The Raccoon Round Table

Applying to college can be scary. Paying for college is a whole different monster. Everyone talks about scholarships, writing scholarship essays, and using this "free money" to pay for school.

But that task can be daunting.

How do you work up the courage to apply? How do you get over the mental blocks telling you that you're not good enough? How do you see the value in yourself?

One thing that can make the difference between being a goal setter and a goal getter, is the vision.

And it's how you envision things to be in the future; how things look, what the future sounds like, what the goal feels like; that can keep you motivated toward it, especially when times get frustrating.

It can be a catalyst, to making your dreams a reality.

Some of us get into a rut, where we can only see where we're lacking. Where we're not happy with the amount of progress that we've achieved.

Take a step back. Put things into perspective. Write down your goals. Reflect on how far you've come.

You'll surprise yourself.

Many people believe that we're a product of those who are around us.

Does your success hinge on those who are around you?

Changing up the way you think about success, and the environment you operate in for that success, can affect the outcomes tremendously.

What's one thing that I wish I could have done better prior to moving away for school?

Managing expectations.

Looking back, this is just one of the things that I could have changed to improve my relationships with my family, friends, significant others, etc. Managing expectations the right way could have made an impact on these relationships, possibly leading to different outcomes. Not only with these people in my life, but with myself.

A lot of thoughts come to mind when someone mentions side hustles. Some are positive, some are negative.

And side hustles come in many different flavors. But if the concept is new to you, it definitely takes time to get used to. And a lot of the time, it's steps outside of your comfort zone. But here's why that's not a bad thing.

We're always looking for value. Asking the question, "What can you do for me?"

But how often do we ask, "What can I do for you?"

Sometimes, the progress of a person, group of people, or community can change once someone starts asking that question.

We talk a lot about different strategies we can use to help ourselves. But this episode is a little different. We speak on ways we can strategize, with the goal of helping others.

Life has its set-backs. And some of them can blind-side you.

But every challenge is an opportunity for growth.

And it's how we take advantage of those opportunities that can propel us even farther than we ever imagined.

The right break at the right time is invaluable.

That breath of fresh air, that time away, that clearing of the head space. It's important.

It prevents burnout. It gives you that recharge. It provides perspective. Especially during a time when harnessing your skill set, and self-development within your career, are so important; a timely break can make all the difference. 

When starting off with your goals, especially if they're a little outside of the box, there's a lot of push back. Sometimes that push back comes from those closest to you.

But give it time. 

Keep talking about your passion. And don't let it die.

Those haters, will become your supporters.