Here goes.

“Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?” – Ben Franklin

This is a pretty simple quote but its simplicity resonates with me.

I have found that as a human race we are often afraid to use our talents to the best of our ability.  We get caught up in the mediocrity and daily rituals of the world and we forget that we were given certain talents and abilities in order to impact others.  Or, what happens more often than not, fear overtakes us.  Thoughts of failure, disappointment, and struggles fill our minds and block out any positive thinking that might have come over us.  At this point, we just don’t bother to use our talents because we rationalize that wasted talents are better than failed talents.  Wrong.

Failure is a fact of life and it is through failure that we experience growth and development.  Failure improves our talents and never destroys them.  Negative thinking and the fear of failure destroys talents.

It is my hope that I will begin to use my talents more often as the year progresses.  I am trying to avoid the fear of failure and fully utilize my abilities to change my world.  I am currently engaged in helping Folk Media, LLC with blogging and community outreach.  I am a people person and a writer so I feel that my talents are used well in my role.  I will also begin to use my passion for video and video editing more throughout the year as I volunteer at my church.  I am starting small but the possibilities are endless.

What are some talents that you have not been using?  What feelings of failure are you harboring that are weighing you down?  I challenge you to spend some time reflecting on those questions and, if you feel comfortable, share with us.

I have been doing some heavy reading lately on productivity and organizing (David Allen’s Getting Things Done) and I realized that it wasn’t that I didn’t have the time to write, it was that I was wasting too much time.  The time that I was wasting could have been sufficient for blogging.

Since I have realized my blunder, I am committing to myself and my readers (you) that I will be posting at least once a week to this site.  I am starting small and that number may fluctuate from week to week, but I will commit to posting at least once a week in 2010.

However, a steady steam of blog posts is not my only resolution for this year.  You will find my other resolutions below.  I have a variety of them and will keep you updated on my progress with each one as the year progresses.

I suggest that you take some time to figure out what you could do in 2010 to improve and push yourself.  It doesn’t have to be anything big.  In fact, it could be a task you perform once a month or only once in the year.  The feeling of accomplishment is second to none.  When you accomplish one goal or task, I believe you have the potential to accomplish anything.

Eric’s Goals for 2010

Financial

• Save each $5 bill until July 1, 2010
  • Action Step:  Empty wallet each morning

Self Development

• Read at least 30 minutes a day
  • Action Step:  Create a schedule that allows for reading time
• Write at least 30 minutes a day
  • Action Step:  Create a schedule that allows for writing time
• Cook at least one meal a week
  • Action Step:  Locate simple recipes and steadily increase cooking skills
• Exercise at least 3 hours a week
  • Action Step:  Prepare to exercise for an hour on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Focus on self promotion
  • Action Step:  Connect with at least one person each day I to work or anything dealing with Folk Media
• Read at least one chapter in my Bible each day
  • Action Step:  Read my Bible either first thing in the morning or right before bed

Other

• Update ericalpin.com at least once a week
  • Action Step:  Write one or more blog posts on my day off
• Calculate and finish card collection
  • Action Step:  Enter 50 to 75 cards daily
• Stay connected with others through social networking
  • Action Step:  Connect with at least three people a week
• Maintain an updated brand website
  • Action Step:  Update brand website with changes on the first rest day of each month

You’ll notice that after each goal, there is an action step listed.  This action step allows for me to know exactly what I need to do to achieve my goal.  My action steps will change throughout the year but they are essential.  Without action steps, the mind wanders and wonders how to complete the goal.  Action steps lead the way to success.

What are your goals or resolutions for 2010?  What action steps will you take to make sure your accomplish your goals?

10.  Use periodical search engines.  You might think that periodicals (magazines, journals, etc.) are a joke but a lot of great information can be found through a periodical search engine.  Many colleges and universities have subscriptions to periodical search engines, such as LexisNexis, but they don’t publicize that they are available for use.  If you want to find out if your school has a subscription, swing by the library or book store and inquire.  It will help a lot with research.

9.  Google really is a treasure trove.  Everyone seems to always underestimate the power of Google.  The Google search is honed to give useful information to the searcher so it’s no surprise that (most of the time) it’s dead on.  Need help studying for your final?  Use Google to get studying tips and even answers to the questions on your review.  The possibilities are limitless.

8.  Pace your learning.  No seriously.  Learning is tough on the brain, especially after an exciting and energetic summer break.  Don’t get too anxious over school and try to get more done than what is expected at any given time.  You’ll burn out.  Fast.  Take it easy and make sure you have more effort put towards the quality of your work rather than the quantity of your work.

7.  Don’t fall behind.  You don’t want to sleep through class.  Skipping class or taking vacation during school can really hurt your academic progress and flow.  I’m not telling you to stay home on on the best weekend of the spring but make sure that you’re going to be able to get back into the swing of things when the sand is out of your hair.

6.  Make it portable.  Mobile devices and MP3 players are all the rage these days, so why not use those hip tools to get your schoolwork done?  There are tons of programs out there that will take a document and translate it into audio.  If you have a newer Mac, this feature is built right in to OS X.  Also, you can download programs that will take PDF files and DOC/DOCX files and convert them so they can be read from an iTouch or iPhone.

5.  Google Books can save you money.  It’s the first day of class and you haven’t bought your books yet.  Don’t – check online first for free digital copies.  I made this mistake last semester and found out that I could have saved a bunch of money on my car insurance books.  If you don’t need the book for class, this can be a lifesaver.

4.  Get to know your teacher.  Sure, no one wants to be perceived as the class brown-noser but it might be a good idea to at least introduce yourself to the teacher.  This can prove helpful at the end of the semester when your grade is resting at an 88 or 89 percent.  Should you get an A?  Your chances are better if you were personable and diligent throughout the semester.

3.  Network like it’s your job.  Networking with other students can help you make friends, land sweet jobs, meet significant others, and hold you accountable.  Yes, that’s right.  If you network with the other people in your class, chances are you’re going to talk about school work.  There is always that one day when you don’t feel like doing the assigned questions.  Your friends could sway you do them and it might pay off on the final exam.

2.  Scheduling is your best friend.  This point is especially true in an online environment.  Schedule the time you will set aside for your school work and stick to it.  Once you break your schedule, it’s all down hill from there.  You may not be a scheduling type of person but at least give it a try.

1.  Make learning fun.  This, of course, is the most important tip.  You can make learning whatever you want it to be.  It can be boring, engaging, stressful, or a timeless journey.  Figure out ways to make learning your own.  Get together with classmates at the local coffee shop for Flash Card Blitz every Thursday night.  Learning is what you make of it.  Don’t let it waste you away.

What are your tips for the college student?  Have any great college success stories?  Share them in the comments below!

1. Exercise Regularly – This is probably one of the most important aspects of staying healthy.  You don’t need to workout three times a day to stay in shape.  Instead, try a variety of activities (running, biking, aerobics, etc.) in order to give your body a chance to get itself in shape.
2. Eat Moderately – I can tell you from experience, eating healthy is not easy and, believe it or not, you don’t need to in order to live a healthier life.  The key is moderation.  Instead of eating fast food four times a week, try to gradually cut back to once or twice.
3. Partner Up – Accountability is another important aspect of becoming healthier.  Find someone who shares your same goals and interests and hold each other accountable in your quest to be healthier.  It can go a long way.
4. Get Sleep – Your body should get six to eight hours of sleep each night in order to function properly the next day.  If not, you’ll be feeling tired, worn out, and irritable.  Getting plenty of sleep at night is a key part of staying healthy.
5. Eat Breakfast – Eating breakfast is essential to starting your day in a healthy manner.  You should eat a balanced breakfast but, in the end, anything is better than nothing.  Too busy in the morning to stop and eat?  Invest in some miniature cereal packets or cereal bars.
6. Brain Exercises – Not only should your muscles be exercised in order to stay healthy, but you should exercise your brain, too.  Problem solving, creative thinking, and logic games are a great way to check this off of your list.
7. Lifestyle Choices – Researchers estimate that 70% – 80% of your life expectancy is based upon your lifestyle choices – drinking, smoking, eating, sleeping, and exercising (just to name a few).  If you’d like to start living a healthier life, changing your lifestyle habits would be a huge step in the right direction.

But, then I got to thinking, “Why not just make a list of things you’d like to do sometime in your life?” So, I did it.  Well, kind of.  The best part about it is that I’m already able to check one thing off of my list.

If you’re expecting a firm list of items that I’d like to accomplish within my life, you’re going to be somewhat disappointed.  Right now, I only have a few “things to do” in my mind, not on paper and as I mentioned before, one of those items can be crossed off – giving blood.

My church recently hosted a blood drive and at first I was reluctant to give because of fear.  Not of needles, but of just the process overall.  I didn’t know how much they would take or if I would be the only one giving.  It turns out, all my questions were answered and I was in good company for the whole process.  It made me feel great looking down at the bandage on my arm and knowing that I will save a life one day.

The other items on my “Big Picture Things To Do” list will come over time – getting promoted to a management position, getting married and having a family, and meeting the President of the United States.  I’m in no rush to complete these activities because I know that they will come in their own time and if they are part of my life course.

I challenge you to create a “Big Picture Things To Do” list and work toward accomplishing all of the items on the list.  There is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment and a sense of completion.  Why not dream big?

Eric:  “Good morning, sir.  How are you today?”
Bank Man:  “Well, I’m actually not too good.  None of the ATMs are working that I go to.  It makes me want to switch banks.”
E:  “I totally understand that.  If that happened to me, I would want to put my money in a bank that had working equipment.  Hopefully this ATM is different.”
BM:  “I hope so, too.  You know, you’re a first class kinda guy.  You just turned my day around.”
E:  “I enjoyed talking to you, too and I am glad I turned things around for you.  Have a good day!”
BM:  “You too.”

As I continued into the bank, I couldn’t help but smile.  Just by listening to this man, I played a part in turning his day around.  Believe it or not, empathy can truly turn a conversation around. You don’t need to get results or do anything, just listen and empathize.

This conversation made me start thinking:  What if we all empathized with the bigger picture in mind? Would our daily interactions lead to better moods?  Would we become servants and not selfish?

Random Encounter Challenge: Try empathizing and listening to someone today that you encounter, whether it’s a stranger or the person in the cube across from you at work.  See  if it increases the value of your interaction and your relationship with that person.

Did you take the challenge?  If so, how did it work out?  Have you empathized in the past?   What results did you see?  Tell us below in the comments!

I recently acquired a few good tips regarding this issue – filtering and unsubscribing.

In GMail, it is easy to filter messages.  Simply type in the filter name and parameters and it’s done.  With other email clients, it isn’t so easy.  If you are unsure if you can filter your messages, I would suggest doing a search and finding out.  Filtering your messages can remove a lot of junk right away.  No need to wait or cherry pick; it is filtered and processed accordingly.

Another way to reduce inbox clutter is to unsubscribe to all of the site-specific ads that come in that you never look at.  You probably bought one thing from Old Navy online and now you get at least three to four messages a week with news and updates.  For most emails from retail stores, you can click the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the email.  This also works for social networking sites and other places where you need to log in to access data.

I used to get around 20-25 emails a day before I cleaned up my inbox.  Now, if I’m lucky.  I get 5.  With fewer emails, I have more time to do other things and have less distractions.  I suggest giving it a try.

Do you have any inbox clean-up tactics that you use?  If so, share with us in the comments!

1.  Saving Isn’t A Bad Thing.

Before dating my girlfriend, I was horrible with money.  Yeah, I had a few investments but nothing serious and my savings account was a joke.  However, when I came into contact with her high values concerning money, my empty pockets began to overflow with money.  I learned how to manage my money and realized that saving money isn’t a bad thing.  Simply because I have it, doesn’t mean I need to spend it.  In the past three years, my savings account has become a comfortable emergency fund, I have begun saving for retirement, and I am more aware about the whereabouts of my money.

2.  Laziness Is For The Birds

In the years before I met my girlfriend, I was not the most productive person on the face of the Earth (not saying that I am now but…).  I had no desire to do anything – I wouldn’t work very hard, I wouldn’t get done my school work, and I would hardly help around the house.  If you looked up lazy in the dictionary, you’d find me.  It was getting to the point to where I was promising people something and never, ever delivering.  However, my relationship with my girlfriend began to change things.  I saw her high level of respect for her job (although she didn’t like it all the time), she displayed a desire to learn, and she kept promises.  I knew I needed that and I adopted those values as my own.  Now, three years later, I can proudly say that I give 100% each day I am working, I have changed jobs and promoted, and I have a 3.85 GPA while pursuing an online degree.

3.  The World?  I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ World!

This is one of the hardest things I used to struggled with – approval from “the world.”  Now that I look back on it, I don’t even really know what I considered “the world.”  Sure, everyone wants to be accepted by their friends and family but I knew that no matter what I did, those people would accept me.  Once I started dating my girlfriend, I ditched that thinking and realized I needed to become Eric, not everyone else.  I dropped the fashion trends, I stopped watching all of the shows and movies everyone else was watching, and broke the mold of routine and lived for once.  I didn’t have to be like everyone else.  I needed to be me.  Now, I have started a blog with consistent readers (thank you, guys), began to volunteer at my church more, and climb the corporate ladder.  Those things may not appear to be daring or bold, but they are for me compared to who I once was.

So, there you have it.  Three years; three truths.  I have learned a lot more and continue to learn as we progress through our relationship and progress as people.  As those lessons come, I will continue to share them.  Here’s to three years of reflection and here’s to many, many more.

What can you reflect on?  How have you grown as a person in the last 2 or 3 years?  Let us know in the comments!

Move It Out

One of the things that I found helpful was to move everything on top of my desk to somewhere else.  Or, at least try.  There are some things that must stay on top of my desk, i.e. my computer, but other things can find a home elsewhere.  With less on the surface of my desk, I have fewer distractions and the area simply looks cleaner, which raises my self confidence and productivity levels.

Keep It That Way

Probably the hardest part of cleaning your desk is keeping it that way.  It seems like the next day I’m at work, I just pile more stuff on the surface of my desk and I’m back to square one.  Instead of trying to clan your desk off at the beginning of the week or in the middle of the week, why not do it on your last day in the office that week?  You can take home certain items, throw away others, and not have to be bothered with your work area for a few days.  Then, once you get back into the office, your desk will feel like new because you feel like new.

When talking about cleaning, I must caution you: Out of sight does not mean it is not there.  I often take things off of the top of my desk and throw them into my drawers.  This is just as bad.  When you remove things from the top of your desk or clean it out for the week, reorganize your drawers and discard anything that you can.  Clean drawers will help you to stay organized and focused, especially when you really need to find that important document from six months ago.

I recently bought a 500 pack of blank notecards and decided that I would use them as my “notes to self.”  Surprisingly, the concept worked out and I have been a notecard fanatic ever since.  I keep my notecards in various places so I can always write my idea or thought down when I need to.  I have a stack at the office, a stack near my home computer, and some placed in my car.  No matter where I am, there is a stack of notecards a pen.

This slight change in my note-taking system has helped me accomplish more, focus my attention on certain tasks, and have more free time.  I no longer have to sit around and wonder what I should be doing.  I have a list and an agenda to guide my thoughts and actions.