Gen Y: Who Motivates You?

Growing up I put people older than me on a pedestal, assuming they held the knowledge I lacked because, as a child, I could not know what they knew. I’ve since learned my lesson. I know now that there are a lot of people in adult bodies with child-like minds. Sometimes their own children are smarter than they are, which makes me concerned for the future. It concerns me because some children are not strong enough to question their parents’ logic. They believe it when their parents tell them that they won’t amount to anything. They agree that the world does not need another scholar. They believe the teachers, relatives, televisions shows, movies and news media who tell them that they’re lazy, stupid, and too idealistic for their own good. Well, “adults”, who do you think is going to be there for you when you grow too old to take care of yourselves? When you motivate someone to become somebody, you benefit the world by creating a human being capable of love and compassion for someone other than themselves. Unfortunately, some have to be motivated by the negative talk of irresponsible adults who are too busy projecting their own jaded misgivings.

So, I ask you Generation Y, who motivates you? Does this song resonate with you?

The Blue Print 3 – So Ambitious lyrics

Motivation for me, is them telling me what I could not be
Oh well

I felt so inspired by what the teacher said
Said I’d either be dead or be a reefer head
Not sure if that’s how adults should speak to kids
Especially when the only thing I did was speak in class
I’ll teach his ass
Even better what my uncle did
I popped my demo tape in start to beat my head
Peeked out my eye, see if he was beatin his
He might as well said beat it kid,
He’s on the list
It’s like I’m searching for kicks
Like a sneaker head
You gon keep pushing me til I reach the ledge
And when I reach the ledge, I tell ‘em all to eat a dick
Take a leap of faith and let my eagle wings spread

(Chorus)
Motivation to me, is them telling me what I could not be, oh well
I’m so ambitious, I might hit two sisters,
Hey I’m on a mission, no matter what the conditions
Fuck the personal issues, when you go through what I been through,
hey, if you believe it, then you can conceive it

Verse 2
Had to lace up my boots, even harder
Father is too far away to father
Further, more of the kids either
Smoke reefer or either move white
There’s few writers, in my cipher
So they made lighter, my type of
Dreams seen to them, they said wise up
How many guys are? You see making it from here
The world dont like us, is that not clear, alright bruh
I’m different I can’t face what I’m gon be, or
For what everybody isn’t, they don’t listen
Just whispering behind my back, no vision,
Lack of ambition, So Wack!

(Chorus) Pharrell
Motivation to me, is them telling me what I could not be, oh well
I’m so ambitious, I might hit two sisters,
Hey I’m on a mission, no matter what the conditions
Fuck the personal issues, when you go through what I been through,
hey, if you believe it, then you can conceive it

Verse 3
Had a couple of meetings, no office yet
Maybe I ain’t good enough for these offices
Back to the drawing board, ducking officers
It’s all good cuz the streets, is saying ?
So with or without any of your involvement
We coming for all of this, respect my conglomerate
I went from piper to the president, cuz every deal I ever made set precedent
N****s probably thought a 4 without 0 buddy, oh Buddy
What I do is make more money
Dear teacher, you probably somewhere speaker
I’m balling out of control, can you hear my sneakers?
Fuck yall!!

(Chorus) Pharrell
Motivation to me, is them telling me what I could not be, oh well
I’m so ambitious, I might hit two sisters,
Hey I’m on a mission, no matter what the conditions
Fuck the personal issues, when you go through what I been through,
hey, if you believe it, then you can conceive it

Guest Post: Part II Strengthen Your Focus

Continued from 10 Mantras for Empowering Focus

6. “WHAT DOES FAILURE LOOK LIKE?”

If you believe in it, you give it life.

If you don’t, it can’t breathe.

I stopped believing in defeat. I mean that. I didn’t look at any of the obstacles as insurmountable, and believe me; they could have easily taken me off my course for years. There can be no such thing as failure. It doesn’t equate. It has no logical substance to it. No matter what sacrifices you will have to make on your way there, remember…you are on your way there. Remember that you are heading no place else, but towards your success.

7. “THE MYOPIC IS LEGAL HERE…”

Don’t tolerate anything that will distract you. Flexibility is needed when you are certain of exactly what you wish to accomplish, and the flavor can be negotiable, but outside of the superficial details, there is only one thing that exists. Make sure that you know the difference between a compromise when settling disputes, and a compromise with your life’s goals. If you have not gotten to a place in your thinking where you have absolutely defined exactly what the general goal is, then you shouldn’t be reading this. This is not about finding a focus; this is about strengthening your focus.

Focused people tend to be short-sighted and narrow-minded when it comes to all else. This is a necessary evil. Keep your eyes on the road, let all else subside from your periphery…

8. “ONE STEP AT A TIME”

Ever see someone jump in a pool and not stroke, kick, or doggy paddle? Can’t make it in a pool without some sort of movement, huh? Sure, those are my thoughts exactly. Your focus is your pool. You cannot claim to be focused if you are not making even the tiniest of steps toward realizing your vision. The smallest kick or push will keep you afloat, and may even attract the attention of the person with the resources necessary to sky rocket your vision. But you can’t get their attention by doing nothing. You must make those steps.

No one is going to give you the permission to be as great as you should be. You have to take that reality and carve it into yours. You have to take the necessary steps to make your vision a reality in the world we already live in. One step at a time and the journey of one thousand miles is completed.

9. “SET BACKS HELP US IF WE LET THEM…”

I once saw a baby standing while it was having its umbilical cord cut, and once cut, the baby walked over to its mother, jumped up on the gurney, and kissed her. Alright, I never was much of a fiction writer but I think you get my point here. It just doesn’t happen without the falls, the scrapes, the bruises, the tears, and all those moments where you just think that it will not happen.

Focus means direction. You are moving toward something. You are going to fall along that course. That fall may present you with the necessary perception or strength to continue at a higher frequency than before. Don’t give in to your cowardice. Remember, you came to this world without a language to speak or read, no clue about the opposite sex, no idea about the health care reform(alright, we are all still working on that one…).

Stay focused. Take it easy. We all fall. Use it as reason to keep striving…

10. “IF YOU DON’T, WHO WILL?”

And as the circle of life revolves and spirals, leaving us in a higher place than where we started, we are back to purpose. If you don’t develop your abilities to tackle that dream and vision of yours, who is going to? If you don’t follow your heart’s desires, who will? No one can fulfill your greatest hopes for yourself but, well, yourself. YOU.

The energy needed to achieve anything is actually about the same as the attention needed to push the “x” (close) button on an application on your computer screen. It just means holding that desire over a longer period of time. That is what we actually mean by focus. That only means a constant reminder is necessary so you will not forget that only you can accomplish this task. Even if someone could, how much of a little squirrel do you think the world is going to make you feel like? There is a definite spiritual force that punishes those that don’t even attempt to do that in which they most want to do. Stay the course…it is almost over.

J. Farand is a writer, web designer, and web developer and writer of the book, “The Better You”. He is currently finishing a BA and co-authoring a book entitled,”Media Messages.” His daily musings and analysis can be found at http://www.owlasylum.net

April 15th 2010 Tax Day Discounts and Deals

CINNABON: Get two free bite-sized cupcakes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at participating mall locations as part of “Tax Day Bites!” Flavors include Chocolate Passion, 24-Carrot Cake, Vanilla Bliss and Cinnacake Classic.

MAGGIEMOO’S: Get one free slice of ice cream pizza — ice cream with red frosting to look like sauce and white chocolate to look like cheese — at participating locations from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

STARBUCKS: Get free brewed coffee all day Thursday if you bring your own mug, a promotion the cafe chain says is friendly to the environment as well as taxpayers.

– DISCOUNTED MEALS

BOSTON MARKET: For a “last-minute tax break” — one free meal for each one you buy Thursday through Sunday — show this coupon:http://bit.ly/d1YlRO

IHOP: Expanding on the tax deduction parents get for kids, the restaurant chain is offering free dinner for one child age 12 or younger with each adult meal purchased 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. all month long.

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S: The seafood restaurant is offering $10.40 dinner and drink specials in the bar on Thursday — a nod to the 1040 tax form. Bar guests who come in April 15 also receive a $10.40 gift certificate for a later visit. And professional tax preparers, who may have to work right until the midnight deadline Thursday, get their freebie Friday: dessert on the house plus a $10.40 certificate if they show a business card.

P.F. CHANG’S: Get 15 percent off food purchases for dine-in or take-out, excluding alcohol and happy hour food and beverages.

– STRESS RELIEF

HYDROMASSAGE: Get a free massage Thursday through Sunday at participating locations. The mall-based massage chain suggests calling ahead to book an appointment. Find a location at http://www.hydromassage.com/taxday.