The Big "O"

Hey get your mind outta the gutter. I'm talking about the other big "O".

Opportunities are all around us. In fact, I believe we have just as much opportunity as the air we breath. One of life's biggest challenges though, is trying to figure out which opportunities to embrace and which ones to ignore.  Allow me...
With so many products and new innovations available today, one would think that everyone on Earth is living the "good life". But here's the often overlooked part about opportunity--it works both ways.

Some opportunities we pass up because we perceive it as too much hard work, or because we fear disappoint or rejection. Perhaps you were told 'no' about something that matters a great deal to you.  You can look at this one of two ways: an opportunity to quit or an opportunity to try again. As most of us already know, opportunity doesn't always come knocking. So instead of sitting around waiting, why not take action by knocking on opportunity's door? The fact is, if you don't, someone will. So why not? The only thing you have to lose is an opportunity to make it happen.

M.V.P. (Most Valuable Property)

I would like to think that out of all the property a person owns in their lifetime, intellectual property would have to be the most valuable. For example, the ideas you have in your mind are worth something. They are waiting to be given life. The most fascinating thing about our ideas is their ability to outlive its creator--an idea that you bring to life today can help others years, decades and even centuries after you're gone. I often wonder what the pioneers of the aviation industry, the Wright brothers, would think if they were alive to see the jumbo jets and fighter planes we use today.

Ideas can also be inspiring.  Case in point, the smartphone. Think of all the businesses that emerged the moment a computer and phone merged as one. Entire industries and jobs have been created, solely off of inspiration from another individual's idea. So don't sell yourself short and discount the ideas you have. You never know what impact they may have on the world.

Be well.

A symbol is worth a thousand words

Symbols are amazing, and a part of our everyday lives so much that I think we often overlook the important messages they sometimes can represent.

Over the weekend I saw the yin yang symbol coming home from a family function. I've seen it a million times but on this day, for some reason it spoke loudly. Perhaps because I was a bit reluctant to go on the family trip when I first heard about it. It's not that I don't like to hang out with my family, but the workaholic in me kicked in and thought about all of the work that I would have to put off just to attend.

Needless to say, after going on the trip, I was glad I decided to go. On top of that, it gave me an opportunity to see how functional my business is outside the comforts of home, as well as indulge in spending time with loved ones that I rarely get to see.

Seeing that symbol was a reminder for me that balance is key, yet that very symbol may not represent the same thing to the next person. That's why I find them fascinating, because symbols themselves become powerful when they merge with meaning, but still give us the freedom to decide for ourselves what they each represent.

Symbols are everywhere. What will the next one say to you?

Permission Slip (Why you don't need approval)

I attended elementary school at Elizabeth Sherman in East Oakland. I remember whenever we would have to use the restroom or leave the class for any reason we had to get a permission slip. Now even though the slip was just a piece of paper, it gave me two things: authority and security.

Which brings me to today's post. As adults I think we often fall into that same idea-- the need for "permission" to pursue our dreams. The reality is, the fact that you have a dream and a clear vision of what you want to be is permission enough. The only thing holding you back is you. You don't need anyone co-signing your goals, and you certainly don't need anyone's approval. So get busy building your dream, or you'll find yourself helping someone else build theirs. Find the will to make it happen and the resolve to see it through.

Why Wait? Don't Kill Your Momentum

How many of us have said something along these lines?-- "I can't wait until this weekend so I can catch up on some reading," or "As soon as the Holiday season is over I'm going to the gym." Although we attempt to validate our reasoning for putting something off, most likely, it's never going to be the perfect time to do it. The only guaranteed time you have is now. If there's something that you want to do, why wait until "Monday" or the first of the month to start? Why not today? If you want to run a marathon, try walking around the block first. If you want to be a writer, start a blog. Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. But no matter what it is, the sooner you get started, the sooner you can reach your goal.

Something else to consider--Procrastination kills momentum. When you have a goal or dream in your mind it's probably there for a reason. A little bit here and there will eventually become substantial and one day you'll see how far you come. Ultimately, whether you get started today or not, time waits for no one. No matter who we are, or what we have, we each get 24 hours per day. The question is, how will you use it?