Get out of your comfort zone and find your passion in 2011

Get out of your comfort zone and find your passion in 2011

Imagine a cage with five monkeys. In the cage hangs a banana and there are some stairs that lead to it. In a few minutes, a monkey walks towards the stairs and starts climbing in order to eat the banana. As soon as he steps on the first step, all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt to eat the banana and all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water.

Do these several times and you will see how the next time a monkey gets close to the stairs to try to get the banana, all the other monkeys will try to prevent it even though there is no water sprayed on them.

Now, we remove one monkey from the cage and replace him with another one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs to eat it. To its amazement, all the other monkeys attack him to prevent his going up the stairs. He will try a few times but will finally realize that if he continues trying, he will be attacked, so he stops trying.

Next, remove another of the original monkeys and replace him with a new one. The new one goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous monkey takes part in the punishment with great enthusiasm although he has no idea why it is not permitted to climb the stairs.

After replacing the third, fourth and fifth original monkeys, all the monkeys that had been sprayed with cold water have been replaced. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs. We may ask ourselves, why not? “Because that is the way it has always been around here”. Doesn’t that sound familiar?

If we look at the problems we are facing in the island, don’t you realize that is exactly what is happening? We must change things around here. We must be creative and find ways to help this beautiful island with smart, hard working people, reach its potential.

The way we are handling things now a day is not conducive to allow P.R to progress, as it should. It is clear that the University of Puerto Rico, my Alma matter, is going through rough times. There is a big deficit and it is getting bigger. Striking and using violence is not the way to go. That costs money, lots of money and at the time of this writing, the University might lose its Middle States accreditation and millions will be lost in all kinds of federal help. There are difference of opinions on what must be done to solve the problems, getting into the different arguments is not within the scope of this article.

What must be done is stop this childish behavior and get to work to solve the problems or the consequences are going to be disastrous to the thousands of students that want to study, help their country and succeed in life.

Do not think that the problem with the University is a local matter. No. It is a world-wide matter because what happens gets reported and the whole world reads about it.
This affects the reputation of the island and it will scare off entrepreneurs or companies that might want to come here to invest and create jobs. Then everyone suffers, not only the students.

The best way to solve problems is for everyone to sit down, get down to business and look for a win win solution.

Time here is of the essence. We can’t simply afford to continue down this path. With the world going through a very difficult economic period and every country trying to find ways to become more competitive and get their finances in order and here we are striking and fighting among ourselves? This is ludicrous, makes no sense at all.

My intention in writing this article was not to discuss the situation at the University but it just slipped out after hearing the radio all day and then watching the eleven o’clock newscast. There is no positive news discussed, everyone is crying over the present situation. If things can change, they will certainly not change if most people are walloping in their sad world, complaining and not doing anything about it.

People must get out of the comfort zone and change the mind set from disruption to constructive problem solving. Everyone is responsible, not only the government or the University administration, faculty and students. If you, as a citizen, believe that things are not happening the way they should, start applying pressure through the media, your elective officials or any other means and get involved. Remember, if the boat sinks, you are going down with it too.

Getting back to the focus of the article, there is no doubt that there are millions of people in the world conditioned to lead mediocre lives without a clear vision of the future. They don´t have definite objectives that could better their lives and they have fallen victim to obstacles or negative situations that have sucked away their enthusiasm and motivation.

No matter to how much negativism you are exposed to daily, the world today is much richer than at any other moment in life. There are more opportunities for everyone today than in any other point in history. Can you believe that right now you could create a web page and this afternoon you could be selling products or services to everyone in the world? First time in history this can be done.

What is your passion and purpose in life? Many experts in the motivational field recommend that you start with these questions. Those of you that take the time to do this exercise will be amazed at the results you can achieve. I have had people in my seminars come to me with tears in their eyes telling me that it is the first time that they have sat down to think about these important concepts.

They had no idea what their destiny would be, didn’t know their passion or purpose in life and had accepted to lead purposeless, boring lives. Thinking about these questions, was the first step to completely change their lives. This change in their lives, by the way, had a domino effect on their friends and loved ones.

I divide these questions in four areas: Passion, Talent, Values and Destiny.

1) Passion: What is it that I like to do?
What activities give me great satisfaction?
What makes me enthusiastic?
What is my secret ambition?
What are my hobbies?

2) Talent: What am I really good at?
What am I so good at that people constantly praise me?
What have I excelled at in the past?
What are my strengths

3) Values: What is important to me?
What would I do if I were very rich?
What do I stand up for?
What code of ethics do I follow?
For what would I risk my life?

4) Destiny: I was born to accomplish what?
What is my true mission in life?
What opportunities am I missing because I am not focusing correctly?
How can I make a difference in other people’s lives?


Answering these questions from your heart will lead you in the right direction. You might not have given these questions much thought in the past but now; starting 2011 is a good time to start. The world needs what you have to offer and what you can contribute to it. Don’t deprive the world of the things that you can accomplish.

When a person finds its passion and purpose in the world, life becomes wonderful and miracles start happening. It seems the universe wants to give you what you want.
Life doesn’t give you what you need; life gives you what you deserve.

May 2011 give you everything that you deserve.