What Is Your WHAT? That is, the ONE thing you were born to do.by Steve Olsher February 21st, 2012
Once you can answer this question, everything else falls into place. From the move, The Keeper of the Keys.
Powerful Living By Choosing To Live Powerfully
The Secret of Lifeby Steve Olsher February 6th, 2012
The Secret of Life
Harris Interactive recently polled 1,215 full and part-time workers and asked an interesting question: “If your job were a living, breathing person, would you marry it?” The results were quite telling:
Only 9% of respondents said “yes.”
34% agreed they liked their job enough to “date it seriously.”
43% stated they’d “date it casually.”
9% said the relationship “won’t last long.”
5% said they “want to break up immediately.”
This doesn’t exactly scream job satisfaction; and there’s little wonder why. The average annual salary of full-time employees in the United States is $30,000 and nearly 87% of college graduates don’t work in their field of study within five years. Couple this disconnect with ill-suited career choices and an average student loan debt of $20,000 and it becomes apparent something’s amiss.
Jim Rohn, the author and motivational speaker largely credited with launching the careers of Tony Robbins, Mark Victor Hansen, and others gurus said, “A formal education will make you a living. A self-education will make you a fortune.”
Far too many people end up as wage slaves, stuck in the vicious cycle of needing to work in jobs they loathe to pay off debt related to education they don’t use. If this applies to you, it may be time to seek viable alternatives and create a career that cultivates satisfaction, fulfillment, and contentment as opposed to having a job that perpetuates your living at the juncture of bankruptcy.
To achieve your ideal career, you must identify and pursue the sweet spot where something you love to do, are good at, and will be paid for all overlap. Like the legs of a tripod, each component is necessary to establish a solid foundation.
For example, if there’s something you love to do and are good at, but hardly anyone will pay you for it, basing a career on this activity or skill inevitably leads straight to the poor house.
Conversely, if there’s something you’re good at and others will pay for it, but you have no love for the activity or skill, you’ll always be operating with one foot out the door.
There is a tremendous difference between being good at something and achieving fulfillment doing it. You could spend 20 years filing stacks of paper in alphabetic, numeric, and subject order while blindfolded and become expert at it. However, this reflects an acquired ability, not something you’re necessarily compelled to do. When societal expectations or financial pressures lead you to continue serving others via performing a skill or service that fails to resonate, you’re living from an inauthentic frame of mind.
The secret to life is finding your personal sweet spot where the concentric circles in the diagram overlap. I call this your WHAT — that is, the ONE thing you were born to do. 
Once you can answer the key question, “What Is My WHAT?,” everything will take on new meaning. You’ll greet each morning with vigor, there won’t be enough hours in the day to accomplish all that you want to, and things that used to worry you no longer will.
To make a real difference in our world, tap the inherent blueprint that exists within and pursue your calling with reckless abandon. Doing so will empower you to not only have an inordinate impact on those who share this lifetime with you, but also on those of lifetimes to come.
Remember, you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. The world is waiting for you!
Steve Olsher is America’s Reinvention Expert. A successful entrepreneur who has applied his business acumen and communication skills to a wide range of endeavors, he is the co-star of the ground-breaking film, The Keeper of the Keys with Jack Canfield, John Gray, and Marci Shimoff; Founder of the Reinvention Workshop; Host of Reinvention Radio, Author of USA Book News’ Self-Help Book of The Year, Journey To You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming Who You Were Born to Be; and an in-demand media guest who has appeared on ABC TV, FOX TV, and more than 200 radio shows including nationally syndicated programs hosted by Lou Dobbs, Jim Bohannon, and Mancow Muller.
For a free copy of Steve Olsher’s award-winning book, Journey To You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming Who You Were Born to Be, which will teach you how to discover your WHAT, please visit www.JourneyToYou.com.
Seconds & Inchesby Steve Olsher January 31st, 2012
A special blog post from David Drizner
My wife, Sheri, and I attended the 2011 International Air Races in Reno Nevada. It had been a lifelong dream of mine to go, and we finally decided that after decades of talking about it, we would make this the year we went.
During the last race of the day on Friday, Sept 16th, one of the planes travelling at approximately 450 mph lost control and crashed into the VIP section of box seats. 10 people were killed, including the pilot, and over 70 were injured, some critically.
Sheri and I were there to witness the crash. We were standing about 300 feet away from the point of impact. What we saw, and what we experienced, in the few seconds before the crash and how it felt in the time afterward, is still hard to sort out, much less convey in a meaningful way. People say that these things seem to happen in “slow motion”, and indeed that was our experience too. However, I don’t think the mind slows down as much as you become hyper-focused and your thoughts are registering with you in 100% clarity, even while they are coming at you incredibly fast.
I say this because I can distinctly remember thinking “he’s too low – he’s going to crash – there’s going to be a fireball – will the RVs we’re standing by shield us from the fireball – there’s the debris – will any reach us – if it does, should we drop or run, etc.” All these thoughts happened in a matter of two or three seconds. The thoughts clearly stated, examined, weighed, and answered, all in my mind. Sheri had a similar experience, except being the more practical one, was already turning to run/leave at the moment of impact.
We clearly heard the crash, and saw the explosion of debris upward and outward. We saw the the on-site emergency vehicles go into action, and saw many people leaving the area in visible shock and disbelief. Men and women crying, people clutching their chests, but mostly there was a surreal sense of hushed melancholy and grief. There was no panic.
When the pilot lost control of his plane he departed from the normal path of the race course and came flying right over our heads. At that moment he immediately pitched upward and began to climb vertically, until he ran out of speed – like a bicyclist trying to make it up a very steep hill. At the top of his climb, the plane simply fell over – rather sloppily – and came straight down in a perfect nose dive. Just before hitting the ground, his nose pitched up a slight bit and he flew forward a little, just missing the main grandstand to hit into the box seats in front.
If you’ve seen any of the posted videos taken from the grandstands, we were standing about 300 feet on the other side of the impact.
After the incident, I took pains to measure, on aerial photos, the exact distance we were from the crash. “Why is that important?” you might ask. Because I needed to know by what margin Sheri and I missed being killed or injured. I know it was 300 feet, but an even more telling statistic is that a plane travelling 450 mph will cover 300 feet in just under 1/2 second. That’s it – half a second. If this sequence of events had started just one measly half-second earlier, he would have come down – if not right on us, then certainly within a fatal radius.
I’ve always had a philosophy of life that speaks to “seconds and inches.” I believe that life is a matter of seconds and inches. Somewhere, there is a veteran who remembers hearing a bullet pass inches from his head to strike the man behind him. Somewhere there’s a soccer mom who remembers the guy running a red light and missing her van full of kids by mere seconds. Life is very fragile, very chaotic, and in most cases completely out of our control. It often is a matter of seconds and inches.
So what did we learn at Reno? Never take any minute, or second of your life for granted. Don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. It’s o.k. to procrastinate some things (like mowing the lawn or balancing your checkbook), but not others – like spending time with your kids when they ask, or with a beer and a good book when the lawn can go just one more day.
Never take the people in your life for granted either, because they have their own appointment with seconds and inches too. And most of all, never forget that everyone you meet is just like you; vulnerable to happenstance, and powerless against their own mortality. It’s what we ALL have in common. Be at least civil to every person you meet.
While going through the 300+ photos I took that Friday, we came upon one showing a man and two boys, with their backs to us, watching a race from earlier in the day. The man was middle aged – the two boys were about 12 years old. The man had dark hair. As for the boys; one was blond, and the other a redhead. There they are – frozen in my camera – enjoying the perfect weather on a perfect day. And then Sheri noticed and pointed it out to me…
Earlier today we saw an interview on TV with a widow of one of the spectators killed in the crash. Her husband had taken their 12 year old son and the boy’s friend to the races. He died while shielding the boys with his own body. They showed his picture; it was of a middle aged man with dark hair. And then they showed a picture of the two boys – both about 12; one a blond and one a redhead…
With our deepest feelings,
David and Sheri
Tiny Buddha Interview – www.TinyBuddha.comby Steve Olsher January 16th, 2012
I was honored to be interviewed by TinyBuddha.com, one of the top 10,000 most trafficked web sites in the U.S. Below is the transcript from our discussion.
Steve Olsher – Interview with Tiny Buddha (www.TinyBuddha.com)
#1. What inspired you to write Journey To You?
I wrote Journey To You because of an experience I had with my step-father a number of years ago. He was on his death bed, very sick. The illness that had consumed his body for years had finally taken over and he was in the last days of his life. As I held his hand, I had a vision of my funeral.
Though he could no longer verbally communicate, I believe he was able to connect with me through that physical connection and was showing me my inevitable fate. I could hear the words being spoken graveside: “Here lies Steve Olsher. He dedicated his life to chasing the almighty dollar.” That’s all that was said.
It hit me really hard because I’ve always felt like I was meant and made to do something extraordinary, but just couldn’t quite identify what it was. It was certainly clear to my step-father I was heading down the wrong path.
I faced what I call a YaNo (pronounced YAY-NO) moment. I could choose to go in one of two directions: Either farther away from attaining congruence with who I inherently am; Or, down the path that would allow me to honor my inherent blueprint and make a difference in the world not just on those who share this lifetime with me, but also on those of lifetimes to come.
I chose the latter and began putting pen to paper to share the tips, tools, strategies and shortcuts that had worked well for me in my life with others. Since that moment, I’ve discovered I have a unique gift for helping people become clear as to what they are compelled to do. I call this your WHAT.
Ultimately, the inspiration for writing Journey To You was really about facing that YaNo moment—the fork in the road—with my step-father and understanding I was at a critical cross-roads and needed to move in a powerful direction, either towards my unique self or away from who I inherently am. The result of my efforts led to writing, Journey To You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming Who You Were Born to Be and I’m honored to say it was recognized as the Self-Help Book of The Year by USA Book News.
#2. Your book guides people to become who they were “born to be.” Do you mean this to imply we were all born with a specific fate?
Yes I do. I wholeheartedly believe we are each born with an inherent blueprint. Some people do refer to this as fate. That, of course, is up to the individual. It has become evident there is something within our DNA that compels us to do very specific things and, whether or not we honor that inherent blueprint, spells the difference between realizing contentment, satisfaction, fulfillment and happiness, versus meandering through life, being blown around like a windsock and always at the mercy of the whims of others.
#3. Much of your book is about unlocking the greatness within. Do you believe there is a connection between achievement and greatness or can one be great without pursuing professional success?
I do not believe the two are mutually exclusive. It is absolutely possible to achieve a high-degree of success while making an extraordinary income doing what it is you’re compelled to do. That said, it does not have to be that way. In other words, you don’t have to necessarily realize what many would define as ‘greatness’ whereby notoriety and professional ‘success’ is achieved in order to have an inordinate impact on our world.
Mother Teresa is a phenomenal example of this. She absolutely provided comfort, care, and healing to those in need, but was she financially and professionally successful? Certainly not by the common definition. However, I do believe that, from purely a professional standpoint in terms of representing her profession, she was extraordinarily successful.
Again, you should be paid extraordinarily well for whatever it is you do better and/or uniquely different than anyone else and if money is not your bag, then give it away. But let’s be real—we all have financial obligations. Money is a necessity. And, if you can get by with minimal needs and don’t care for the excess cash, then great—support or start your own charity and help those in need.
#4. You’ve written that there is only one thing that prevents someone from living a life of happiness, fulfillment, and purpose. What is that?
It’s called your WHAT. Your WHAT is the one thing you’re compelled to do. So, the question you have to be able to answer is, “What Is Your WHAT?” What is the one thing that differentiates you from the other beings that walk this planet?
Once you can answer that question, amazing things happen. Failing to discover one’s WHAT often prevents them from living a life of happiness, fulfillment, and purpose. Ignoring your WHAT also has the potential for manifesting in negative ways, such as health or emotional issues.
If you take the time to discover your WHAT, I promise you’ll be fired up to jump out of bed every day; there won’t be enough hours in a day to get done what needs to be done; and, things that used to bother you will carry a lot less weight.
#5. You outline a process to help people discover their WHAT—the one vocation we are compelled to pursue. Do you believe that everyone has just one vocation? Or, are there many possibilities that will lead to professional fulfillment?
I do believe there is just one thing we are each absolutely compelled to do. Now, don’t get me wrong. Your skill can be applied in myriad ways. For instance, you could be a phenomenal communicator, therefore sometimes you’re a writer and other times you’re a speaker. Or, maybe your gift is music and you play as well as compose. It’s possible that not only do you play and compose, but you might also teach. After all, teaching leads to being a better player and composer, and also helps generate consistent income. It is certainly not necessary to be stuck within one element of the profession.
And, as you grow, you’ll realize there are other options that complement what it is you’re compelled to do. The important thing is that it all stays within the general framework of the one area of your life that really makes your soul sing. So, sure, there are multiple opportunities to develop professional fulfillment, however, your life and your love for it is going to revolve around one specific area that specifically reflects your WHAT.
#6. Part two of your book is titled “Realize Permanent Positive Change.” Considering that little is certain in life and much is always changing, is it really possible to change anything permanently?
What this section of the book does is teach people how to move beyond the basics of what’s learned in school. Everyone (for the most part) is taught how to read and write and do math, but no one really teaches us how to live. This is a problem. We’re sent off into the world to fend for ourselves and so many are ill-prepared to deal with life’s intricacies.
Part Two introduces the reader to The Seven Life-Altering Principles, also known as The SLAP. The SLAP teaches the reader how to deal with life as it happens and provides powerful strategies that help people avoid becoming the windsock. This is the gist of what realizing permanent positive change is all about.
Ultimately, I want to help people create a more effective way to deal with life and learn to live like a smooth rock and avoid being a crater. The waterfall of life is going to happen with or without you. Therefore, to live with conviction and purpose, it’s important to be a smooth rock and allow everything to wash over you and move downstream as opposed to being a crater where everything just gathers until the next waterfall of life comes in, washes the old issues away, and replaces it with something new.
Realizing permanent positive change is about adjusting your mentality to recognize that you have options and can deal with life in a strategic, powerful way.
#7. You are known as America’s Reinvention Expert. In your experience what have you found are the main reasons people want to reinvent themselves?
People typically seek to reinvent their lives, number one, as a result of circumstance. Either they are fired, divorced, decide life blows, it isn’t what they had in mind, not what they bargained for, etc. Number two, many wake up one morning and say, “There’s got to be something more to this life.” They finally hit the wall and know they want to have a more powerful impact on this world, get paid well for what they’re good at, and may not know exactly what that is or, if they do, are unclear how to bring their gifts to fruition.
It is often about a shift in perspective. Something happens in their life that dramatically alters their state of mind and they choose to move in a different direction.
#8. In this time of economic uncertainty, many people are struggling just to make ends meet. Do you believe anyone can reinvent themselves from right where they stand or do we need to create a sense of financial stability before we can change careers?
Fact is, we all have mouths to feed and bills to pay. I’m not one of those people that’s going to sit there and tell you to “Do what you love and the money will follow.” That couldn’t be further from the truth. Reality is, that’s crap. Run away as fast and as far as you can from someone preaching that message, because immediately pursuing your passion without having the financial wherewithal to carry you only leads to your situation becoming dramatically worse. This is not what we want.
Bottom line, don’t quit your day job. You must be willing to enter the Transition. The Transition involves being clear as to where you are now, where you’re headed, and begin to take baby steps to get there. Think of the transition as a recipe mixture. Right now, 100% of your income is derived from what it is that you don’t want to do and 0% of your income is derived from what you do. Once you take that first step, the recipe mixture starts to shift. So maybe now, its 99.99 parts what you don’t want to do and .01 parts what you do.
As income is derived from what it is that really stirs your soul, you begin to recognize when you can make the full-on shift. For some, it’s when they’re able to generate 50% of their typical income; for others, maybe it’s 60, 70, or 80%; and, still others won’t be able to make the complete transition until they’re at 100% of their typical income being derived from what it is they’re compelled to do. You can try to deny it, but everyone needs financial stability and patience. If you choose to be a brain surgeon, this may mean you’re in a state of transition for 16 years.
#9. Journey To You was honored by USA Book News as the Best Self-Help Book of the Year. Why do you think the book has been so well-received?
I think the book has been so well-received because it provides a no-holds-barred, cut-to-the-chase, non-flowery approach to creating a life you can be proud of and teaches you specifically how to do it. Too many books out there speak in theoretical terms. Life doesn’t happen in theory. It happens right here and right now.
Specific steps are required to reach your destination. Few other books provide a step-by-step guide for identifying specifically what it is you’re compelled to do AND how to bring it to fruition. Journey To You provides the reader with poignant, proprietary exercises that helps them discover their WHAT, create a plan of action for making it happen, and doesn’t insult the reader with flowery, woo-hoo prose. I believe this is why the book resonates so well.
#10. What is the main message you hope readers take from the book?
The main message I hope readers take from the book is that life is organic and constantly evolving. The destination is the road and the journey is the destination. In other words, you are exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Life starts over right now, right now and right now. It literally starts over every single second of every single day. You can choose to hang onto what’s behind you and drag it kicking and screaming into the present, or choose to move towards what’s in front of you. The key is to move in the direction of specific goals and objectives. Everything behind you is irrelevant and has no bearing or place in your life right now.
Wayne Dyer said it best: “Everything that happens in life, no matter how painful, eventually leads us to a place of higher value.” My hope is that Journey To You is far from painful and leads the reader to a place of higher value.
Thank you so much for your time and your attention.
Please feel free to visit www.JourneyToYou.com for an absolutely FREE copy of my award-winning book.
Steve Olsher
Steve Olsher is America’s Reinvention Expert. A successful entrepreneur who has applied his street smarts, business acumen, and communication skills to a wide range of endeavors, he is the Chairman and Co-Founder of Liquor.com; President of Bold Development; co-star of the ground-breaking film, The Keeper of the Keys with Jack Canfield, John Gray, and Marci Shimoff; Author of Internet Prophets: The World’s Leading Experts Reveal How to Profit Online; Founder of the Reinvention Workshop; Host of Reinvention Radio; Author of USA Book News’ Self-Help Book of The Year Journey To You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming Who You Were Born to Be; and, an in-demand media guest who has appeared on ABC, FOX TV and more than 200 radio shows including Lou Dobbs, Jim Bohannon, and Mancow. For more information, please visit www.SteveOlsher.com.
Why College Is The Single Worst Investment A Parent Can Makeby Steve Olsher December 28th, 2011
Why College Is The Single Worst Investment A Parent Can Make
For decades, we have often heard that the journey to career success requires time-consuming, energy-exhausting, and resource-decimating stops along the pit row known as the secondary education system. While we all want the best for our children, as parents and small business owners (your family is, in virtually every sense of the definition, a small business), it is imperative that we pause to examine the educational myth that permeates society and choose whether or not to perpetuate this mentality.
Yes, college has its place for those who know the EXACT career path they wish to pursue. However, for the mass majority of parents, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when they put their child behind the wheel of a $100,000 car and subsequently crash it.
With rare exception, a person in their late teens or early 20’s is still a child. They have zero idea as to who they are, how they are inherently wired to excel, and what interests they wish to pursue for their career.
If you send your child to college expecting a solid return on your investment, start playing the Lotto. You have a better chance of winning.
It’s imperative we examine the drone-like mentality that pushes ordinarily smart people towards enrolling their child into the four to five year social experiment known as college. With astronomically high tuition costs (not to mention room, board, and living expenses), far too many parents are putting their financial future in harm’s way and making the institutions (or dare I say corporations) rich in the process.
To be clear, secondary education has its benefits. There is a proven correlation between knowledge and income. That said, we can no longer ignore the disturbing facts and objectively explore alternative options towards reaching the same destination.
Consider the following:
1) According to a recent study by Rutgers University, only 53% of students who graduated between 2006 and 2010 are currently working full-time.
Yes, we are in a recession, however, it has become increasingly evident that a college degree does not equate to job security. Further, 50% of those who are employed full-time work in positions where a Bachelor’s degree is not required. Scary.
2) Within 5 years, 87% of college graduates do NOT work in their field of study.
Why? Because 25 is the new 18. As life expectancy rates increase and we complete the transition from an industrialized society to one that is information based, the need to mature (both mentally and physically) slows in relation. Sending a high school student directly to college is a mistake. They’re simply not ready.
College is largely an advanced form of babysitting. Key difference being that, instead of the little angel getting their bottle from mommy, (s)he’s now getting it from the bartender. Is it really a mystery that the result of attending college straight from high school is often that Mom and Dad are broke and junior has a degree in art history with a minor in pre-unemployment?
3) Outdated mindsets continue to drive the educational system.
If you went to college, think back on your own education. When was the last time you used biology, chemistry, algebra, statistics, calculus, or philosophy? Unless you’re an engineer, scientist or teacher, odds are good it’s been awhile.
The average person retains less than 80% of what is learned in 24 hours. The average student loan takes over 13 years to pay off. What’s wrong with this equation?
While there is something to be said for having a broad understanding of our world, students waste 60 – 70% of their time and energy (and your hard-earned cash) on classes they don’t, and won’t ever, use.
The need for ‘General Education’ courses originally stemmed from believing that we must first expose students to multiple subjects so they could then choose which major to pick. (Loud buzzer noise please).
Could this be more backwards? For the student and parent, yes. For the government and institutions that propagate this educational myth, no.
College is a cash cow for the Feds (the spread between the average student loan interest rate and the Feds’ cost of funds hovers around 5 points) and the majority of Division 1 schools are doing just fine thank you.
The average salary of a Division 1 Dean is $253,017. A college graduate? Try $30k… with an average school loan debt of $20,000. Who’s really benefitting here?
So, what alternatives do we have?
1) Send your child off into the world before sending them off to college.
Planning on spending $21,500 this year on tuition (the average cost as of 2010)? Give ‘em $5,000 and a swift kick. Your child will learn significantly more about life, their options, and opportunities being on their own than they ever will being at home or in school. Both are sheltered environments. The world is harsh. Teach them this lesson early.
2) Have them volunteer, join the peace corps, get a job (god forbid), enlist in the military, network. Bottom line – try on a bunch of hats and see what fits.
The time to begin exploring options is when you have zero responsibilities. It never works when the equation is reversed. Encourage your child to soar and cut the rope. As long as they’re holding on to you or the current system, they’ll never attain their desired heights.
3) If, after being out in the world, they become clear on what they’re compelled to do (I call this your WHAT), have them research education alternatives and come to you with a game plan.
There are more options to create an outstanding career than ever before. From trade and vocational schools, to seminars, books on tape, internships, apprentice positions, working your way up through the system, and this new thing called the internet – students no longer need to be strapped to a chair in a classroom in order to gain the knowledge they need to propel their life forward.
And, once they present these options – here’s an idea – have them pay for their education (or at least a solid chunk of the cost). People inherently value what they spend their own money on.
Ultimately, as parents, it is our responsibility to raise adults who contribute positively to our world and prepare them to not only have an inordinate impact on those who share the world with us now, but also those of lifetimes to come. Sure, college in theory makes sense. But it’s not a necessity.
Just ask the employees of Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Dell, Ford, and so many other companies if they wished their founder had attended, or stayed in, college.
Therefore, we must teach our children how to tap into their inherent blueprint and heed their natural gifts. Then, and only then, will you realize a meaningful return on your investment.
After all, one in every four college graduates still lives with their parents. Odds are good, that’s not the return most parents had in mind…
Steve Olsher is the father of three, co-star of the ground-breaking film, The Keeper of the Keys with Jack Canfield, John Gray, and Marci Shimoff; author of the 2010 Self-Help Book of the Year, Journey To You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming Who You Were Born to Be; founder of The Reinvention Workshop; host of Reinvention Radio; Co-Founder and Chairman of San Francisco-based Liquor.com; and, President of Chicago-based real estate development firm, Bold Development. For more information, please visit www.SteveOlsher.com. And, for a no-strings-attached copy of Journey To You, please visit www.JourneyToYou.com
