Publisher's Synopsis
This insightful book moves past the sea of isms and oft-repeated platitudes young people face when searching for answers in life. As a member of the Millennial Generation, I fully understand the challenges and opportunities facing young adults who came of age after year 2000. For over 20 years, I've asked life all the tough questions. I wrote down the simple answers it gave me in this book. You will find the answers, in plain English, to various questions about hard work, temptation, making (and sticking with) the right choice from virtually unlimited options, building your confidence and self worth, the real difference between the CEO and rank-and-file employee, and starting a business as you relive my life experiences with me. Furthermore, I deconstructed how I accidentally stumbled upon my major purpose in life, beyond the likes of working hard, being religious, getting rich, and raising a family. I broke it down into 3 ridiculously simple steps to find your higher calling, passion, or purpose and 3 to fulfill them. I later compared them against the lives and actions of many great people throughout history and have found them to be accurate. Now, for some powerful excerpts: On Finding Your Higher Purpose in Life: "First, know thyself. Hidden assets remain hidden and unused in the absence of light. Chains that remain unacknowledged remain uncut. Take a cold, hard look at you, the real you, all of you. Your best and worst attributes and everything in between. Leave no stone unturned. Second, think about what you like and are good at. Third, what problem or pressing need in the community, nation, or world strikes a chord deep within you? These three things, together, will help you create your definite major purpose in life. Key word: create. Waiting leaves millions, if not billions, in park. Don't worry about creating the wrong purpose. Any purpose based on helping people without hurting others is a right choice." On Fulfilling Your Higher Purpose: "Require yourself to accomplish it, and to do so in a legal, honest, ethical manner. Take the first step without a clear-cut path and without knowing how long it will take. Press on, no matter how much pain or discomfort you experience and without regard for the risk of life and limb." On the Real Difference Between the CEO and Rank-and-File Employee: "'Why does the CEO make $40 million a year with a high school diploma, the VP of Operations make $100,000 with an MBA and a doctorate in psychology, and the janitor earn $21,000 with a high school diploma?' The CEO is terrified of cleaning bathrooms, but is willing to lead others, be the captain of the ship, and be the face of a large company for better or worse. The janitor, conversely, is terrified of leading others, being the captain of the ship, and the face of a large company for better or worse, but is willing to clean bathrooms." On My Unique Insight as to Why Teens Rebel: "The psychological and belief system shakeups at this point in a person's life seem automatic. Many of us just attribute it to emotional and hormonal changes and 'just stuff a teen goes through and eventually grows out of.' In my opinion, however, it's as if we human beings are designed to have these shakeups so that we may see things in a different light and advance the race forward. While prolonged rebellion in the wrong direction is never a good thing, a teen who do not rebel at all may be kicking the cans of frustration, confusion, and crisis into mid life." On Wishing for Someone Else's Natural Talents and Abilities: "Don't wish for Carnegie's talents [ability to make connections, judge people]; examine your own. Many things you view as your weaknesses are actually talents being used improperly. For example, [ADD], in my opinion (as a layperson), is disorganized passion, vigor, and massive creative energy, surfacing as an inability to listen, be quiet, sit still, or focus on what someone else wants you to focus on."