Here is what’s going on, and I can summarize it in one word: expansion.
Branching Out
I have been a Life Counselor and a Motivational Coach for seven years. Wow, has it really been that long? After some soul searching, I have found that I would rather help people grow their businesses than anything else. I recently found myself on LinkedIn, where I noticed a young man who had just graduated from school. He went to Full Sail University, of which is located in Orlando, Florida.
I wanted to attend this campus but was talked out of it by my father!
Full Sail focuses on multimedia, gaming, film, and music production. This young man was about to pull the plug on his career, saying that there were “no jobs out there” to work at. Though he came to me seeking career guidance, I realized that this was a great opportunity to do more than just talk someone through a situation. Rather, this was a catalyst for expansion of my own company, and we all need to look at life in this manner. If we forget to focus on the bigger picture, we lose out on opportunities – more than you can possibly imagine!
I decided to give this individual an ultimatum: rather than complaining about the overall saturation of the multimedia industry, of which has a valuation of around $720 billion (you heard right: billion), he should be looking at other opportunities (and I want you to remember I said that because this story has just begun). As a film major, he is an excellent videographer, but if you comb through Craigslist looking for work like he was doing, you will find menial jobs that provide no real benefit. He was about a step away from giving up…
So I Told Him…
Very simply, I said: “Listen, let’s look at this in a broader frame-of-reference. What do videographers do? They capture video. Now, take a moment to think about what other areas of work require this skill. There is advertising; there is content development…” And in turn, the list goes on and on. I found that this was an opportunity to expand Valiance Coaching into a Business & Consulting company. Does this mean I am giving up on Life Counseling? No, but it does mean I am going to begin to apply my knowledge of the human psyche and place emphasis on providing solutions rather than answers.
We all need to begin to look at life this way.
When you are out of options, rather than sticking with the original game plan, look at things in a more abstract manner. If you are working two part time jobs to sustain yourself, what answers do you have to that problem? You may not be able to attend college – whether that is based on money or simply time. But, do take into consideration the idea of reaching out to someone (quite literally anyone) who has the financial resources to help you through it. Go on GoFundMe and tell your story; list your dreams and aspirations; share it with your friends and family on social media. I guarantee you, you will find a way into college.
The Riptide Theory
I like to look at life as a riptide. If you try to walk toward the shore, a riptide will just pull you further out to sea. But if you want to survive, walk parallel to the ocean. In other words, do the exact opposite of what you would do in the event of a normal oceanic experience. In this sense, when life is throwing you hardships, do the exact opposite of what you would do under normal circumstances.
“All I have to do is go against all of my natural instincts and I’ll be okay” – Jerry Seinfeld
In the end, the solutions are there for you. All you have to do is trust in instinct and realize that you have more power in your hands than you think! Though this may have started out as a narrative on my company’s changes, really this has nothing to do with that. Rather, it has to do with the fact that change is necessary when we grow tired, and that solutions are all around us! We just have to be willing to look past our own blind spots and learn to accept the fact that life is unpredictable.
However, that is no excuse for not trying…
If you need some guidance, let me help!
