You want money? Work and save. Invest. Sell stuff.
You want to get in the outdoor industry? Get a job at REI when your friends are working at papa murphy's and blockbuster.
You want a better motorcycle? Buy one.
You want to go to Germany? Do it. (Okay, that one was a but lucky, but i wanted it and i got it.)
You want to be a paramedic/firefighter? Actually, not so much. Change your major.
You want to be a musician? Yeah, but you can do that without majoring in music. Change your major again.
You want to learn guitar? Play until your fingers bleed. imitate the great ones until your not so much imitating.
You want to major in advertising? Done.
You want to graduate early? Take the right classes, get the right internship, test out of 12 credits of german courses, smooth talk the right people in the registrar's office. Work hard, but more importantly, work smart.
You want a job at the hottest ad agency on the planet? Tell yourself you'll do it. Get to know them and play your strengths. Get them to pay you for freelance work so you're actually making money as you sneak your foot in the door.
You want to marry your new best friend? Well, ask her with a diamond. You never know.
You want to give your music some permanence? Record, produce and sell a record.
You want to buy a home in the #1 place to live in America. do it, if you dare.
Near the beginning of my time in Germany, I had a singular memorable experience of being shot down pretty hard after what I thought was decent hard, smart work. It crushed me temporarily and changed my life for the better.
A few years later, a girl decided to be the one to end what felt like a very binding relationship in which i had invested a lot of my energy and heart. I was crushed again.
Several years later, my dad died unexpectedly in a motorcycle accident. There was no way to turn back the clock and change any of my last interactions with him. Have one last stupid joke or serious discussion or sketchy adventure. I had no say in the matter. The days, weeks and months following have allowed me to reflect a lot on how my supposed ambition has come from him.
Today, I was shot down again and although my hopes weren't incredibly high to begin with, I was surprised at how I felt directly afterward. Like that time in Germany, it's for the better, and I can see that sooner this time. The cosmos will get together with their friend Karma and hopefully plan some great opportunities in the place of what I thought would be a pretty cool next step in my life. I don't always have a say in the matter, but eventually, as Bob Marley sang, "everything is gonna be alright."
Because as Leo Burnett said " When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either."
Here's to swinging for the fences.
