Yes, it's Monday, and it's also November 1. I'm trying something new, which makes me think of all the people out there going into the world right now to make a living, reach their dreams, or maybe just be able to put a roof over their heads for another day. I have been fortunate. Many of the things I have set out for so far in life have been accomplished or are well on their way. I have a great family, including the father I didn't know for 32 years, excellent friends, I'm in a happy relationship, and I have what I think is a stable, successful career. I'm still working on my own set of personal goals, but those don't seem as unattainable as they once were.
Life hasn't always been like this. The first time I started blogging, it was when everything seemed to be crumbling apart. That was over five years ago, and the journey I started then, as rocky and seemingly crazy as it felt, has paid off in the life I live now. In that time, there were some things I did, some lessons learned, that changed the game for me, that took me from where I was to where I am now. This post is about sharing some of them. Whether you agree with them or not, they are what worked for me, what led me to where I am now, and what I use now to reach my goals.
- Be bold. Do not be afraid of change. It will happen whether you want it or not, so let it happen on your terms, and make it your own.
- Keep learning. Graduation does not mark the end of learning, and neither does getting that job/promotion you've been working toward. Read, talk, listen, share, and search out the things that interest you.
- If you want a job and have no contacts, you have to pound ground. There is no substitute for suiting up and walking into the places you want to work, resume in hand. Research the company, learn a bit about them and who you need to talk to. If a company only has an online presence, try to find a phone number for a recruiter. Find a way to stand out, but keep it in moderation; no one likes a suck up.
- Bad relationships are draining, but good relationships are powerful. Communication is the key to staying out of one and staying in the other. It let's you know when the time is right to get out of a bad one and hopefully keeps you in a good one.
- Learn to speak clearly, write well, and spell properly. These are priceless skills, and will get you far in any walk of life.
- Don't be a dick (courtesy Wil Wheaton), unless you have to (courtesy me). Some people take this to mean you have to be a dick all the time, which is totally missing the point. I can count on one finger the number of times I've had to be a dick in the last two years. If you're using the second part of this statement too often, you're not getting the first part right.
- Get the right amount of quality sleep for you. I have a sleep disorder, which if untreated means I get very little real sleep no matter how long I'm in bed, so I was sleepy all the time. It also causes a heart arrhythmia. I cannot describe how life changing it has been to get this treated, to sleep well, and to not have had a major heart arrhythmia event for months.
- Anger is destructive. As tempting as it is to try to use it for motivation or channel it to other things, feeding into anger is dangerous. It is better to be cold and calculating than angry and reckless, although I much prefer being warm and open.
- Decide who you want to be, and become that person, even if they are someone completely different. You may never completely become that person, but a few steps in the right direction never hurt anyone. Much of what makes a person comes from what they do, what actions and decisions they make. Make decisions based on the person you want to be, and over time, you'll find that you are who you want to be.
That's all I have for right now, although I have quite a few more. I didn't even touch on politics and social stuff, which has been on my mind lately with the election coming up. Until then, happy Monday.
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