Connecting the dots to life

In life we are told that secure paths are set by doing a set of things, go to college is number one on the list, learn a trade the second, take as many government exams to get a secure job or work for a company and hope to rise in the ladder of success. I was both amused and inspired when I listened to the speech titled “How to live before you die” by Steve Jobs. He starts the speech by saying when I was younger I dropped out of college; which he makes at a college graduation. He explains how dropping out of college was the best thing he could have ever done because he was no longer forced to do curriculum courses and could instead take course of his crossing and interest. He explains that if he stayed on the path that was dictated to him of going to college, there would be no Apple Company and we would not have the MAC. The basis of his story is that life is short so don’t waste time being normal or fit in, don’t be afraid to step outside the box, don’t be afraid to set the trends…don’t be afraid to create greatness. He explains that you can’t connect the dots looking forward you can only connect looking back; you have to trust in something that the dots will connect in the future. You have to believe because that and that alone will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well worn path and that will make all the deference. 

All to many times someone gives up a dream of being a singer to be a nurse or lawyer, gives up the dream of being a producer to work a secure labor job or they never even dare to dream and just follow the path chosen for them. I was that path, I received a Master’s in Public Administration, was set to get into one of the government agency had it all set out and planned. I was a “model citizen”, but my heart was not please I yearned for something more something…different. I listened to my heart turned down a job most would kill for and start my music company Brook Brovaz. I look back at the end of each year and connect the dots, apply myself to my passions, structure a plan, hope and believe for execution so at the end of the next year I can connect more dots. Jobs not only touched my heart he enforced my passions to not just be dreams but instead a way of life. I do not want to waste time; I do not want to settle in to the average. Find what you love and master it, it will not be easy you will be reject people will tell you no but once you believe you will always be triumphant. He teaches us never to settle and when you find that niche you will know your heart will tell you. I want to live before I die… really live…thanks to Steve Jobs I have a new outlook on what it really means to live.