Which path to choose?

The other night in my church group, we were discussing things on which to encouraging each other. As we went around the room, I thought about the my largest dilemma – the choice of my future.

Currently, I see two paths in front of me:

1) Stay with my profession – I’m gaining growth & responsibility that far exceeds any of my peers. I’m challenged with new tasks that interest me. Taking initiative is welcomed and encouraged in my work environment. I can apply the marketing books, lectures, and audiobooks that were studied in my free time. However there is no other marketing person in the organization to learn from, no one to shadow under if I’m unsure about a decision. Am I unsure about decisions? Heck yes, I’m 25. I sometimes image, 10 years from now looking back and saying to myself “I had no Idea what I was doing back then.”

2) Continue to Graduate School – I believe I have much more to learn. Some say, with an MBA you’ll be more Marketable to companies. Which doesn’t concern me that much, but I do want to expand my mind and outlook. Sometimes I question if my role is giving me the best learning experience. Or should I be around great minds who can teach and guide me to think differently about new ideas and concepts. I would also like to experience another culture, which is also a plus for a Marketing guy. But then you hear stories about people giving up their job to pursue a higher degree, then after school  they realize their job is not there waiting on them, in fact, no job is there waiting on them. With the current economy, some would say that I’m very fortunate to not only have a job, but have a job with a growing company and a job that I enjoy doing.

I am thankful for having many choices to choose from, instead of too few. I’m not worried about which decision I will choose. I feel that I won’t regret either..

“You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go…” – Dr. Seuss

My New Year’s Resolutions

Insulate myself from anonymous angry people

Be exposed to art I don’t yet understand

Precisely measure the results that are important to me

Stay blind to metrics that don’t matter

Lead more, manage less

Seek out uncomfortable situations

Make an impact on people who matter to me

Copyedit less, invent more

Give more speeches

Make everyday my masterpiece

How to become a better writer in 10 steps

Probably one the greatest pieces of advice about writing that I have ever been given, from my idle and mentor Seth Godin.

How to improve your writing in 10 steps:

Step 1: Write
Step 2: Write
Step 3: Write
Step 4: Write
Step 5: Write
Step 6: Write
Step 7: Write
Step 8: Write
Step 9: Write
Step 10: Write

What did Seth mean by this? I think it’s simple, if you want to get better at something, start doing it.

Matt Cutts, an employee at Google, started a crusade in his life. He tried something new every 30 days. One new venture was to write a book in 30 days. Seems impossible, right? Not if you look at it the way he did. He set a goal to write 50,000 words equaling around 1,666 words a day.

The idea: Getting better at something takes doing it. Don’t wait. Your work may not be great at first. No one will be a Mark Twain first starting out.

Even Matt said “Of course it was an awful book. It was written in 30 days.”

But to become great at something you must start.

The best way to find a new job.

I think we are looking at the job market in the wrong way. We are always told you have to get that first job to get anywhere. That it is that first job that will define your success. What is really so important about that first job?

I say lets look at things differently. Lets not try to have the first job or the prim and polished resumes with which we blanket our city. Don’t look for one just start working. If you are a musician just play music, if you are a writer start a blog, a marketer just start marketing. Do these for friends, bands that you like, even companies. There is nothing telling you not to start. Starting is the hardest part for most of us. But this is how you will stand out.

Then what happens? Companies, organizations, and people begin to seek you out.

Alex’s journey to 1000 awesome things (#991)

Awesome thing

#991 – Getting a package in the mail - It’s like your birthday even though it’s not.

Alex’s journey to 1000 awesome things (#992)

Awesome thing

#992 – The sun out on a rainy day – You always know it’ll be over soon.

Alex’s journey to 1000 awesome things (#993)

Awesome thing

#993 Finishing your first 5k - Exercise in general is not easy. Let alone being surrounded by joggers who think of this race as “Another 5k.” But for you, this is something more. This race is your first 5k. It’s a sense of achievement that you want. At the starting line, you may begin to doubt your decision – that you were more than likely talked into. You’ve trained, hopefully. You are ready. Pow! The race is on.

At this moment, everyone else seems like they are sprinting professional runners. You have a choice, you can keep up with everyone or go at the pace you know – the one you’ve trained with. Rushing to keep up with everyone, would tire you out very quickly. Staying at your own pace will keep you from getting a hernia. I would stay at your pace.

You approach a hill. Again, you have two choices: you can run up the hill and get it over with quickly or pace yourself.

In life, we try to keep up with everyone else. Sometimes we make quick decisions without thinking – usually getting us into trouble. But if you’ll embrace the hill or the obstacles in life with pace and calculation you will overcome them easier. Then, when you get over the hill you aren’t as tired and are better prepared for the next one.

Finally you cross the finish line. You could have given up at anytime and never completed another one – but you didn’t. Congrats! You are now a runner.

Awesome