There's No Traffic on the Extra Mile

"Always give people more than they expect" 

-Rickey Minor

This is Rickey Minor's (American Idol musical director) simple formula for success and while it's so simple, it's also very challenging.  A friend of mine quoted the title of Minor's book to me a few years ago and while it had a nice ring to it and seemed pretty intuitive, I really didn't comprehend it until now.  That extra mile and exceeding of expectations has become so clear to me now because I understand the determination it takes to achieve a goal as well as the obstacles that stand in the way.  I do think that no one formula for success fits everyone and I think in my case it all comes down to skill and fear.  I believe that my success will hinge on my discipline and gratitude to use my innate ability as well as face down my fear while developing new skills.  For me facing fear is the starting point to getting to that extra mile.

Blue Ocean Strategy

                                                             

I believe that my childhood experiences are what partly kept the extra mile shrouded from me for so long. As a kid certain things came very easily for me and what may have looked like an above and beyond effort to others was really only a minimal effort on my part.  I think that spoiled me to a certain extent because I never had to leave my comfort zone in order to made the grade I wanted, get into my the school I dreamed of attending as a child and get accolades as well as a thumbs up from my parents.  The problem with that is staying secluded and safe in your comfort zone while trying to do something extraordinary with your life may work for a time depending on your natural ability, but will eventually hamper your efforts.  What I have learned is that I must always push yourself to my full potential and be willing to try things I have never done in order to reach goals I have never attained.      

This past year was a great initial step towards leaving my comfort zone behind me, but I didn't really how much of a first it actually was.  It's very hard to break habits that have taken over 20 years to create.  I have two degrees, some travel experience under my belt and a steep uphill climb to make towards my dreams.  Now I see that my conventional methods just won't be sufficient for the challenges that face me today and the extra mile is my only path to success.  Now I have to be willing to delve further into facing my fears and putting my comfort zone to rest for good.  While I don't really believe there's no traffic on the extra mile, I do look forward to meeting the select company that is waiting for me there.

The Power of the Network

For various reasons I have been a little bit of a loner for the majority of my life.  It's not that I never valued the company of others or thought others had no value to add to my life.  I just grew up a shy kid that often went my own way and had a very different perspective on life than those around me.  What I now realize is that I denied myself the opportunity to more sufficiently develop relationship building skills as a result.  All of my experiences this past year have made it more apparent how important it is to be able to relate to a diverse range of people and to find commonalities that allow them to relate to me as well.  It has also become crystal clear that relationship building and networking can have a profound impact on my professional life as well as personal.  Forging a new career path takes a lot of dedicated time and effort as well as connections.  Skills alone, unless they are incredibly rare and extraordinary, can't build a successful career.  

In the past I have been very guarded and to some extent hid myself, skills and talent included, away from the world.  Now I have begun to reverse life long social habits and expose myself to different social situations in order to have the best chance possible of reaching my goals.  It has been an uncomfortable process that continues to expose my vulnerabilities and challenge me to face my social fears, but the growth I'm experiencing is priceless.  It's also been enjoyable to get acclimated to new social circles and widen the makeup of my network.  Of course the professional opportunities associated with networking is a primary reason for this social endeavor, but growing into a more socially well-rounded person is an added benefit that makes meeting this challenge well worth it.  I have finally realized the power of a strong network and I'm building mine piece by piece in hopes that my long term career path will benefit as well as one day benefit others.

The Year in Review and the Year to Come!

My travels of 2012

The best year of my LIFE...so far is what I will remember about 2012.  This is the breakthrough year that I have prayed for and to see it unfold was an incredible experience.  It was quite surreal to experience things firsthand that I have only seen in pictures like:

• Seeing the twinkling lights of the Eiffle Tower at night

• Standing in St. Peter's Square with my lovey

• Taking a deep breath inside the Sistine Chapel
• Burning my feet in the sand of Ipanema Beach
• Looking up at the Pearl Tower

• Looking down at Rio from Christ the Redeemer
• Posing on the Great Wall
• Taking a picture on bridge with two of the best friends I made this year in an Eastern European city (Prague) that I never thought I would visit

What a breakthrough indeed, especially since I have never been outside of the country before the beginning of this year.  However, this year wasn't all excitement and adventure.  I did have to perform in graduate school during all this traveling.  Education was always a top priority in my life and one that I excelled in, but doing it in the midst of travel and living in unfamiliar territory was a new challenge for me.  A challenge that taught me some valuable lessons and made me a much tougher person.  Lessons on work/life balance and relationships also made this year as much about becoming a better man as getting an education and traveling.  

So now what? How do you follow up a year like this one?  By having another breakthrough year!!!  I was tempted to end this year and experience by being a little let down that the whirlwind Global Partners MBA experience was over.  Then I realized that this is just the beginning. I just turned 32, have multiple degrees and a world in front of me waiting to be explored.  I still believe as most do when they are kids that the sky is the limit...with the proper amount of hard work and determination of course.  This isn't the end of something, but the beginning.  That is the attitude I will take into the new year.  Of course there will be hard and broke times, but hard times and financial hardship just make me stronger, wiser and more grateful so BRING IT!  On the other side I hope to find myself a stronger, more intelligent, disciplined and ambitious man.

 But for now Happy New Year and may what I come to remember about 2012 is that it is 2nd only to what I experienced in this coming year. 

A Week to Remember

It's hard to believe that it is has been 14 months, 3 continents, 6 countries and countless assignments since I started the Global Partners program.  The first day that I walked into the Buckhead Center full of excitement and anxiety seems like yesterday.  The world looked a lot bigger and more intimidating that first day than it does now; one year older and on the verge of graduation in a few hours.  This past year has truly been the best of my life and this week is a culmination of more than 14 months of work and perseverance.  

This year has been one of the most unique experiences anyone can have filled with highs, lows, the brightest nights and darkest days that I have ever had.  The memories that I have of all the good times with my Global Partners family  will be cherished for the rest of my life.  Now a new phase of my life is beginning and while it may not include weekend excursions to Brazilian beach towns, I do have a lot to be enthusiastic about.  So today I will walk across the stage, reminisce with my friends, enjoy this time with my family and next week it's time to go create my destiny and embrace the future.    

Blame it on Rio!!!!

I understand what people mean when they say traveling abroad changes you.  I feel that I will never be the same after my experiences in Rio.  I've been challenged on many levels and I'm grateful for each one because that's where growth takes place.  Critical thinking is always important with challenge you take on, but true value of critical thought was really put into a different perspective for me.  Maybe that's the difference in handling challenges in developed country versus a developing country.  When your future is uncertain the thought process used to solve problems is completely different when decisions are made from a position of stability and comfort. Having my thinking challenged in this way is one of the best experiences I could've had in Rio.  This country and city has a lot to offer and I'm extremely blessed to have been able to enjoy multiple facets of Brazilian culture.  And this is just the beginning.  I get excited when I think of the person I will at graduation and how different the world will look to me.  I'm sure every subsequent place I travel to will have an impact on me, but Rio will always have a special place with me.  I guess you can say Rio popped my traveling cherry and it's all downhill from here.  So if you notice any changes with me in the near future, you say it was the wine and art in Paris, you may say it was scenery in Shanghai but you can really just BLAME IT ON RIO!

Fun times in Lapa

     

 Cristo Redentor

Complexo do Alemao favela

Sunrise & Sunset on Ipanema Beach

Weekend in Buzios

From Decatur to Rio!

At some point we all wish, pray or work for a breakthrough.  We make New Year’s resolutions to do things we’ve never done and see things we’ve only imagined.  There is a big difference between wishing for and actually being in the midst of a breakthrough.  Right now I am in the middle of what I’ve been working and wishing for since I was a kid.  I’m in one of places I used to look at on the globe as a kid and wonder about.  What are the people like? What does the food taste like? How do the people live?  I asked all these questions and more.  I always knew there was more to life than just what was in front of me and once I realized that I became very discontent with my surroundings.  I was determined to see and discover more of the world.  At one point I wondered if I would ever get the opportunity to travel after every attempt I made to do so failed miserably.  But I guess determination really does pay off because four years ago I had no degree, no job, no money and not much hope that any of that would change.  Today I’m in the middle of Rio de Janeiro on my first international trip and it’s a surreal experience. I wake every morning still amazed at how far I've come and how much further I'm going to go.  Life seems wide open right now and this is the first step in a new phase and adventure in my life.  I guess the lesson is to never give up, stop working toward your goals, or give up hope.  Always stay faithful because I do believe God has a plan and mine is coming together quite nicely!

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.