Inspired

This week I've had the opportunity to do a little dreaming as I created a bucket list for myself.  As I have gotten older, I don't really take the time to dream about things as much as I used to.  But it was a nice break to think about my travel dreams and life long goals that I have yet to realize.  After reading this week's material, I was reminded that I should take more time to think of the things I want to do instead of just thinking of all the things I have to do.  

Below are some things that stood out to me from this week's reading material:

"Treat Live as an Experiment" Tom Kelley

I really liked the suggestion that we should be willing to take risks in life and to be willing to fail.  Sometimes I am so afraid of failing or doing something wrong, that I allow it to hold me back from even trying.  I really like the idea to "fail forward."  Often times I think about failure as a setback or similar to taking two steps backward, but failure really does push you forward. 

It was interesting to learn about the origin of WD-40.  I had no idea that the name of this product directly correlated to that unsuccessfully number of failed attempts at bringing this product to market.  

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

I've heard many references over the years to this lecture. but I had never taken the time to read it.  I found his experiences to be inspiring and his insights to be profound.  He spoke a lot about his childhood dreams and then about how to enable the dreams of others.  I liked what he said in regards to experience, "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want."  It's so easy to look at a situation going in an unexpected direction as failure and a sign to give up, but how else do we gain our experience?  

He spoke about brick walls and the obstacles they represent in our lives.  "Brick walls are there for a reason; they let us prove how badly we want things."  He went on to say, "Brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough."  I believe this is how he achieved so many of his childhood dreams.  He wanted to achieve those dreams so badly that he wasn't willing to let those brick walls dissuade him in the least.  I particularly enjoyed learning to what great lengths he went to in order to realize the dream of experiencing zero gravity!  

At the end of his lecture, he gave a list of pointers that I think is worth mentioning:

• When people give you feedback, cherish it and use it.
• Show gratitude.
• Don't complain.  Just work harder.
• Be good at something, it makes you valuable.
• Word hard.
• Find the best in everybody.
• And be prepared.  Luck is truly where preparation meets opportunity.

"It's not about how to achieve your dreams.  It's about how to lead your life.  If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself.  The dreams will come to you."  

This was another busy and stressful week.  I had to go on a trip for work to a trade show and that threw a wrench into my school workload for the week.  But as I sit on a hotel room doing homework, I can't help but feel inspired.  I have had the opportunity to attend several classes the last two days that have motivated me to implement changes in my workplace.  I've also had the opportunity to meet so many business owners from across the country and hear about how they got started and how their businesses have evolved.  Walking the show floor has exposed me to results of hard work and creativity. 

Even though I have struggled this week to get everything done, I am grateful for the opportunity to go attend the trade show this week.  It has inspired me to keep working hard and striving to achieve my business dreams.