I have had my first taste of New York. It's amazing how many stereotypes we have that don't hold up when you put yourself in the real situation. I didn't get run over by all the mean New Yorkers, people did talk to me, and it wasn't bitter cold all the time. I did notice, I've never seen so many stylish and well dressed people in one place in my life.
On our way back to the airport, I struck up a conversation with our Taxi driver. Who informed me to "own" the taxi number it cost around $60,000, which sealed the deal for me in believing that NY is by far the most expensive place in the US. I payed 20 bucks for a hamburger that wasn't even that good. . .
I know that NY is more expensive and busier than other cities, but my Taxi driver didn't. All he knew of America was New York. When I told him that Mississippi was extremely different than NY, while I thought it was funny and most would comment on the obviousness of that comment, he was intrigued and didn't believe me.
At that moment I realized the power of impressions, it's so much more than a stereotype. I can only view India through his eyes and his stories, because I've never experienced it for myself. He could only picture America as New York because that's all he's seen.
When you represent something, a business, a belief, or an organization, people only have your eyes and stories to create an impression. If you don't make the effort to become the author of that impression, they will create a stereotype for you.
I'd rather leave a valuable impression, than help create a negative stereotype.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
a new direction
Do you know the million dollar question for a college graduate?
"What are you going to do with your life now?"
Now what? Now that I have a degree in something that sounded good at one point, but now realized that the degree is not a career. Maybe it's now that I have been to school and am suppose to be filled with theory and classroom knowledge.
I'm not bitter that I get to be put into the statistic of unemployed, unknowing college graduate. I'll be the first to admit, "I have no IDEA what I want to do." Do you know how many millions of options there are available? It can be a bit overwhelming at times. Some direction would be nice.
Especially of late, I feel like there is a giant disconnect from college and the big, scary rest of the world. Everyone talks about leaving college and entering the real world, what they don't tell you is that actually it's a 90 foot drop into confusion moving about 60 m.p.h. But you're ready right? You've got your diploma!
Someone told me once that a diploma is nothing but proof that you can actually finish something. At the time I laughed it off, but I'm suddenly realizing how true that is. Not that finishing something is that hard, it's the starting that really takes the courage.
Starting when everyone is moving 10x faster than you, and expects you to jump right in without hesitating can be cause for a "deer in the headlights" approach. Don't you realize that we (college graduates) don't know how to do the "real world." We didn't go to all those seminars on "what's next" or know to keep up with Godin's latest blog. HELLO . . . aren't we suppose to be trying to make a 4.o and joining the latest honor society to put on our resume, to get the perfect job.
Starting .... it's a new thing. Discovering what you want to do is a starting point. Letting go of the fear that I don't have to know what I'm going to do is a starting point. Waking up believing that you are capable is a starting point.
"Is this fear here to destroy me or to tell me to do something about it?"
- Immaculee Ilibagiza
So what are you going to do?
"What are you going to do with your life now?"
Now what? Now that I have a degree in something that sounded good at one point, but now realized that the degree is not a career. Maybe it's now that I have been to school and am suppose to be filled with theory and classroom knowledge.
I'm not bitter that I get to be put into the statistic of unemployed, unknowing college graduate. I'll be the first to admit, "I have no IDEA what I want to do." Do you know how many millions of options there are available? It can be a bit overwhelming at times. Some direction would be nice.
Especially of late, I feel like there is a giant disconnect from college and the big, scary rest of the world. Everyone talks about leaving college and entering the real world, what they don't tell you is that actually it's a 90 foot drop into confusion moving about 60 m.p.h. But you're ready right? You've got your diploma!
Someone told me once that a diploma is nothing but proof that you can actually finish something. At the time I laughed it off, but I'm suddenly realizing how true that is. Not that finishing something is that hard, it's the starting that really takes the courage.
Starting when everyone is moving 10x faster than you, and expects you to jump right in without hesitating can be cause for a "deer in the headlights" approach. Don't you realize that we (college graduates) don't know how to do the "real world." We didn't go to all those seminars on "what's next" or know to keep up with Godin's latest blog. HELLO . . . aren't we suppose to be trying to make a 4.o and joining the latest honor society to put on our resume, to get the perfect job.
Starting .... it's a new thing. Discovering what you want to do is a starting point. Letting go of the fear that I don't have to know what I'm going to do is a starting point. Waking up believing that you are capable is a starting point.
"Is this fear here to destroy me or to tell me to do something about it?"
- Immaculee Ilibagiza
So what are you going to do?
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