What do you want to be when you grow up? It's an interesting question. And it is not just for kids. What about you? Your time has not run out... yet!
What do you want to be when you grow up? It's an interesting question. One that I hope you have considered with insight and passion.
This is not a question that needs to be restricted to young people. My two personal heroes are Vince Lombardi and Harlan Sanders. Not because of their chosen fields of success,
but because of their determination to succeed later in life.
Vince Lombardi did not become a head coach until the age of 45. He was my inspiration to pursue a new career at that age. I had to go back to college and get a degree to enter the teaching profession. It was not easy because of the financial requirements or the commitment to maintain family responsibilities.
Harlan Sanders began Kentucky Fried Chicken at the age of 65, an age when most of us are looking forward to our first Social Security check. As I approach that age (2 years from now), I am trying to forge a new career on the Internet. It also takes time and commitment.
So, from personal study and experience, I have three tips to pass on to you. They may not get you an estate next to Donald Trump or Bill Gates, but if you take them seriously, you will feel more fulfilled and content with your life.
Tip #1 Never stop learning.
It does not have to be a college degree that you seek, although that worked for me a few years back. You could be studying how to build a better birdhouse because your hobby is bird-watching, or it might just be trying to figure out how to program a computer to help your boss make more money.
There is a new movie about to be released about a woman who dropped out of high school. After her brother was wrongly convicted and sent to prison, she decided to become a lawyer so she could take on his case and get him released. The family did not have the funds to hire one. She got her GED, a college degree, and a degree in law. She then passed the bar exam and took on the case, eventually gaining her brother's freedom.
Take about commitment to education!
Tip #2 Develop a passion for something.
There is nothing as motivating as passion. It is what Michael Jordan had for basketball. Nelson Mandela had a passion to see his people living in freedom.
Passion inspired Thomas Edison to develop the lightbulb. He failed more than 10,000 times. When he was asked what kept him going after so many failures, he said that he had not failed at all. What he had done was to find 10,000 ways that did not work. He had a passion for his dream.
Tip #3 Don't give up.
Never give up on your dream. Persist until the end. You have to choose to live through the failures and disappointments. You have to set some goals and keep them in front of you until you attain them.
One of the most inspiring movies about persistence is "Rudy". It is the story of a student at Notre Dame who wanted to play football. He was not large enough or strong enough to play for a major college team, but he had a passion. He endured getting beat up every day at practice by the huge players he had to face, but he never gave up. He earned the respect of the other players and the coach. It would be a great story if he became an All-American football player, but he didn't. His victory came in his senior year when the coach allowed him to suit up for the final game and he actually got on the field. It was his dream to play football for Notre Dame, and he did, even if it was only two plays.
You, too can attain your dreams and desires if you take these three tips to heart.
There is a coaching program that will help you to stay focused and develop your passion. It is called the 100-Day Challenge. I challenge you to take part. You can be what you want to be... when you grow up.
