Have you ever been asked, “You’re going to do what?” by someone, maybe even a well-intentioned loved one when you’ve shared your big dreams or ideas?

 

Or maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of a quizzical stare or confused shake of the head from someone that just didn’t understand the life you’ve envisioned and the impact you want to make? 

 

 

It’s been happening to me my whole life.

 

Since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to do things my way. To go against the grain and try something unconventional was just part of who I was. Because I was super shy, however, I did a lot of these things on the sly so as not to draw attention to myself.

 

And I was a good kid – a rule follower to a fault. As you can imagine, the compulsion to do things my own way and try new things coupled with wanting to follow the directions and live up to the expectations of others caused a fair amount of inner turmoil…

 

Case in point.

 

It was 1997. I had just graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a degree in Health Education. I had a secure, well-paying job with the state that provided not only health care benefits but a coveted retirement plan. 

 

For all intents and purposes, I was on the “right” path. I had a degree, a job with benefits, and my future looked secure until…

 

I was invited to become a cast member with the international educational organization, Up With People. I was given an opportunity of a lifetime to travel the world, immerse myself in diverse cultures, serve the communities we visited, and be on stage nearly every day and perform!!!

 

But there was a BIG problem. 

 

Not only was I a rule-follower, I was also a people pleaser extraordinaire! I had already disappointed my family by not going to medical school. And here I was about to disappoint them again by giving up security for something they perceived as “frivolous.”

 

And it wasn’t just my family. 

 

Many of my friends just couldn’t understand why I would even entertain such an idea. There were lots of well-meaninged naysayers, eye-rollers, and exasperated shrugs when it came to this life-changing decision. It seemed like everyone had an opinion on the matter.

 

What they didn’t understand, and never bothered to ask, was my WHY. 

 

Can you relate?

 

Let me know in the comments 👇

 

It was time to embrace my nature fully and do things my own way. 

 

I quit my job, gave notice on my apartment, and moved all my belongings back to my parents’ house. Then I packed a single suitcase and a backpack and headed out to carve my own path in the world for an entire year.

 

It was time to do something just for me.

 

My decision didn’t need to make sense for anyone else (as hard as it was to admit that).  It was my life and I was about to start living it on my own terms and not someone else’s.

 

And guess what???

The year of seeing, serving, and performing was extraordinary – beyond my wildest dreams and it shaped my life in ways I can scarcely put into words.

 

To think that I almost let the opinions of others stop me from experiencing that year makes me feel a bit ill…

 

Just for fun, here are a few pics from my year of travel that I almost missed

 

 

 

Do me a favor?

 

As you head out to do your thing today, remember that only YOU know the right path for you. 

 

The path you choose may not be the most direct. 

 

Your path may be full of great challenges, some of which will cause you to question your decisions.

 

But the path ahead is yours to choose.

 

Don’t let the opinions of others get in the way of sharing all that makes you awesome! 

 

I know this 👆is SUPER hard!

 

2020 is the year to tap into your unique superpowers. 

2020 is the year you stop being the best-kept secret in your industry!

2020 is the year to embrace all that makes you AWESOME!

 

And I’ll be here to cheer you on every step of the way 👏

 

Tell me 👇how you’re going to embrace your awesome and share it with the world in 2020!

 

Cheers!

 

Yong

 

P.S. With a total rebrand of the podcast and the biz – big things are coming YOUR way in 2020, my friend!