For those who vacation internationally, the thing we dread most is layovers. We would rather pay a little more for a non-stop flight than to risk losing our bags in a transfer or being delayed on the first or second leg of the trip. Unless you live on the closest coast to the dream vacation spot that you’re trying to travel to, direct flights are limited. Either the plane can’t make it there non-stop or it has to pick up some people along the way. The place where the layover happens is never as nice as our final destination, but the layover is a necessary step for us to get to our ultimate goal.

Career paths are similar. Many of us have dream jobs in mind, however we can’t always make it there non-stop. Either we are lacking the skills and/or social capital we need to get there. Therefore, we have to refuel our mental tank with the intellectual capital required and pick up the social capital that we need in the form of mentors, colleagues, and friends in order to reach our goal. We fear that along the way we will lose time and get delayed or lose other valuable opportunities. This can occur, but without this career layover, it may not be possible to reach our ultimate career goal. The layover career may not always be the most appealing place, but as long as we know when and what gate our next flight leaves from and our bags are properly marked with our career destination, we will find ourselves sitting in first-class on the journey of our lives.

In order to have a great trip, I suggest doing the following:

1. Buy your ticket early: State your ultimate career goal early for the best deal
2. Pack lightly: Be flexible because your flight plans may change unexpectedly
3. Meet your row: Wherever you sit, there are valuable people next to you

Live purposefully!

Inspired by Cambria & Will

Recently I was bowling and I had an insight. When I bowl, I take my stance, envision a strike (or spare), and then I proceed. Based on the rules, when we bowl we can only go so far before we must let go of the ball. If we cross the line, it gets slippery. Once we let go of the ball, what happens between our release and the pins is out of our control. We can put spin on the ball to alter the trajectory as it rolls down the lane, but in order to get a strike there is an element of luck. When strikes happen, the ball never hits every pin; the ball only knocks down some pins and those pins knock down other pins. The only thing any bowler can do is prepare for the moment that the ball is in their hands, because once it is released, everything is out of the bowler’s control.

Life is a lot like bowling. We all want to “strike” big. However, many people think that in order to strike big, they have to be in control every step of the way. They want to walk the slippery path in efforts to eliminate all uncertainty and make sure that each pin falls down the way they want. Not only does this eliminate the uncertainty, but it also takes away the fun and excitement of playing the game. The true fun comes from not knowing what’s going to happen; the excitement rest in the moment of no control. No one has perfect control of the chaos at the end of the alley.

Life is full of uncertainty and it is impossible to strike big without learning how to become comfortable with that uncertainty and being willing to take big risk. Oftentimes we get frustrated when we try to dictate the outcome and it doesn’t end up the way we wanted, not realizing that our own unwillingness to let go is what stood in the way of the best outcome. In bowling there is a definite best outcome-a strike. In life the best outcomes are unlimited and when we fail to release control we cut ourselves off from the opportunity to ever strike big. A bowling ball can be a metaphor for any intention we have including a prayer (for healing, for forgiveness, etc), an idea (movie script, business venture, etc), or an action (performance, service learning trip, etc). Like bowling, life is not about being in total control; it’s about having faith in times of no control. In order to manifest any intention and strike big, always remember to:
1. Prepare
2. Let go, and
3. Have Faith

Live purposefully!

I believe that my purpose is to help as many people as possible reach their full potential by helping them identify their purpose and progress toward it and in the process of doing so reach my own.

Today, my purpose was confirmed. While on campus, I saw a woman looking at a campus map. Without thinking twice, I approached her and asked her if she needed help. She said “No thank you” and proceeded on her way. Moments later another woman approached me and asked me if I knew where a particular event was taking place. I asked her if she knew the building name and she said “No”, so I called a friend who I thought would know about an event of that nature. Sure enough, not only did he know about the event, he helped organize it! I found where she was supposed to be and then pointed her in the right direction.

As I contemplated these two back-to-back events, I realized that whenever people are lost on campus, for some reason, they always ask me for help. I also have a tendency to offer my service whenever I see someone standing at a campus map or holding one in their hands. What’s even more ironic is that I actually keep maps in my backpack for those times when people come up to me ask for directions!

Our purposes manifest in our daily behaviors. Hints are hidden everywhere and in every moment. Below are three places to look for purpose:

1. Compliments: Oftentimes because certain things come so naturally to us, we don’t think twice about them. But other people notice; they usually compliment us on those very things. “You’re good at this.” “How did you do that?” “Who is the world does that!”

2. Childhood: If we take time to reflect, we can also find instances in our childhood that reveal our purpose. For instance, my friends used to call me “Navigator Newt” because I knew how to find anything, even when we didn’t have directions.

3. Confidence: Have you ever been in the zone/flow? We typically think of being in the zone as a sports thing. Think about your personal highlight reel and try to find common patterns during those moments.

Live purposefully!

Inspired by Sobonfu Some