Build Your Job Around Your Life vs Building Your LIfe Around Your Job

Wazzz Up Everyone!

I hope this blog finds you all smiling and doing your best to make this day a great one!

I had a conversation with a good friend of mine a few days back and I wanted to share it with you all.  My friend is 27 years old he is a true Entrepreneur.  After college he took out a huge loan, moved away from his friends and started his own business.  He has now started several other small businesses over the years.  The guy has an amazing work ethic, a good business sense, and the drive to succeed.

As we were chatting the other day he told me he was struggling trying to figure out what he wanted his career to be.  He has a ton of ideas, knows that he could be good at many jobs, but he is unsure about what is right for him.

I told him this, "Instead of focussing on what your career is going to be, focus on what you want your life to be like, then figure out a career that will support that."

The change in the language is a tiny one, the change it produces in ones' though process is HUGE!

So often we human beings live our lives according to what our job's allow.  If our job says we can only have 1 week of vacation a year we wait to take that one week of vacation.  If our job says we can only ever make "this much" then we focus in on that number and shut down the potential we all have to make more.  If our job says we are supposed to work at it for 30+ years until we retire, THEN we can finally start living life, we listen, we settle into the routine, and we look ahead to 30 years from now when we can start doing all the things we really want to do.

I am not saying the above is a bad thing because it is not.  And, it works really well for a lot of people.  The problem I do have with the above is it puts limits on our thinking.  It forces you to narrow your focus to the future and limits you from exploring the possibilities that exist around you at this very minute.  To give you an example:  Put your hands up to the side of your eyes, notice how your field of vision is reduced because your hands obstruct your peripheral vision.  You are left with the ability to see only what is right in front of you.  Now, if you take your hands down, you will notice that you can see all that is around you as well.  It is as if a whole new perspective just opened up for you.

When you get into the mindset of building your life around your job/career, your job becomes the focus, it becomes the driving force for what you do.  When your job is the focus, guess what, the hands go up to the side of your face, and your field of vision is reduced.

When you instead get into the mindset of building your job/career around your life, your life now becomes the driving force for what you do because it is now front and center, it is your focus.  Your hands come down from the side of your face and now you are able to see the world that is around you.

The world that is around you is where all the possibility lies.

I promise you, there are jobs out there that will support you living how you want to live.  I promise you that there are inventions out there that need to be invented that will give you the freedom you desire.  I promise you that there are opportunities out there that will let you live the lifestyle of your dreams, if you will just start challenging yourself by dreaming what you want your life to be like.

Most of us wish we could live life in a certain way, but we never challenge ourselves to start thinking about HOW we can live it in that way.

Focus on your life and what you want it to be like.  As you learn to do that, you will figure out a way to make it happen.

I would love to hear your thoughts, please share them below.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

Airports... Why they should be the World's Most Positive Places

Wazzz Up Everyone!

I was in an airport a couple of weeks ago.  I love airports because if I am there that means I am going somewhere, and I LOVE going places.

I also love being in airports because I think they provide the ultimate people watching experience.

One thing I have noticed is that airports seem to have a lot of negative vibes in them, why?

Is it because we are bombarded with more news reports about the evil acts the TSA has plotted for us vs. hearing more stories about the family reunion between the solider returning home from war and his loved ones?

Is it because people dread going to the airport because they just know the airline is going to lose their luggage?

Or, is it because people hate going to airports because they are 100% certain that the weather God's and airlines are conspiring together to make sure every single one of their flights are delayed?

Is it one of these in particular, or is it a combination of all the above?

Call me crazy, but I have this theory about airports and it goes something like this:

I believe that 99.9999% of the time that you are at an airport should be a positive.  The 0001% of the time is only if there was some sort of horrible catastrophe, like a plane crash (which sadly as of this writing, there was just a plane crash earlier today at SFO).

What do I mean by that?

Well think about it, if you are at an airport to go on vacation, that is positive right?  If you are at an airport because your work is sending you on a business trip, that means you have a job, and that is positive, right?  If you are traveling to visit family members, friends, old college pals, etc... that means you have people out there who, at the very least, like you, and that is positive right?  Even if you were traveling because someone was sick, dying, or had died, at least you have the means to go and travel to see that person/pay your respects (after all many people do not), and that is positive, right?

I travel a decent amount and, while I do not know everything there is to know about traveling, I can summarize this little secret I am going to let all you in on:

There is not an evil head of TSA out there dreaming up ways to piss you off.  The ticket agent does not wake up fantasizing about how they are going to ruin your day.  The airlines do not build their daily agenda around losing your luggage.  AND, this is the big one, the weather Gods and airlines do not cook up a storm especially for you, just to delay you for another couple hours.

At the end of the day, airports are just like anything else and any place else in life, they are a place, an opportunity, where you can choose to seek out, find, and focus on the positive, or you can look for, create, and focus on the negative.

The choice is yours.

Whatever you choose, there is really only one choice that is going to truly leave you feeling happier and more fulfilled.

I humbly borrow a line from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, when I say this and encourage you to, "Choose, but choose wisely."

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

Fiber

Hi all,

Katie has been kind enough to gives us some info on one of the most important nutrients we can put into our body.  Read on and learn about how important fiber is for you.

I promise I'll post some pictures from my road trip in the next few days. :)

Fiber

Continuing with my summer theme, we’re all going to want to look our best when we hit the beach. Some extra fiber can go a long, healthy way. No one wants to walk around bloated and uncomfortable all day. Besides maybe making us a tad self-conscious about that new little suit, it can make us sluggish and cause stomach discomfort. Fiber doesn’t only help out with keeping things moving through our systems, it helps with weight management, can lower bad cholesterol, prevent heart disease, gallstones and kidney stones, and regulate blood sugar absorption. Now, this is all when you eat enough fiber. According to the FDA, most of us don’t even get half the amount we should to fully benefit from fiber, or 20 to 30 grams per day depending on age and gender. Another guideline out there is to eat 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories ingested.

There are two types of dietary fiber with different characteristics and functions. The first is insoluble fiber. This means what it sounds like, that it does not dissolve in water. Because it does not dissolve, it passes through our intestines quicker and more intact. This is the fiber that’s good for constipation. The best sources for insoluble fiber are vegetables and whole grains, especially fruits and veggies with tougher, edible skins.

Type two is soluble fiber, the fiber that does dissolve in water. When absorbed, this fiber attracts water and forms a sort of gel that moves slowly through intestines. It keeps us full for longer, and gives nutrients more time to absorb properly. Good sources of soluble fiber are oatmeal, apples, lentils, and beans. In my personal opinion, in addition to fruits and veggies, you should go for products that are naturally whole wheat and whole grain, as opposed to foods that claim to be “fortified” with fiber. Make sure that whole wheat or whole grain is one of the first, if not the first ingredient listed.


Best,

Katie

Vitamin D: Why you may not be getting enough

Katie was kind enough to write about one of my favorite topics... the Sun :)

Enjoy

Now that we are well on our way to summer, it seems relevant to discuss the pros of sun exposure, and specifically how that relates to Vitamin D. In my reading I’ve learned that Vitamin D is unique in that our body can create its own, as opposed to only getting it through foods and supplements. Vitamin C for example, we can only get by eating fruits and veggies or taking supplements.

Many of us may not get enough sun exposure for our bodies to produce the needed amount of Vitamin D. This could be because we spend so much time inside (workaholics?), our strong sunscreens, the need to feel covered up in the sun, along with diets that don’t include enough Vitamin D- rich foods. Don’t be afraid to get a little sun! I’m by no means advocating sitting in the sun for too long without protection, but make sure you get a little natural sunlight a few days a week. Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include fatigue, weak bones, muscles, and immune systems.

When our skin is exposed to the sun it creates Vitamin D and then sends it to the liver. The liver converts the vitamin into a hormone, or active vitamin, that is sent throughout the body to regulate calcium and phosphorous levels in our bones, blood, and organs. Calcium and phosphorous are essential for maintaining strong bones, good communication between cells, and the ability to fight off illness and infection. You can take/eat all the calcium you want, but without Vitamin D, your body can’t do anything with it.

If you don’t want to, or can’t risk sun exposure, there are definitely foods out there rich in Vitamin D, but you may have to take supplements to get enough. Some of these foods include Sockeye Salmon, mushrooms, lowfat milk, and eggs.

Anyone out there felt the effects of low Vitamin D?


Best,


Katie

Butternut Squash and Black Bean Tacos

Mmmmm, Yummmmmy.... Katie has put together quite the delicious recipe for you all!  Enjoy :)

I love tacos. Fish tacos, tempeh tacos, chicken tacos veggie tacos…all delicious and a healthier option at restaurants depending on how you order them. If you want to make good tacos at home, it takes time and a lot of prep, but it’s definitely worth it. My roommate has made tacos with sweet potato and black beans before that sound amazing, but I like to keep carbs low in my evening meals so swapped the sweet potato with butternut squash, and flour tortillas with corn (gluten free). I also made crispy black beans and a cabbage and onion salad/slaw for more veggies. Feel free to make them your own, but here’s how I made mine:

What you need:

* 1 cup butternut squash, cubed (you can get a package of pre-cubed squash at Trader Joe’s, but cut it smaller so it cooks faster)
* 1 package shredded purple or green cabbage
* Green onions (also called scallion or spring onions)
* 1 can black beans (get NO sodium. I use the Cuban style black beans from Trader Joe’s)
* Corn tortillas
* Red wine vinegar
* Fresh lime juice
* Cumin
* Salt, pepper, hot sauce, salsa (use all to taste)


Prep:

Butternut Squash: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Put cubed butternut squash on a cookie sheet sprayed with olive oil spray. Salt and pepper the cubed squash. Roast in oven for 25-30 min, until soft

Slaw: Place shredded cabbage in a bowl. Thinly slice as much scallion as you’d like and add it to the cabbage. Add about 3-4 tablespoons of red wine vinegar and 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice. Use pepper to taste. Toss to coat all the cabbage. Taste the slaw and then you can decide if you need any more of anything.


Black Beans: Drain and rinse black beans. Mix with 1 teaspoon cumin and a tiny bit of salt. Spray a small sauté pan with olive oil spray and add black beans over medium heat. Flatten beans into one layer with a fork and mash a little. Once the beans are hot they’ll start to get a little crispy (you’ll hear sizzling). Move around in the pan to prevent burning.


Tortillas: Place one tortilla at a time over the open flame on your stove top until char marks appear (maybe 1 minute). Or you can heat in the microwave, whatever you prefer.


Eat:

Layer each tortilla (two were plenty filling) with black beans, then squash, then slaw. Feel free to add as much hot sauce or salsa as you like. A little extra lime juice never hurts either. Enjoy!


Happy chomping,

Katie

Share Your Story to Inspire Others

Hi Everyone!

Over the last month, I have been really honored to have the opportunity to speak at quite a few of the local Santa Barbara High Schools and Jr. High Schools.  It has been a really fulfilling experience for me to share my story with students and inspire them to make choices that will help them to live their dreams.

Each of the talks I give are about 45 minutes to one hour long.  I am not telling them any sort of hidden secret or anything like that.  I am simply sharing my story and I weave it into a theme about choice and the power of it. 

One of the points I hit home again and again and again to students is that we all always have a choice.  We may  not be able to choose some of the events that happen to us, but we can always choose how we handle, how we deal with, and what we ultimately choose to make of those events that happen.

Stories, I believe, are one of the most powerful tools we have.  And it is a tool we all have at our disposal, as WE ALL have a story to tell!  How we choose to tell our story is where the real power lies.  Do we choose to tell the story from the point of view of victim?  Or Victor?!

What do I mean by that?  Well it is the perspective you choose to tell your story from that matters the most.  You can choose to focus on all the wrongs and the injustices that the world has shoved upon you, or you can choose to focus on all the amazing life lessons you learned from those experiences.  The story is the same, what changes is the perspective you tell it from.

The video below really illustrates this concept.  The video is about a kid named Zach, who recently died from a form of bone cancer.  He was 18 years old.  Rather than feeling sorry for himself and be angry at the world, he chose to really make the most of his time and live and love to the absolute best of his ability.  His story has now gone viral (not viral enough in my opinion) and has appeared on news casts, facebook pages, etc...

The video is about 20 minutes long and worth every second of it.  I cried while watching it.  I did not cry because it was so sad he died, I cried because it was so moving to watch someone exist who really got what life is all about.

While you are watching this video, think about what your story is.  What have you learned from it.  How can you use your story to inspire others?  Please share your thoughts, your stories, your insights below.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

Play Ball

It is so crucial to have goals, but what happens when your goals get so big that they intimidate you and keep you from moving forward.  What are you going to do, how will you handle it.

I encourage people to dream big, but then I encourage them to break those big dreams down into steps.  Make smaller dreams out of your big ones, this will make reaching those dreams much more obtainable.

Check out this video I recorded for you to learn more about how to effectively do this and why it is so important.

Carpe Diem,

Jesse

And if you need a little extra motivation and have not seen it yet, or you want to watch it again! Check out this video I made :)