My Soccer Story: How I use my soccer career in everyday life

When I was 5 years old my life changed. The World Cup in South Korea/Japan was going on, and this was my first time watching soccer (that I can remember). What made it special was that my father would wake me up at 2 a.m. to watch USA play, because of the time difference. I still remember climbing out of bed to watch my nation play. I remember so much about that tournament - from Ronaldo’s crazy haircut, to Oliver Kahn’s superman saves. This tournament started my life on a journey towards a crazy, big dream - To be a professional soccer player.
     The next 13 years of my life was dedicated primarily to fulfilling that dream. I was blessed with supportive parents who believed in my dream, and coaches who impacted my life in ways I still can't fully fathom. The point of this article is threefold

• How my skills in soccer translate to other ventures.
• How my mentors/coaches significantly impacted my life.
• How my perspective on culture shifted

My journey towards achieving my dream of professional soccer transformed my life The many dedicated hours to this sport taught me that persistence, patience, and self belief are the keys to achieving the desired outcome. If it wasn't for my coaches, I would not have grown; stagnation is a step backwards when the competition is pushing towards excellence. My soccer career is over. However, my journey towards accomplishing my dreams and aspirations is just beginning. 

This is the first post in a series on 'My Soccer Story'. I will be expanding on how soccer translates, and what I learned. 

The Social Organism: How Social Media Is Growing, Evolving, and Changing Who We Are

author: Oliver Luckett
name: Tyler
average rating: 3.91
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date added: 2017/01/31
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This book sets the tone for how to view the phenomenon of social media, and more broadly how to view communication itself. Oliver explains how social media is actually a representation of natural life. By understanding organic evolution, and the way organisms interact, we can understand social media.

"A must-read for business leaders and anyone who wants to understand all the implications of a social world."-Bob Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company

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Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness

author: Richard H. Thaler
name: Tyler
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2008
rating: 0
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date added: 2017/01/31
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Fact: Every decision we make is influenced by outside sources. Some of the sources we can control, others we can not. That's the topic of this book. A Nudge is anything that correlates/causes a decision without coercion. The book is full of insightful stories relating the thesis to every day scenarios. Our automatic system is flawed. Although sometimes it leads to impeccable survival instinct, like knocking a baseball out of the park, and sometimes it leads to terrible decisions, like profiling people.  Thaler is an amazing author. His words resonate clearly, and the lessons inside 'Nudge' are indisputably crucial.

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Plato's Ion

author: Plato
name: Tyler
average rating: 3.63
book published: -380
rating: 4
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date added: 2017/01/30
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This dialogue between Socrates and Ion explores the nature of poetic and artistic inspiration. In a light and playful way, Socrates questions Ion, the “expert” on Homer. This work by Plato is super short, and an easy read. The topics Socrates explores, as usual, are the biggest life questions. Even when it seems trivial, Socrates manages to touch the deepest parts of a subject.

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Capitalism and Freedom

author: Milton Freidman
name: Tyler
average rating: 4.40
book published: 1962
rating: 4
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date added: 2017/01/30
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In this incredible book, Milton Friedman states, “A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself.”

Capitalism and Freedom thoroughly changed my life. Milton's views resonated with me; in that, the protection of private property and liberty is the first and foremost goal of any institution. However, the approach to enacting a sustainable economic approach, with the million contingencies in modern America, is much more perplexing.

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FBLA: The story behind ‘Zero to One’

Imagine us: three guys frantically driving through downtown DC, late to our meeting, no GPS (for the only one with a smartphone forgot to charge it), and we are arguing about how to use an atlas. Well, we did get to the meeting, although quite late, and we did learn how to use an atlas, after getting lost a billion times. This is the story of my monumental trip to the Capital.

  We left on a Friday, returned home on a Sunday. What transpired in those three days none of us expected. Jeff Waite, Quin Weidner, and myself embarked to a conference hosted by Future Business Leaders of America. The conference has various seminars on different subjects. Many of these discussions deeply impacted my life. However, one in particular rises above the rest. Titled “Why I dropped out of the Ivy League”, a young man, perhaps 23, gave a talk on the future of entrepreneurship, and the trends that say college and business do NOT usually go well with each other. Zachary Slayback, the speaker, portrayed an alternative to college. He was, and is, a part of an organization called Praxis. Praxis acts as a middleman, of a sorts, between startups and young entrepreneurs looking to gain real world business experience. The idea behind Praxis resonated with me... But, I wasn't convinced. Not until I read the book he recommended so highly. Zero to One is a sort of guide for startups looking to create something new, something fresh. The author, Peter Theil, co-founder of PayPal and founder of Palantir, blew my mind.

I have read this book four times now; each time with a new insight. This book directed my mind towards something I knew deep down I wanted; perhaps even needed. Of all the things I could say about this trip, there is no doubt the seminar on dropping out of the Ivy League tops them all. Last thought: The goal of learning, for me at least, has got to be to achieve a desired outcome. What did I actually gain from that seminary and book, and how do I apply those lessons today? One lesson to close on - college is expensive, and the return on this investment is rarely worth it.. If you can't even find a career in your industry, what's the point? I am not saying college is bad, or a bad investment. What I am saying is that, for the vast majority, it is rarely a good investment. Thus, the lesson is simple - invest time and money into something that has a foreseeable and definable outcome. Define what you want to gain from an endeavor, and formulate the appropriate steps to achieve it.

Fahrenheit 451

author: Ray Bradbury
name: Tyler
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1953
rating: 4
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date added: 2017/01/23
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Ray Bradbury states in this book, “We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?”. This struck me hard. Why? Because, I desire not an easy life, but the strength to survive a harsh one (although, that is much easier said then lived out).  
    After hearing so much about the impact this book has had on people's lives, I decided to finally read it. The result was to be expected; it changed mine as well. I fell in love with the story, and was moved by the characters. I read this book in a day.. For I was so entranced with the story. My favorite thing said from the book was that, those who do not create, always try to burn. Basically, life is a process of creation and destruction. Life and death. And every man and woman, every day, has the option to live closer to creation, or closer to destruction. 
I highly recommend this quick read to everyone.


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Shoulders of Giants

Shoulders of Giants

  Why I Believe in Giants

    A wise man once said, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”. That man was Isaac Newton. The power of mentors to transform and enlighten your life will never be said enough. Without the advice and insight from those around him, Newton would not have accomplished the feats he did. I believe that if Alexander the Great had Aristotle as a mentor, Warren Buffett had Benjamin Graham, music industry legend Quincy Jones had Ray Charles, and many more amazing people such as Clint Eastwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Cal Ripken, Jr. all had mentors, then we need them as well.

     Picasso once said “Good artists copy, great artists steal”. The question is simple, how do we emulate the success of others so we too can enjoy the benefits of fulfilling our dreams? Firstly, it begins by discovering who we should emulate. Perhaps Aristotle’s “eudaimonia”, meaning living and doing well, will shed some light - Love, happiness, wealth, and health are essential to living a satisfying life. Although the formula for achieving these goals is extremely disputed, the idea behind them remains solid. For example, if you want health why not go to an expert to ask for advice? Unless you truly believe you know more about health than the Giants, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger at his prime, then why not ask for help? The idea is simple - Plato talked about how a teacher is the physician of the soul, so be careful when choosing a teacher; your “soul” is on the line.

   Ralph Waldo Emerson’s perspective was that everyone he met was his superior at something; in that he learned something different and unique from everyone. Each man and woman we meet, no matter where they are at in life, is valuable. Never look down upon any man or woman, for everyone has their day. Learn from everyone - but be careful who you base your life off of.

  The power of mentors comes in their ability to inspire, to teach, and their offering of a helping hand in the search for answers. Quin and I are using this website as our solution to the mentor dilemma: Awesome advice from people who have made life decisions you want to emulate; for why copy someone you would not want to be like? We decided to ask people who in some fashion we want to emulate.

   “It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it” - Oscar Wilde. There has been much research into the power of books, and I do not think I need to reason why they are important. This statement by Victor Hugo will suffice - “To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark”. We believe in the vision of the power of mentors, and the power of books.

   Shoulders of Giants is a website and blog dedicated to anyone interested in pursuing a life full of growth and success. By recommending books that have inspired, motivated, or transformed their life, these mentors have given anyone intrigued the knowledge to propel their life to greatness. I firmly believe that these people will impact your life; simply take the time to listen to them.

Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations (Ted Books)

author: Dan Ariely
name: Tyler
average rating: 3.76
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rating: 4
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date added: 2017/01/18
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Why is my motivation sometimes strong and sometime lacking? I find myself wanting to do the things I should, and doing the things I should not. What is the formula for motivation? This book asks that question. Quick and to the point, Dan Ariely gave me an inkling of an idea about creating my own formula. Drawing from the insights of Victor Frankl, who wrote 'Mans search for Meaning', Dan showed me something..that motivation is complex, but pursing a life of meaning will give one the tools for daily motivation. I don't know who I will be tomorrow morning, however, if I know who I want to be then I will be unknowingly creating my own formula. I resolve today to work towards who I want to become. Dan Ariely gave me, through numerous examples and stories, a new perspective of myself. Nietzsche stated,"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." What does this mean to me? That my motivation must spring from "why", and that I my formula for success will be developed by pursuing my purpose in life.


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Jack Canfield's Key to Living the Law of Attraction: A Simple Guide to Creating the Life of Your Dreams

author: Jack Canfield
name: Tyler
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2007
rating: 0
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date added: 2017/01/17
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My favorite quote from the book by Richard Leider - "The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose". This book is a guide to living the law of attraction - meaning, our thoughts attract our circumstances. If you want positive outcomes for your life, it starts with your thoughts. This book is full of inspiring quotes and stories, but most of it is a workbook. Jack Canfield is calling you to action.  It's worth the time to check out


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Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

author: Malcolm Gladwell
name: Tyler
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2005
rating: 4
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date added: 2017/01/17
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Basically, this book is an exploration into judgment - snap decisions people make that turn out to be right or wrong. How do people assess a situation within a blink of an eye, and make a correct decision? An athlete is a perfect example of making decisions without thinking. How do you perfect this skill? Malcolm Gladwell says through experience and education. The unconscious is a reflection of what we think over time, combined with stimulus from our environment - so, to perfect your judgment, continue to learn. This book offers many examples of people making good and bad decisions quickly, and how we can learn from them. I love Gladwell and recommend this book as well as The Tipping Point by him.


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Pygmalion

author: George Bernard Shaw
name: Tyler
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1913
rating: 3
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date added: 2017/01/13
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I recently was reading Chomsky's work on language, and this play went perfect with the concept of the power of language. The ability to portray your thoughts effectively and clearly will cause others to listen attentively. Although, one of my least favorite plays by Shaw, it still was intriguing. I can see why it had the success it did. It's a short read, so it's worth the time. Not sure if I would read it again though.


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Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

author: Alex Harris
name: Tyler
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2008
rating: 4
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date added: 2017/01/10
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This book is a challenge to young men and women; how do we break the mold? Full of countless stories of people who have challenged their cultures expectations, this book is an example to anyone of how someone really can make a difference. It is a call to be different and unique, to be steadfast and resolute, and to be someone that others aspire to become. It's a must read for anyone willing to accept the challenge to live a hard life.


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The Power to Transform: 90 Days to a New You

author: Chris Majer
name: Tyler
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2009
rating: 4
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date added: 2017/01/10
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To sum up - A self help book with a practical twist. Worth reading, even if you just skim through. Read this next time you consider a book to help you change your negative habits, or to help you create new positive habits. Chris' ideas and stories connected with me; for he was driven to make an substantially significant impact on not only his original market, but eventually an expansion to other industries. I recommend


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