Thank you again to everyone who has joined the Facebook Group! I've received a lot of positive feedback and words of encouragement. I want to emphasize that this blog and the corresponding Facebook group are different from a lot of other social media destinations out there. The specific purpose and dream is to have an active community of EMALs that are sharing tidbits from their lives that will encourage others. No pressure, but when your ready consider posting something on the www.IAMEMAL.com blog or even a quick comment on the Facebook group page. Once we get this started it will flow like milk and honey! Together we are stronger, smarter, better equiped to face challenges in our lives.
All My Best,
EMAL #54 (Chris Inverso '01)
P.S. Please tell other EMALs from all generations, even if they are not yet on Facebook they can still go to the blog site.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Getting Things Started..
EMALs,
I figured I'd prime the blog's pump a little here with a story of my own. Those that played football at the tail end of the 90's and the early part of this decade will likely remember that I once aspired to become a physician. However, after applying to medical schools and working as a outpatient dialysis technician, this career path no longer seemed to be a very good fit for me. I was torn because I wanted to finish what I'd started and had some small regrets about how I had prepared for the entrance exam.
Without a clear plan, I ventured out into the world of business-to-business sales. After some strong early successes I fell into a spiral of fear and doubt. Of course, I had a toolbox full of resources to address my troubled mindset, but I've got to admit that I really struggled.
Nine months later, I had a small breakthrough when I secured a position as a corporate trainer for a large mortgage company. While I had a chance to discover that teaching and training were areas that I really enjoyed, I still hadn't figured out how to weave them into a plan for my life. For the next four years I bounced around in the real estate and mortgage industries. I enjoyed myself and learned a lot, but their were still some pretty extreme high and low points.
About halfway through this period of time, my first daughter, Siri Joy Inverso was born on April 5, 2006. From the moment I saw her I was struck with a compelling urge to help her live the fullest, most abundant life possible. I dreamt of all that I could do to inspire, encourage, and motivate her to become all that she was capable of becoming. There was just one small challenge: In my heart I knew wasn't becoming all that I was capable of becoming. Fear and doubt were still holding me back.
Something had to give and I decided that it was me. At the time, the change was barely perceptible, but each day I began challenging myself with the question, “Am I choosing to live out my dreams or am I selling myself short of all that I desire for myself, my family, and my community?” Over time, this question fostered a steady change in my actions. As it did, I began to realize more and more that I had a passion to enable those around me to live out their dreams as well. In fact, I learned that, in many ways, the most efficient method for me to accomplish my dreams was to help others realize theirs.
This shift in ideology has had a profound impact on my professional life. Each day I strive to ask questions, read, and learn new things that I hope will allow me to better serve those that I work with. It has also led me reconnect with my passion for writing. Since I've worked in and around small businesses for the past 6 years, my first book will be about achieving success as a small business owner. In fact, the book is nearly finished.
More than anything I now understand how I can live out the ideals that I once associated only with the medical profession: (a) tangibly serve others and (b) convert complicated ideas into easy to understand and actionable concepts.
I have by no means arrived and each day seems to bring new challenges. However, my mind has never been sharper, my energy has never been greater, and my belief has never been stronger. I attribute this renewed mindset to three things:
1. God's response to my prayers for direction and wisdom.
2. The full spectrum of mindset enhancing tools that I learned at PLU.
3. My assumption that other EMALs were continually persevering as they battled through adversity of their own.
Thank you to those that have walked with me and continue to walk with me as I travel along the Success Road.
All My Best!
EMAL #54 (Chris Inverso '01)
I figured I'd prime the blog's pump a little here with a story of my own. Those that played football at the tail end of the 90's and the early part of this decade will likely remember that I once aspired to become a physician. However, after applying to medical schools and working as a outpatient dialysis technician, this career path no longer seemed to be a very good fit for me. I was torn because I wanted to finish what I'd started and had some small regrets about how I had prepared for the entrance exam.
Without a clear plan, I ventured out into the world of business-to-business sales. After some strong early successes I fell into a spiral of fear and doubt. Of course, I had a toolbox full of resources to address my troubled mindset, but I've got to admit that I really struggled.
Nine months later, I had a small breakthrough when I secured a position as a corporate trainer for a large mortgage company. While I had a chance to discover that teaching and training were areas that I really enjoyed, I still hadn't figured out how to weave them into a plan for my life. For the next four years I bounced around in the real estate and mortgage industries. I enjoyed myself and learned a lot, but their were still some pretty extreme high and low points.
About halfway through this period of time, my first daughter, Siri Joy Inverso was born on April 5, 2006. From the moment I saw her I was struck with a compelling urge to help her live the fullest, most abundant life possible. I dreamt of all that I could do to inspire, encourage, and motivate her to become all that she was capable of becoming. There was just one small challenge: In my heart I knew wasn't becoming all that I was capable of becoming. Fear and doubt were still holding me back.
Something had to give and I decided that it was me. At the time, the change was barely perceptible, but each day I began challenging myself with the question, “Am I choosing to live out my dreams or am I selling myself short of all that I desire for myself, my family, and my community?” Over time, this question fostered a steady change in my actions. As it did, I began to realize more and more that I had a passion to enable those around me to live out their dreams as well. In fact, I learned that, in many ways, the most efficient method for me to accomplish my dreams was to help others realize theirs.
This shift in ideology has had a profound impact on my professional life. Each day I strive to ask questions, read, and learn new things that I hope will allow me to better serve those that I work with. It has also led me reconnect with my passion for writing. Since I've worked in and around small businesses for the past 6 years, my first book will be about achieving success as a small business owner. In fact, the book is nearly finished.
More than anything I now understand how I can live out the ideals that I once associated only with the medical profession: (a) tangibly serve others and (b) convert complicated ideas into easy to understand and actionable concepts.
I have by no means arrived and each day seems to bring new challenges. However, my mind has never been sharper, my energy has never been greater, and my belief has never been stronger. I attribute this renewed mindset to three things:
1. God's response to my prayers for direction and wisdom.
2. The full spectrum of mindset enhancing tools that I learned at PLU.
3. My assumption that other EMALs were continually persevering as they battled through adversity of their own.
Thank you to those that have walked with me and continue to walk with me as I travel along the Success Road.
All My Best!
EMAL #54 (Chris Inverso '01)
Posting on the I AM EMAL Blog
Fellow EMALs,
Posting on the I AM EMAL blog is as simple as sending an email:
1. Simply cut and paste the following email address into the "To:" field of your email: chrisinverso1.iamemal@blogger.com
2. Enter the Title of your posting into the subject header of your email.
3. Enter the Content of your posting into the body of your email.
4. Be sure to finish with your name, jersey number, and/or year graduated. Please remove any auto generated signatures.
Thank you for joining us as we all strive and arrive on the Success Road!
EMAL #54 (Chris Inverso '01)
Posting on the I AM EMAL blog is as simple as sending an email:
1. Simply cut and paste the following email address into the "To:" field of your email: chrisinverso1.iamemal@blogger.com
2. Enter the Title of your posting into the subject header of your email.
3. Enter the Content of your posting into the body of your email.
4. Be sure to finish with your name, jersey number, and/or year graduated. Please remove any auto generated signatures.
Thank you for joining us as we all strive and arrive on the Success Road!
EMAL #54 (Chris Inverso '01)
A Letter To My EMAL Brothers
We are all at different places as we travel along the proverbial “
As I travel and speak with EMALs from all generations, I am continually encouraged and uplifted by their stories. Each story is uniquely different: some are stories of achievement, others are stories filled with humor, and still others are stories of adversity. I’ve sought out these relationships and stories for two reasons:
1. When a goal is accomplished or a joyful occasion takes place in my life, or in the lives of my fellow EMALs, I feel a strong desire to celebrate and share these experiences with other EMALs. I have found that opportunities to connect in this way are uniquely fulfilling.
2. When I am faced with a challenge, I imagine the perseverance and determination that my fellow EMAL brothers must be demonstrating as they face challenges of their own. I have found that this kind of thinking encourages me.
With the power of the internet, communication that has the ability to span the entire spectrum of EMAL generations is now at the tips of our fingers. I propose that we begin to use this blog, as well as the Facebook Group with the same name, to post stories from our lives that will serve as beacons of hope, joy, and encouragement to EMALs all over the world.
Let’s leave no doubt that EMALs everywhere are making a difference and impacting our world in a unique and meaningful way.
All My Best!
EMAL #54 (Chris Inverso '01)
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