Twenties Life

So you aren’t getting the girl, huh?  Or maybe you just need a few tips to help ensure you aren’t shooting yourself in the foot when it comes to the ladies?  Either way, there are a few key things that if messed up can completely ruin your chances at picking up chicks.  And chances are you are doing at least one or two of these.  Knowing what they are can help ensure you don’t continue to ruin it before you even had a chance.  Read on.

1. You confuse  conceitedness  with confidence. Girls have a keen sense of smell, especially when it comes to you bullshitting them.  If you don’t naturally burst with confidence, that’s fine.  But don’t overcompensate into the area of arrogance.  No girl above the age of 16 mistakes the two.
2. You consider chivalry dead, and have no intention of resurrecting it. I’m not saying you have to buy flowers every time you take a girl out, but you always open the door for her and wait for her to sit first.  Some of these things are so simple, and yet girls find them so thoughtful.  Are you so awesome that you need not be thoughtful?  If you think so, check number 1 again.
3. You talk much and listen little. Here are the facts: everyone likes to talk about themselves.  We like ourselves so much that when other people show interest in us, we find them attractive.  Want to bank on this?  Listen more and talk less.  You’ll be surprised to find that she can talk about herself all night, and at the end of the night she thinks you are interesting!
4. You don’t have your own life.  Girls are attracted to guys who are busy, who do things, who have hobbies, and who generally have their own things going on.  She wants you to meet her friends, but she definitely doesn’t want you hanging out with her every time she hangs out with her friends.  Get a hobby, let her know you have your own things going on.
5. Her friends aren’t into you. If you can win the friends, you can win the girl.  They are the ones who have the influence, not you.  Charm her friends, be sweet to them, open doors for them.  They are your best marketing tool for selling yourself to her.
6. You are too serious.  This one actually means a few things: one, you don’t make her laugh (“A woman appreciates a man who can make her laugh” -Genie from Aladdin); and two, you can’t be teased.  A woman is attracted to a man with humor, and a man who can take a joke.  If you can’t do either, that’s two checks on her list that you are missing.
7. You try too hard. Some guys make the mistake of thinking that if they are the perfect boyfriend, they will get the girl.  I made this mistake for years.  The truth is girls want a normal guy.  You know, one who makes mistakes, doesn’t always think of her, and may even be a jerk at times. A guy who tried to hard is none of those, and it shows.  Every action is so deliberate.  It’s kind of gross, and definitely not attractive.  Just be real.
8. You are too passive.  Some women will make the first move.  Most of those women aren’t the take home to mom kind.  Women like a man who can take the action role because it shows that they have prowess.  They find what they want and they take it.  It’s a carnal instinct that drives women crazy.
9. You aren’t impressed by her. You may be amazing, and she may initially find that she’s super into you.  But a little further down the line, she might get the sense that you aren’t impressed by her, or that she doesn’t inspire you.  There is nothing that will ruin a relationship faster than a woman feeling like she isn’t good enough (except maybe infidelity, but that’s for another day).
10. You STARE at other women.  I look at other women all the time, my girl knows it, and every guy in the world knows it too.  It’s what we do.  But some of you guys take it to a whole new level.  There is nothing wrong with looking at women, but when it becomes a gross, provocative stare, as if you could see the girl naked, you are being disrespectful to the girl you are staring at, and more importantly to the girl you are with.  Don’t want to give up looking at other girls?  Become a ninja.  Look fast, and look once.  Anymore than that and you are bound to get yourself in trouble.

I’m sure there are plenty of other reasons why you aren’t getting the girl.  But let’s be honest, I’m not perfect, so there is no way I could make you perfect.  If you focus on fixing these problems, you’ll definitely have a better shot.  After all, I’m sure you are a great guy.  You just need to give the girl a chance to see that as well, without scaring her off with one of these strategies covered above.

So what do you do to improve your chances of winning over a member of the opposite (or same, if you’re into that) gender?

It turns out that dating is a science.  If you don’t have all of the important ingredients, you just aren’t going to get the reaction you are looking for.  So you want to get the guy, huh?  Of course you do.  And chances are they want you too.  The only problem is you are doing things that ruin it before it even had a chance.  I’m going to help you identify some of those things, and you can take steps to improve them, so he can get the best chance to see you for you.

Here are 10 of the biggest reasons you probably aren’t getting the guy.

1. You don’t show interest – I’ll be honest. We (guys) are pretty dumb when it comes to a girl being interested.  We can tell if a girl is interested in a friend of ours, but we never realize you are interested in us.  If you aren’t direct, if you aren’t stealing glances and batting those eyelashes, we’ll never even notice.
2. You show too much interest – I know, I know, it’s crazy.  First you aren’t showing enough, then you show too much.  But balance is the key.  We aren’t interested in girls who are too easy to get.  It makes us think we can do better.  And, sadly, many of us do think like that.  Walk that line of interest and then take it back.  Keep him on edge.
3. You act brainless – If TV in the 90s taught us anything it’s that hot chicks are dumb.  And apparently you caught that as well.  Because I see some girls acting like they are missing a few brain cells, when I know full well that they are smart, sexy girls.  Don’t dumb it down for him.  Hook him with your brain and your body.
4. You are high maintenance – unless you are going for a metrosexual, most guys find girls that take hours to get ready unattractive.  If it takes that long for you to look good, we start to wonder just how bad you must look without all that prep time.  If it looks like it took longer to get ready than the date will actually last, we’ll probably just move on.
5. You are invisible – Have you ever been out with friends and you didn’t even realize someone was there?  That’s the invisible feeling some of you are giving off.  Join in the conversation.  Be fun.  Be active.  Socialize.  Make your presence known, and we’ll notice you.
6. You bad talk people – Some guys will chalk this up to girls being girls, but many of us can’t stand it.  If you talk crap about your own friends behind their backs, what are you going to say about our friends, or worse, about us?  Just don’t do it.
7. You party too hard – No guy wants to be dating the girl that gets messy drunk at the party.  Don’t be that girl.
8. His friends don’t like you – Guys have a real ego when it comes to their friends.  It actually takes quite a while for you to take priority over the guys.  If you don’t win over his friends, there is a good chance you won’t win him over either.
9. You don’t have a life – Guys like girls who have their own things going on.  It’s sexy.  Especially girls with non-professional skills like dancing, singing, musical instruments, sports, writing, etc.  We go crazy for girls with special talents, and it keeps us wondering what else she’s talented at.
10. You try to fix him – He’s gonna be him, and the last thing he wants is some girl trying to “fix” him.  If he didn’t like himself just the way he was, he would change.  And there is no reason for him to change for some broad he just met.  Let him be him, and if that’s not good enough, move on.

So there you have it.  These are some of the biggest reasons he’s not into you.  Many of these are easy to fix, you just have to practice.  Of course not all guys have the same interests, and some guys won’t mind some of the things above.  But as a general rule, if you can avoid these “mistakes” you’ll have better chances with the fellas.

What are some things you’ve done that really “botched” your chances with a fella?

Let’s face facts.  The dating scene can be pretty brutal on the wallet.  But if you don’t show the lady (or gentleman) a good time, you probably wont get another date.  Luckily, fun doesn’t have to be expensive.  There are plenty of great things you can do on a date that are relatively cheap or free.  If you are willing to think outside of the box and be a little unorthodox, you can show your date a good time that he or she will remember.  We’ve got some great ideas to get you started.

1. Poetry and Love Notes – Girls (and guys, though we’d never admit it) are suckers for romantic gestures in writing.  Spend some time putting your thoughts and feelings into creative language and your sure to stay on her mind.
2. Cook Dinner – I am surprised at how few people cook for their dates anymore.  It’s so much cooler than going to your local Olive Garden, and your ability to cook won’t go unnoticed, even if it’s a recipe out of your Better Homes Cook Book (my favorite cookbook in the world).  And if you can’t follow simple steps, like from a recipe, you might not be ready for dating at all…
3. Romantic Massage – nothing says romance like the ability to give a good massage.  You don’t have to be a pro to look like one. You just need a little knowledge and the right equipment.  Get started with this Lovers Massage book and some quality massage oil, like these.
4. Picnic – Anyone who’s ever been on a picnic before knows how fun and romantic it can be.  Simple things like pb&j sandwiches, fresh fruit, cheese, and wine or good ole fancy grape juice will make you seem like a picnic-master, and you can bet he or she will remember your date.
5. Chocolate – Because everyone loves chocolate, and the fact that you thought enough to pick some up before your romantic rendezvous shows how much you think about him or her.
6. Fondue Date – Fondue pots are cheap, but a fondue party is super fun.  Whether you’re preparing a whole dinner or just a chocolate dessert, you’ll definitely make an impression with a fondue date.  Here is the fondue pot that I use, and while it’s not the most expensive, it definitely gets the job done.
7. Take a Stroll – do people even do this anymore?  My fiance and I have the best time when we just go somewhere and walk and talk.  It’s probably my favorite thing to do with her.  You can learn so much about someone on a walk, and you’ll feel that instant connection you get when you share things with each other.
8. Hold Hands – all the time. Your friends might make fun of you, but they are just jealous!
9. Movie Night – no this isn’t a trip to the cinema, it’s a good ole fashion movie night at home.  Snuggle up on the couch, pop some pop corn, grab a blanket and throw in a romance, or even a romantic comedy.  This makes for a great date on a dime.
10. Photo Album Fun – another fun activity is to go through old photo albums together.  Laugh at yourself and each other’s kiddy pictures, and get to know each other a little better.
11. Take Out Night – for the kitchen impaired, a good take out dish served on real dishes is a simple replacement for getting in the kitchen and making a meal yourself.  And with the proper presentation, she won’t even have to know it came from outside (not that we advocate lying…).
12. Movie Makeout Session – I know, we aren’t in junior high anymore, but these things still work.  Spend some time with your lady or fella at a movie, but don’t watch the movie.  Indulge in a little kissy time instead.
13. Fresh Fruit, Cream, and Chocolate Syrup – Hopefully this needs no explanation…
14. Steal a Kiss – it’s much different than kissing her.  When she isn’t paying attention, take her into your arms and steal a quick one.  Then go about your business as if it never happened.  It will drive her wild.
15. Share Secrets – There is nothing that instantly bonds two people like a good secret.  Share one with him, or make one with him!  The excitement of being the only two people who know it forms an instant bond.
16. Picture Messages – When you are apart, and even when you aren’t, a good picture message let’s her know you are thinking of her.  This can get really exciting, depending on the subject of your picture.  Just remember that she may not be the only person who sees it…
17. Perfect “First ” Date – get a haircut, shave, wear cologne, iron your clothes, wash your car, clean the inside, pick up flowers and chocolate, walk to her door to pick her up, and have a special night planned for her.  Do all the preparation you should have done (or did do) on your first date together, and make it really special.

See? There are so many ways to be romantic without spending a fortune.  We’ve just gotten so lazy that “dinner and a movie” or “drinks at the bar” have become our routine.  Spice it up a bit, get creative, make him or her remember why he picked you in the first place.  Create that special date that she’ll brag about for years.

What’s your favorite budget date?  Leave a comment below and help us really wow her!

You must think about money. What matters now is what is happening right now. Are you making a decent living? What will make me want to listen to you? What makes you think you can achieve your dreams?

These are questions I’ve been asked in regards to achieving my dreams. People say I’m making a big mistake, trying to make a sustainable income from my blog, but I tell them that there is nothing else to live for. I cannot exist in a world where my life lays in the hands of someone else.

I want to be responsible for myself.

Living a life deferred

How many times will you let your dreams be constantly pushed to the back of your mind? High school is almost over and then my life changes forever. College is almost over and then my life changes forever. I’ll soon have a kid and my life will change forever.

I will retire and my life will change forever.

In retrospect, does our life really change? We are constantly working until our lifeblood drains out of us. Why should we spend the most pleasurable years of our lives working for a paycheck?

Even this post itself is being written for a wage.

Why? Why must the lives we dream for ourselves be constantly deferred?

Mostly because we believe that what’s always worked will work for us

We think that we must travel the conventional route — in order to keep ourselves stable. To align ourselves with people in the same boat as us. Those people that say, “You’re either with us together, or you’re against us, alone and maybe on the brink of death.”

When I look closer at the people following the conventional path, I see them giving it all they’ve got in classes that they either don’t like or really like; this is fine with me. But the kicker is that they’re just doing what they’ve been told is conventionally profitable.

They simply want jobs that will feed them. I have no doubt they will get it, but their life will still exist in their boss’s hands.

They don’t know the future, but they’re on a path that they believe is right.

In the same vein, I am going on an unconventional path that I believe is right as well.

Who will win? Who’s will is destined to become reality? Maybe both of our destinies.

It’s entirely possible that if you put your best effort in trying to achieve the conventional life, you will achieve it. Similarly, I think that it’s also possible that you can put your best effort in trying to achieve the unconventional life and you will achieve.

Get it?

Unconventional and conventional lives are both difficult to attain. But in the end, it all depends on which life you choose for yourself. It’s entirely possible for different people to attain different realities.

Just don’t be upside when the conventional life turns out exactly how you envisioned it to be.

John Anyasor is a blogger at HiLife2B. There he gives advice on personal development, inspiration, and motivation. A second year undergrad, he seeks to one day break the cycle of entering the dreaded 9-5 to achieve the life he wants, while inspiring others to join his movement.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CJAnyasor
Website: http://hilife2b.com/blog

Here at TwentiesLife.com we try to cover all of the things that are relevant to your life.  But the sad truth is that your life is more complex than we can address here by ourselves.  Luckily, with the thousands of other great websites that are out there, we can help you find the information you want and need.  Here are some of the great things that those other great sites talked about this week.

Celebrate Earth Day: 5 Tips For Outdoor Sex (YourTango.com)

15 Podcasts Your Brain and Ears Will Love (Digitizd.com)

Social Drinking on a Fat Loss Diet (JCDFitness.com)

A Little Tree PrOn to Get Your Earth Day On (CoedMagazine.com)

How Do Partners Get Away With Cheating for So Long? (JustAGuyThing.com)

Sexy Time: Do It Alone (CollegeCandy.com)

More to come next week.  Have a great weekend all!

Having debt in your 20s is not ideal.  Chances are you’ve just entered the workforce, and you’ve gotten your hands on a credit card or two, and somehow within a few months (or less for some of you), those cards are maxed out!  That’s not a great way to start your financial life.  Let’s get rid of that debt, shall we?  I’m going to share with you some great ways to eliminate your debt and stay debt free from now on.

1. Spend less than you earn.  Seems simple, yet most of us can’t even follow this one.  If you spend less than you earn, you have more money to knock down debt or build up savings.
2. Keep only 1 credit card.  This way your debt focus is simple and your amount of debt stays low.
3. Build an emergency fund.  Here’s how to start your emergency fund.
4. Stop using credit cards to “make it until my next check.” You’ll likely pay it back ten fold before the debt is gone.
5. Avoid eating out often – it’s the easiest way to save money.
6. Find cheaper entertainment – renting a movie is way cheaper than seeing one in your local cinema.  Cooking is cheaper than eating out…
7. Save for future expenses – car tires looking worn?  Wardrobe need updating?  Save a small amount each month to go towards future expenses.
8. Snowball your debt – pay the minimum on every account except the smallest, and pay as much as you can afford on that.  When you finally pay that off, add the amount you paid towards that account to the next one.  Rinse. Repeat.
9. Stop Spending – I know it’s hard, everyone likes new things.  But you have to commit to spending less or you’ll never get ahead.
10. Set goals in stone – “I’m going to pay off this card in 6 months.” Then plan out exactly how to do it, and stick to your plan.
11. Pick up side gigs – have a talent that you could make money from?  Try Craigslist or find other ways to do some small side jobs, and put that money towards your debt.
12. Make purchases with cash – Want an iPad?  Don’t reach for the plastic.  Save some cash each month for you “iPad” fund, and when you finally have enough, go out and buy it.  It will feel so much better not having to charge it.  Trust me, I just bought my first BMW, and I paid ALL CASH!
13. Don’t borrow money – owing other people is the worst kind of debt.  It can ruin all kinds of relationships.  Do your best to never owe money to a friend or family member.
14. Plan for retirement – The difference between starting in your twenties and starting in your thirties is millions when you consider the time value of money. Take a look at this chart.
15. Move into a smaller home – Americans have some addiction with bigger things that we just don’t need.   I live in a modest <700sq ft apartment, which in Texas is pretty tiny.  I save over $300 per month because of this smart decision.
16. Use an online savings account – IngDirect is my favorite.  It makes it harder to spend, and you can open multiple accounts to track different things you’re saving for.  For instance, I have an emergency account, a travel account, a new car account (even though i just bought a car last month), and a general savings account.  If you’d like to open an IngDirect savings account, contact me here, and I can get you a free $25 referral code.
17. Cancel the cable – this will save you time and money each month.  Watch the shows you really love on Hulu.com or their network websites.
18. Think about worth instead of stuff – I used to want things.  Now I want wealth.  I want security.  I want value.  And my investments and savings give me much more value than an iPhone or kindle.
19. Read Personal Finance books – Who Moved My Cheese and Rich Dad Poor Dad are two of my personal favorites.
20. 30 Day Waiting Period – If you think you really need something, print out a picture of it and put it on the fridge.  Look at it every day.  If at the end of 30 days of waiting, you still want it just as much, buy it.
21. Watch this documentary – Secret History of the credit card. If this doesn’t convince you that credit is evil, I don’t know what will.
22. Feel good about your sacrifices – there is nothing like being debt free.  If you haven’t experienced it, trust me.  It’s the most wonderful feeling of accomplishment you can have.  I recently paid off every dollar I owed (other than student loans), and I don’t want to ever borrow again.  I bought my newest car cash, after saving for over 2 years (and driving a 16 year old piece of junk).

The road to freedom of debt is difficult, and requires a lot of discipline.  All of your friends are going to keep spending the way they always have, and you’ll be tempted to fall back into the trap.  But if you can stick to your plans, sacrifice a few restaurant meals, and go on a few cheap dates, you’ll find yourself in a much better position.  Then, when you’re all debt free, every purchase will be so much more fun, because you don’t owe anyone but yourself!

What’s your best get-out-of-debt tip?

With so many different syndications, so many choices, so many slants, and so many medias, keeping up with current events and getting your news just isn’t what it used to be.  Some might even call it a chore.  I’ve spent years trying to come up with a system of getting my news that ensures that I don’t miss anything or get some terribly biased opinions added into my news.  While the sources I read aren’t perfect, they offer good perspective without too much of an agenda.  Here are the places I get my news.

1. CNN.com – CNN runs a tight ship.  They are fast, clean, and easy to navigate.  CNN.com is probably the easiest website I’ve ever navigated.  As with many news syndications, CNN has been accused of being biased, towards both liberals and conservatives (at separate times, obviously).  But in my readings, CNN does a great job of getting the news to you without too much fluff.
2. BBC.co.uk – BBC is another news source that I really like.  What I like about BBC is that they are not American-based, which means that there perspective on American media does not come with an American bias.  That is especially useful when reading about international news, as I often notice a difference between what is reported by BBC and what is reported by the American news syndications.
3. WN.com – World News is not it’s own news syndication.  It’s actually a site that pulls top stories from many sources (NyTimes, BBC, Yahoo, and many more) and shares them with readers in one place.  I can assure you that you wont be getting the least biased news here, but you’ll get top news from around the world.
4. Yahoo News – Yahoo news does two things really well: they get the news really quickly, and they often get the news really inaccurately.  A good and a bad I guess.  Using sources like Associated Press and Reuters, they often source the first article to break a story.  Sadly, to be the first requires more speed than finesse or accuracy, so when you do get it from CNN or another source (just a little while later), you’ll get the real story, instead of what looks like it could have been written by a 12-year-old.
5. NYTimes.com – NYTimes.com may be the worst website I’ve ever seen.   I haven’t read from that site in a long time.  But whether you like the site or not, their news is great.  They take the time to write full stories, not just 3 short paragraphs that they hammered out in 10 minutes to be the first to publish.  NYTimes has often been criticized for its liberal bias as well, but I don’t see it much.  It’s no MSNBC, that’s for sure.  If you want a well written, well thought out story, get it from NYTimes.  But good luck getting through their website.

Those are the 5 top places I read news online.  But there are hundreds of other sources and I’m sure you have a great source to offer as well.  Leave a comment below and tell us where your favorite place to get the news online is!

We all would like to get a little fitter.  You know, maybe lose an inch on the waist, add an inch on the arms, etc.  But the cost of a gym membership or some home fitness equipment is sometimes more than we can afford.  And frankly, some of us are intimidated by all of the muscle (and skin)  in our local gym.  It’s a place to exercise, not a meat market!  Jeez.  Well, that’s still no reason to not workout.  Here at TwentiesLife we solve real problems.  Get ready for a serious workout that requires nothing but discipline and dedication!

Warm up

To warm up you’ll want to get your heart rate up a bit.  A few great exercises for this are jumping jacks, jogging in place, and jumping rope (if you happen to have one lying around).  About 7-10 minutes worth of moderate warming up should have you ready for the exercises.

Jump Squats

This exercise is a great starter because it hits so many muscles.  The focus is on your quadriceps (thighs) but you’ll probably feel the burn in other places as well.  I’d recommend starting with 3 sets of 10 (or as many as you can do if it’s less than 10).  Take a 30 second break between each set.  Remember, the harder your heart is beating the better, so don’t “wait to catch your breath.”

Lunges

Now that we’ve warmed those legs up, let’s hit the hamstrings and glutes.  These are the muscles on the back of your legs, from your butt to your knee.  Lunges are my home exercise of choice for hamstrings, though they will get some quadricep action as well.  If you can manage it, 3 sets of 10 fits here too.

Push Ups

There are many variations of push ups, and they all focus on different muscles.  For now though, just focus on the standard push up (or girl variation for those who need it), which targets your pectoral muscles.  Again, start with 3 sets of 10 (or as many as you can) with 30 second breaks between.

Back Extensions

Now that we’ve hit quadriceps and pectorals, let’s focus on all those muscles in your back.  Again, start with 3 sets of 10.  Nice and slow.  Make sure you feel the burn.

Bicep Curls

Ok, I lied a little.  You’ll need some sort of makeshift weight here.  It could be anything from a can of veggies to a jug of milk.  Just something that you can wrap your hand around and lift, something with a little weight.  3 sets of 10 works great for this exercise as well.

Tricep Dips

This is a hardcore exercise, and the more you weigh the harder it will be.  The tricep dip is the exercise that really builds up those triceps, the muscle opposite your biceps.  For this exercise I recommend 3 sets to failure (which means as many as you can do).  For some this will be 15+, while for others it will be 2-5.  Just go at your own pace and do the exercise correctly.  You’ll get better in no time.

Inverse Push-ups

This is an exercise that will focus on your trapezius musclces (between the shoulder blades), as well as stretching out many of the muscles in your back. Do 3 sets to failure, as many as you can.

Hip Raises

This exercise focuses on lower back and glutes as well.  Want to get a super booty?  Do these exercises.  Do it nice and slow.

Calf Raises

This is the last exercise in this simple home workout.  I save this one for last because when you do it right, it burns so much that you don’t want to do anything afterwards.  I’ve always had to spend extra time on my calves, because for some reason they don’t like to grow, so I do this exercise often.  The regimen for this one is 3 sets to failure, with a minute or two break in between.

That’s it for this workout.  While this may not have you looking like a bodybuilder in a week, it’s definitely a great start to a fitter lifestyle.  And it costs nothing.  Once you develop consistency in your workouts and exercises, you may find that it’s worth it to buy equipment or a gym membership.  But to start, you just need to commit to making it hurt a little, and getting those muscles to work.  Do you have a favorite equipment free exercise?  Leave it in the comments below!

What is the biggest financial mistake a person in their twenties can make?  Many people will have their opinions, but for me it’s putting all your financial eggs in one basket.  Becoming complacent with your income can be a dangerous mistake.  Too often people in their twenties still have that immature feeling of invincibility, as if somehow we are unaffected by external forces like unemployment and the economy.  We think that our bachelors degree is somehow insurance against such tragedies.  Well I’m here to save you from making such a terrible mistake.  The fact is, no job is 100% reliable, and since not many of us are sitting on huge trust funds, we need to find other ways to ensure our own prosperity.

The solution to this problem is to begin developing multiple streams of income.  I’m sure you’ve all heard those words before.  You’re probably thinking, “But Ibrahim, I make X amount of dollars per month and I only spend Y amount of dollars per month (y<x) so I should be fine.”  Well answer me this: How long could you live the lifestyle you are living now if you were fired from your job? 2 Weeks?  1 month?  2 months?  I’m certain that most of you could not rely on your savings for more than 2 months.

So multiple streams of income… what does that even mean?  It means you have systems in play that allow you to make a little money on the side.  What type of systems are totally up to you.  Some people buy and manage vending machines, others have online businesses.  Some people mow lawns, and yet others are masters of selling their old stuff on eBay.  What your side job is doesn’t matter, what matters is that it is capable of producing a steady amount of income and that if need be it could be expanded to make more.  In other words, a small business that you could work full time if you lost your job and needed to make money fast.

Just so that you understand what I mean, I’ll share a few details of my multiple streams of income.  I have a full time job as an E-Communications Recruiter at the university I graduated from.  It pays a decent salary for a fresh graduate.  I also have TwentiesLife.com and a couple of other blogs, which currently bring a very modest amount of income (though they could probably do better if I really tried).  I’m in the process of starting a web design business with my brother, and I already have 4 web development projects lined up.  I also write ebooks and build seller websites.  I’m even learning to outsource web work such as SEO optimization and web research, to speed up these processes.  Now I’ll tell you that even with all of these streams, none is bringing in significant dough (though the web design business will soon), but the goal isn’t to get rich off of your streams.  The goal is to have ready-made systems that can become full time jobs if necessary.

I can tell you this much:  If I got fired today, I’d still be able to pay my bills this month, and I honestly believe that by next month I could have my multiple streams of income making just as much as my salary does today.  Not only is that job security, but it’s also job satisfaction.  It means that if I decide tomorrow that I don’t enjoy working where I am, I can quit, and still manage just fine.  Can you say the same?  If not, I urge you to think about the skills you possess and find a way to make them profitable.  Your financial security blanket will thank you.

“How dare you?

How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?” – Seth Godin

One day you wake up. POP! A great idea for something BIG is born.You tell everyone who you know your MASSIVE brain child. You’re SO certain everyone is behind you.

And then you realize that you were GRAVELY mistaken. First the “FACTS” are presented in front of you. They try and ask you what brought about this preposterous idea. “What are you, an idiot?” they tell you.

Then, they single you out, an attempt to show you that you are the ONLY one who has thoughts like this.

“No one’s going to buy into your idea. Why are you even trying? Do something that EVERYBODY knows will be profitable.”

Finally, they come and discover the remains of you and your idea. Bloodied and beaten from criticism, you rise from the dirt to look them in their eyes, searching for some sort of establishment of faith in you.

“How’s the idea going?” they mockingly ask you. With nothing to show for it, you oblige your defeat. Maybe they were always right, you begin to wonder…

Congratulations, my sad, unfortunate friend. YOU are discouraged. THEY have beaten you. THEY have accomplished THEIR goal.

But what about you? What about YOUR DREAM? Didn’t you want to see YOUR BRAINCHILD grow into something stronger? Didn’t YOU want to see it stand on its own two feet?

I understand that there were MANY against YOU, that you seemed to be alone on your quest to make YOUR DREAMS REAL.

Well, I’m here to tell you something. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

You! Yes, you. Tell me your dream. Why are you listening to the unremarkable, ambiguous THEY, while the truly REMARKABLE leaders and AMAZING creators tell you to fight back and DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

Do you think they are lying to you? Do you think they would just put a dream in your face and dash it all away?

Why do you trust the people around you that say you’ll fail anymore than the people who are far above ALL of you and believe that you can succeed?

Here’s something that your friends and family WON’T TELL YOU.

The only reason they think you’ll fail, is the because the tools aren’t readily available. There is no school that teaches you how to be a millionaire rock star, or how to be an A-List celebrity.

But do you want to be a doctor? Simple. Just go to the nearest education system, enroll as a child and remain their for about 12 years or so, and you’ll be well on your way to become the doctor you seek.

They tell you you’ll fail, because it requires you to stand out and be different. Going after your dreams requires you to reject everything that you ever thought was real or fake. It requires you to blaze your own trail and TEACH YOURSELF instead of having an instructors hold your hand and teach you the simple basics.

Achieving your dreams requires you to BE REMARKABLE. That is something very few people in the education system can claim. Remarkable for them means being a tenured professor at a prestigious university. Being remarkable as ANYTHING that requires you to get a degree means being in that field for a REALLY LONG TIME.

Now, mind you, I’m not saying that you don’t have to work hard to be remarkable…because you do. It takes a REALLY LONG TIME.

But nowhere NEAR 12 years at all.

I say this, not because I’m angry at you, the criticizers, or ANYONE in particular. But it is because I am inspired. I feel more powerful than ever right now, in this generation I’ve been born into. I feel that I can take on the world.

But I also feel Dissatisfied. Dissatisfied that, as I speak here on this platform, people’s dreams are being dashed. People’s hopes are being destroyed. People’s lives are becoming routine. They are counting themselves out before they’ve even gotten a running start.

This is not fair.

Why should you have to yield to ideologies that you don’t agree with? Why should you sacrifice your passions for the confirmation of another’s close-minded beliefs?

“You will fail.” Utter bullcrap.

If you work hard every single day, give away value before asking for it, connect with people instead of throwing ads at them, learn something new about your passion all the time…

There isn’t a SINGLE DOUBT in my mind that you’ll succeed.

Why am I telling you this? Because I AM REMARKABLE. And so can you.

John Anyasor is a blogger at HiLife2B. There he gives advice on personal development, inspiration, and motivation. A second year undergrad, he seeks to one day break the cycle of entering the dreaded 9-5 to achieve the life he wants, while inspiring others to join his movement.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CJAnyasor
Website: http://hilife2b.com/blog