Focus and Vision: My Odyssey Toward Confronting Education Reform

Why this article? One, to cite an example of how focus and vision (planning and its modification via continued experience) are critical in my plight as well as all who desire to achieve. Two, to cite the specifics of how this is accomplished.

OK, now you know. Let's get into it

It all began back in Boston. I had moved from Connecticut four years previous and was about to set on my journey to Los Angeles to seek fame and fortune after getting my chops down in stand-up comedy. I knew then as I know now that one must use his or her talents or waste God-given gifts--those given us to achieve what we were put here to do. My ability to make people laugh is superior to that of programming IBM mid-range systems, so I made the logical transition (the use of which would certainly be refined as the years went by).

A year before leaving Boston a most powerful experience changed and influenced my life to the greatest degree. This experience the impetus behind my career change. A point to note is that one often has to overcome accepted norms or ways of thinking to achieve these moments of greatest growth and insight.

While home one day going over my stand-up material a knock came at the door. There stood two young men in suites with name tags. After opening the door and greeting them, I gave them the polite "I'm all set" standard response. I couldn't have been more wrong. To make a long story short, I converted from agnosticism to Christianity. I had grown up Catholic but never experienced a single spiritual moment and had been religiously inactive for over a decade. Since becoming a disciplined disciple of Christ, my life has been nothing but one unfolding spiritual experience of great purpose and significance.

As I continued on my journey, every step of the way as I remained open to the promptings of the subconscious, the intuitive, the divine I was guided and directed to optimize my skills in using them for my specific purpose. I didn't know then, but eventually I would be using all of my greatest talents to achieve what I was put here to do. Another point of note is that to obtain the greatest reward oft times takes leaps of faith and belief that the dark will recede as we step into it to reveal the light of greater knowledge and insight.

I was prompted initially after being in Los Angeles for one year, still working on my stand-up (profound change takes time and focus and not rash decision making), to go back to school. The message ingrained in my soul (not just my mind but throughout my being) was to "Write." As we know, the pen is more powerful than the sword, so I was to learn best to write.

As I took classes to finish my BA and obtain my MA, I was helped not most of the time, some of the time, but every single time I needed it. When I was late on an assignment for whatever reason, an opportunity arose that assured I would not lose points: assignment canceled, moved back, allowed to be handed in later, etc. And this type of assistance, aid, insight was afforded me not just while in school but while teaching and as I built my business. Time, and time, and time again I was guided down the appropriate path to benefit my experience, understanding, and growth that not only strengthened me but moved me closer and closer to ultimate success: maximizing my skills.

The point being here that if we are honest with ourselves, for we know, and move along the path we are asked to all the help we need we are given to maximize our purpose on this great little orb we call earth.

Eventually, as I was teaching it began to dawn on me that not only was I teaching but connecting, and what's the best way to endear yourself to others, encourage, and connect? Humor. But that wasn't my only talent. My other talents (which often if not always means interests) entailed writing, researching, learning, and working toward change for the greater good. I always knew I wanted to do something big, even though I thought initially it might entail being a sports star, rock star, or comedian, I now realize through a greater connection to the intuitive what I am to do.

Some time after receiving the message to get my degree in writing, I began to teach to hone my skills of teaching, speaking, learning, thinking critically and accurately. As I moved along this path, knowing from the outset that I'd teach six to seven years before beginning my coaching business, I learned great things of humankind-why he thinks and does what he does-by reading endless books in theology, philosophy, math, science, business, and more. My understanding and vision was constantly being opened for me from a larger, divine perspective. Since being of the spiritual, intuitive mind, my knowledge and grasp of things improved in amazing leaps and bounds. At times I couldn't think quickly enough or write fast enough to access and retain the knowledge and understanding coming to me at lightning speed.

As the years passed as a teacher, I began some five to six years in to be guided in another direction, meeting people and encountering prompts to learn more about wealth, finance, business building, and other fiscally conservative issues. I was constantly being lead along a path that allowed me to learn the things I needed not only to maximize my skills but to maximize my opportunities in career, family, and even health. My path also guided me even into retirement telling me of a way that was beneficial to me and others how to retire unlike the 95% who rely on family, friend, the government or poor paying jobs. And interestingly enough, this avenue has little to do with traditional education-continued commentary on its ongoing ills.

In recent years, all that work--study, research, speaking--paid off. About a year ago after giving a talk, I was walking through the parking lot with my family and a woman drove over to us, rolled down the window, smiled and said, "You, my good man, are GOOD!"

I realized at this point that all I had done, even the times of being quiet and withdrawn up to doing stand-up to undo the same and move toward my ultimate goal, prepared me for this moment. Just as Lincoln's poverty, self-educating skills, and trials prepared him for the ultimate task of saving a war-torn country from destruction, I, in a much smaller way, have been prepared for what I was put here to do. We all have it in us. Our success map lies inside. We just need to have the fortitude and focus to bring it to light by taking on our true purpose and work against the naysayers who work without vision or light.

To make a long story short, I have begun my business and am moving into the final phase; nevertheless, keeping my mind open, my heart humble, and vision focused outward and upward, I continue to receive personal revelation to aid me, my business, family, and all I touch. But a critical point to note here is that none of this would have happened if I didn't come fully out of my comfort zone and take on accepted but often incorrect popular norms or belief systems to greater purpose and understanding. And through all this change I realize that I am but an instrument, for through all my imperfections and limitations it is only a greater source than me who lets me see, see with vision and precision beyond my natural ability.

May I be used to optimum effect to aid all our youth and those not being satisfied by our failed education system, a system in such a poor state and out of reach to most trying to amend its greatest issues that it can only be fixed from without. I think of the phrase here "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting the same result."

May those who are fully committed to our youth's betterment begin to see that the greatest fix remains outside the state or 15,000 individually run school districts to privatized competition. I very rarely get good service at the DMV or post office, but once I walk into a Blockbusters or Vons Supermarket I find considerable interest taken in my welfare and desires. May the education of our youth eventually end up in the same arena, so help us God.