Why are excuses so easy?

There is something that is really comfortable and convenient about them and unfortunately we as a people value comfort and convenience a little too much. It takes less effort to say "I can't" than it does to say "I can" because when you say to yourself that you "can't" do something, your job is done, you don't have to think about it anymore. When you say to yourself that you "can" do something it starts to get a little uncomfortable because you then have to think about HOW you are going to do it, you have to brainstorm some course of action and then, most importantly, you have to ACT. Taking action is progress but it isn't always enough because sometimes the actions you take do not cut it or they do not bring the results you hoped for, which means that you have to think some more, come up with another course of action and then ACT all over again and hope that it turns out better the next time. This is a process that has to be repeated over and over again which will bring you closer and closer to whatever it is that you hope to achieve, there is no other way and if you can see it through you will be rewarded. There is no greater feeling than knowing you earned it.

William Burt is the man leading the charge in overturning a law that prohibits the operation of mobile barbershops in the state of Iowa. His vision is to provide haircuts to those that do not have the resources to get them on their own, he wants to bring the barbershop to them. He spent time in prison for mistakes that he's made in his past but has completely turned his life around. Will is using the skills that he has developed over the years to cut hair and to move him one step closer to realizing his vision. It is easy to tell after 10 minutes of talking to him that excuses have no place in his life. He see's something on the other side of the current struggle that he is in and he is putting in the time and effort now so that he can enjoy it later.

He is setting a great example for anyone out there that is fighting for a dream or a vision because regardless of where you come from or what you've done, you are in control of what happens next. You and only you. Henry Ford once said, "Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right". If you are struggling with making a decision or lack the confidence to take a chance, look yourself in the mirror, tell yourself that you can, and then do something about it.

Thank you for your time.

Ever feel like you have to live up to other people's expectations? You don't.

Most people have either found themselves attempting to live up to the expectations of others or, at the very least, felt pressured to do so. Regardless of where those expectations come from, it is never up to someone else to decide what you are capable of.

Derrick Kirkpatrick is someone who felt that pressure at an early age through a rocky relationship with his parents but was able to find a way to stand up for himself and for what he believes in and turn it into something very positive. Derrick holds on to the belief that he has all the power and control to contribute something positive to the world in his own way and regardless of the cards he has been dealt, he sticks to his guns. He is a work in progress just like the rest of us and his awareness of that keeps him motivated to keep adding small bits of positivity to the world whenever he can.

I found his story very powerful and inspiring because we are very close in age and although our experiences are very different, we we're both able to find something positive in our struggles. We both agree that no matter how bad things get, it's up to us to decide what we do about it going forward. Sitting at home and complaining about all the stuff we could be bitter about gets us nowhere and if you are someone who spends a lot of time feeling sorry for yourself, nobody cares.

I hope that you enjoy the listen and find something positive to take away from it!

Thank you for your time.

This is the one to drink a cup, or cups, of coffee to.

DeAngelo Seay is a coffee shop owner in North Liberty, Iowa and he is someone I'm glad to call a friend. We've known each other for about a year and a half now but based off of some of the conversations we've had, it feels like I've know him for years. I first met DeAngelo when I interviewed for a job at his shop and in the short time that I worked for him, we developed a great relationship. We are both passionate individuals and although we come from very different walks of life, we are passionate about a lot of similar things and neither of us are too shy to express them. He is the type of person that knows everyday is not necessarily a good day but that there is good IN everyday, if we choose to look for it. This was apparent to me through his attitude and how he treats the people around him whether it's his team at work or his family. He has had his fair share of ups and downs in life but those experiences are what has helped shape the man that he is today and in this episode he shares with me some great stories about how his mindset has changed and developed throughout the years.

This one is for those that find a way to keep on keeping on no matter what. DeAngelo runs a business full time and is raising a big family but he still makes time for others and never makes excuses. He is a great example of someone who has a vision and sticks to it. He walks in purpose on purpose.

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it!

Thank you for your time.

(**I recorded this one in a coffee shop so there will be a little background music and fan noise. I did my best to have it edited. I am learning as I go so thank you for your patience in advance!**)

My first episode with a guest but the first of many!

Darian Powell is a former professional soccer player out of La Porte City, Iowa that I got to meet through the beautiful game. I was one of her personal coaches after she finished playing in college and was preparing for an opportunity at the professional level. I felt that she was the perfect guest to start off this podcast because 1) she loves soccer just like me, and 2) she pursued her dream and came to a point where she knew that she didn't want it anymore, just like me. Explaining that to yourself is one of the most difficult things in the world, let alone to other people, but when you know, you know.

It takes a lot of courage to open up about our life experiences, our ups and downs, our dreams and aspirations but it's even more difficult to be honest and transparent about them with ourselves. Fortunately for me, Darian has no shortage of courage, that's why this episode was possible. She talks about her story and how her journey unfolded and brought her to where she is now.

Whether your story involves soccer or not, there's still something for you in this episode. Chances are that wherever you are in your journey, you've either felt, experienced, or thought about some of the stuff that Darian and I talk about.

I hope that you enjoy this episode and you find something that you can relate too.

Thank you for your time.

This one is all about me!

In part 2 of the introduction to Vision Is Greater Than Anything, I go in-depth into my journey so far and myself as an individual. I pursued soccer, my childhood dream, for a very long time and the experiences I had along the way helped shape the person I am today. There were many ups in my soccer journey but just as many downs, if not more, as is the case in life, but it was the downs that really taught me everything I needed to know about myself and about the world as I understand it today. Soccer took me in so many different directions that I could never have imagined and no matter how ugly or difficult things got I always understood that it was a privilege to pursue my dream, it was a privilege to even try and that is something that I will never take for granted. Soccer was my everything, my best friend, my life and I hope that this episode will give you a hint of what it really meant to me because without the experiences that soccer gave me, I would not be here talking about it today.

Thank you for your time.

Yes. The answer is yes, you do have a story worth sharing and a vision worth fighting for!

I am Stevo, just a kid from somewhere, welcome to Vision Is Greater Than Anything. This episode is an introduction to my podcast and as you can tell by the title, vision is kind of important to me. When I use the term vision I am referring to big-picture thinking, my eyesight is most definitely not greater than anything, that's for sure! You don't need perfect sight to fit in here nor do you have to have a clearly defined vision for your life, this is a place where inspiration happens. Sharing our story and fighting for our vision is everything to me and this episode will give you a taste of what Vision Is Greater Than Anything is, how it started, and where it's going. 

Thank you for your time.