Disorder

The way the world works is in five ways.


But I don't know any of them.

I'm a stranger to order. A look into my backpack is a look into my brain.
Crumpled papers of assignments long lost line the bottom and the books are used as notebooks, the papers sticking out the sides have frilled edges.

There is rarely a working pen in the front pockets.
Maybe a highliter and some post-it notes, but not a pen.

(i haven't used a pencil in years. I don't like the way they scrape against the paper.)

I want to feel:

Passion
Music
Creativity
Instant gratification.
And sweet, sweet love.


And I want to swing for the fences.

Chronic Laziness

The thing about writing a blog on careers and success is that I'm not totally fascinated by all of this. I'd rather write bad poems or rants about why they ought to just give me a degree already.

I don't like school so much i'm starting to find. I'm just not motivated to do any of the work.

I'm beginning to think I should have been a marketing or business major. I like English, but I just don't find focused enough to do the reading. Besides, I've given up my dreams of becoming the next Jack Kerouac.

Websites Are Good For Your Career... And Here's Where You Can Learn To Make Them

In a prior post, I wrote about the importances of websites, and the ability to create and design them. Alexander K. Riley mentioned a great website where one can learn to write HTML as well as newer and more relevant types, for free.

www.w3schools.com

This website is an excellent place to expand your knowledge of the web. They offer step-by-step tutorials with very accessible examples. They explain everything from CSS to Flash. If you don't know what those are, start soon.

Mastering the lessons offered at www.w3schools.com is about as valuable as a college degree. And if you have both... all you need is a little ambition and you're on you're way to an early retirement, or at least a good paying job.

www.w3schools.com is a great way to learn basic and advanced html. In addition to many many other things. Visit it. I am ecstatic to have found it.

What To Do, What To Do...

Sometimes in life, we attach ourselves to ideas that lead us astray. Often, the signs of having been led awry are obvious, if one is willing to be objective about his or her own situation. There is, perhaps, a struggle involved in reaching certain goals, however, when that struggle begins to negatively effect the way we interact with the world, one ought to reevalute their position.

If you're starting a business, look to the people you trust for their opinions. In fact, look to everybody, people you do and don't trust. It's a good way to gauge where you're at. While some of the greatest visionaries may have had to "prove them all wrong," more often than not, I would guess that attempting to prove everyone wrong is a indicative of denial.

I could, however, and without being a hypocrite, but maybe being in denial, say forget everything above. You definitley don't want to sell yourself short, or be upset with the choices you make. If you end up regretting the path you've taken, it might be hard to attain contentment. But consider also that if you end up with nothing due to stubborness, you might not be content either.

The point is, that it's important to follow your dream. Cliche as it sounds, do it. Seriously, do it.
But at the same time, learn to live in reality. In fact, use reality as a meter. Take your dwindling bank account as a sign you need to start earning money. Take the ill relationships with family and friends as a sign you need to evaluate your demeanor or behavior. And take the signs that tell you you're doing great as a sign to keep on truckin!

Debt For Dollars

Have you ever heard the saying "You've got to spend money to make money?" Maybe you've heard it, but do you understand it?

The basic, and simple notion is that in order to create something that is able to garner revenue, one has to spend money on whatever that something is. If you want to build a website, you have to buy software, pay for a domain name, etc etc. A lot of us don't have enough cash off hand to start our own businesses.

Ever heard of a small business loan? Furthermore, ever heard of a credit card?

It's a dangerous tactic. Credit cards can have high interest rates, and if one has a high enough balance, high minimum paymets. As for the former, many credit cards will offer you one year of 0% interest. Others will offer you low interest rates for the first year or so. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE DEALS! They are truly good deals. They are free loans.
And loans can be quite expensive.

Now, I'm sure all of you reading this are thinking "Isn't debt a bad thing?" The answer is, of course it is. Starting any business is risky. But in todays world of youtubes and myspaces, and even much lesser known software companies and popular blogs, anyone can start a successful online business. Obviously not everybody will be as successful as Tom Anderson of Myspace, or Mark Zuckerburg of Facebook, but there are varying degrees of success.

Developing high traffic is a simple as good marketing. There are thousands of young professionals out there dying for a job in their chosen field. Consider hiring one of them to market your business for you.

Maintaing high traffic is dependent on offering good, entertaining or informative content. With user based content at an all time high, this can be particularly inexpensive.

Considering the former: DON'T GET INTO UNMANAGABLE DEBT! It's a quality of life issue, and you will not want to deal with the repruccusions. Make sure you are ready to make the payments on whatever debt you acquire, and make sure you aren't in danger of losing your house or car.

That said, you should be able to get your idea for a web page up and going for somewhere in the lower thousands. Do you know anybody who is into web page design? See if you can get a good rate with them. Shop around for the best deals. The more time you spend working out the logistics of starting your own business, the more efficient you will spend your money. Take your time, but start now!

And keep in mind, this post is to get your mind working positively. To let it know that there is oppurtunity out there for anyone who is willing to take it. I'm not advising putting your entire life at risk, but am advising that you consider taking some risk. The greater the risk, the greater the return. No pain no gain. You've got to give to receive. Etc. Etc.

Websites Are Good For Your Career: Follow Up

I got a comment from Brandon H at www.newlycorporate.com , who suggests that html is quickly fading. That would be a very important note to take. In this case, what do you think is best to learn as far as creating the most effective website?

Websites Are Good For Your Career

Learning how to design web pages in todays world is a ticket to success. It's a necessary part of every business and web page designers can earn thousands for a single job. Depending on who the client is, you could have a full time job for knowing how to design a web page. Knowing web scripts like HTML and Java is become increasingly important to entrepreneurs as well.

Have an idea? Make a website and watch your business flourish. Of course you'll need to do some marketing, in which case you might want to ask friends if any of them know about internet marketing.

Some ways of internet marketing, that don't involve paying for ad space, are forums. Go to forums that cater to your demographic or that discuss a problem your website can solve, and tell them about your website. Make sure you are not too forward with your marketing. Respond to the dialog and seem interested in what people are saying.

Also, use social networking sites like Myspace and Facebook in order to spread the word for free. Telling your friends and family is a start, however, if they are not part of the demographic, or are not interested in what your site has to offer, don't count on them as traffic builders. You need to find people who are interested in what you're website does, and this takes work.

Some ways of potentially building interest are giveaways. Host contests on your website, and require that your contestants sign up via your website. Incorporate the material on your website in order to get people browsing.

Also, if you live in a big city, consider posting fliers in high traffic areas. Make sure the fliers pique interest. So create an ad campaign for yourself. Watch commercials and look at billboards for ideas.

Check out Ryan Healy's blog from Employee Evolution. It's filled with great tips for contemporary marketing.

Most importantly, however, you have to learn how to build a website. HTML is the most popular script so far. Visit hwg.org. They offer classes online. They cost about one to two hundred dollars for basic HTML classes. But consider the price worth it if you can learn this valuable skill.

Do you know what that'll do for your resume?
Good stuff.

Get Your Homework On

For many of us students, homework is not daily routine. We put it off until the very last minute, or perhaps we don't do it at all. Many of us are not motivated by overacheiving, but doing whatever we perceive to be the bare minimum. This, however, doesn't cut it for todays ambitious youth.

Underacheiving, as is explained above, leads to a sense of failure and worthlessness. These feelings are not conducive to future success. They cause you to feel hopeless, and without control of your life. Those who put no effort into their schooling, are unlikely to be satisfied with their education.

Maybe you're in a band, or maybe you have a girlfriend or boyfriend that makes you feel fulfilled. Either way, school is still a big part of your life. It's something you face multiple times a week, and it's very expensive. So it's bound to get you down if you are doing below what you think you're capable of.

Put in the time, and get your homework done. Do the assigned readings, and take notes. This is a key to feeling GOOD about yourself. Which is a key to acheiving your goals. Doing well in school is a very tangible acheivment, and it's just the acheivment you need to get into the mindset of success!

A Little Crazy Could Do You Good

I want to get back to a topic that is near and dear to my heart. Delusions of Grandeur. Those ideas you get sometimes, that turn into visions of epic proportions, and elate you. They wrap you up and take you where you want to go. You believe for a little while, that this idea is going to take your life into overdrive. And it could.

I know I've experienced this personally, and have heard friends and family spout these sorts of images. They not only seem like good ideas. They are great ideas. We just need to learn to set these goals and achieve them. Like my idea for a greeting card company. This has been done. And successfully. It is my own lack of follow through that makes it so unfeasible.

That's why I challenge you, anyone who reads this, to look within yourself and realize a goal you've had, one which is feasible, and to get started on inching your way into the dream of being self-made. Get your blog or website of the ground. Start designing your own clothing line. Or set up a fashion show at your local bar, and get sponsors, and make it the biggest party your town has ever seen.

If you can imagine it. You can accomplish it.

Work and School and Work and School

Starting a new job and school simultaneously on Tuesday was a wake up call. I hadn't been so busy in weeks, and my system is taking the shock in stride. I'm tired. Really tired.

I realize that I've now got to get my daily schedule into gear. This means putting off going out until the weekends. Nights out disrupt the system, as they make it nearly impossible to prepare for the next day.

My last three years of college have not consisted of much scheduling, and it has made it difficult, but lacking a schedule leaves me tired at inconvenient times, and makes focusing difficult. A sleep schedule will help my performance in school and work, and increase my efficiency. Thus, I am making a pledge to:

Not go out during the week.
Be awake by 8:15 each morning.
Be in bed by 11:15 each night.
Prepare for the next day hours before I go to sleep.
And start exercising withing a week.

Exercise is supposed to help one fall asleep faster. And dealing with stressful situations, like doing homework, and making preperations for the next day make it more difficult to fall asleep, thus they are better done a couple of hours before one goes to sleep.

This will be a difficult schedule to stick to, and I will be posting my progress in an honest fashion. As a senior in college, I have had my time to be the typical college student (perhaps even some extra time) and now, it is time to reconsider my lifestyle choices, and prepare for a future that is right around the corner.

Root for me!