​The world today may look like a scary place. With everything happening around us, many people are trying to figure out their purpose in life. The lack of motivation and inspiration in the world is evident. People are not motivated to even do the simple things in life. To be productive is a huge struggle now, especially when we're trying to manifest our dreams. 
The pandemic has forced many of us to pivot our businesses and personal lives drastically. During the process, you may have lost your drive and determination to excel because of the uncertainties. 
However, it is necessary to change the narrative by digging deep to examine why you are here.  What is this moment trying to show you? When we are clear on our why, we can better manifest our purpose. 
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What is Purpose?
Plenty of people assume that they know what purpose is and, the more they research, they realize they do not understand it.
Purpose can be subjective. Some may define it as their pathway in life, the quality of work done, or an influence on behavior. Even though the definitions may vary, your purpose has to do with unleashing and utilizing your potential at its highest capacity.
Here are three ways in which you can manifest your purpose:

Exploring 
It is sometimes impossible to say you dislike something if you have never tried it. 
Therefore, finding out what your heart aligns with will help your purpose manifest. When things become increasingly simple and easy to perform, it becomes a part of your human nature. However, if you discover that you dislike it, then it may not be for you.

Envisioning your future
This way is simple but effective. Visualizing your future helps. It is a method used when setting goals for businesses and personal development. 
Do you want to be traveling the world? Want to live in Alaska next year? Want to open your first business three years from now? Jot it down, create a vision board. Your purpose aligns with your vision. 

Hang around go-getters
Being around people who understand what you're doing will help to guide your discovery. Their aim in life must be in sync with yours. It may not be the same method or road, but it should align with your end goal. 
The people you surround yourself with have a lot to do with your future. Therefore, if they're negative, you're likely to be a negative person, and if they're positive, you're likely to be a positive person. Be intentional about your circle of influence.
It helps you to manifest not only positivity but your purpose.

Next Steps

Are you ready to Direct and Manifest Your Purpose?
Finding your purpose is a journey and not something you can do overnight. 
It's not easy, but it's worth it. As a Purpose Coach, I help you connect to your “why” at the heart of your goals so you can move forward with confidence, passion, and drive. 
Work through your various areas of resistance to help you bypass those roadblocks where you feel stuck and actualize your biggest goals.

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Know someone who could use this advice? Forward it on to them.

Direct Your Purpose is a framework for helping individuals and organizations make bold moves by, developing a plan to connect to their purpose, clarifying their vision, and turning it into action. 
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Looking to get started, contact me.  Don't forget to sign-up for my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Perhaps one of the most difficult lessons we learn in Directing our Purpose is learning to trust ourselves and learning to trust the process. At some point we lean so far into our goals and desires that all there is left to do is to let go.
We can no more control the outcome than we can make time stand still or go backwards. But trusting ourselves is difficult, mainly because it consist of trusting the same "you" that has made mistakes; or perhaps even failed at something. Perhaps, multiple somethings.
So what's left to trust. How can you leave your fate to this flawed being known as... yourself.

Trusting ourselves first starts with compassion. Understanding that "failures" and flaws are inevitable in this process. It is the only way we learn. To live a failure free life with 0 flaws often means not trying at all. Your mistakes or your shortfalls are often because you dared to try and that's worth acknowledging, Gather what you learn from the experience and move forward. One day your missteps will serve as an inspiration, to you or someone else.

Trusting yourself is also having faith in your intentions, As you steer towards your goals, know that there is the possibility to be blown off course; to incur mishaps, that cause you to retool, rethink,and  re-strategize. This doesn't always mean that your cause or your goal was unworthy. The person you were when you made that goal believed truly and honestly in their pursuit. They (you) were directing their purpose. Bumps and bruises along the way only speak to the journey and your tenacity, not the worthiness of your goal.

And lastly, trusting yourself is about letting go. Once you understand that failure is a part of the process and your connected to your "why", it's time to move forward, detached from the perception that everything must go perfectly or happen precisely in a certain way.
Do everything that you can. Develop your vision. Do your research and by all means execute on your ideas, and then see what happens. Life can and will surprise you.
I've often found that when I was leaning into my efforts; when I was trusting myself and the process, things often turned out better than what I could have imagined; precisely because I was willing to let go of the expectation that things turn out exactly as I had anticipated.

It's not always easy. Doubt can creep in like an incessant vapor, threatening to choke out creativity and stall action. Moving forward feels tough. Progress seems slow (or non-existent) and frustration is rampant.
You can take one more step.
You can try one more thing.
Take a deep breath. Ask for the help you need. Consult a resource you hadn't considered. Go back to the beginning and review the core of your goals. Perhaps there's another way. It's ok to feel overwhelmed or out of your element. The growth process is often that way. You've made it this far.
Trust yourself.

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Know someone who could use this advice? Forward it on to them.

Do you want to know how you or your team could be Directing Your Purpose, contact me.  Don't forget to sign-up for my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook Twitter and Instagram.

This Summer I got the opportunity to spend 6 1/2 weeks in Ghana. While this was not my first time in Ghana, it was the longest I had ever been out of the country.
I spent my first 2 weeks helping to coordinate an orientation for a group of Mount Holyoke College students and then doing site visits in various parts of the country. For the month of July I was on my own and able to move about as I would like.

During the first week of July I traveled down to Johannesburg, South Africa for the first time. This was significant for me because I had been wanting to go for a long time but somehow talked myself out of it a number of times. Finally getting there, visiting Soweto and the apartheid museum was AMAZING.

Going after these experiences made me stand a little taller. Looking back it's still hard to believe I was able to do it all in one summer. By the time my trip was nearing the end, I was ready to come home,  and see just how unstoppable I could continue to be.

But at first, it was hard.

I came home and snapped into execution mode. I had to prepare myself for being back home. The first few days were difficult but doable. I had a move that needed to be executed upon arrival and I needed to get ready to head back to my job at the college.

Despite my optimism. I lost a little steam. I was starting to feel a little drained and somewhat overwhelmed. After a few days I also felt emotionally drained. (Yes I know this was part of resettling and reentry.) But I felt I was dragging myself along.

But I started to remember my lessons from Ghana.

My time in Ghana had allowed me to Trust my Own Process.
It had been awhile since I had the freedom to decide, from week to week, how I would spend my days outside of work. I stopped looking at my decisions as rights ones and wrong ones, only as ending up exactly where I needed to be; even if I wasn't certain of the reason at the time. I needed to have faith in the person I was when I made the decision....which essentially was still me.

I also had to remember to Own my Power.  My experience was one I had manifested. Traveling for that long (6 weeks in Ghana, with a trip to South Africa) had seemed impossible at one point. Nine years ago I would have never event dreamed it was possible, yet I was literally living that reality. My vision, my intentions, and my sacrifices that had led me to that point and brought my experience into being. I was capable of that, which means I was also capable of so much more.

Lastly I remembered how much I valued the Power of  Human Connection (even as an introvert). I spent my last 2 weeks in Ghana living in a hostel. (One I had frequented on and off during my stay.) And spent lots of time getting to know folks around town.
In Johannesburg I hung out at a hostel that also served as a bar and meeting spot for both foreigners and locals. I was constantly meeting people from all over world and friendships were sooooo easy. I'm talking 5yr-olds-meeting-in-a-sandbox easy. All pretenses dropped. Like we forgot we were supposed to be playing it cool, and instead of it being awkward, it was easy. Knowing that our interactions would be short lived, we often enthusiastically engaged in each other's presence, gleaning all we could learn about the other person. These friendships kept me buoyant and present.

Coming back home, I find I've been just a little more present in my interactions and being more intentional about the time I spend with others. 

This week I want to you to step boldly in your own journey. Trust the process and trust yourself. It doesn't matter how things have gone before or that you fear you'll make a mistake, move forward anyway. You grow or you will learn. But you will be exactly where you should.

Remember you have the power to manifest your goals. It is all within you. Believing in your goals alone does not make it happen, however, it's damn near impossible  to achieve them, without first believing it's possible. Soooo better to get to the believing part; and be sure to do so wholeheartedly.

Lastly, let your community support you. If you don't have a community, find one or let yourself be that part of a community for someone else. These experiences have a way of filling us up more than we realize (yes, even for us introverts.) 

Have you taken a trip that's impacted your leadership journey? I'd love to hear about it!

Do you want to know how you or your team could be Directing Your Purpose, contact me.  Don't forget to sign-up for my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook Twitter and Instagram..

I've always been an incessant list maker. If I found myself in a problem or situation I would start making lists of all the things I needed to do to try and make another path.

These lists were a part of my planning process and almost always made me feel better instantly. All was not lost...I had a plan.

These days I tend to be a vision and execution kind of person. I see my goal and I want run with it. But I've also matured in my thinking and processing. I understand there are moments when I need to step back before diving in and evaluate before before moving forward. In the planning phase we look at the context of our goals. We break down the overall intention to its basic fundamental levels, in order to see what's really involved in working towards success.

So, like many folks I've been trying to improve my health by improving what I put into my body.  I decided to observe when and how my lack of follow through showed up in my commitment.

I observed that I'd be doing really well, but in the moment I would make split second decisions that would go against my intentions.

I had no plan. I had a desire to eat well. I could execute on my workouts and I had an intention to do better. I even started focusing on my vision for better health and what that would mean more for me over all.

Yet when it came down it, I'd absently minded go towards the first thing available or whatever was offered. I had no solid plan for my resistance or pre-planned substitutions.

Planning allows you to see actual obstacles versus perceived obstacles. You learn to identify your strengths, and anticipate where you might require extra support for your goals. You also build strategies for success into your process.

Good planning: Incorporates observation and research (What needs to happen based on what I know/learned?), Uses timelines and benchmarks (What will be accomplished and when?), and puts high priority items first for greater impact & effectiveness (Which tasks will maximize my success?)

So whether you are starting or resuming school, moving forward on a project or idea, motivating your team, or starting a movement, your plan is your roadmap to succeeding in your goals.

So What's Your Plan for Success ?
Leave your comments below. You can also head over to my Facebook page and leave your comments there.

Know someone who could use this advice? Forward it on to them.

Do you want to know how you or your team could be Directing Your Purpose, contact me.  Don't forget to sign-up for my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook Twitter and Instagram..

Connecting to your Purpose is the first Step in the Direct Your Purpose Process.

Your Purpose is your reason, cause, or motivation for the the things that are important to you. Before you begin your goal, you must first identify why your goal matters to you. This will have a lot to do with your existing values and mindset around connecting the highest expression of yourself. Your purpose acts as your compass point towards your goals. It is your reminder in the chaos of transformation and your beacon in the storm of change. It is strong enough to withstand your doubts and inspiring enough to light the flame of your conviction over and over again.

So how do you get there?

First, you must understand that your Purpose is likely something you already possess. It is within you, and it's likely been pushing and motivating you this whole time. It's at work in the places where you are truly passionate about your life. You can have multiple purposes. Your purpose can be large and enduring like your life's work, a cause, or a movement. But your purpose can also be more temporal like completing a significant project or finishing a graduate program.  Both are valid.

Here are some tips to help you connect to your Purpose?

Identify when you are at your best
I've had the pleasure of volunteering at a 5-Day event for for my Startingbloc Community, an organization that's very near and dear to my heart. On opening day, even though I was there to serve and perform mundane tasks, I could feel myself beaming from the inside out. (If you saw me that day, you likely got the biggest, grandest hug I could give.)
Creating community is part of my purpose. Being in service of a mission larger than myself is also part of my purpose. I know that when I am doing those things in any capacity, my entire being lights up. Knowing this about myself has allowed me to be clear about what motivates me and how I see my values in other areas in my life.

Identify what your goals will mean to you or someone you love
To someone who once believed that their dreams or their goals were impossible, getting to the other side of that obstacle, can feel like the kind of accomplishment, that goes way beyond the goal itself. The significance of achieving a goal of this magnitude, can be an affirmation of one's determination, sacrifice, and resilience. It can also mean an affirmation of self, and the kind of internal validation that is only possible on the other side of what once seemed insurmountable.
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What will NOT achieving this goal feel like?
When we know we are capable of going beyond our present capacity, the price of staying stagnant, not trying, or not giving it your best effort, can seem high...too high.  To live your whole life with the knowing that you had the ability and the skill to launch that project, write that book, or pursue that dream but you never did, can feel like a burden unto itself. That's because even when we are not living our purpose, its presence or lack of presence is felt. Connect to what that feels like for you.

How does this goal or idea represent your identity?
Who do you want to become?
There is a prescribed identity that we live in every day that has been developed over time through our experiences. And then there is our aspirational identity.  Have you ever caught yourself saying, "I want to be the kind of person who ________." ? Do a journal exercise where you allow yourself to answer that statement. Pay attention to the attributes and values of this aspirational identity.  What might you learn from them that will give you clues about your purpose.

So how do you plan to Connect to Your Purpose?
Leave your comments below. You can also head over to my Facebook page and leave your comments there.

Know someone who could use this advice? Forward it on to them.

Do you want to know how you or your team could be Directing Your Purpose, contact me.  Don't forget to sign-up for my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook Twitter and Instagram..

[I used to write content primarily aimed at students. While I don't write that kind of content anymore, there are a few gems still left here on my blog page that still ring true today. - (6/12/22)]

If you're a student right now, you've likely been through a slew of orientation events, welcome to campus rituals, and speaker after speaker aimed at ensuring your success.
Your inbox is overflowing with reminders and there are at least 10 events in the upcoming week that have been recommended to you as absolutely essential. Meanwhile, you're just hoping to make it through the semester intact and potentially still figuring out the details on your schedule, course load, and book purchases.

How do you plan to get the most out of your semester?

Here are 5 tips to make sure feel prepared to rock your GPA, connect to your campus, and build your arsenal of support.

1. Identify your Support System a.k.a your Board of Advisors
This is about being proactive.
Maybe you're not the type who's ever needed support (or perhaps this is just the view you hold of yourself). In any case getting familiar with the services available on your campus BEFORE you need them can make all the difference in your mid-semester world,  when you find out you actually might need support.
Connect with at least one person in that office or department. Get familiar with your advisor, class dean, and or counseling services rep.  These folks are already invested in your success. Even if you don't use them, just knowing who and what's available can help immensely later on.

2. Find Your Community
 I am a firm believer in the power of community. This is a group of friends, a student organization, or religious affiliation,  in alignment with your values or goals. This should be a community that affirms you and allows you to affirm them; and a place where you can find compassion and consideration. When looking for community look for places where you can give a much as you receive. 

3. Find your outlet
At least 2-3 times a month you can find me dancing and sweating my heart out. It's both my therapy and my expression. I also go to the gym about 3-5x a week (this has literally saved me from social media battles with near strangers). Whatever it is, art, exercise, service, volunteering, etc, make a plan now, on how and when you will incorporate at least one thing into your schedule to help you de-stress.

4. Affirm Your Sense of Purpose
At times this will feel really hard. As a first-gen student, I questioned my journey ALOT. I wondered if I would make it through and if the sacrifices I was making in the end would be worth it. Some days I felt on top of the world and many days I STRUGGLED.
Stay connected to yourself. Remind yourself why you started this journey and above all else, remind yourself of your values and your highest purpose. Write it down. Make it visible. It will be the light in dark places. 

5. Envision and Articulate your Perfect Semester.
Write this down!
Take a sheet of paper and write out your version of a perfect semester.  Make it a free-write. Describe everything in detail. Your perfect classes. Your perfect experiences. Complete sentences like: "This semester is perfect because...".
This is not a lesson in disappointment or a guarantee that things will go perfect. Even your sense of perfection will shift as the year progresses forward. The point is to build clarity around your objectives and connect with what's important for you in cultivating your experience.

Bonus: Develop an Execution Strategy
I'll go deeper into detail in my next post about this, but essentially, you will need to develop a strategy to anchor your aspirations into action. Figure out how you will build accountability into each of your goals. This can be study groups, tutoring appointments, or weekly check-ins with a mentor or advisor. Pay attention to when you tend to stumble on your goals and use that feedback to seek out appropriate support.  

So how do you plan to get the most out of your semester?
Leave your comments below. You can also head over to my Facebook page and leave your comments there.

Know someone who could use this advice? Forward it on to them.

Do you want to know how you or your team could be Directing Your Purpose, contact me.  Don't forget to sign-up for my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook Twitter and Instagram..

Whenever I meet with a student or working with someone on a plan or idea, I ask this question:
"If everything were to go perfectly with this situation, what does that look like? Give me details."

This is one of the first exercises in  my DYP framework. This question is second only to the question of one's purpose or value behind their journey but is just as important for a couple reasons.

Firstly, it's an exercise in limitless thinking. We don't often allow ourselves the luxury or the imagination of picturing our success, unfettered by our own doubts or perceived obstacles. We play it safe, consciously and subconsciously. We know we want to succeed at our goals but we'd rather envision the more "realistic" version of that success from our current vantage point. We don't want to think of the outcomes of plans we can't even begin to fathom. 

Secondly, this question provides clarity. If you haven't taken the time to envision the perfect outcome for your venture, goal, or idea, how will you effectively identify resources that can get you there? Worse yet, how will you even define where "there" actually is?  If your vision of success is the destination point, but you haven't clearly defined what that looks like, progress will be difficult to determine, opportunities for advancement will be missed, and potential distractions may go unchecked.

By giving yourself the opportunity to envision your success perfectly and in great detail, you allow yourself to see your proximity from where you are, to where you are actually trying to go. From this vantage point you can start to develop a plan and a strategy to get you from where you are to where you would like to be. 

Of course things happen. Life almost always has its own version of plans compared to our visions. But that's ok too. Having a vision of your success is not an insurance policy for your perfect vision, but it can be your best bet to land closer to your most perfect version of your success than vaguely among your uncertainty.

So if everything were to go perfectly for you,  what's your Vision of Success?

Leave your comments below .You can also head over to my Facebook page.

Know someone who could use this advice? Forward it on to them.

Do you want to know how you or your team could be Directing Your Purpose, contact me.  Don't forget to sign-up for my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook Twitter and Instagram.

I am a self-professed self-help junkie. I'm cool with that.
If I'm going to be obsessed with something, I'm okay with it being about growth and development.  So, naturally I am also a self-help book junkie as well. Thankfully my LFW Co-Director shares my passion (and my audible library).

When I thought about some of my favorite personal development books that really contributed to helping me Direct My Purpose, I thought of these 5 books. Well, actually there were a few others but top 5 seemed like a good place to start.
In order to make this list each book had to do the following. 1) Completely shift or impact my world view, 2) Give me a deeper degree of understanding of self-development 3) Provide a new framework or perspective for how I thought about the world and myself.  4) Inspire Action


The Now Habit by Neil Fiore
I still consider this book the Holy Grail on procrastination.
How it provided a new framework for understanding:
This book breaks down the science of why we procrastinate in the most comprehensive form I've ever come across. Did you know that most procrastinators aren't lazy, they (we) are actually perfectionists? Did you know that procrastination is our attempt at trying to soothe our sense of worth from perceived threats?
While I wouldn't consider myself cured, understanding how and why we do anything is key in beginning to change behavior.

The Quarter-Life Breakthrough by Adam Smiley Poswolsky
In a previous post I mentioned how this book was my cure for FOMO.
It's also been a go-to in my tribe for re-thinking how we follow our calling to build a life and find meaningful work (sometimes off-the beaten path).
How it shifted my perspective:
STOP LOOKING AT EVERYONE'S HIGHLIGHT REEL!
You know this, we've all heard this, but social media can get you really caught up in everyone else's success and feeling crappy about your own. Not only is "comparison the the thief of joy", it's a really twisted version of the full story. Finding meaningful work isn't about comparing Instagram pages. The real grit and grime of the next person's hustle is not always on display. Banging out a blog post or working on a presentation while your laundry is OVERDUE and your room looks like a crime scene doesn't make it it to the filtered glamour of social media. Your journey, is YOUR journey. It's long, hard, frustrating, but carries its own overjoyed-beyond-belief glory. Be willing. Be grateful. Stay Committed.

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Currently reading this one again. And yes, there are soooooooo many books out there on leadership but, Sinek's book resonates with me because of its philosophy on leadership and service.
How is gave me a deeper understanding:
Sinek's description of true Leaders:
"They [Leaders] uphold their side of the social contract. They were willing to make sacrifices for the good of those who chose to follow them. They considered the well-being of others before themselves and sometimes suffered as a result."
Sinek's description of service-leadership describes how true leadership comes with a sense of responsibility to those we serve. He describes empathy as the greatest tool a leader can have and that "those who work the hardest to make others succeed, will be seen by the group as the Leader."

The Power of Purpose by Les Brown
Technically this is an audiobook but it still counts. Before there were all of those motivational Youtube videos, there was Les Brown. If you were to get up everyday for 30days and listen to this book, you wouldn't need coffee, you'd see purpose in every detail of your life, and you just might be come one of the most motivated individuals in your circle.
How this book Inspires Action
Your leadership journey is often long and hard. The toughest battle you will face, will not be the subject matter at hand but your ability and your will to persevere through it. That kind of emotional stamina is not always easy. Brown's book inspires you to remember your purpose and to feel inspired to keep moving towards it.

UnFu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop
If the Power of Purpose is coffee then UnFu*k Yourself is straight shots of espresso. Picture the author grabbing you by the shoulders and giving you a firm shake, telling you to "Snap out of it!". I've read this book so many times, there are certain chapters I could quote. Tell me a problem, I could probably refer you to a chapter that would help.
How it provided a new framework or perspective
Bishop really gets into  the impact our subconscious thinking. How it works for us and against us. But his cure to negative subconscious thinking isn't, "think happy thoughts", it's up close and personal, self-awareness training designed to get you out of your habit loops and in living a more conscious (excuse-free) life.

You are a Badass & You are a Badass at Making Money
by Jen Sincero
(Because I tried to stop at 5 and failed)
If you want a lesson in living your biggest, baddest, boldest self, read these two...then read them again, then read them again.
How these books shifted my perspective and inspired action:
Sincero offers a beautifully snarky but authentic view of what it truly means to get out of your own way and live in your purpose even if you are holding yourself back from playing big. Acknowledging your badassery is the first step, learning how to dream big and bring all that you desire into your life, that's next level.

What are some of YOUR favorite self-directed leadership books?
Leave your comments below .You can also head over to our Facebook page.
Know someone who could use this advice? Forward it on to them.

Do you want to know how you or your team could be Directing Your Purpose, contact me.  Don't forget to sign-up for my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook Twitter and Instagram.

[I used to write content primarily aimed at students. While I don't write that kind of content anymore, there are a few gems still left here on my blog page that still ring true today. - (6/12/22)]

​Summer may seem like a long way off from now...but it's not.
You will blink and it will be Spring. You will blink again and it will be summer. So how will you make sure you're among the haves and not the have-nots when it comes to landing a summer internship or learning experience worthy of your learning goals and all the awesomeness you have to offer?

Along with all the must-dos like having your resume reviewed (getting a resume, if you are without), networking, and completing as many applications and inquiries as humanly possible between now and Spring, here are a few tips to consider in making sure you're on target to secure an internship by summer.

1) Get Clear
Get clear about what you want to learn this simmer and how this experience will line up with other academic and professional goals. You can make a bullet list or right own a narrative. Find examples of the kind of company or organization you might like to intern for. It doesn't need to be a specific company organization, just an example to help you get clear. Even if you're unsure of what you would like to do, start out with what the perfect kind of learning experience would look like to you.

2) Tell EVERYONE
Imagine you are walking around will a big button on your chest; written on the button is this: "Ask me about my Internship Search". This is the visual I want you to have everywhere you go over the next few months. (If you want to make an actual button...even better) While intentional networking is always helpful, you never know what connections your unintentional networking may uncover.  Your roommate's cousin might be in the industry you're targeting. The server at your favorite eatery might also freelance at the company or organization you've been eyeing for weeks.  Remember to be open.

3) Understand What you Bring to the Table
Internships should be reciprocal.
Yes, your list of past accomplishments will be neatly listed and ordered on your resume, but take some time to figure out the value you will bring to any company or organization, should they hire you. What unique talents and gifts will you bring?

4) Conduct Informational Interviews
I can not say enough about the multi-purpose awesomeness of informational interviews. These are one-on-one information gathering sessions, usually conducted with members of a targeted industry, organization, or company. They can be as short as 30min but usually not much longer than an hour.  In an informational interview, the interviewer will ask the interviewee questions like: What kind of skills does your company looks for in their interns? What's a typical day in the field? What was your career path into your current position? What advice do you have for me?  Is there anyone else  would recommend I talk to?
The interviewer should NOT ask the interviewee for a job, internship, or reference.
Informational interviews are great because they provide industry insights, career advice, and  networking all in one.

It's time to get out there. Take small steps everyday towards your goal. Remember not to get discouraged by any initial rejection. Learn from it and move on. You got this.

Additional resources:

• How to Land a Killer Internship
• How to get a Great Internship
• 7 Tips to Help Land that Internship

Do you have any tips that helped you land an internship? Comment below or head over to my Facebook page.

Know someone who could use this advice? Forward it on to them.

Do you want to know how you or your team could be Directing Your Purpose, contact me.  Don't forget to sign-up for my mailing list. You can also follow me on Facebook Twitter and Instagram.

I lost most of my social media FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)  after reading Adam Poswolsky's The Quarter-Life Breakthrough. Poswolsky (or Smiley, as he goes by) points out that much of the things we see in the front of the house of someone's success rarely accounts all of the work it took for them to get there; no matter how instant it may look.
While you're plugging away at your school work, project, or business idea it looks like everyone around you is already achieving, already enjoying, all ready winning. And you...well you've got barely any support for your idea, your grades aren't exactly killing it, oh and your broke. This stuff is hard.

On a good day we get it.
Success isn't overnight. Slow and steady wins the race, etc, etc. But this sentiment alone will not always keep you from doubting your path or wondering what's wrong with you, or why your mom is the only one sharing your content. Again...this stuff is hard.
I guarantee you, with few exceptions, all of the folks that you're gawking over on social media passed through this trial; wondering if their idea would work or if they were pursuing the right goal in the first place. They too knew the frustration and tears that come with feeling like you've hit a dead end or that failure is impending and public embarrassment is certain.

Recently I changed jobs. 

While still in academia I've entered the field of international education to hone my skills in this area, while supporting students in their choice to study abroad, and grow my knowledge base for my Leaders of the Free World project.

Most days are exciting. I feel I'm connecting to my purpose, pursuing my dreams, and making things happen. I feel all love and support from the folks who continue to invest in my project and invest in me. But some days I get bummed. I feel discouraged about not hitting specific targets. I worry about our reach or engagement levels. I stress about our limited capacity. I...have...doubts.

This is difficult to admit, because we want people to assume this stuff comes easy to us; that every day we're winning, and we're just one viral video, one endorsement, one major break away from the thing that's going to make it all ok and solve our problems.
That's not how any of this works.

I lost my social media FOMO when I understood the same things you're currently experiencing:
THIS STUFF IS HARD. And it's only in actually doing the work (and continuing to do the work) that you experience and understand this for yourself. I know folks who've made huge sacrifices to pursue their dreams; dealing with uncertainty that would keep most of us lying awake at night in a cold sweat. I've seen them push themselves to the absolute limit or leave no other option but success in order to realize their dreams.  And while I'm not glorifying, workaholism, I am acknowledging the hustle, fortitude, and drive that goes in to their journey. 
Like a bodybuilder in the gym, each small win comes from a willingness to endure the discomfort again and again; grow a little more, and endure even more because they are committed to the results.
Are you?
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