My secret sauce for staying motivated

From the Ask Isa Inbox:

Dear Isa,

How do you stay fully motivated?

Sincerely,

Unmotivated

Dear Unmotivated,

I'd be happy to share my secret of motivation with you - it's what has kept me motivated throughout my entire life to work hard each and every day. My "secret sauce," if you will. Are you ready?

Okay, here it is:

I'm not fully motivated all the time.

Whew. There. I said it. I feel better already. 

The truth is, people often confuse hard work and persistence with the emotion of motivation. Motivation is important - it is - but it's an emotion that ebbs and flows. It isn't constant. And that's okay.

The secret is that to stay "motivated" all the time what you really have to do is build habits and routines into your life that keep you on the right track EVEN WHEN YOU AREN'T MOTIVATED.

Make sense?

Let me give you an example: when it comes to college, write down your goals. Ask yourself: Why are you in college? What do you want your life to look like after you graduate? What's in it for you? Why are you doing this? How will your life change?

Write down what you see, and what your goals are, and THEN, build into your routine a time where you read them each day. I also recommend journaling at that time as well as reading a book that will help you reach your goals (whether it's a college success book or a book related to what you want to do in your career, or an inspiring biography or memoir).

All of the above are part of my morning routine, in addition to this:

Write down the top three tasks you want to accomplish each morning and do at least one task right away. 

Building routines and developing good habits in your life is what helps you act yourself into the feeling of motivation.

I've rarely just "felt" motivated - if ever. What happens is that I do something towards my goals and motivation follows.

It's kind of hard to explain, but once you experience it you'll know it. Here's a quick list of some of my go-to activities when I'm feeling "meh." 

1) Have lunch with a friend
2) Grab coffee with a mentor
3) Read a book about a subject I'm interested in
4) Browse a bookstore for a new book about something I want to accomplish
5) Read a biography or memoir about someone I admire
6) Volunteer with an organization that inspires me
7) Edit my goals and re-think what I really want
8) Write or read my mission statement
9) Read The Alchemist (again)
10) Take a walk outside, preferably somewhere pretty
11) Tackle a big task I've been procrastinating
12) Make a list of what I've accomplished so far to remind myself that my actions can affect my future

Try some of these things and let me know how it works (isa@isaadney.com). 

And if you have anything to add please share in the comments of this blog or on the Facebook page! 

How to banish laziness and get motivated

Is motivation a feeling or an action? I answer in this latest Break Through video from Pearson Students! 

The #1 thing you should do to increase your motivation

For the last two days I have felt uncharacteristically unmotivated. I ignored my to-do list, spent way too much time on social media, and pretty much did anything but work. And I couldn't figure out why.

And then, this morning, I realized I had lost my goal sheet that I read every morning. It's a typed list of all the goals I have for this year and for the future. It's something I write every new year. 

It got lost during my recent travels, and I hadn't been reading it every morning. It affected me more than I could have ever realized. Until this morning, I hadn't realized what a significant difference reading my goals every morning makes on my life.

Life is complicated and no matter how naturally motivated or over-achieving you are, it's easy to get side-tracked and forget why working hard is important or why it matters to you. 

Success in anything requires incredibly hard work every single day. And daily hard work requires intense motivation. And the only way to get motivated is to remind yourself what you're working towards - every single day.

Have you written your goals down yet? Take a few minutes right now and write or type up your goals for this year. Make them positive, specific, and timely (e.g. I will graduate with my A.A. with honors by May 2013).

And make sure they are things you really really really want; your goals should be your heart's desires, because those are the things that will motivate you to do the things you don't want to do.

Print your goals out and put them somewhere where you'll read them every morning. Remind yourself every day what you want out of your life and what you want to accomplish. It will motivate you more than you could ever imagine. 

Fueling your future

When I got my driver’s license almost ten years ago, I could fill up my gas tank for around fifteen dollars.

Fifteen dollars.

For dramatic effect, I’m going to write that again.

Fifteen dollars!

And now, well, I don't own a hybrid, so, I pay a lot more.

Prices may rise – but your car still needs gas if you want it to go somewhere. And the same is true of college.

In this current national crisis of college completion and the subsequent rising costs of college, we have to remember: 

We get degrees so that we can go somewhere.

And if we aren’t filling our tanks, we run the risk of not going where we need to go. 

Fuel gets us to a destination.  And education is both a fuel and an investment.

In fact, I believe an education is the best investment you can make - because ultimately, it's an investment in you. 

Every time you sign up for another class, pass another exam, take a leadership position, or decide to study instead of take a nap, you are filling your tank. 

So set your GPS (e.g. sit down with an adviser to make an educational plan) and envision your destination. Where can your degree take you? What are you excited about? Where do you really want to go? Is it worth it?

Until you're excited about a destination, all you'll be tempted to do is complain, and it will be a struggle.  

So enjoy the ride, set your sights high, and commit to keep filling up until you get to your destination. 

To learn more about how to create a culture of college completion on your campus, check out Phi Theta Kappa's College Completion Corps toolkits!

What we can all learn from adult students

It is Study Tipping Tuesday and since most of you are in the process of revving up for your final exams, I figured today would be a good opportunity to help you discover some motivation sitting right next to you in your classes. Because sometimes studying is as simple as being motivated to work hard.

And nothing says hard work like the adult students in your classes.

I’ll use the term “adult student” loosely (as most of you I consider adults), but for the sake of this post, I'm talking about the students who are returning to college after a few years (e.g. not coming straight out of high school).

Fifteen percent of community college students are 40 years old or older. The average age of community college students fluctuates between 28 and 29 years old.

Going back to school in a later stage of life requires a lot out of hard work, sacrifice, and diligence. I am constantly inspired by these people, and I think you will be too.

I have met returning students who are single-mothers, parents, full-time employees, laid-off workers, those contemplating career changes, those ready to try college again after struggling the first time, and military veterans who have served in combat.

I have seen friends attend a club meeting between classes and then have to run home to pick up their children from school.

I have met students who work from daybreak to noon at their jobs before heading to school, then going back home to a family at night. 

And the thing is – you have seen them too. Every day at your college. And those stories aren’t exceptions or special cases – they are everyday stories.

And they are stories we can all learn from. Some of the many things adult students can teach us include:

• The pursuit of goal doesn’t have a time limit. Completion is what matters. Life will twist and turn ahead of your future. The reality is that anything we think is worth pursuing will require us to keep pursuing it, regardless of the timing in our lives. Today is always a good time to start, regardless of your age or circumstance.

• As busy as your life might feel, the student who works, has a family, and still finds time to get involved on their campus – well…they are busier. And that should light a fire inside of you.

• Social bravery is one of the most admirable characteristics to possess. I think it is tough to put yourself out there – in any situation. And when I see adult students step up and get involved in their college I am reminded of their social bravery. It will serve them well in life, and it will serve you well too. 

• Connecting with people from all walks of life is one of the most powerful things in life. Post-college life requires us to interact with people of all ages. And successful people are often those who are able to positively respect, interact with, and support people no matter what their age or background.

So when you're feeling stressed during exam time and don't know how you are going to manage it all, remember that there is often someone who is doing more. There is often someone you can learn from to help you get through the difficult times. And sometimes, you will be that someone for somebody else.

So appreciate this stage of life, no matter what your age, and continue to push forward to reach your educational goals, remembering that your hard work and dedication will pay off.

How to find your rockstar drive

I just went on my first media tour this week and it was the most incredibly and most insanely intense experience of my entire life. 

And even though – aside from a few karaoke appearances – I no real idea what it means to be a rockstar, my recent travel/hotel/publicity/speaking experience made me think about how rockstars do it - how they go on tour and put on shows night after night and keep promoting their music nonstop. 

That is what it takes. Constant promotion. Constant hustle. Constant belief in yourself even when it seems no one else believes in you. And it's about putting on a good show every time, no matter where you are. 

And believe it or not, your college and future success relies on a very similar system. 

Success in whatever it is you are pursuing in life will require you to push forward every day, build relationships (like rock stars do with their most dedicated fans), and give yourself to others in some capacity (e.g. giving people a great show).   

How do you have that drive to keep going and keep touring the avenues of your life with the force, excitement, and dedication of a rockstar?

You find what you love. You find your music. You find your voice. And you find a passion to share that voice with the world. You must find that thing that keeps you awake when you want to sleep, that keeps you giving to others when you wish someone would give to you, and reminds you that if you keep sincerely chasing your goals every day, you will reap the rewards. 

So keep going. Keep building positive relationships. Keep driving forward. And keep giving. Rockstars love their music, but they seem to love it most when they are able to share it with others. Find  your voice and what you really care about, and tour the world. 

Setting your summit

I have written a good old-fashioned motivational post in a while.

So here goes… :)

I think life is a bit like climbing a mountain.

This isn’t an original metaphor. In fact, anything that Miley Cyrus sings about (after all, it is all about the climb) disqualifies itself from being an original thought ;)

What I think is important – is that we must decide where we want the summit of that mountain to be. Where are you climbing to? What is your destination?


Is it worth the climb to you?

My goals are written on post-its and stuck to my bathroom mirror.

It helps me remember that the climb - the hard stuff - is worth it. 

And yesterday, I reached a summit that I never thought I'd reach this soon.  After a year of writing, editing, pitching, and negotiating, my book was officially released by my publisher. 

A year’s worth of effort. A year of climbing.

And the view is great – it always is when you reach a goal – when you get an “A” on a test, finish a research paper, graduate, or get a first job that excites you. The feeling is self-worth – the understanding that our effort is being recognized. 

But here’s the deal - there is a reason adventurers climb Everest, right?

I think that at some level, those who wish to do something great undeniably commit to reaching greater heights. 

So if we want to be great, we have to keep climbing.

Grades are cumulative, relationships bloom and must be cultivated; degrees build towards other degrees, and graduations lead to jobs.  And the reality is that your first job most likely won’t be your last.

It doesn’t mean that the view isn’t great when you reach a peak - it is such a rush.

It just means that you will have option to stop and decide that the view you have found is good enough, or push onward to the higher peak – to go onward to the next post-it note on your bathroom mirror.

Because that is what life requires from us, especially if we want to build something, find success, fulfill our highest potential, and give the world our greatest contributions. 

So press forward and trust that the view you can reach will be one worth the climb. Because you have so much to give. 

How to Survive a Boring College Class

Sometimes, a class just isn't riveting. Here are three tips that will help you when a college class is...well...dull.

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The #1 Energy Drink to Get You Through College

I kind of think I’ve found a secret energy drink to help you complete your college degree – pass those rough classes, stop procrastinating, prioritize, and make the time to study.

It will help you choose the right classes, find the right major, and create a memorable and enjoyable college experience. Side effects may include graduating with a high GPA and a huge dose of confidence and contentment.

I think I can make millions with this new energy drink. If only I could bottle it.

But alas, the recipe is much more complicated, and each drink is unique to the individual. I’ve tasted it here and there, and for the most part it is what got me through college. But I’m finding you need these energy drinks throughout your whole life.

Because sometimes life can be draining.

This energy drink has been a huge part of my life. But I didn’t really understand it’s definition, have never been able to pinpoint its source, its properties, or its recipe until this week.

This week I spoke at the Hope CommUnity Center – a center that supports immigrant farm workers and their children, especially through English classes and a college access program -- and I felt like my heart was on fire.

My eyes watered when the organizers were talking about the upcoming adventures and college visits they were going to take the teens on in the next few months.

I got chills when I saw the group of high school students sitting patiently, there to learn, there to grow, there to succeed. There to care.

And when I spoke and I saw their eyes, some of their tears, and saw a few taking notes, I realized why my heart was set on fire when I walked in that building. I realized what drove so much of my life. 

I finally understood the energy drink that fueled my collegiate accomplishments. It was this feeling. It was being amidst something I cared about, something I believed in, and getting the opportunity to do something I loved doing.

I felt like I was contributing. And nothing can compare to that kind of energy.

I cannot fully express the inspiration I gleamed from my experience. But what I do know is that on the drive back I felt a new sense of renewed energy, life, motivation, thrill, and excitement that I hadn’t felt in a while.

It was so strong that I actually cried. It was a happy cry I’ve never really known before. It was this deep sense of finding something that truly lit me on fire. 

And from there an entire storm of creativity, emotion, and joy erupted. And what did I do with that energy? Change the world? Start a non-profit? Hug strangers?

Nope. I cleaned my apartment. I took out the trash. I unloaded the dishwasher. I finished reading a book. I made some tea.

I did the things that often get lost when I’m feeling drained of energy. And it felt fantastic.

And unlike the typical energy drinks this high did not go away after a few hours. I have drawn energy from this experience to help me through a myriad of tasks that I often cannot find the motivation for.

Because this is the kind of energy drink that moves you. The kind that really fuels you. The kind that makes that hard math class not seem so bad – because you know you want an A in math so you can move forward and get the degree that will help you do something that sets your heart on fire.

You will want to chase that feeling, and it will give you energy to get through the hard stuff.

I figured all this out when the teenage boy taking the most furious notes asked me “how do you stay motivated?” I had never been asked this before and it really made me think.

But oddly enough the answer came as surely as water comes when you turn on the faucet.

“This is what keeps me motivated. Seeing people like you who care. Seeing people like you who take notes and ask questions and want to move forward and make something of your lives. Moments like this are what set my heart ablaze and keep me going.”

Keep searching for your energy drink. Feel free to play with the recipe. Feel free to switch brands and flavors. Explore. Notice how it fuels or drains you. And when you find it, don’t apologize for it. It can be anything. The only criteria is that it energizes you.

And never - ever - settle for anything artificial.

The View of Your Life & the Guy in the Cowboy Hat

Sometimes it is really hard to figure out what you want to do. And sometimes you realize you’ve known it all along but you’re too scared to tell anyone.

I thought about this during the amazing mini-beach vacation Jeremy and I went on this weekend courtesy of my birthday wish. As a Florida-born girl with a mom who was terrified of airplanes, all of my favorite vacations and teenage moments happened at the beach.

It was the first place I took my car when I got my driver’s license. It was where I cultivated my love of reading. It was where I got married. It is where I feel most alive.

Now obviously I’m not the only one who feels this way about the grand ocean. There is a reason why the super wealthy buy their own islands and why almost every beach is lined with sky-high hotel buildings trying to fit as many people as possible into their little boxes of paradise.

Can I tell you a secret? I’ve always wanted to live in one of those boxes. It all started with a 9^th grade English writing assignment.

Our English teacher told us to close our eyes and visualize our life in 10 years and then write it down. I’m actually just realizing as I write this that, at age 14 in 9^th grade, I was visualizing my life right now, at age 24.  Whoa.

I remember my visualization so clearly. It was me, sitting on a light blue couch with airy white curtains blowing in as the sea breeze and the ocean air fluttered the pages of the book I was writing. I was a writer, living on the beach. Free. Peaceful, content, happy.

Cut to 10 years later and life doesn’t look much like my 14-year-old self might have imagined. Though I am sitting here on my porch with a view of a nice pond and I’m writing to you and am pretty peaceful, content, and happy,I had to pay lots of money per night for my beautiful ocean view.

And while I’m working on my dream to have a book published, I’m hardly a writer who can escape the 9 to 5 and live blissfully on the beach.

Although in all honesty, I don’t think I could survive being a writer and being alone all day in a little condo on the beach. I like people too much and have learned that beyond personal diary-like musings and sharing of life lessons, I don’t know if I’d ever be cut out to be an actual writer for my entire life.

However, deep down, I know I still want to live on the beach one day. And even deeper, I still wish that I was a writer.

Whew. There. I said it. It feels weird.

It’s hard to say those things you wish for your life because no matter how confident you are in yourself, your abilities, or your work ethic, you just feel silly sometimes.

So while I often tell you to believe you can do anything and go for your dreams, I’m always telling myself too.  Because it is scary.

And just like last week when I said to let action precede motivation, sometimes you also have to let action precede belief. Because sometimes it is really hard to believe you can do something.

Sometimes it is really scary to try to do something when in the back of your mind that little voice says, “who do you think you are trying to be that? Don’t you know who you are? You’ll never….”

And it can be hard to shut that voice up. I find the best way is to not wait until it is quiet. Sometimes you just need to crank up your favorite song and charge ahead and just do it despite the doubt.

Because deep down I think everyone who has ever done anything great or admirable has had those doubts and those voices. I don’t think they learned how to quiet them. I think they learned how to charge ahead despite them.

And it was the vast and beautiful ocean that reminded me of all this this weekend (even despite the odd man in a giant man-kini bottom and cowboy hat who frequently walked by like he was Jeff Bridges in True Grit).

So take a few moments and picture your life in 10 years. Better yet, picture your life in 4 years. What are you doing? Where are you? What does it smell like? What does it look like? How do you feel?

Write it down. Don’t be afraid to think about it. Don’t be afraid to tell someone. And don’t let those weird crazy negative voices wearing man-kini’s and cowboy hats distract you. Just give ’em a good ol’ smile and chuckle as they walk by and keep enjoying the view. 

The view from our hotel Sat. morning :)

Time Flies

Time flies. I’ll be 24 this week and yesterday I was thinking about how fast we grow up, how when we do we tend to realize, as Taylor Swift sings in Never Grow Up: “everything I have is someday gonna be gone.” I can still smell the grass in my favorite hiding spot in our backyard. I can still feel the excitement of getting up at 5am to sneak a look at our stockings before my parents woke up on Christmas morning.

I can still remember writing notes with gel pens in middle school and then folding them in some cool heart shape (though I can’t remember how to do it anymore).

I can still remember parking my white Pontiac sun fire in my high school parking lot and walking with anticipation on the first day of senior year. 

I also sharply remember my grandparents who passed away this year.  I can see my grandpa sitting in the passenger seat teaching me how to drive. I can taste the bisquits and gravy my mamaw would make for us early in the morning.
Time flies.

I know I’m not old by any means. I’m still young and have so much ahead of me. For the most part when we are young we don’t really think about time. We have more time ahead of us than behind us, so we just keep on going, and in some deep place, no matter how self-aware and rational we are, we assume things will always be as they are.

But of course they won’t. Time flies, things change, people come and go, and we change. I’m not the same person I was a few years ago. I don’t have the same time I had a few years ago. And recently I have been realizing how easy it is to take that time for granted, and that often the things I want to fill my time with most are the first to go when I’m too busy.

And as time flies it seems busyness follows. There is nothing more annoying than someone telling you you are not busy when you are feeling overwhelmed. I felt very busy in high school, and in college, and if anyone ever told me I wasn’t busy compared to how busy I would be as I grew older I felt so annoyed because they obviously didn’t work as hard as I did in high school and college. But of course they were right and I was wrong.

There is a lot going on in high school and college compared to what you were responsible for prior to those life stages. Just as when you graduate and begin a career you will be much busier than you were in college. It just happens, and often you don’t even realize it while it’s happening. And then all of a sudden you are sleeping all the time, going to work, going home, watching TV because you are too tired to do anything else, and then going back to sleep.

Often when we have these big transitions of time the first things to go are our favorite things.  For me, the first to go are exercise, reading, and waking up early.

I love waking up a few hours before I have to leave for work. In fact that is when I write this blog. I love to clean, exercise, read, and just spend time doing things I like to do. In college I had a really good amount of time to do these things. I’d devour a book in a week, go to exercise classes three times a week, and wake up early even on the weekends.

Lately, I’ve been so busy that I just stopped doing all these things because I “didn’t have time.” But I realized when we say we don’t have time it just means we’re not willing to make time, that it’s really not that important. Because we will make time for what is important. It’s just a matter of what really matters.

So this Saturday, I woke up at 6am. I know, you’re probably thinking I’m crazy and are ready to exit my blog right now because you don’t need anyone telling you to wake up at 6am. I understand the college culture of staying up until 3:30am and waking up at 10am. We all have our own patters and times when we are most energetic and alert. You may be a night person and that’s cool.

However, waking up at 6am on a Saturday was kind of awesome. Saturdays are pretty special when you work, and it is my day to do all of the things I love, especially spending time with my husband, Jeremy. This Saturday felt like the longest day of my life and it was simply incredible. We did so much that day and had a blast.

Time flies.

So I want to create as much time as possible. And I want to use that time doing the things that I enjoy. There are so many cheesy sayings about “living in the present” and “making every second count” and “live each day like it’s your last.” And since I’m cheesy I like all that stuff. But I like to think about it in reality, not just a quick inspirational blurb. I like to think about what it really means to spend my time wisely, to create more time by waking up early, to appreciate the time behind me and invest in the time right in front of me.

College is a really cool time in your life. And it will be gone before you know it. Hanging out amongst your peers so often, exploring a variety of topics, being in charge of a club, going on trips, discussing things with groups of strangers, the feeling of seeing an A on a paper, choosing your schedule and having days when all you have to do is go to 2 classes. Can I tell you a secret? I miss it a lot.

SCC PTK International Fair :)

But I’ve realized lately how important it is that I make and take the time to really invest in the present and enjoy where I’m at in life right now.

So for you, right now is college. Right now is exploring and figuring out what you want to do. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by it, to long for the days where you no longer have to study or write papers about topics you may not care about. But it’s kind of a great time in life. And before you know it…

It will fly away.

So consider waking up early. Consider how to make the most of your next class. Consider how to enjoy the friends in your life right now because most of them won’t be around forever. Consider how to make studying and writing enjoyable. Consider that this is your life, right now. College isn’t a limbo waiting ground where you sit until your real life begins. Once you begin to think that way you will always feel like you are waiting for your life to begin.

But your life is now. And it is flying. Don’t let it get away.

Bonus Post - Exciting News

I'm so sorry for the lack of vlog this week. It seems I've come down with the flu and I promise you don't want to see me like this. It is pitiful.

However, after being in bed for 3 days I've finally gotten enough energy to think, and today I wanted to share some exciting news with you all - my community college success book proposal has launched!

First of all, you should know that 3 months ago I didn't even know what a query letter was, how to write a book proposal, or what a literary agent did. And today, my literary agent just sent out query letters to publishers which means my book is being "shopped" around to various publishers, and now we wait to see if anyone wants to make an offer!

It is super scary and exciting, but what strikes me most of all is that it is happening. And it just wasn't as difficult as I always made it out to be in my head. Writing a book has been a long time dream of mine. And yet it always seemed so insurmountable. It always seemed like something "other people" did...people who were more talented, more intelligent, more together. 

How many things in your life do you think are meant for other people? What excuses go through your head that tell you you're not good enough to do something like that? What have you always wanted to do but it just seemed too hard?

I'm here to tell you today that all it takes is a very simple (yet for some reason so hard for so many) change. A change of your mind. A moment where you decide that you CAN do something, and then you ACT on it. I saw many motivational speakers at the APCA conference I attended last week, and I think the reason motivational speakers are so sought after, even when the messages are often so simple, is because we so easily forget this stuff. And even when we hear it, we so often don't have the courage to act on it. 

It does take courage. It does take risk. And it takes a certain embracing of failure (see the last section of The Art of Conversation post that starts with "Failure is the only path to success"). I don't know what will happen with my book from here on out, but regardless I feel such tremendous joy knowing that I'm trying. 

I want that for you too. What have you been putting off trying to do? Or what in your life are you trying to do right now? Do you feel pride in the process? At the very least most of you are trying to get a degree. Are you enjoying yourself? Are you proud of what you've accomplished thus far? Do you believe so strongly in what you are doing that you will do whatever it takes? 

Take some time to answer these questions. Don't be afraid of the answers. And don't be afraid to change.

"I Believe I Can Fly..."

I just got back from a conference in San Francisco and it was an incredible experience. You can find all of the inspiration I gathered from this conference when it comes to community college students figuring out what they want to do with their lives in the extra post-conference vlog below. I didn’t think I was going to have time to post a full blog/vlog with the back to back traveling I’m doing this weekend, but I had to give you something.   

So in addition to all of the inspiration I also gained  newfound confidence from traveling by myself. For those of you who have traveled by yourself since you were young this may not apply. But for me I had never even been on an airplane until I was 19. And all my trips since then have been with groups of people.

I am from Florida and have a terrible sense of spatial understanding, so public transportation has always alluded me. In past travels (e.g. England) I relied on my friends to navigate while I followed.

It was my turn to navigate by myself this weekend and it was empowering. To understand, I am someone who used to look at people who traveled alone as amazing independent individuals. I used to think wow, how do they figure all of that out? It seemed so foreign to me.

And now I know. And I feel like I could do anything and go anywhere.

Have you had that “I can do anything” moment in your life? Have you felt that unique sense of independence that reminds you that you and only you are in control of the direction you are going? We often greatly overestimate the power of others to pull us in various directions. When in reality, it is only that we choose to follow.

In community college it can be hard sometimes to gain that sense of independence as many students live with their parents in order to save money. I encourage you to consider transferring to a college where you live in a dorm after you graduate. Start saving up money and applying for scholarships so you can afford to live on campus – it is more possible than you think.

And for now, try going on trips or doing things on your own. I’ll never forget my very first day in community college my western civilization professor gave us all a 5 minute speech on why we all needed to take a weekend and go to England as college students. He said we should just buy a ticket, stay in cheap hostels, and travel around in the inexpensive trains.

I know it all sounds painfully cliché, and in some ways it is, but in other ways, I think those independent excursions of travel and exploration breed new confidence and inspiration. Sometimes things become cliché because they are just good.

So start thinking about ways you can carve out some independence for yourself, such as planning a road trip with friends this summer, or booking a ticket and staying in English hostels this weekend. 

Always remember you are  in charge of your direction. The question is - do you know where you are going? 

Super Bowl-Style Momentum Shift

So, I have to be completely honest with you. I sat down to write Monday’s post during the Super Bowl, and turned to Jeremy and said “I don’t know what to write about – I did and said so much during the conference that I feel kind of drained” (and of course the Halftime show didn’t do much to inspire either).  Jeremy thought for a half a second and then said one word – “momentum.” 

Momentum is exactly what I need to keep in mind right now. For those of you that haven’t seen the videos below, I have been away at a Student State Government conference for the past few days and had an incredible time, as I do at almost any student-centered retreat where learning and leadership are the goals. 


However, like many exciting and inspirational experiences that take place away from home, sometimes when you get back you forget or put aside all of the new ideas you had during your new experience.

And sadly, eventually, no matter how great you felt during a motivational speech, or what notes you took during an educational session, without momentum, those ideas will die.

There’s something I haven’t mentioned yet. When I started to write this post – I mean the second I typed the first letter of the first paragraph – the Super Bowl announcer came on and said “..…momentum shift.” And thus a blog title born and a topic confirmed. Fate.

Oddly enough a momentum shift is exactly what happens during great conferences and any other moment in life when you realize that you want to start channeling your energy in new directions. Having that momentum shift in your head is nothing short of transformative, and is absolutely vital for growth. 

And yet, just as football players often visualize winning a Super Bowl before they step on the field, the visualization is important, but it’s what happens after that mental shift that makes all the difference. It’s how you play the game. 

What are the steps you need to take today, right now, to complete your momentum shift? What ideas have started to blossom in your head and change your perspectives? It’s time to fully change your momentum. Don’t let the day-to-day get in the way of what you know you are supposed to do with the new knowledge and epiphanies you've gained.

As the announcer just said again, this very second (no joke) – “the momentum has totally shifted.”

It’s your turn. Even if you feel like you’re down in life by 2 proverbial touchdowns, choose to completely shift your momentum and direct all your talents where deep down you know they are supposed to go.

Get in the game.

(P.S. I can’t end this blog without reveling in the fact that I have written 2 posts in a row using football as a metaphor. To put it in perspective, just a few days ago I had to ask Jeremy to explain to me again what things like “3^rd and 13” mean. So thank you for helping me discover ways to appear to be athletically competent).