look for me to lead. I guess I exert this presence, because it has happened a lot in my past. I also know that I am a take charge type of a person.
So I know there are no shortcuts. But, if I could pick one position in the world to day. Realistic position, I will not become a professional skater, figure skater, surfer or tennis pro :). Realistically though, I will not go into engineering or medicine. I will not become a doctor or fireman or astronaut. I don't want to.
What am I passionate about: Having an international career. Okay, that is very vague. But we know that we want an international career, and that an international career (the short cut way would be to peace out and go teach TEFL). Well, I do not want to be an English teacher. Thanks but no thanks. It is not challenging to me and I hated being around kids and a SCHOOL like that. Yuck .
So, in order to get an international career, you have to make your experiences count. Now, I personally have a goal. What is it?
TO BECOME A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER.
In order to do this, I have to apply to the FSO exam, pass grueling tests and spruce up my resume. Also, I need to become better at speaking foreign languages. Now, to do this, I should go back to school and become a more well educated member. I do want to do this. That much I know. I do want to pursue this. I do want to take the test. i want to study for it and try to make it in to the foreign service.
I also believe that a job with USAID would be remarkable. That would be my second choice to be working for USAID.
Third, I would love to have a great job internationally in China. I would like to be working in business or law, in CHINA. Not necessarily at an NGO, but for a company or an organization or freelancing as a consultant. I do not think I would want to open up my own business yet, though, strike that, I would.
So, all of that sounds interesting to me.
What interests me: International affairs, international law, international business, international development, international communications, international entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, international trade. ALL OF IT
So the key is then, finding something that will allow me to pursue a major chunk of that.
What is the REALITY of those situations!
Business- I would need to get an MBA with an Global focus, study abroad and take additional language classes. Studying in China would help me in this endeavor. However, I would also have to try and land a job that I really enjoy and be plugged into a global network.
Law-Get into a law program that will give me a breadth of international experience in the classroom, with internships and externships and with study abroad opportunities.
MPA programs-Probably the hardest one to decipher from. Why? Well, it is simple.
Honestly, I have to listen to my gut. Though I think it is noble to want to work in the world of public policy, I am not sure that be an analyst is everything it is cracked up to be. I mean, I also like the business elements of things much more than I did before. I LOVE CONSULTING PEOPLE. I LOVE GIVING PEOPLE IDEAS AND ADVISING THEM ON WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
I also no that before you can be a consultant in anything, you have to be good at something. Really good. i mean people are paying you for your advise, so you have to be credible, honest, punctual and know what the hell you are doing. I really like the idea of conducing research, consulting and being innovative.
So, if I look at a list of careers
What do I want to do with my life? So I guess it depends that you need to break down your life and without being too extreme, just write out what comes naturally too you like you are doing right now. Instead of planning and contemplating. Start acting. But decide, like you have before, what you want out of life and the type of person you want to be remembered as. You do not have to have it all figured out, in fact, you cannot have it all figured out and you NEVER will. Let me repeat that, You will never figure life out. That is why it is life. And decisions and consequences and mistakes are all part of life. You are learning aren't you. But the point is that you are smart and handsome and talented and can create the type of life you want it is not too late. So let's tackle some of your fears. What are they?
I am too old to do this-I think you say this as an excuse, you have always said that, even when you were 14. If you keep saying that you are too old as an excuse, what is that going to bring to you, more of the same and that is more disappointment because you do not end up going after what you want to go after because you feel like you are TOO OLD! That is a way of looking at it as the glass is half empty. Instead, be proud of all the you have accomplished and feel good that you have an education that cannot be taken away, live in a country where it is possible to chase your dreams and are able to seize opportunities again.
I will fail-So what if you do not get what you want out of life? At least you tried, and if you really want something, I believe you will be able to get it. Do you know how many people would love to be in your position: 1) You're white 2) You're educated 3) You're American. Start...you just have to start.
I will have to do work that I do not want to do before I get my dream job. True, but you can still find joy in it, and yes, to get what you want, you have to work. You have to work hard. No one has ever gotten anything worth of value without sacrificing through hard work....BUT you can also work smart, and this is really the key when you come to finances. You have to make your money work for you and you have to do that through investments.
What are the material things that you really want in life? I think you really need to answer this question because I think you do not want to say to yourself that you deserve to have all of those things. True, I think that you think that you do not need to drive a BMW to be thought of as important and you do not BUT wouldn't it be great to afford what you really did want. When it comes to material possessions, the things I care about are simple: purchasing good food, nice clothes, comfortable necessities for domestic life and having a good house. Not a mansion, but just a great place I can call my own! And, eventually, a dog.
So, you do deserve to have all that. But another financial goal you have is that you want to retire when you are 65 and hopefully have enough money to do the things you want to do, and I think by that point WHO KNOWS what that will be. That is why they call it life. you cannot sit here right now and say, hey, at 65 I want to be doing this.
Okay, when you were 26 you almost died, you need to use this to your advantage. Okay, think about this. You need to really start loving yourself and you need to love yourself by telling yourself that you are worth love. You deserve success. You deserve to have nice things. You deserve to eat at nice restaurants. You deserve first class. You deserve 7 star hotels. You deserve to drive a nice car. You deserve to visit nice places. YOU DESERVE SUCCESS but YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO IT. YOU HAVE TO EARN IT and YOU EARN IT THROUGH HARD WORK. Success is doing something that you thought was impossible and feeling fulfilled because it naturally enhances who you are as a person.
So back to the key question. What is your gut telling you? You do not have to think about if you are right or wrong at this point and you do not have to make any decisions right now, but what is your gut telling you.
My gut is telling me that I need to start working out. My gut is telling me that thought it would be cool to be Executive Director of the VCRC that it is really not what I want to do, and honestly, if I really wanted that then wouldn't I just start looking for something else. Listen finding what you are passionate about and following it are the keys to success that is what it is. That is what the world's most successful people say: Trump, Gates, Obama, they would all say that.
So start with these questions:
What type of a person do you want to be remembered as? When my life comes to an end, hopefully when I am a very old man. I want to look back with a sense of fondness and accomplishment. I want to feel that I did everything I could. That I strived and tried and that I succeeded and failed. That through my failures, I learned and I grew and that I cameback and were stronger. That I noticed my faults, that I improved on them. That I maximized my strengths and that I celebrated my successes. That I learned to love myself and that I learned to love others, even with their sins and their faults. That I was a loving brother, son, cousin, friend, father and partner. That I was respected for my work, respected for my courage. That I left an impact, left my mark on this Earth. That I created a piece of work that changed the way people think and the lives they live. That I was known as reliable, dependable and a joy to be around. That my friends could depend on me. That with relationships I kept, I fostered, and relationships that I did not foster, I tried to at least. That I overcame negativity and the influence of people that trespass. That I found spirituality, and conquered the mind. That I lived a life in which I truly did go after what I wanted and that instead of feeling bad about what I was not able to do or mistakes I made, I learned and I grew. I want people to celebrate. I want them to remember my name.
How are you going to mold yourself into being that person? I am going to find more balance in my life. This starts with the self and that starts with my head. I believe that that means that I take the time, each day, to set goals for myself, to be spiritual, to laugh and take care of my head. That I learn to love and appreciate myself as I am and as I grow, for the sake of being me.
That I learn to love others, that I find someone that meshes with me.
That I become a better family person and a friend by being more receptive to the people around me.
That I work hard and go after my dreams. That I am honest. That I operate with integrity. That I am prepared.
Where do you want to go with your life. What do you want out of it? I want to pay off my debt, I want to buy a great home. I want to retire securely. I want to make good money. Money is power. I know that. I think money can do wonderful things for people. It is much better to have money, then to not have money. There is nothing noble in being poor. So if you wanted to know my truth about things. Okay, here it is. I hate martyrs. I am not a martyr. Listen, I do not want to "STRUGGLE" financially my whole life and right now. Honestly, I am not doing as well as I want to be doing financially. But the key is that I do not just want to do something that makes money if it leaves me unfulfilled. Honestly, I do not want to just do somehthing that is boring and pednandtic in order to make money and even more importantly, I do not want to do something that does not allow me to make good money. i think right now that $50,000 is a lot of money. But, in actuality it is not that much at all. In fact, really money starts at $70, $80k a year. I mean, okay, here it is:
FINANCIAL GOAL! To pay off all of my consumer and student debt.
FINANCIAL GOAL! To retire securely with money to do the things I want to do.
FINANCIAL GOAL! To buy a nice home and things to fill the home that I want.
FINANCIAL GOAL! To be able to have savings for emergency situations and disposable income.
FINANCIAL GOAL! To start my own socially oriented business.
FINANCIAL GOAL! To one day make over $100,000 or whatever that amounts to in future terms in terms of market quality and inflation.
Career Goal: To start my own socially oriented business.
Career Goal: To apply to and make the Foreign Service as an officer.
Career Goal: To attend graduate school in either law, business or public administration with an international focus.
Career Goal: To work for an organization that I truly believe in on an international level.
Career Goal: To have a great paying job overseas.
Okay so what are you passionate about in terms of the type of work that you like to do. Well, I need to find new information, seek out new challenges, be challenged, feeling like there is a ton to investigate, meet new people, travel, go to different places.
That is why I should not just work in public administration, because it will mean I am in a sedentary job.
How are you going to mold yourself into that person.
Where do I want to be tomorrow? I believe that my path looks somewhat like this A) If I stay in my current position, I believe that I can work and possibly be selected as the next Executive Director of the Virginia Conflict Resolution Center. While I enjoy working at the VCRC, I do not have a passion for the subject matter, that is: mediation, conflict resolution services and education. I also do not have a passion for helping at-risk youth, I do not enjoy teaching. I get frustrated here by the A) money that I make, a lousy 27,000 a year and the lack of benefits, including high medical insurance. I also get very frustrated by the Center's ability to be innovative, though I am bringing that vision to the Center. I do enjoy the people and for the most part, I enjoy the tasks I have in front of me. That is, there is a lot of room to create, innovate and be an entrepreneur. At the same time, the area (Hampton Roads) is not my favorite. I have had a hard time feeling like this place could be my home. I just do not want to be here long term. I think it is because the area is so small and void of any culture. It is also a very blue collar and military area and it is hard to be a part of that community. For the most part, the people I work with are smart. I took the position in part because I realized that the current Executive Director would be a good mentor to have and I think that is important. I also know that the flexibility is something I enjoy. However, at the end of the day, I hate being trapped in the office, dealing with all things youth related and getting down to the nitty gritty details of non-profit work (constantly looking for donors, grant writing, collaboration, selling a hard to sell item-our services). I think it is very important to work for organizations that you truly believe in, or at least, be doing work that you truly believe in, even if the organization has problems. BUT, it has to be one or the other, you have to be either passionate about the organization, so much so that you are willing to do whatever it takes for it to succeed (not easy to do?!?!) or passionate about your role, despite the organization.
I also know with me personally that I am a good student. I have accomplished a lot. In high school (cannot believe I am saying this) I really bared down and ending up drastically improving my GPA my senior year. My weakest points were always in math and the physical sciences (chemistry, physics, etc.) Which is ironic because my personality trait (INTJ) is right in line with being a brilliant physical scientist. I also tried my knack at medicine, but found the subject matter dull. Constant memorization and lack of innovation. Why both medicine and physical sciences could have allowed me to satisfy my insatiable curiosity, the reliance on science would (I believe) been a hampering to me. That being said, I do enjoy working with statistics and looking at statistics. However, the actual nitty-gritty of coming up with statistics is daunting to me. I find it boring. So boring.
In undergrad, the best classes I took were the History of Western Civilization, Mass Communication Theories, Mass Communication Speech, Broadcast Seminar: Capitalism and Mass Communication: Anthropology of Sex. The most boring classes I took were math based classes, trade based PR classes, and basically any non-social science sport management class. I look back now and though I have to start believing that I am gifted and that I should be proud that I have my college degree, I also wish I would have majored in something more liberal arts based. At the time, I was so concerned that I would not get a good job without something that was practical. But, I also said at the time that I hated business and that I would never be a lawyer. Now, ironically, my attitude has changed and I have seen the possibilities in both.
Of course, I believe that what is really important is to feel that you are growing as an individual, that your home is indeed your home, that you embrace the fact that life can be difficult and trying but it does not have to be a struggle. I am stressed right now because of my living situation and the fact that I have had to come back to Hampton Roads for the second time in my life to LAUNCH my career. My career has not went as planned, but I made a decision in the past to do some things that would not have prolonged it. I know now that I was not as passionate about higher education administration or sport management than I previously have thought, and I can honestly admit to this day, that I am glad that I do not work in either the recreation, fitness, higher education or sport industry. I detested all of it and the main reason that I did was the feeling of being immobile in my career (always at the same place) and the feeling of not ever really branching out and doing something different. It has taken me a long time to discover who I truly am, and I do believe that I am somewhat of a late bloomer. I hate that term by the way.
In the summer of 2005, I spent a month in Europe. It was my first real trip overseas for a long period of time. Since that time, the travel bug has been contagious. I have always wanted to get under the exterior of the places I travel, but I also realize now that you have to be practical in how you go about it or you end up falling off the deep end in ending up in a place stuck between two worlds: you don't fit in back home and definitely not in your new culture.
I also know from spending time in China, that I would love to go back there and live as well as move abroad again. I have applied to the Peace Corps in the past but turned down offerers to serve as a business development volunteer in Kazakhstan and then the Ukraine, really out of fear. Oh, I WISH I WOULD have went now! But I did not, I think I need to forgive myself for that. I do not want to be a WOULDA COULDA SHOULDA. In fact, my whole life I have been plagued by a fear of striving for what i want: At first, I felt to old to become a professional mountain biker, a college football or basketball athlete. I should have went after it. But I lacked self confidence. The same lack that I have fought everyday of my life. I want so bad to be the envy of the world, but that is the wrong attitude to have. I need to focus on becoming the best person I can be and really just chasing the dreams that I have.
For me though, I have always grown frustrated when forced to take a back seat. I am a natural leader. Meaning, people turn to me without cause and look for me to lead. I guess I exert this presence, because it has happened a lot in my past. I also know that I am a take charge type of a person.
So I know there are no shortcuts. But, if I could pick one position in the world to day. Realistic position, I will not become a professional skater, figure skater, surfer or tennis pro :). Realistically though, I will not go into engineering or medicine. I will not become a doctor or fireman or astronaut. I don't want to.
What am I passionate about: Having an international career. Okay, that is very vague. But we know that we want an international career, and that an international career (the short cut way would be to peace out and go teach TEFL). Well, I do not want to be an English teacher. Thanks but no thanks. It is not challenging to me and I hated being around kids and a SCHOOL like that. Yuck .
So, in order to get an international career, you have to make your experiences count. Now, I personally have a goal. What is it?
TO BECOME A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER.
In order to do this, I have to apply to the FSO exam, pass grueling tests and spruce up my resume. Also, I need to become better at speaking foreign languages. Now, to do this, I should go back to school and become a more well educated member. I do want to do this. That much I know. I do want to pursue this. I do want to take the test. i want to study for it and try to make it in to the foreign service.
I also believe that a job with USAID would be remarkable. That would be my second choice to be working for USAID.
Third, I would love to have a great job internationally in China. I would like to be working in business or law, in CHINA. Not necessarily at an NGO, but for a company or an organization or freelancing as a consultant. I do not think I would want to open up my own business yet, though, strike that, I would.
So, all of that sounds interesting to me.
What interests me: International affairs, international law, international business, international development, international communications, international entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, international trade. ALL OF IT
So the key is then, finding something that will allow me to pursue a major chunk of that.
What is the REALITY of those situations!
Business- I would need to get an MBA with an Global focus, study abroad and take additional language classes. Studying in China would help me in this endeavor. However, I would also have to try and land a job that I really enjoy and be plugged into a global network.
Law-Get into a law program that will give me a breadth of international experience in the classroom, with internships and externships and with study abroad opportunities.
MPA programs-Probably the hardest one to decipher from. Why? Well, it is simple.
Honestly, I have to listen to my gut. Though I think it is noble to want to work in the world of public policy, I am not sure that be an analyst is everything it is cracked up to be. I mean, I also like the business elements of things much more than I did before. I LOVE CONSULTING PEOPLE. I LOVE GIVING PEOPLE IDEAS AND ADVISING THEM ON WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.
I also no that before you can be a consultant in anything, you have to be good at something. Really good. i mean people are paying you for your advise, so you have to be credible, honest, punctual and know what the hell you are doing. I really like the idea of conducing research, consulting and being innovative.
So, if I look at a list of careers
What do I want to do with my life? So I guess it depends that you need to break down your life and without being too extreme, just write out what comes naturally too you like you are doing right now. Instead of planning and contemplating. Start acting. But decide, like you have before, what you want out of life and the type of person you want to be remembered as. You do not have to have it all figured out, in fact, you cannot have it all figured out and you NEVER will. Let me repeat that, You will never figure life out. That is why it is life. And decisions and consequences and mistakes are all part of life. You are learning aren't you. But the point is that you are smart and handsome and talented and can create the type of life you want it is not too late. So let's tackle some of your fears. What are they?
I am too old to do this-I think you say this as an excuse, you have always said that, even when you were 14. If you keep saying that you are too old as an excuse, what is that going to bring to you, more of the same and that is more disappointment because you do not end up going after what you want to go after because you feel like you are TOO OLD! That is a way of looking at it as the glass is half empty. Instead, be proud of all the you have accomplished and feel good that you have an education that cannot be taken away, live in a country where it is possible to chase your dreams and are able to seize opportunities again.
I will fail-So what if you do not get what you want out of life? At least you tried, and if you really want something, I believe you will be able to get it. Do you know how many people would love to be in your position: 1) You're white 2) You're educated 3) You're American. Start...you just have to start.
I will have to do work that I do not want to do before I get my dream job. True, but you can still find joy in it, and yes, to get what you want, you have to work. You have to work hard. No one has ever gotten anything worth of value without sacrificing through hard work....BUT you can also work smart, and this is really the key when you come to finances. You have to make your money work for you and you have to do that through investments.
What are the material things that you really want in life? I think you really need to answer this question because I think you do not want to say to yourself that you deserve to have all of those things. True, I think that you think that you do not need to drive a BMW to be thought of as important and you do not BUT wouldn't it be great to afford what you really did want. When it comes to material possessions, the things I care about are simple: purchasing good food, nice clothes, comfortable necessities for domestic life and having a good house. Not a mansion, but just a great place I can call my own! And, eventually, a dog.
So, you do deserve to have all that. But another financial goal you have is that you want to retire when you are 65 and hopefully have enough money to do the things you want to do, and I think by that point WHO KNOWS what that will be. That is why they call it life. you cannot sit here right now and say, hey, at 65 I want to be doing this.
Okay, when you were 26 you almost died, you need to use this to your advantage. Okay, think about this. You need to really start loving yourself and you need to love yourself by telling yourself that you are worth love. You deserve success. You deserve to have nice things. You deserve to eat at nice restaurants. You deserve first class. You deserve 7 star hotels. You deserve to drive a nice car. You deserve to visit nice places. YOU DESERVE SUCCESS but YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO IT. YOU HAVE TO EARN IT and YOU EARN IT THROUGH HARD WORK. Success is doing something that you thought was impossible and feeling fulfilled because it naturally enhances who you are as a person.
So back to the key question. What is your gut telling you? You do not have to think about if you are right or wrong at this point and you do not have to make any decisions right now, but what is your gut telling you.
My gut is telling me that I need to start working out. My gut is telling me that thought it would be cool to be Executive Director of the VCRC that it is really not what I want to do, and honestly, if I really wanted that then wouldn't I just start looking for something else. Listen finding what you are passionate about and following it are the keys to success that is what it is. That is what the world's most successful people say: Trump, Gates, Obama, they would all say that.
So start with these questions:
What type of a person do you want to be remembered as? When my life comes to an end, hopefully when I am a very old man. I want to look back with a sense of fondness and accomplishment. I want to feel that I did everything I could. That I strived and tried and that I succeeded and failed. That through my failures, I learned and I grew and that I cameback and were stronger. That I noticed my faults, that I improved on them. That I maximized my strengths and that I celebrated my successes. That I learned to love myself and that I learned to love others, even with their sins and their faults. That I was a loving brother, son, cousin, friend, father and partner. That I was respected for my work, respected for my courage. That I left an impact, left my mark on this Earth. That I created a piece of work that changed the way people think and the lives they live. That I was known as reliable, dependable and a joy to be around. That my friends could depend on me. That with relationships I kept, I fostered, and relationships that I did not foster, I tried to at least. That I overcame negativity and the influence of people that trespass. That I found spirituality, and conquered the mind. That I lived a life in which I truly did go after what I wanted and that instead of feeling bad about what I was not able to do or mistakes I made, I learned and I grew. I want people to celebrate. I want them to remember my name.
How are you going to mold yourself into being that person? I am going to find more balance in my life. This starts with the self and that starts with my head. I believe that that means that I take the time, each day, to set goals for myself, to be spiritual, to laugh and take care of my head. That I learn to love and appreciate myself as I am and as I grow, for the sake of being me.
That I learn to love others, that I find someone that meshes with me.
That I become a better family person and a friend by being more receptive to the people around me.
That I work hard and go after my dreams. That I am honest. That I operate with integrity. That I am prepared.
Where do you want to go with your life. What do you want out of it? I want to pay off my debt, I want to buy a great home. I want to retire securely. I want to make good money. Money is power. I know that. I think money can do wonderful things for people. It is much better to have money, then to not have money. There is nothing noble in being poor. So if you wanted to know my truth about things. Okay, here it is. I hate martyrs. I am not a martyr. Listen, I do not want to "STRUGGLE" financially my whole life and right now. Honestly, I am not doing as well as I want to be doing financially. But the key is that I do not just want to do something that makes money if it leaves me unfulfilled. Honestly, I do not want to just do somehthing that is boring and pednandtic in order to make money and even more importantly, I do not want to do something that does not allow me to make good money. i think right now that $50,000 is a lot of money. But, in actuality it is not that much at all. In fact, really money starts at $70, $80k a year. I mean, okay, here it is:
FINANCIAL GOAL! To pay off all of my consumer and student debt.
FINANCIAL GOAL! To retire securely with money to do the things I want to do.
FINANCIAL GOAL! To buy a nice home and things to fill the home that I want.
FINANCIAL GOAL! To be able to have savings for emergency situations and disposable income.
FINANCIAL GOAL! To start my own socially oriented business.
FINANCIAL GOAL! To one day make over $100,000 or whatever that amounts to in future terms in terms of market quality and inflation.
Career Goal: To start my own socially oriented business.
Career Goal: To apply to and make the Foreign Service as an officer.
Career Goal: To attend graduate school in either law, business or public administration with an international focus.
Career Goal: To work for an organization that I truly believe in on an international level.
Career Goal: To have a great paying job overseas.
Okay so what are you passionate about in terms of the type of work that you like to do. Well, I need to find new information, seek out new challenges, be challenged, feeling like there is a ton to investigate, meet new people, travel, go to different places.
That is why I should not just work in public administration, because it will mean I am in a sedentary job.
How are you going to mold yourself into that person.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Why does not matter, but right now I have trouble believing in myself. My first dream was to be the first person to compete at the Winter and Summer Olympics, but my interests in cycling, or tennis never seemed to materialize. I thought I was too old back then! OMG...IT JUST HIT ME!
I remember playing tennis when I was young. It was my first sport. It really spoke to me because 1) It was something that my brother had not done that could be shoved down my throat like football and basketball and 2) It was more consistent with my personality. I loved playing tennis and badminton when I was younger. I just loved the feel of it. I would hit the ball up against a wall or play it on the road by myself.
Later on, I took up mountain biking and running. I keep remember thinking that WOW....maybe I could do both of these things. I even told my dad that one day I wanted to run track for the University of Utah. Just seemed real cool to do at the time.
But early at that age, I decided that with it was just too tough. That I had waited too long. That at 14, I was too old to become a competitive runner. That I was too old to become a professional mountain biker. I gave up on my dreams. All I really wanted was the feeling of being a professional athlete. And I gave up on it.
I dreamed of being rich. I dreamed of being a corporate mogul. I dreamed of working at IMG. I dreamed of working at the UN. I dreamed of working at the IOC. I dreamed of working at the CIA. I dreamed of working at the FBI. I dreamed of working as President. I dreamed of being a Senator. I dreamed of being in Congress. I dreamed of being mayor in my hometown. I dreamed of being a social entrepreneur. I dreamed of being in the State Department. I dreamed of working for the Foreign Service. I dreamed of working in international development. I dreamed. I dreamed. I dreamed. It is always the same things over and over and over again. and then suddenly I dream of being a human rights attorney. You know, no one grows up in life and says that theywant to be a CERTAIN BLAH. Why do people do that? Why do people stay in seemingly foolish positions or in jobs they hate or with bosses and companies they hate or what why whay do they do things such as that!
I have dreamed and dreamed and dreamed and yet, the thing that holds me back, is my ability to just MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT FEAR, GET ON A TRACK I AM HAPPY ABOUT and WORK HARD AT IT.
3 years ago, I read a whole book about what i wanted to do with my life based on my personality. We discovered that this was already done. We figured this out. Now, why I am I here again.
I know what interests me is international relations. I know what interests me is the thought that I might have the opportunity to get experience working for the federal government in the United States. I have just always wanted an international career. I really do not know how to describe it. I have always
So, now, here I am. In the same town that I was in 4 years ago. In much the same situation. I am working in a job that is not fulfilling to me.
I remember playing tennis when I was young. It was my first sport. It really spoke to me because 1) It was something that my brother had not done that could be shoved down my throat like football and basketball and 2) It was more consistent with my personality. I loved playing tennis and badminton when I was younger. I just loved the feel of it. I would hit the ball up against a wall or play it on the road by myself.
Later on, I took up mountain biking and running. I keep remember thinking that WOW....maybe I could do both of these things. I even told my dad that one day I wanted to run track for the University of Utah. Just seemed real cool to do at the time.
But early at that age, I decided that with it was just too tough. That I had waited too long. That at 14, I was too old to become a competitive runner. That I was too old to become a professional mountain biker. I gave up on my dreams. All I really wanted was the feeling of being a professional athlete. And I gave up on it.
I dreamed of being rich. I dreamed of being a corporate mogul. I dreamed of working at IMG. I dreamed of working at the UN. I dreamed of working at the IOC. I dreamed of working at the CIA. I dreamed of working at the FBI. I dreamed of working as President. I dreamed of being a Senator. I dreamed of being in Congress. I dreamed of being mayor in my hometown. I dreamed of being a social entrepreneur. I dreamed of being in the State Department. I dreamed of working for the Foreign Service. I dreamed of working in international development. I dreamed. I dreamed. I dreamed. It is always the same things over and over and over again. and then suddenly I dream of being a human rights attorney. You know, no one grows up in life and says that theywant to be a CERTAIN BLAH. Why do people do that? Why do people stay in seemingly foolish positions or in jobs they hate or with bosses and companies they hate or what why whay do they do things such as that!
I have dreamed and dreamed and dreamed and yet, the thing that holds me back, is my ability to just MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT FEAR, GET ON A TRACK I AM HAPPY ABOUT and WORK HARD AT IT.
3 years ago, I read a whole book about what i wanted to do with my life based on my personality. We discovered that this was already done. We figured this out. Now, why I am I here again.
I know what interests me is international relations. I know what interests me is the thought that I might have the opportunity to get experience working for the federal government in the United States. I have just always wanted an international career. I really do not know how to describe it. I have always
So, now, here I am. In the same town that I was in 4 years ago. In much the same situation. I am working in a job that is not fulfilling to me.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
What is important to me? What do I love to do?
Why can't I answer this question. I think it is because I always try to answer the question and then go, instead of just GOING!
So what is it that you love to do-
Travel
Other cultures
Living abroad
Mingling with cultures
What do you like to do at work
Intense intellectual conversations
Intense/important work, that is global in nature
Work that requires analysis and systemic design and
WHAT DO YOU WANT IN LIFE?!
A) International Career
B) A Home in the USA and a HOME abroad
c) NO DEBT
D) Another degree
E) To open up my own non profit organization: apply for ashoska and green fellow
Why can't I answer this question. I think it is because I always try to answer the question and then go, instead of just GOING!
So what is it that you love to do-
Travel
Other cultures
Living abroad
Mingling with cultures
What do you like to do at work
Intense intellectual conversations
Intense/important work, that is global in nature
Work that requires analysis and systemic design and
WHAT DO YOU WANT IN LIFE?!
A) International Career
B) A Home in the USA and a HOME abroad
c) NO DEBT
D) Another degree
E) To open up my own non profit organization: apply for ashoska and green fellow
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