Tag Archives: careers

Lenny Gale was a CPA; The American’T Dream

This the 6-minute video made my day, woke me up and inspired me. It echoes stuff I write about. Stuff I talk about. Stuff I think about. It’s called The American’T Dream.

The American’T Dream is a poem about making an impact. Redefining success. Doing something with your life outside of the 9-5.

My favorite lines:

  • Look who’s laughing now.
  • Successful people take a course of action that coincides with their belief or passion.
  • There’s nothing wrong with making an honest living. But are you really living?

Of course, this isn’t for everyone. If you’re working your butt off at your job to pay your mortgage, your children’s’ student loans & weddings and your retirement fund, be proud. You’re appreciated more than you know (Dad).

But if escaping the 9-5 is or ever has been on your mind, check out The American’T Dream.

Career Advice

Lately, I’ve been giving the same advice. It’s not specific to food or fitness. I’ve found myself giving career advice. And the advice has turned out to be pretty good.

My career advice is a consulting buzzword. Actually, it’s probably more of an aphorism. Here it is:

First, figure out where you want to be [hand gesture]. Then figure out how you’re going to get there [hand gesture].”

Figuring out where you want to be, or what you want to is gold. To a hiring manager, it can explain four jobs in four years. It makes you valuable and attractive. It makes you seem more honest and trustworthy.  More employable.

But the best part of figuring out where you want to be? The “how you’re going to get there” part becomes very clear. You’ll hardly ever be lost.

It’s time to figure out where you want to be. Me included.

Did you hear the news?

Yeah, it’s crazy.

So and so famous person suddenly died?  It’s crazy.

Your company was acquired by a bigger one.  It’s crazy.

Last night’s madness on Breaking Bad?  It’s crazy.

The goings on are crazy, yes.  But why?  Because of what happened to them or it or the thing?  Or is it crazy because of the difficult question it forces us to confront?

New outlook on life?  New career path?  New standard for entertainment we invest our time in?

Time to reevaluate things.  It’d be crazy not to.