It has been a very, very long time since I have blogged. I actually can't remember the last time that I did. I believe it was 3 houses ago - yes, still moving around a lot. I don't know if it's because I am nomadic or unsettled or just should have had that experience years ago but was busy going to school, working and owning houses.
I am sitting here, listening to 2Cellos, my new favorite music to design to and IMing a good friend of mine. I've found lately that I have been asking a lot of people What do you want? It's a simple question with a very profound answer. We get caught up in our daily lives and our daily drama. Other people's drama or just not understanding others actions. We wrap our heads around work and the stress's, bills and the money and at the end of the day, we don't know what we want or its something material or emotional - things that are best left up to our life path.
So here's a story about me:
I had a great friend many years ago that was stronger than me in so many ways. There are days that I still think about her and when I'm stuck think about what she would do. I had had a really bad year, about 7 years ago. I had dated the wrong guy that ended up stalking me, his friends not much better and me deciding to not deal with the issue and to just ignore everything. I was involved with yet another wrong guy and going out a lot. My job never suffered but looking back at it, it probably did. I was young and unsure how to handle these big life lessons. Everyone around me was telling me what to do or how to feel or how to react or not react. Spiraling out of control and free falling no one was there to catch me.
One morning, I was on my way to work and just crying on the phone to my friend. I told her this person wasn't me, I didn't know who I was becoming but it wasn't me. She then asked, What Do You Want? That stopped me dead, my mind instantly came up with an answer - I don't even think a second passed. I told her that I wanted to go back to school for my MBA. She said do it.
That day I scheduled a meeting with University of Phoenix and enrolled for classes. I would graduate and not even be 25. This was going to be awesome. At that moment, it pulled me out of everything bad, took it all away and all I had time to focus on was school. I was determined to graduate with a 4.0. Mid-way through the program is when I fell in love with business and where I knew that this, was something that I could do. At that moment I found my path and I found my voice.
The thing is, we can only control what we can control. We can't always control business or work, we can't control who we love or who we lose, we can't control other people - but we can control what we want and how we go about it. And I'm not talking about cars or houses or money, but taking control of your own life and its decisions. The MBA was mine, I didn't solicit anyone for advice, I didn't care whether it was a 'good' idea or 'bad' idea to people. I didn't care if people rolled their eyes at the 'smarty pants' and the MBA. This was my claim in the world, in a life where it was out of control, this staked me back in the ground.
5.5 years later, I am an MBA that did graduate with a 4.0, who started her own company and became an entrepreneur and a mentor to others. Determined and stronger than ever.
My friend asked me a simple question that changed my life forever, and put me on my path. It isn't always charmed and it isn't always easy but it's worth it and what I want.
So ask yourself, What it is that you want. And then go do it.
