Ever wonder what you were meant to do?
I know I did.
As a child all I could think of was going to the US for university.
My mother being British, she wasn’t too excited about the prospect of me heading off to the States. In fact, that’s an understatement. For years she simply refused to entertain the idea.
It wasn’t until the 11th grade that she came to her senses : )
Despite being rejected by my first choice, I got into second, Pitzer College.
Dream 1 – check.
I still remember walking around the campus that first day. I was so filled with excitement.
But just two days after my orientation had begun and I was already thinking of going overseas. Don’t get me wrong, college life was great and I grew so much but if I were to look back at it now, deciding to come to Japan on a study abroad program was one of the best decision I ever made.
I opened my own business.
Dream 2 – check.
I met the love of my life.
Dream 3 – check.
I taught myself magic.
I wrote iSucceed.
Dream 4 – check.
And now I am about to start a new venture – seminars.
Dream 5 – check.
Teaching has been a part of my life for more than half my life.
I just never knew that I would move from English to success & finance.
Jim Rohn once gave a talk to a rotary club entitled “The 4 Ifs that make life worth living,” and when I look back over my life I can see that he was spot on.
Let me give them to you first.
Life is worth living if you:
- Learn
- Try
- Stay
- Care
I most certainly learned, though I suppose my real learning began when I started my business. Till then I had simply coasted along.
My grades had been good enough and I’d always found a way to get decent grades with the least amount of effort.
What does that mean?
As a teacher, I hate to admit it, but I’ve been guilty of cheating a few times (never caught though).
I just couldn’t be bothered. Literature, physics, Spanish…none of that interested me.
I was interested in life. In movies, money, and all that stuff that teenagers like. Only one problem – that wasn’t part of the curriculum.
Today I choose what I want to study and, more importantly, who I study from. I’ve learned it’s the teacher that makes 90% of the difference in learning which is why I surround myself with the best marketers, financial advisers, business men and speakers out there.
3 hours a day is devoted to studying in one form or another. During lunch, while I’m waiting for a friend, in-between classes…whenever, wherever I can.
Yes, I think it’s fair to say that I’ve learnt.
Have I tried? Like most people I have tried and failed time and time again.
But each failure has brought me here. Success anywhere along my path may have stopped me from getting here. And here is right where I want to be.
I’ve lost businesses, lost friendships, fallen down so many times I’ve lost count, but here I am. So yes, I think I’ve tried…and will keep on trying.
Staying is important. A lot of people have big ideas only to falter early on.
Me, I believe in finishing what I’ve started.
I built up my school. I created a flashcard system for kids. I commissioned a program for schools. I became an amateur magician, an author and a speaker.
There were times when I was frustrated, when I wanted to give up. But I didn’t.
And I’m glad I didn’t.
Finally, we have caring. Jim Rohn goes on to say that, “If you care at all, you’ll get some results. If you care enough, you can get incredible results.”
I think that’s the difference between a good teacher and a great one – caring.
Me – I care. I really care.
I care about my friends. I care about my family. And I care about my clients.
I want to do whatever I can to help them live better lives which is why I decided to get my ideas down on paper.
There is a limit to the amount of people I can reach out and touch directly, but with books and the Internet I can help hundreds, if not thousands in the same amount of time.
And one day, I hope, millions.
I’ll just keep at it.
And I hope you do, too. Whatever it is you want to do…were meant to do. Do it.
That doesn’t mean you have to quit your job (in fact, I would very much be against that). Instead, work part-time on your dreams while working full-time to earn a living.
I guess I’m lucky that I found what I’m supposed to do – teach.
Who knew that a summer job that was forced upon me would change my life forever? The rest just sort of fell into place.
Learn, try, stay and care.
4 words to live our lives by.
Adrian Shepherd