I’ve squeezed a lifetime into the past two months, full of ups and downs and lefts and rights and tears of both sadness and joy. On January 26th, I started a new job in San Francisco. After two weeks, I quit, upon realizing it wasn’t anything the interview implied and everything I didn’t want to be doing. So, even in this economy, I decided there was always going to be a reason to settle, so I didn’t.

I blazed through job applications and spent hours on Craigslist searching for something that might pique my interest. Upon realizing that my resumes and cover letters were ending up in the black hole of databases that may or may not find me a good match, I made a decision to take control over my job search. I was sick of feeling helpless and at the whim of every hiring manager that gave my resume a thirty second look-over before deciding if I was worthy of an interview or not.

After feeling like I was running on a hamster wheel trying to find a job that I am passionate about, I got a flash in my head on March 6th. Twittershouldhireme dot com. I would make a website to show Twitter how much I want to work for them and it would get to them organically through, what else? Twitter. The website came after I was recommended by someone to work at Twitter, after I brought cookies personally to the office, and after I sent emails detailing why I would be a good fit.

I stayed up till 6 a.m. making the site and once it was finished, I sent out one single tweet. As you all know, the site has gone viral and has inspired many people, including a few copycat sites. Word about the site caught on almost instantaneously and since then, it has been a month full of excitement, from lunch at Twitter headquarters, Fortune Magazine interviews to now a live interview on CNN.

No, I haven’t been hired at Twitter, but this experience has unlocked many more opportunities that I didn’t even think were possible. I would love to work at Twitter, but I’ve found a different direction for my passions.

I’m starting my own business called Shatterboxx Media, which is already thriving, actually. I’m doing graphic design and consulting. (Which, by the way, shameless plug, I’m available for hire!) Also, I am working as a part time contractor doing Community Management for techVenture. This all falls under the umbrella of Shatterboxx Media.

My own business would not have been possible before twittershouldhireme.com. My name is out there and I’ve built up my own credibility by doing something out of the box and attention-getting, perfect for a career in marketing/design. I didn’t wait for a company to give me a chance to prove myself; I made my own experience happen, because I was passionate.

No matter what the economic climate is, there is no reason to settle when it comes to what you’re passionate about. You may think you have to stay at a dead end job or you have to take a job you’ll never love, but you have choices. Believe me, I’m a 23 year old who is one year out of college, about to build my own business, which I already see thriving.

I took chances. I stood out. I didn’t wait; I made things happen. I was waiting though, before I started the site – when I was sending out ten resumes a day and staring at my phone, hoping at least someone would call me in for an interview.

It’s time for you to follow your passion. Stop making excuses. I know what it’s like to make excuses and when you stop making them, your head hits the pillow at night soundly, without having that itching pang of all the dreams you’re not going for swirling around in your head.

I know the media has got us all down, but we need to lift ourselves up again. We need to see the hope throughout the dreary climate. We need to band together and find new ways to follow our passions. We need to realize that there will always be a reason to settle and we can’t let it happen. We can’t let ourselves give up. We are all in this together, capable of greatness, and deserving of a life of passion.

Now, go. Build something great.

(all pictures by pbo31)

Everyone tells us that you need to network and you need to go to events where you can meet people. But, do people talk about how difficult networking is? How breaking down the first few barriers is frightening? And, I’m outgoing. I mean, I’m really comfortable around people.

The other day I went to a tweetup. I originally texted my friend, Jenny, asking if she’d go with me, because that seemed safer, much less intimidating. She said she couldn’t go and I knew that if I didn’t go, knowing full well I had the time and desire to, I would be making an excuse. I would be saying to myself that networking and tweetups and bringing social media to life can only happen, in my life, if I have a friend there to hold my hand.

So, against my better judgment, I started on my drive to Half Moon Bay. It took me a long time to get there and I almost ran out of gas and as I was walking up to the restaurant I think my dress blew up by the wind and if anyone was watching me, they got a show.

(photo by Thomas Hawk)

I was over two hours late and the entire time I was driving, I was frightened. But, I told myself if I’m going to be bold and then write about how other people can be bold with social media, then damnit I better toughen up for this experience.

So, I took a deep breath, walked outside to a group of over fifteen people I maybe see in my Twitter stream and introduced myself. It felt intimate and like I had walked in on someone’s private brunch. But, I did it. And, now I can tell you that you can do it.

You can walk into a room full of strangers for a tweetup and instantly feel like you have something to throw onto the table. You know why? You live within that space. You tweet. You friendfeed. You do whatever networking you do. And it’s liberating to be able to speak freely offline about the things we do online.

(photo by Thomas Hawk)

So, seriously – fearful or not, I’m telling you it’s perfectly normal to be frightened about these events. Lots of people talk about networking like it’s the easiest thing to do, but it’s not. Especially when you’re new. But, that’s especially when you should.

1. Go against what everyone tells you to do
Fear: “I’ll be doing something wrong, people will disagree with me, and I’ll have made a terrible mistake that will be stamped on my forehead the rest of my life.”
Payoff: You’ll learn. You’ll be empowered. And, most people who are successful do not follow the rules; they make their own.
Best Example: Mark Zuckerberg from Facebook dropped out of Harvard to develop Facebook. You think people supported his decision to drop out of college, not to mention the prestigious, Harvard?

2. Listen to your heart and not your logic
Fear: “My heart has no idea what’s good for me and I’m a practical person, so logic is the only thing that makes sense.”
Payoff: Your heart will lead you in directions that are different and unfamiliar, but it’s a more intuitive path. Listening to your heart also takes faith and trust in yourself, two things that are not easy, but come with big payoffs.
Best Example: Most bands. Anyone with a bit of logic would quit pursuing the music industry, because the likelihood of actually getting anywhere in that industry is slim. But, some get through and it’s exponentially worth the faith. For example, Death Cab for Cutie formed in 1997 and didn’t go mainstream (partly their own choice, but partly not) ’till 2003. That’s six years of limited radio play, weak CD sales, sleeping on couches, and eating ramen on their tour bus (which was probably a van).

3. Put yourself out there
Fear: “People won’t like me.”
Payoff: People will. But, people won’t, as well. It will make you stronger and happier, because humans thrive with interaction. And, your fear only serves as confinement. Whether it’s building a blog readership or meeting friends for a drink at the bar, if you’re not present, you’re already behind.
Best Example: Anyone who dates online and finds the love of their life. Hell, back up, ANYONE who signs up for online dating. That takes guts, especially if you meet someone in person. However, I have a few friends who have had success with online dating, including one that is getting married in a few months to someone she met through Match.com. That kind of makes me want to go, “awwww,” but I’ll spare it.

(by rosiehardy)

4. Dance on stage, sing karaoke, be a volunteer at a magic show
Fear: “I’ll look like a fool. People will laugh at me. I’ll be humiliated.”
Payoff: You’ll look like a fool. People will laugh with you. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll love it.
Best Example: Ellen dances on her talk show everyday and personally, I think she looks like a fool, but in the best, most beautiful way possible. She seems free of worry and shame and insecurity. It’s truly inspiring (and it’s just a silly couple minutes of dancing).

5. Be clear on your dream(s)
Fear: “If I’m too clear and too into my dream and it doesn’t come true, what will I have left? I’ll be so disappointed.”
Payoff: Even letting in the possibility that your dream won’t come true is setting into works that it won’t. Being clear and believing, 100%, that you will achieve it, will make it happen. Dude, that may sound corny, but it’s true.
Best Example: What does Lance Armstrong do? He bikes. What did he set out to do? Win the Tour de France. When I read his book, I was blown away with how focused he was on cycling. And, it wasn’t about IF he won the Tour de France, it was about WHEN. (And, truly, all odds were against him.)

6. Fail
Fear: “This proves, once and for all, that I am inadequate and incompetent. I knew it.”
Payoff: The best lesson I think anyone can learn are the ones that blossom from failure. You learn how to be resilient and self-sufficient. You learn how to be innovative with your approach, because you failed, so you need a new plan. Mostly, you learn things about yourself that you didn’t even know you needed to. And, that’s priceless.
Best Example: Robert Downey Jr. A few years ago, he failed, basically, at life. And, his career dwindled to nothingness. But, then he came back stronger than ever and his career is better than it was before. His failure must have opened up parts of himself that he didn’t know needed to be examined. And, it pushed him to be better.

I’ve noticed that there’s an inherent fear of “coloring outside the lines.” And, why shouldn’t there be? At the slightest gesture of going against the norm, any one person can be hit with an onslaught of criticism. But, what we need to remember is that very few people have been extremely successful and actually inspired change by following the rules and playing it safe. It’s practically unheard of.

(by rosiehardy)

Believe me, I spent the better half of last week kicking the naysayers voices out of my head and replacing them with the affirmation that I am going for my dreams, doing things I believe in, making choices that are difficult, talking about choices that people don’t agree with, and putting myself out there in a big way.

I’m done playing it safe. Are you?

(originally posted at intersected)