My Blog

End of the Year Wrap Up

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:14:56 -0800

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, visitors and readers of my blog!

Turns out, Apple will be eliminating my ability to publish this website come June of 2012. This news got me thinking about the things I’ve recorded in the past year on this website; all the things I’ve learned and all of the things I’ve experienced. I’ve traveled, I’ve worked, I’ve started things, I’ve let things die, I’ve fallen in love with ideas and causes, I’ve participated in new ones. It’s been a year of ups and downs, but at the end of the day, full of learned lessons and serious self-examination.

I’m grateful for all of the organizations I’ve interacted with this year. The Hollywood Farmers Market, Channel101, OneWorld Now!, Synergies in Sync, St. Francis Center, Union Rescue Mission, Downtown Women’s Center, ProWorld Belize, Ya’axché Conservation Trust, and Amble Resorts. You have all inspired me to aspire to greater ideals and have taught me some very valuable life lessons. Here are some of them:

1. Be vulnerable.

Sometimes in my life, I’ve felt like it was a fault of mine to invest so much of myself in my friendships and acquaintances. I think the best way to connect to other people is to allow yourself to trust them and listen to them in return. That might mean the possibility for heartbreak and disappointment, but (there’s no way to really put this lightly) you’ll just have to get over it eventually. Human beings are resilient and the rewards for intimate relationships are greater than the sacrifice.

1. Persevere.

Don’t ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever Ever EVER give up on your dreams. I know you’re afraid. It’s scary. It would be so much easier to just get a job... maybe making coffee beverages at Starbucks. There’s nothing wrong with making coffee beverages at Starbucks. Some of my favorite people make coffee at Starbucks. But if you don’t love coffee, and you know you’re meant for other things, possibly greater things, don’t settle for Starbucks.

1. Say Yes.

The only time I’ve ever felt like I missed out on something great was when I said “No.” I’m not the kind of person that really likes saying “No” to many things. Most of my exciting life stories came out of saying “Yes” to crazy things. This quality has only benefited me this year. I’ve had so many adventures, experienced so many things, met so may amazing people. I’ll keep saying “Yes,” not because I think it will make me a ton of money, but it certainly can’t help, especially if I keep a positive attitude about my choices and opportunities. If anything, my life will be richer and the stories I’ll be able to tell my children will be ones I’ll be proud of telling.

If there’s anything I have to say to 2011, it would be this:

I gotta say, you’ve been a tough year, but the pros outweighed the cons. I’ve seen more of the world, and I’m surprisingly excited to see more of it (anxious, even). But honestly, I’ll be happily kissing you goodbye. It’s been real, 2011. Hello, 2012!

5 Ways to Avoid Start Up Anxiety

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:26:29 -0800

One week out from Christmas Eve, and I’ve hardly begun to do any kind of Christmas shopping or Christmas gift making. I’ve got personal taxes to think about, articles to write, books to buy for the next school year, volunteer projects to finish and on top of all of that, I have a dream that I will bring to life some way, somehow.

I’m a social entrepreneur, or an aspiring one at least, and by golly, this New Year’s Resolution of mine to launch my first real, well-planned enterprise absolutely needs to happen. But where to start? How to begin? What if I fail? What about all of the other stuff that I need to do? Shouldn’t I just wait until I graduate to start doing any of this entrepreneurial stuff?

If there’s one thing I’ve observed about the entrepreneurs I’ve met over the past year, it’s that they didn’t let any of those questions or all of that anxiety get to them. They just jumped in.

I have been going to a lot of events for entrepreneurs in the city in addition to finishing up a marketing class this past semester. There are so many people and programs to take advantage of that will help you to get to where you want to go. Here are the five things that I can share with you that made me feel a lot more confident about launching a start up in the new year.

1. Just Start

One of the biggest learned lessons I learned this year is this: If you want to start an enterprise, you don’t necessarily need to go through the expensive and time consuming process of incorporating your business; you can just start. You can be a sole proprietor. You don’t need to form an LLC. You don’t need to become a corporation. There are a million places for you to begin, experiment, play and develop your business model. This website provides an informative list of steps to take and things to know when becoming a sole proprietor. But. If you feel like you’re ready to incorporate, eMinutes is a great resource for small businesses. They offer consultation and support when you want to take your ideas to the next level. As of this writing, the founder of eMinutes, Jeff Unger, is searching for entrepreneurs who want launch their startups. He’s offering to incorporate their organizations for free, which means eMinutes will cover your filing fees and waive their fees. Even if you’re not sure if you’re ready, eMinutes is an incredibly helpful place to start. To take advantage of this incredible offer, click on this link. Then read the next tip and ask Jeff Unger about which one is best for you.

1. There Are A Variety of Legal Structures for Social Enterprises

In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, three different legal structures were listed and described the kinds of organizations that would benefit most from each one. When people hear that I want to work in social justice/social good/change the world sector, they automatically think of the world NonProfit. This is not necessarily a correct portrayal of what I want to do. As an entrepreneur or a self-starting business person, it’s important to understand that your legal structure does not determine whether or not you will be able to work in the social justice/social good/change the world sector. Perhaps forming a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization isn’t the best for you and your business model. Knowing your options will help you to make well-informed decisions about the direction of your organization and the strategies you want to use to accomplish your mission.

1. Technology + Human Capital = Unexpected Resources

The best entrepreneurs, in my opinion, are the ones who are innovative and resourceful. My favorite entrepreneurs perfect their products, make them more stylish, more efficient and more useful. They are either creating new technologies or using existing technologies in innovative ways. Technology enhances your ability to run an efficient business, and having the right people working with you will help you promote or build your dream. As competitive as we need to be as entrepreneurs, we’re still a community of individuals trying to solve real world problems. Whether we’re trying to make it easier for young middle class men to update their facebook status from the newest mobile devices or we’re trying to make it easier for women in the villages of developing countries to get fresh and clean water to their families, entrepreneurs are necessary for solving these problems sustainably. We need to consider our tribe of fellow innovators and thinkers as a resource. Combine our social network with the power and speed of technology, there is no reason we can’t be ridiculously successful. Companies like Cisco, Synergies in Sync and Salesforce offer services that bring these two resources together.

1. Spa-ffice

In Los Angeles, there are 24 hour spas, most of them located in Koreatown, that provide, in addition to hot pools, cucumber facials and saunas, wireless internet, a restaurant to nourish and hydrate, and lots of table space to work. It may seem counter-intuitive to create a mobile office in this environment, but it’s wonderful. My brain is just relaxed enough for the creation of perfect brainstorm conditions, and if I feel like I’m working too hard, I can take a break in a relaxing heated room of my choice. Currently, my favorite place to spa-ffice is Wi Spa. For $20, you can enjoy their hot pools and saunas, as well as visit the Jim Jil Bang, where you can relax on their heated floors after enjoying a rejuvenating mug of green tea, or open up your laptop and take advantage of the facility’s internet. What spa-fficing allows you to do is relax and breathe. When faced with any kind of stressful situation, as entrepreneurs are often apt to be, it’s important to find a way to calm those nerves. You can’t afford to stifle your creativity with nerves. Some people surf. Some people run. I spa.

1. Try Fast

At a recent IdeaMensch event, the founder, Mario, gave a presentation about how he brings ideas to life. The first thing he said was “Try Fast.” His list of ten things were equally intriguing, but I felt like this one resonated the most with me. A lot of what keeps me in a cycle of anxiety and fear is the time it takes during the time I conceive of this great idea, and the date of the launch. I’ll admit, this anxiety has convinced me that I’m absolutely going to fail, and I’ve abandoned projects simply because I was afraid of failure. Entrepreneurs have a million ideas, it’s just in our nature. If we push ourselves to bang out as many of them as we can, there is a chance that at least one of those ideas will actually succeed. There’s no promises in this world, but there are opportunities for you to, again, just start.

It’s a real scary thing to take a leap of faith. If you’re feeling that anxiety, don’t worry. You’re not alone. But I hope that you’ll find these tips helpful for curbing your worries and you’ll feel a lot more confident about leaping into the unknown and possibly changing the world with your idea. It all starts with the first step, after all.

Good Luck and Go Forth!

Featured on The Ambler!

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:24:05 -0800

My fourth semester at Pepperdine has ended, but life still goes on!

Since I’ve been back in Los Angeles, Belize has not left my mind for a minute. I’ve been writing for the website of Amble, a luxury travel company developing a new, eco-conscious resort on an island called the Long Caye in the north of Belize. It is just the kind of company I admire, and hope to one day work for on a more operational level. No complaints, however, about my current role. My creative spirit is completely fulfilled by my assignments as Amble’s newest travel blogger! View my article here:

My Weekend With A Rainforest Ranger on The Ambler

I’m very excited to be working with Amble. I hope I will have more opportunities to travel and write with them in the future!

On the Issue of the Grass Being Greener

Sat, 5 Nov 2011 22:29:46 -0700

I’ve learned in the last few days that it’s easier to get used to a new, smaller, slower place than it is to come back to a familiar, bigger, faster place. Everything I knew about my life here feels overwhelming. Being in a crowded room causes all of my fight or flight instincts to flare up and drive me to find soft, comfortable quiet corners to pause in and catch my breath. The thought of leaving my house is daunting, because I know how much energy would be drained out of my body simply to exist in the world. A very strange switch was flipped in my brain and I just feel... odd. I feel like I don’t have a comfort zone anymore.

I idolize and romanticize a lot of my months abroad, definitely. But I also think about the very real possibilities that exist for me there that don’t exist for me here in LA. The goal for the next few days is to catch up on everything I’m behind on and move forward on any and every possibility I have in front of me to see where it takes me. The fact that I have hope and confidence to pursue my wildest dreams means a lot. I have no boundaries and no limitations.

But trying to adjust to the every day. That’s a challenge. And I suppose the best I can do is take it step by step.

Click Your Heels Three Times

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 09:52:58 -0700

It’s 10am in Los Angeles. I’ve been back home a little over 24 hours and it’s still taking some getting used to. It’s the oddest feeling to be driving my own car. I love driving, I love the freedom and the speed. After a month of not moving faster than 50mph, and certainly never operating a vehicle, coasting along the 110 or the 5 freeways is a dizzying experience.

I have plenty of work to do and catch up on, but my apartment is incredibly distracting. I find myself flitting about with my things, picking them up, putting them back down, as if I’m making sure that they’re there, that they’re really real. Part of me feels comforted by all of it. By my pillows, my comforter, my pictures, my desk, everything that I own, that I’ve curated, that makes me who I am.

When I first got to Belize, I felt as though I was walking around in dream. This couldn’t really be real. These ants aren’t really biting me. This food can’t possibly be homemade, Miss Kim can’t possibly be taking me into her family like I was her own flesh and blood. This is too surreal.

Now, after a month, a mere month, so much happened and so many memories created. Clayton, a staff member from ProWorld, described it as being “embedded in the culture.” That phrase doesn’t quite do the experience justice. When you live in a place, you build relationships with the people and the environment. You create aspirations, you establish hopes and dreams. You discover the rhythm of the community and you find yourself stepping in time to that beat. Everything starts to flow. And then all of a sudden, you have to reset again.

The last year or so at Pepperdine has offered me a time to incubate and be intensely self-reflective. Only time will tell what all of this will mean. Eventually, I’ll have my “Aha! Moment,” and it will suddenly make sense. For now, I’ll just have to continue enjoying my memories, treasuring them and hoping that I really will be able to go back, and maybe fall in love all over again.