Just Do It!

This is some what of a continuation of my last blog, but with an emphasis on the first part: Just Do It! I cannot emphasize this point and tell you enough how important this is.

Today I was with some friends and we were talking. One of them was talking about college, since they are a senior, and how they are interested in a bigger college, but there's no means of support to do it, as they don't really have the money and there isn't a whole lot of support from the family to do it. The person had decided that they were ok with staying at a local college and do schooling there, then transfer to another local college to finish schooling.

That led me to think, your future and your life is YOURS, so go out there and take it! There's always going to be people who want to tell you how to live your life and what you need to do, and there is wisdom in what some people have to say, and it doesn't hurt to listen and learn from what they have to say, but at a certain point you just need to say "This is my life and I'm going to chase my dream, and all I want is your support in whatever it is I want to do." Then decided on what it is you are going to do, and it should be the very best as it is for you, then go for it!!! What do you have to lose?

Once you have decided to go for it, really go for it! Don't give some half-effort attempt, put all you've got into it! Maybe it is possible to get what ever it is you're going for with a half-effort attempt, but then you feel like you can get away giving half of your effort on everything and if you keep that attitude going, you'll eventually come across some opportunity that is lost because you thought you could get away with a half-effort attempt!

After you've given it a truly honest attempt, I personally feel that it's in God's hands. If you get whatever it is and everything ends up working out, with all the means to support you, it is God's will and plan for you. Now I'm not saying after you made your attempt, you can sit back on your lawn chair and sip on your tea, because it most likely isn't going to work that way. I'm saying that it might involve some more effort, but there will be a way that the means are provided if it is meant to truly work out. If it doesn't end up working out or you don't get it, I don't think this necessarily means it isn't what you're supposed to do, but maybe it's not the right time. I believe you'll definitely be able to interpret your situation, as each one is different, and it's all apart of God's plan for your life. That's my view on it all, and I have to say it ends up working out for me pretty well!

So I have a challenge for all of you out there reading this. In honor of today being New Year's Eve, you can take it in as your New Year's Resolution, and if you happen to read this any other day of the year, by all means, still do it! But I want you to take a dream, a goal, or something you have been wishing for, no matter how small or how extremely big it may be, and work towards actually finding success. Whether it be applying to "That" college, talking to "That" special some one, losing that little bit of weight, auditioning for "That" certain group, applying for "That" job, finishing "That" home project of yours, or what ever "That" specific thing may be, as impossible or as easy it sounds, and actually doing it. I want you to Find success in that. Though do remember that in different situations, it may not end how you hoped or it may not be what you thought it was, but learn something from that situation. Because in the end, that is the true success.

Different Parts of Success.

First of all, sorry, it has been waayyy to long since I've written a blog, or at least it feels that way. But I'm back, and I'm ready to pump a couple more out through Christmas Vacation. Woot Woot! haha, anyways....

Success is a very interesting thing. To succeed for one person may be another's failure, or vice versa. But whatever your definition of success is or what ever goal it is you are trying to reach, there are some universal parts:

1) Simply Just Doing It.

I have to say, one of the biggest reasons people don't do things, or fail at them is that they give up before they even try. They have a preconceived notion that they aren't good enough, that the competition is at a higher level then they are, that they simply cannot do it so they should not even try. Well let me tell you, that is a butt load of bull crap.

Often enough, by simply trying to do it, whatever it may be whether it is an audition or some kind of application or something completely different, you can get it. Now I'm not suggesting to go in to whatever you are doing without any preparation or effort, because you should always put some kind of effort in to what you are doing. Think of it as the more effort you put into it, the better results you will likely get from it.

A couple weeks ago, one of my private teachers gave me a little lecture about a lesson to be learned from a mistake another student had made where they ended up not auditioning for a group that they could have easily made. The student just became too nervous and didn't show up, even though they were much more than well prepared. This teacher is a very amazing musician and has had much experience in a field where auditioning is a regular occurrence. The piece of advice he offered me was to simply do the audition, or run for a position, or whatever such thing it may be, because people just want to see some one try and they can see the potential in you.

For example, coming into freshman year when I had just transferred to Kingsburg, I wasn't a very good trombone player, but my brother talked to the music teacher and got me a time to go audition for the higher band and I could have simply not tried because I didn't think I was good enough, but what did I have to lose? And what do you know, I ended up making it into the band, I just needed to TRY. Or my sophomore year, when I ran for Vice President. I wasn't the most popular kid on campus, to be honest, not a whole lot of people really knew me, but people still voted for me and gave me the position because they wanted to see what I could do! And I have many more instances, but I'll move on.

2) Rejection

This is the worst part, but is a much needed part of the process. I think it is an important part because it helps show your weaknesses, so that you can improve on them. The only problem is that some people take this as they failed and then give up. There is one quote that stands out to me that I can specifically remember that relates to this:

"The Only True Failure is when you stop trying."

This actually comes from the Haunted Mansion Movie, when Eddie Murphy's character can't get into the mansion to save his wife and starts to give up because his other attempts have failed and so he starts to lose hope and then the little Madame in the crystal ball tells him this to make him keep going and eventually does it.

But the quote stood out to me, and still does today, because it basically means you may try and fail, try and fail, try and fail, but you only really fail when you give up and lose your drive. It's like that one saying from Edison about creating the light bulb: "I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work."

I recently found out I didn't make the California All-State Honor Jazz Choir. I may have failed to make it into the group, but I think it was a success for me and an overall good experience. I walked into the audition recording having spent some good time learning my material and gave my best at the time. It simply showed me that I still can grow some more in my vocal jazz, as I'm not quite at the level of some of the others. Did it discourage me from singing? Heck No! I really enjoy singing and I'm not half bad, so I figure maybe I'll work a bit harder next year and learn all that I can until then, audition again, and hopefully make it!

3) Persistency

All I have to say is keep trying, and trying, and trying, and trying until you get what you are after. That is the key after facing your rejection or small failures. You can't give up on what you're after. You just simply cannot do that. And trust me, after all this hard work and everything you have gone through to get to your goal or your point of success, it is that much sweeter and enjoyable to finally reach.

Now the sad reality is, you may not always win all of your excursions and meet "Success". But in these cases, the true success is that you did your best possible attempt. You'll walk away with no regrets, and even though you didn't get that special little extra part, you will still be very pleased and happy with yourself. In my freshman year, I swam the 500 Free on Varsity, which is 20 laps for all you non-swimmers out there. I remember walking away from one race having swam it in 10 minutes flat and I felt like I was on top of the world, even though I got whooped by the guy who got first place with a time under 7 minutes. I did my best and was proud of myself. And in the end, that is what it is all about.