Authenticity: The Key to a Fulfilled Life!
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - Joe Kiedinger
Alex, my son, who I wrote about dozens of times when he was younger, is coming of age (21). I am proud of him as he is working to figure out what life is really all about. How does the world really work? Like many young people, adventure and possibility are very attractive to him. It’s refreshing to watch him and think back to when I was his age. It’s finally an age I can remember! I’m sure many of you can relate. It’s fuzzy remembering what it was like to be 12—or even 15—but 21, I remember back then.
I was blessed to have been given a hand-painted portrait as a gift from Ann in our salon. She painted a picture of our headquarters along with a quote: “Man is only great when he acts from passion.” – Benjamin Disraeli.
As I sit today, here is how I interpret this quote and the advice I give young people: surrender to the future; it will be delivered to your door as long as you show up for it. Showing up means getting involved: get a job, get many jobs, look, watch and listen for people and opportunities that come to you. Don’t be afraid to try new things and throw as many darts to the world as possible. One will stick. It may be something you least expected. You can’t plan your destiny—you can only prepare for it.
Preparation includes building rich relationships, saving some money and working over 45 hours a week, preferably 50+. Working long hours won’t make you rich, but it will teach you discipline and keep you busy enough to not spend your money. It will also get you in front of many people because you may be working several jobs to achieve it—broadening your experiences as well.
Do the hard stuff first and life gets easier; do the easy stuff now and life gets harder. What will happen is a passion will surface. Give the passion time, it will find you if you are preparing for it. Be patient and enjoy where you are and who you’re with today.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: Forward this to a young man or woman you know!