Just Make It Better

It seems like there are three kinds of people in this world today:

1. Those that follow the crowd and conform to societal norms.
2. Those that dismiss societal and mass appeal without investigating first and forming their individual opinions.
3. Those that observe, think critically, educate themselves about various sides of the issues, and then decide.

Even though the human population is naturally inclined to follow the inertia of their surroundings, there can always be more individuality. All it really takes is knowledge (which can always be taught or found) and the removal of disillusioned, egotistical, omniscient attitudes.

Last night I watched the last twenty minutes of Dirty Dancing. I’d catch glimpses of it on TNT as I channel surfed, but I hadn’t seen in it years. I practically was raised on that movie, with a multitued of viewers mandated by my older sister. I had always enjoyed it but that night I saw something more.

As Patrick Swayze pulled Jennifer Grey on stage and he gave a speech about the power of standing for what you believe in, he stood not only for himself but for what he had become because of her.

A long time ago I came to accept that I am idealist. I believe in the way the world could be rather then then what it is. I often look at situations and find that when there’s something unfitting about it, there’s almost always a better way for me to manage it. There doesn’t seem too much in the world that can’t be changed; whether through the work of many, the unadulterated passion of a few, or the intention of one.

Idealism isn’t a weakness. Remember, what is greatest in history are those that changed it.

My boss is 60 and drives me crazy. My last boss was 54 and equally as annoying.

Surely it’s all about me and my bad attitude?Recently a consultant (FYI: age, 47) was hired to evaluate my firm and surprisingly validated the problems I had with my antiquated and disrespectful management. It was liberating to have an outside professional spout the same criticism I have because at this point I am bitter and have lost my initiative.

These validations got me to thinking: what’s the right way to fix this gen. Y/baby boomer hate?

The first step is admitting there’s a problem.

I’ve never really been too much of envious person; usually holding tight to the idea that “their success is not my failure”. Recently though, as I struggle to find my place in this writing/blogging world, I find that I am often detered by what others have accomplished. Inspiration and determination has not been springing within me as I am often deflated by the rising success of others.

The green dragon really likes to unexpectedly bite you in the ass, doesn’t it?

In not wanting to be an envious and hateful cod, I’ve forwarded my thinking to understanding why.

Guy Kawasaki posts a video about people that are doing just that.

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I’ve had the fortunate, at times challenging, pleasure of living with men for the majority of my young adult life. During the first few years of college, I shared a dorm hall with boys yet to be men, one in particular who befriended my roommate and me so well that most nights he was platonically sleeping in our room. (Now, they have their own bed to share.) Since then I’ve shared living space (on and off) with either boyfriends or male friends. Here are a few things I’ve learned from closely observing the other half.

“If a couple really wants to test their love they should try sharing a five hundred square foot apartment.” - Me

My boyfriend (let’s call him J from now on, as boyfriend is getting old) and I met while living on the same block. I used to live about three houses down from him and now we share his apartment as our own. Living so close was probably one of the best arrangements a couple could dream of. It was a new dating experience, being so unbelievably available to one another, but still appropriately separate. Now living together, the individual mysteries are fading with each day and even though we are closer then ever I sometimes long for the solitude and selfishness my own apartment once gave me the freedom to indulge (but never really knew I needed). Living in a small space is unfathomably a huge challenge, but sharing any at all is always a test of tolerance.

I’ve probably spent the last eight months extensively reading and researching about blogs. I know all about Technorati, SEO, Dooce and Seth Godin (although I did know about him before). I realize that I don’t really know much when measured against the big players, but I’ve done my homework and feel I’m a pretty well schooled beginner. Anyone that is following what I am talking about also knows there’s a formula that can be applied to help build a blog’s success. Marketing strategies and methodologies are available and mostly explained within, where else, the blogosphere.