The Life-Force of Success

If there’s one thing I’ve come to appreciate more than anything else this past year, it’s the value of hard work.

Hard work pays off. Hard work is about takling obstacels one at a time to chip away at big goals.

When people ask me how I’ve ended up where I am today – my first response is “hard work”.Yes, there’s more to it than that, I’m also extremely fortunate to be where I am, but above all I work hard – nights, weekends, whatever it takes to do great work.

The value of hard work cannot be substituted. It's the life-force of success. It’s also the biggest deficiency for most people. The lack of desire to work hard, especially in a society that demands immediate gratification, holds us back.

Don’t let it. Hustle through all of those late nights, work-filled weekends, failures, and successes. You’ll learn more about yourself and you’re capacity to succeed than you ever thought possible.

Moment of truth: How has hard work paid off for you this year? What are you working toward right now?

Solve A Problem

Before you take another step in your job hunt, answer this question: "What problem are you trying to solve?"

If there’s not something lacking that you are going to provide, why should an employer want to hire you?

People need to see a problem to be moved.There must be an inciting moment. For me, I saw a need to serve those around me. It was the "why" not the "what."

Seth Godin once described the difference between marketing Aspirin and vitamins. Aspirin, he said, is much easier to sell because it solves a problem - your headache. Vitamins, on the other hand, don’t resolve an immediate, blaring problem. They’re a harder sell.

How can you reframe your application for a specific position as the solution to a problem? When you offer the solution to a problem, employers awaken to your potential.

Your skills, experience and expertise must address a problem. Every employer looking to hire has a problem. Understanding that problem and providing the solution to that problem qualifies you as the best candidate for the employer to hire.

Outdistance Yourself During Spring Break

Achieving your goals often requires you to delay pleasure. It's difficult, but worth doing.

Now is the perfect time to attack some of the simple mechanics of a job search. You have a week free of lectures, student organization meetings and school requirements. Why not take the opportunity to break apart from the pack?

Here are five things to do instead of wasting away your break:

1. Update your resume and develop the working structure of a cover letter.
2. Reach out to local industry experts and set the stage for a low-risk experiment.
3. Develop a professional online presence (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).
4. Conduct a few informational and interviews and refine your sweet spot.
5. Send a Thank You note to everyone who has helped you get to where you are today.

There you go! Five simple steps that could have huge payoffs at a later date. They wont occupy your entire break and you'll be that much closer to your desired results.

Enjoy your break!

Get Called To The Big Leagues

Chances are if you've tried a few low-risk experiments, you've found your sweet spot and have determined the value you bring to an organization. Don't stop here.

Keep refining, practicing and committing yourself to topping your past performance. Don't wait to be given permission and don't expect any favors.

When the time is right, you'll be called to the big leagues (land a job) and when you do, return the favor by helping those around you achieve their dreams.

How Badly Do You Want Success?

Those who are hungry, driven and committed will create opportunites to improve themeselves. Success requires drive, determination, and persistance. Understanding that defeat comes far in advance of success is neccessary.

Understanding that failure isn't final is critical. Success will come when you least expect it and only after a firm commitment to doing the work.

Low-Risk Experiments

Trying sushi, a new outfit and going on a blind date are all low-risk experiments.
So is an internship.

Chances are you've never experienced the practical application of your eduction. If you wait to approach a specific field or industry without experience, you might find that you have no joy in performing the tasks centered around education and expertise. Even worse, you may find your chosen field repulsing. Seeking low-risk opportunities to explore is the key for long term happiness.

Try new things, document what works and refine your focus moving forward.

Simple Doesn't Always Mean Easy

Most everything in life can be classified into a simple process. There will always be time tested principles, today's latest trends and a multitude of noise as you approach the beginnings of life beyond college.

Everything that is necessary to secure a job is simple. Taking action and following through is difficult. Success requires dedication, determination and the ability to be decisive.

The mechanics are simple.

Start early, build upon your past experience, and plan. Develop a killer resume, write a persuasive cover letter and wait for an employer to draw the conclusion that your the ideal candidate.

It's not rocket science.

The razzle dazzle is in your ability to be persistent-- to execute and follow through when everyone else is content to only initiate.

Gone Is The Map

If you're waiting for a college, employer or boss to validate that you do good work, you're handing over too much power to someone who doesn't care nearly as much as you do.

Your passion is unmatched.

We spend a lot of time organizing, applying and hoping only to wait and wait and wait for the system to select us, approve of us and grant us permission to realize the practical application of our passion.

Now is the time to take action. Success comes to those who are knowledgeable, motivated and do well to communicate and share their passion with the world. Gone are the days where we could follow the map down the well worn path to success. Students today require a compass that must point true north.

Enormous and exciting changes will continue to redefine the entirety of industries as new industries take center stage. It's time to navigate into the future given the multitude of available resources.

If you want to record an album, record it. If you have a book to write, write it. No need to wait for someone in a cubicle halfway across the country to decide if you're worthy.

The truth of the matter is that you are worthy. You have the potential to achieve your innermost desires and there has never been a time where there has been less of a barrier to entry than now.

What will you share with the world?

Focus On The "Why"

I've struggled through college, started a small freelance business and resolved many personal toils regarding purpose and direction all with focusing on what. In fact I frequently hear my classmates and contemporaries talk about not knowing what they want to do.

The inherent problem with this way of thinking is that it dodges the heart of the matter. What we do is far less important than why we do it. What we do changes and evolves over time. On the other hand, the why of our daily routines penetrates the core of our beliefs and true purpose.

Simply put: Clarity of why helps bring clarity of what. Consistency in why helps bring consistency in what.

Why I’m writing this post is because I want more people to understand their abilities. I want my friends who are full of potential energy to burst with kinetic energy. I want more people to take note of what truly moves and inspires them and I want people to act with intent, purpose, and clarity of why in everything they do.

Do You Have A Calling?

When it comes to fulfillment in relation to work, many agree that there are three broad categories. We typically view work as a job, a career or a calling and it's easy to confuse these categories as we navigate from college to career. Here's my take:

• You work a job for the money. You watch the clock and dream about the weekend.
• You carefully prepare for a career with high goals seeking promotion, prestige and sometimes status.
• You passionately follow your callings and continually stoke the fire within. You work because it is meaningful and intrinsically fulfilling.

What kind of work do you want to do?

I continually refine my goals in light of my calling and position myself to freely pursue that which is most meaningful to me. Currently life is in transition, but this doesn't keep me from practicing wise habits.

The best advice I can give is to know your purpose, know your calling and make decisions that move you towards your desired reality.

A Career Is A Long Time

It's hard to believe, but those who are sitting next to you in class will likely one day be your co-workers, competition and possibly even your boss.

Classmates can be one of your best resources as you navigate through your career. Just remember, your career will last a long time. Burn bridges now and you could be ruined for a long time to come. Add value now and you'll be remembered as a key contributor who everyone loved to have around.

The value you add today will be multiplied in the future.

The Goal of Hiring Committees

Recruiters, selection committees and hiring managers all have one goal in mind:

To find the most qualified candidate as quickly as possible, as easily as possible and as inexpensively as possible.

This means that they heavily resort to word-of-mouth referrals and target communication within their own audience. To have the best odds at getting a job, it's your responsibility to cultivate relationships with those who can help put your name in front of the person doing the hiring. By the time your name crosses a potential employers desk, the dedication you've invested into helping others, understanding your purpose and defining your strengths will have you positioned towards success.

It seems simple, right? But many miss the entire concept of networking. WHen networking there us be a mutual benefit to both you and those with whom you develop relationships. If you approach networking with a self-centered attitude, you'll lose every time.

Start Where You Are

Last week I met one-on-one with three students to discuss where they are in life and where they are headed. The discussions were loaded and full of unpacking and processing the details that have constituted their life up until this point.

In my last post, “What’s Keeping You From Being Great?” I suggested working through a few personal details that will ultimately position you towards success. In this post I’ll walk you through the pinnacle of these details.

Knowing your purpose.

According to Napoleon Hill, there are three clear ingredients necessary for success:

1. A defined purpose.
2. A burning desire.
3. A definite plan.

Most of us can define our passions- what we love doing, what inspires us and what excites us -and most of us can make plans, but we get hung up at step one. Defining our purpose.

What do you want to do? How do you want to contribute? What story do you want to tell? What legacy do you want to leave?

Defining your purpose is nowhere near as easy as it sounds. Answering these questions requires that we really know ourselves. It takes guts and unwavering courage demanding deliberate decision making. It’s risky.

But it’s worth the risk. If you move through life not knowing what you want and why you want it, you’ll never arrive at the destination you desire. Once you’re confident in what you will accomplish, nothing, absolutely nothing will stand your way.

When I chat with others about how I arrived where I am today as a student, young professional and freelance photographer I share with them how I defined my purpose.

In the winter and spring of 2009 I experienced a season of focus and self examination. This preparation, this bare bone honestly led to taking drastic steps in health, education, and personal development.

My purpose isn’t to make photographs, launch websites, design publications, send invoices or answer emails.

My purpose is to develop. My purpose is to inspire and motivate anyone and everyone who will listen to achieve their purpose. I believe I can make a difference. I believe that the only way to be truly fulfilled is to help others along the way. Once I established my purpose, I worked backwards to turn that purpose into reality.

So today, if you’re unsure of your purpose, take a step back and think about the big picture. Don’t hold back. Think big and dream even bigger.

You have the three keys to success: a defined purpose, a burning desire and a definite plan. Start with step one. The only thing holding you back is yourself. And there’s no better time than now.

What’s your purpose?

What's keeping you from being great?

You've suffered through the process of deciding what field of study to pursue in college. Now you're facing the challenge of finding a company culture where you enjoy practicing your passion.

It's tough work. It requirers your best.

Given this, what's holding you back? What's keeping you from being great?

This week how about identifying your strengths? How about examining where and when you do your best work? Taking time to discern these seemingly simple details will help set yourself apart when it comes time to start talking with potential employers.

When you know who you are, the value you add to society and why you'd thrive in a certain company culture it allows employers to draw their own conclusion that you are the best candidate for the position.

Secure Your Success (In Any Field)

Success is measured by the beholder, but there are common threads that are undeniable to becoming successful. Here’s a list of ten things that you should be doing right now.

1. Do the work.
Bite your bottom lip and make stuff happen. Professionals develop, ship, send, publish, post and deliver. Amateurs sit around and wonder.

2. Educate yourself.
Education lives long past your earned degree. From experience, my greatest educational moments have been active and self directed. Don't just seek information, knock down walls to get it.

3. Make your own rules.
If you set out to do something worthwhile there will be resistance. Don't be afraid to forge your own path. As you do, be respectful. There will be many well intended souls who will fight for your attention and direction. Politely fend off the naysayers.

4. Iterate.
Try, try and try again. Nothing will spring from you fully formed. You must continually try and fail. Spurts of momentum often come in fragments at inopportune moments over days, weeks, months, years. Be ready at all times to "Hit Publish."

5. Look inside.
Understand that the best way to make forward motion is to look inside yourself. The answers are within, not out there.

6. Know your craft.
Never risk vision and big-picture-thinking at the expense of understanding the fundamentals. You’ve got to know the nuts and bolts of what your doing.

7. Take a deep breath.
Life, work, job hunting and every other responsibility you have can easily lead to anxiety. We all know anxiety is counter productive. So when life is getting hairy, take a breath. Everything is going to be okay.

8. Take delight.
Everyday is a day worth living. Yes, some days are draining but your life should be fun. Strive to add elements to your life that are stimulating, positive and energizing. This season of life can be rough. Take delight in what you do, and for that matter, what others do as well. Celebrate successes- pop champagne or Diet Coke when you break through tough challenges. Stay up all night when the ideas are flowing. Enjoy the process. If you don’t take delight, your career will be short, either by choice or by fate.

9. Seek out good people.
No one is on a solo journey. Developing your work, your career, your life, will involve others. Make effort to know, connect, collaborate with, mentor under, the best people you can find.Good people tend to attract other good people. Food for thought: It's been said that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Choose your friends wisely.

10. Help others.
When chasing success it's often too easy to focus on yourself. Most people who achieve success are concerned with helping others. Helping others cultivates understanding, humility and compassion. Don’t just reach and pull yourself up. Reach to the sides and below and do so often.

Now, put it to practice. Value elements of success that will launch you into a remarkable life.

What do you do when you don't know the answer?

"Nothing" is the most common response.

Most of us do nothing until we know the answer. We study, practice, toil and wait for approval.

Approval is fine, but what happens most of the time?

Most of the time there's something that needs to be done and the answer is unknon until you take action.

That's what the world is waiting for you to do. Employers, professors, spouses and parents alike are eager for you to move forward. Fear of the unkonwn can be paralyzing, but it doesn't have to be. Jumping from college to career is saturated with questions which have lost answers. The answers are waiting for you to find them.

Play hide and seek. Go look in the crafty, sneaky places.

Take action and don't wait to be given permission to achieve greatness. You're time is now. What's holding you back? What do you need to do?

Week Two: Book Giveaway Plus Your Questions

Divorce Court Is Like A Job Search

During our final stretch of winter break, I was sitting in the Owasso Public Library hustling through work for a client and completing a final push for my latest brand.

Sitting at the table next to me was a man facing a many of life's obstacles. Rightfully so, he was droning through several loud phone calls about his recent divorce. Oddly, it was a bit captivating until he began a laundry list of why he is a victim:

• I'm a traveling sales agent
• We're in a struggling economy
• I've lost my confidence
• I'm not making commissions
• I can't predict my income

All true, all valid (especially those tied to emotions of loss) and all are within his control.

Sometimes it feels so right to assign blame to circumstances or individuals but this will get you nowhere in the job hunt. Blaming will keep you stuck in neutral.

Unfortunately many turn to blame.

This semester commit to personal accountability. Choose to be responsible for the actions (both positive and negative) that you take. A great book to read on this subject is QBQ!: the question behind the question. It examines the nature of personal accountability and gives insight to “blame” that is spot-on.

So there you have it. The first book reccomendation of this project. There will be more to come and I'll even review a few. What have you read that has made a lasting impact?

Welcome to the Land of Failure

Today is an exciting day - a beginning (as is everyday) of forward motion against resistance. This is the land of failed attempts and great strides along the journey towards ultimate success- Welcome!

I began this project on my personal domain neutralgoesnowhere.com as I was coming off a summer internship in Oklahoma City. It was a wonderful experience and I wanted to share all the nuggets of practical wisdom that I had distilled through the process into an approachable format that would benefit my classmates but I grew gun shy.

I finally "hit publish" and moved forward with a post about starting from where you are and completing versus perfecting. Several months later I now realize that the article is really about being decisive and committed to moving forward.

I had big dreams but didn't accomplish my goal for the site for the Fall semester of 2011. Now I'm attacking this project. I believe in it. I've partnered with RSU Career Services to share with you simple thoughts and practical lessons that work. This isn't rocket science, but it requires you to do the work.

It's time to attack the transition from college to career.

Oh, and don't be fooled. The lessons I share with you I must continually learn myself. The day I stop actively engaging with these lessons is the day I'll stagnate.

Welcome to the journey. It's about you and together there is much we can achieve!

Let your voice be heard! Follow and interact through the links below.

Facebook, Twitter, and RSU Career Services.

Pay It Forward

Thanks for coming to the Neutral Goes Nowhere site. We'll be launching this project soon! So while you're waiting, here is what you can expect from NGN and how it all began...

The mission of NGN is to help students and recent graduates attack the transition from college to career, make their own choices, change their lives and change the world.

The writing you’ll find here some would consider unconventional. However, I have no silver bullet and I'm not selling snake oil. These are practical thoughts and lessons learned from the past five years of daily efforts to live a remarkable life.

Background

I am a communicator, visual artist, freelance photographer, lifelong learner... and student.

I stumbled through the transition from high school to college struggling to discern purpose and direction for life. During this time I took a step away from education and began a small freelance photography business.

It was thrilling, challenging, and exhausting—all good qualities to have in an adventure, but at the time I didn't recognize it as an adventure. Daily I faced the frustration of what seemed like failed attempts at forward motion. I was stuck.

That was until I found my way to Rogers State University in the fall of 2009. Little did I know that my time at RSU would speak volumes into the development of myself and the refinement of my personal skills.

Now it's time that I share my experiences with you. Thanks for reading!