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)