If you've ever been in a business class, you've probably heard the term: key success factor, a factor/input that generates a positive result related to your goals/plans.

Today, here is one that applies to success in EVERYTHING: Accepting inconvenience and acting anyways.

When you set new goals, guess what? The actions necessary for you to hit those goals are NEW as well.

When we try to implement new habits, they are not already part of our lives. Actions such as waking up earlier, going for a run, going to class regularly, starting daily reading, starting yoga or improv classes are not part of our routine. The classic example of New Year's resolutions such as becoming healthy by going to the gym is not already part of our lifestyle on a consistent basis. Even venturing to eating regularly may be difficult to keep consistent.

Why?

It's inconvenient.

Going to the gym is inconvenient.
Cooking lunch or dinner for the next day is inconvenient.
Commuting to a yoga class is inconvenient.
Waking up early is inconvenient.

The reason people are SUCCESSFUL with their goals is because they continue on DESPITE the inconvenience of it all. Inconvenience is going to come with every new thing you throw yourself into, until it becomes regulated and incorporated over a length of time (21-40 days normally). Accept inconvenience and act anyways.

Don't gripe about it, just do it. Food for thought. ;)

I had finally come to that point. A university student's nightmare. I had conquered college through gaining exponential experiences, leader titles, and personal exploration, and now it had all come down to this.

It hit me in the portrait studio.

I was graduating.

I was actually here, getting my graduation pictures. Oh. My. God. What will I do? Where will I go? Where will I work? I thought I had a plan, a career, everything set out, but is that what I really wanted?

Over the past two weeks, I've been messing a lot with notions of 'growing up and getting a job.' To be completely honest, it scared me immensely. There were so many unknowns. Looking back on my decision in September to make my motto for the next 12 months 'pursue excellence', I wanted to make sure I hit everything I had worked so hard for throughout my 5 years of university. After all, I had beefed my resume up to get a über-awesome starting salary. And pursue excellence I did, and will continue to do, as today marks the 1st of the New Year.

But then that quote hit me - "growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.'

I only live once, so why focus on conquering a career so immensely that I miss everything else?

I came up with a secondary motto that works beside the one of 'pursue excellence'

The secondary motto is... *drum roll*....."GO BANANAS!!!"

I want this year to be CRAZAYYYYYY, full of fun and completely nuts. I want to do things I've never done, learn more from everybody I encounter, EMBRACE everything and keep on growing as a person, while HAVING THE MOST FUN OF MY LIFE.

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The last idea to cement this phantasmagorical year together is to go for picture perfect.

We all have ideal pictures in our head of the way things should be, how we want things to happen, from first kisses to precise live performances to perfect ski & snowboard runs. We dream, and man, do we dream big.

For me, I just came to the reasonable conclusion, that if I'm picturing something, I should make things happen the way I see it, without self-doubt or fear. I should be EXCITEEEDDDDDDDDDDD =D

It is what it is, but it is what we make it too.

I have a strong feeling that my year is going to be picture perfect, what's your 2012 looking like? 

Wow, the energy coming from everybody on New Years Eve was amazing! It feels as if everybody is making plans, setting resolutions, and is on path to breaking through personal records - I love it! 

Yesterday also marked the start of my team for my Southwestern summer, see here @ www.swredline.com, and to top it all off, I have hit 1,000 followers on Twitter! Thank you all. 

2011 Goals: 
Recruit a 10-person team for the summer internship
Run for President, Omega Gamma Chapter, Alpha Kappa Psi
Find a niche, launch an e-commerce website for residual income
Hit 5,000 units 
Help 50 more students better their public speaking skills
Prepare for TM 2012 World Championship by speaking in front of 50 different audiences.

It's hours away from the New Year, and I'm launching this website as a place to mark down my thoughts and start a blog (about 5 years behind everybody else, but hey, better late than never...?) 

Open for all to see, I also see this as a positive way to increase my accountability to following through with what I say I am going to do. 
This blog will be a way for me to add value to all by giving insight to increase time availability, provide motivational thoughts, and interesting links. 
Whether it fall under good music, personal fitness, or public speaking, you can be rest assured that I will continue to tweet and blog. 


To new creations, baby steps, and exploration. 
2011, here I come.