Through the years I’ve worked with a lot of youth. I love how vibrant and energetic they are. I enjoy their company because they remind me of when I was younger, full of energy, and able to run a few miles without feeling like my lungs were going to explode. I’m not a decrepit old geezer, but I still feel way too old for my age.

It’s interesting that adults expect teens in high school and even college students to know what they want to do with the rest of their life. It’s actually rather absurd, really. The world is full of opportunity and after living 19 to 23 years of life with very little “real world” experience, how on earth are they supposed to know what to do with themselves in the career-driven and working world?

Do you remember hearing the words, “When you grow up you can be whatever you want to be”? It’s frequently used by adults attempting to placate a curious and day-dreaming child, but once they get older it loses its savor.

As adults we often limit our children’s choices as they age. We drag them into a reality that we create for them-saying they can and cannot do something because of their talents. We imagine their limits whether they’re true or not, and we put these imaginary limits on younger generations because we’re afraid of failure and the unknown.

» Finish reading Believe in the Power of Your Child’s Dreams at ChrisMower.com. »

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Post tags: Decisions, Fear, Relationships, Thoughts

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Tomorrow marks the first day of fall; summer is ending, the leaves are changing color, and playtime is over. Well, really hard playtime is over anyway. For me summer means traveling nearly every weekend, bratwursts, steaks, shorts, watermelon, gaining weight, buying new pants that fit, swimming, more swimming, and lots of unbearable heat.

I grew up in Star Valley, Wyoming—an area of the world where the four seasons are very distinct—and it was the fall that marked a new year: school starts, the harvests end, the holidays begin, and playtime comes screeching to a halt. For me, fall marks a new era where I rededicate myself to my work and goals. I start losing those extra pounds, I eat healthier, and I travel less frequently.

As summer draws to a close, I thought it fitting to relate a few lessons I’ve learned over the past few months.

» Finish reading Summer Lessons in the Fall at ChrisMower.com. »

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Post tags: Lessons, Simplicity, Thoughts

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When I was a kid, my siblings and I would frequently ride our bikes to the local store to buy penny candy (hooray for penny candy!). The store wasn’t too far from us, maybe an 8-minute ride one way. We’d hop on our bikes and tear down the country streets. We lived in a small town, and I loved it.

On a rather sunny afternoon the moisture hung in the air, signaling that a storm was on its way. My siblings and I rode to the store anyway, thinking we’d have plenty of time. As we purchased our penny candy, the rain drops began to fall, lightly at first. A few waves of thunder sounded over the falling rain, and we decided to ride home before the real downpour struck.

As we pedaled like mad toward the second street corner–and the last home-stretch before arriving safely home–the rain poured down endlessly, splatting on the pavement, kicking up more water. As we pedaled like maniacs, our bike tires spit streams of water behind us and onto our backs. Our bags full of penny candy were drenched.

Just moments before reaching the second street corner, we were met with a giant “kablam!” as lightning struck a nearby tree, blowing bark off the tree’s trunk and nearly knocking us off our bikes.

At nearly the same time, my parents pulled up in the pickup truck, literally threw our bikes in the back and us in the cab. We all shook and looked at each other with wide eyes, knowing that we were feet from being struck with lightning.

It was a scene fit for the movies (or at least YouTube), and a storm we will all remember.

The storm that sizzles and jumps around in your head while brainstorming isn’t much different than those few insane moments of ours playing “dodge the lightening.”

Let’s look at a few similarities.

» Finish reading How to Brainstorm for Success: Part 1 – An Introduction to Brainstorming at ChrisMower.com. »

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Post tags: Brainstorm, Creativity, How To, Thoughts

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What’s my motivation?

Is it money — ?

– so I can buy that big house… and that super cool sports car… and then wine and dine with the rich and famous?
– so I can give to charity and help others… and support my family and help other families… and provide opportunities and support for children all over the world… and provide scholarships and education to people who can’t afford it?

Is it love — ?

– so everyone will love and worship me… and I will be famous with adoring fans… and then I can talk about how great I am to others?
– so others can be loved… find love… and know love?

Is it success — ?

– so I can hang my accomplishments on the wall… and have my name and picture on TIME magazine… and be in the history books?
– so I can teach other people… and lift them up… and strengthen my community, my country, my world?

It’s not wrong to want nice things. And it’s not wrong to own or pursue nice things.
But It’s not right to have the power to help and deny it.
…And it’s not right to sit idly and do nothing.
…And pride. Unbridled pride is damaging and wrong.

And in the end, there’s always a greater cause than ‘me.’ It’s what I can do to help others.

So how can I learn to be motivated not by love, money, or success, but what I can create with them?

And now I’m clicking the button to post this… even though my brain is telling me not to… 3… 2… 1…

Related posts:

1. Business IS Personal
2. Entrepreneur Interview: Abe Niederhauser, Founder of Ads4Africa.org

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Post tags: Philanthropy, Self Improvement, Thoughts

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