Thoughts

“It’s my last Hoorah before my job starts…”

Making Travel and fun a priority

I was getting up after five hours at Starbucks, packing my computer and hard drives and notebooks, looking around to see what was happening outside of my tunnel vision. As I was looking around I caught a glimpse of a cute girl’s computer screen.

It was an itinerary / order confirmation for a Europe Rail Pass and having just returned from this part of the world I had to ask about it. And she was cute so… I had to say something.

“Are you going to Europe?”

Turns out she was leaving for a brief trip through the typical American tourist destinations.

“It’s my last hoorah before I move to Dallas to start my job.”

Cringe. This type of thinking, this fatalistic “end of the fun” perspective, the “now real life starts” outlook :: it makes me sick.

So many students think that life goes downhill after graduating, that real life is boring, that travel and adventure and everything that awaits in the world is off limits when “real life” starts.

It’s wrong :: fact.

I understand that in order to start a successful career we must make some sacrifices. I understand that very few can travel the world freely without having to worry about their job. I understand all of this and I know I will have to face this fact in the near future.

But to think that after college these “luxuries” are off limits, that a real job nullifies the opportunity to explore the world, this thinking is negatively self fulfilling.

Priorities must be established in order to actually follow through with them.

Tooooooo many people never travel far and wide because they don’t make it a priority.
Tooooooo many people never do things because they let pre-established priorities determine their lives.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t take that job in Dallas right out of college. Take it.

But know that, if you want to, you can take 2 or 3 extended trips around the world before you turn 30. You just have to make it a priority.

_ _ _ _

I’m now in California for the next two months. HYFR.

My adventures will be heavily chronicled over at Take Over Your City in at least one blog post and one video update a week.

I will share thoughts here too but ZCLOCO.com is slowly morphing to focus more on the clothing company. Please share all of the ZCLOCO dopeness with your homies.

Private Jets and Penthouse Condos

Back in 2010 I was reading a lot of self-help books ranging from Think and Grow Rich to The Magic of Thinking Big to a whole hell of a lot of other ones. One of the reoccurring emphases in this literature is envisioning a better life and totally absorbing this vision into your subconscious to the [...]

The tell tale sign was the playing basketball in TCU. I was quickly winded and my game was significantly hindered by my lack of stamina. At 23 I should be up and down the court with no problem, running back to back to back to back to back games. And I definitely was not. Then [...]

I spent the last week in Fort Worth living the life of a privileged college student. And hot damn it was a great time. Since I was staying at my friend’s house I was seamlessly integrated into the lifestyle of a graduating senior. I spent hours sitting around the house watching TV. I played indoor [...]

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I pretty much didn’t go to college. Yes, I went one year to Austin Community College but that doesn’t count because 1) It’s community college 2) I never wanted to go. So I skipped college and it ended up to be a great choice. But taking this route means I missed out on the “college [...]

My dog woke me up this morning by barking incessantly. He wouldn’t stop barking no matter how much I banged on the window and tried to get him inside. Bark bark bark from him and repeated “Shut the hell up’s” from me. Not a great start to the day. Then I sat down at Austin [...]

I do actually love my dog Thunder. He’s been my boy for 12 years and I love have having him around, love petting him, and always enjoy walking him down to the lake to watch him play in the waves. But ask Thunder if I love him and I don’t think he would passionately answer [...]

I’ve been partaking in a few too many vices lately. Sure, I’m coming off a SXSW marathon. Sure, I’m back in Austin and that’s what’s expected. Sure… sureee…. But recently I’ve realized a pesky level of distraction from what I should need WANT to focus on. I’m not moving forward with what I want to [...]

It might have started in 5th grade when I was a realllllllly good kid. I had a crush on a girl and I wanted to express my interest as a gentleman, with chivalry and class because that’s what I was taught. Yes, I was a sophisticated young’in. So I asked said crush to be my [...]

From this point on I’m only pursuing girls that are older than I am. Preferably by a few years. First of all let me emphasize that this has nothing to do with the incredibly awesome-amazing-wonderful girls that I have been fortunate enough to have in my life recently. Everything I have experienced with girls over [...]

“Painting vivid pictures :: call me Basquiat x Picasso.” One of my biggest takeaways from my trip is the developed understanding of my creative side. Through seeing the world and having the freedom to explore me, my eyes have been opened to an area of my life that hasn’t been truly fed and developed, a [...]

Don't read my writing if you can't handle swear words.

I listen to a ton of rap music. Yes, I’m white but somehow rap culture has integrated itself into my life, my outlook, my inspiration. There is a huge part of this culture that negatively affects me : the explicit lyrics, the degradation of women, the continual PMW references, sippin’ syrup and all of it. [...]

I used to think I could do it on my own, that I didn’t need anyone to help me do what I want to do. I thought I could build an empire all on my own. But over the last few months I’ve realized how unrealistic and absolutely absurd this notion is, in a wide [...]

“I wonder where will I meet the, perfect girl that I dream of. And I don’t need no huge tits, I’m cool with just good B Cups.” Won’t Smoke cigarettes Care what others think of her Be from the US “I just hope Ms. Right doesn’t get left out.” Will Look just as good the [...]

Yesterday I had a slow day. Haven’t been feeling too well + late night + being accosted by prostitute at 3 am + bad weather = Slow Time. So I took the day easy, meandering and thinking and not getting HYPER. Today I’m back on point, call it Cruising Altitude. Time to get back to [...]

I bought ASAP Rocky’s new album. Yeah, I coughed up the money and downloaded it online. I know it leaked, I know it was an easy download, and that people were jamming it way before I did. But I waited, following the marketing scheme as the build up to the release date increased, and bought [...]

I don’t know where I got the idea or when I started using it but somewhere along the way I adopted the phrase “Cool People Doing Cool Shit”. I started throwing it around, using it more frequently, and now it’s basically become my motto, my phrase. “What do you do?” (I hate this question) My [...]

How not to worry and let things work out

I wrote this way back, before I left for my trip, around mid-March 2012. I was going through old posts and found it so I thought I would throw it out to the *WORLD*. What do you think? _ _ _ _ Of course I slept in late. It was the Monday after SXSW which [...]

What does my life look like on the road? Here’s a video chronicling 3 days in my life, from Utrecht to Nuremberg to Prague. It’s from about 3 weeks ago as I made my way to Paris for Christmas Eve. My first edit using Final Cut but more coming soon! Enjoy. If you’re receiving this [...]

Jason-Tang-Cats-Exotics-Photoshots-Yellow-Lamborghini-Gallardo-Superleggera-front

That’s a Maybach. Easily $300K. That’s a Rolls Royce Phantom. Another $300K. And an Aston Martin, a few S-Class Benz’s and Range Rovers. Yes, I’m standing in front of the Four Seasons Paris and there are chauffeurs. And yes, I’m walking through the doors. The money sitting in the restaurant probably surpasses $100 million. In [...]

I lost my phone Christmas Night. Crazy story: ask me about it. But living without this piece of technology has changed my perspective. One of the biggest shifts is time perception. I no longer live by time. During the day I have no reference besides asking people or taking glances at random clocks throughout the [...]

13 will be a big year of manifesting lessons, experiences, and ideas from my trip into something global. I’m thinking bigger bigger bigger. What’s up, World. Creativity I do not embrace my creative side anywhere near the level that I should. I’m changing this in 2013 by expanding my creative process in a variety of [...]

I wrote this 12/27/2011 while planning 2012. Now, during my scheming for 2013, it’s cool to look back to see how this decision guided my year. *Straight from my Journal, no edits. _ _ _ I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my New Years Resolution. Like most things in my life, I know [...]

I want you to get me some Christmas presents. But don’t worry. They won’t cost you money, you won’t have to go to the store, and you don’t have to worry about shipping them across the ocean. I’m not big into “Things” so that’s not what I want. Instead, I want virtual gifts. Easy to [...]

I’ve been watching plenty of short films gathering ideas for a short I want to make in January. Never really explored this area of production but there’s some great films being made out in the world. So, here are some that I like. I will update the list with new videos that I like along [...]

Media Level Up Going to start putting out little video updates. About travel. Maybe some stories. Planned on doing these since the start but never started. Now is the time! Also have been shooting much more media, both video and pictures, so will try to incorporate those more. I’ve gotten into shooting places at [...]

The world is filled with lots and lots: Of people, of ideas, of design Of everything You can’t see it all But seeing a little changes a lot Culture Here. There. Within: > People > Cities > Countries Animated / Inanimate Different / Same Shaded behind blue Covered in white Topped by brown Draped in [...]

How likely are people to travel again after they study abroad? I’ve met plenty of people who love the experience, love the travel, love the adventures, and equally as many people who say they are going to “travel (once they graduate / before grad school / after a few years of work)”. They say they [...]

I’ve been on the road for 5 crazy, adventure, growth filled months. I’ve had an incredible amount fun and excitement, met tons of amazing people, and seen many of the stunning sights of Europe. And I’ve loved almost all of it. Traveling has been an unbelievable learning experience, one that has lead to amazing growth, [...]

Like COOL ideas / people / thoughts? Here are few..

Some days I don’t want to work, I don’t want to write, I don’t want to do anything. I could pull up some TV shows online and watch those. I could play games online. I could surf Devour. But most of the time I choose to watch TED talks or read interesting blog posts. I [...]

Zach Horvath's Words and Phrases to Describe His Life

1/30/2013 Settled. Lisbon. 1 month. Figure out :: next step. Hyper. Ideassssss. Flowwwwww. Brainstorming. Drawing. Connecting. Creating. Scheming. ZCLOCO? ZCLOCO :: yes. Planning to create. Organizing ideas. Streamlining. Branding. Umbrella? Together. Groups. Community. Collab-ing. New friends. Reconnecting with Old Friends. Relationships. Reaching out. Skype sessions. Lateeeeee nights. Inspired by all x everything. Craving people. [...]

Rakija for Breakfast. Serbian Hospitality

“The people here are so friendly. They actually want to hear your response when they ask, ‘How are you doing?’” Being from the south I thought I understood hospitality. Cross the Mason-Dixon line and embrace the Southern Hospitality. Everybody knows that, right? I thought Texas offered premier courtesy and accommodation to guests. Then I visited [...]

Video: A Month in Serbia

40 days later I am leaving Serbia. What an amazing experience with amazing people. Cannot say enough good things about this country: the hospitality, the unique history, the rakija, the food, all of it contributed to a wonderful stay. Now I am moving on, getting back on the road. Next stop: Bonn, Germany to [...]

I don’t know when I came up with idea. Or even why. I think it was a few years ago. Maybe it was when my friend Rusty passed away. Regardless, it’s been bouncing around in my mind for awhile. Life is uncertain and we never know what will happen. A random car. A crazed killer. [...]

Who’s sleeping in your bed? Who’s sleeping in your apartment? Who are you going out with? Who are your best friends? Who do you look up to? Who are you following? For the last month I’ve been renting an apartment with Matt Trinetti in Belgrade, Serbia. I didn’t really know Matt when we moved in, [...]

July 4th I left the U.S. clean shaven with a #2 buzz cut. Didn’t pack a razor, didn’t want to use one. My next shave and trim was in Florence, stopping into an oriental barbershop to take care of my neck-beard situation. It was a good move, the beard to short hair equation didn’t look [...]

I make my own damn footprints, following myself.

Those footprints, leading you forward, the ones you’ve been following, where do they lead? Where are they leading you? Who left them for you to follow? How long have they directed your direction? That cemented path, that heavily trafficked highway, with cars surrounding you going the same direction, where does it lead? That conveyor [...]

Zoom Admitting Insecurity and figuring out how to deal with it

I generally consider myself very secure, self confident, strong. It’s partly natural, partly a product of working to stop caring what others think of me, to figure out who the hell I am, and to generally improve things I suck at. I like finding weaknesses and improving them. I like finding faults and eliminating them. [...]

Slava 2012 Video

MY FIRST VIDEO! A recap of my adventures in southern Serbia for the traditional holiday called “Slava”. Check out the two short stories from this trip: 1970′s Road Trip and Serbian Scenery. Trip Pictures

10/19/2012 I want to be dangerous. I love that word. Not for the negative aspect but for the positive. It’s like being bad, in a good way. I want to be dangerous. I want to have skills and talents that are “likely to cause problems” for the status quo, for boring, for normal. I’ve told [...]

Zoom travels to southern Serbia for Slava

The scenery slowly changes from flat to hilly to mountainous as we approach our destination, a small village at the foot of the tallest mountain in Serbia. We are making our way south, staring out the windows at the blazing hillside with its oranges and yellows and reds. Crisp air outside, faded cigarette whiffs inside. [...]

The right word, I’m not sure, but I know the feeling. It arises, from an unknown depth, when I see a her, a girl I’m with in some capacity, who has more than just my sexual interest, who I actually care for, talking to another guy. Yes, even just talking awakens it. It claws it’s [...]

“Screw it” Matt says as he concedes to the 2 liter beer. The clock hasn’t even reached 10:00 and us passengers are already passing the massive beer bottles back and forth, back seat to front. “We’re on a 1970’s road trip” Matt says as he hands the beer back to me. I know exactly what [...]

Couch Surfing is a necessity for traveling awesomely

You’ve probably heard of Couch Surfing, maybe even thought about joining, or even signed up and never used it. GET ON IT! Couch Surfing is a great resource for people either currently traveling or thinking about travel. Reasons to Get on CS Save Money Let’s say you are traveling through Europe for about a month [...]

I wish I spent more money on this trip. Most people say the opposite about their travel expenditures, so why do I wish I burned some extra cash? I missed some awesome opportunities I might not get another chance to experience because I was afraid of spending the money. I didn’t do the Sahara camel [...]

“Never have I ever: cheated.” I keep all my fingers up. I’m proud that I have never cheated on a girlfriend. Proud until I realize that I haven’t really had a chance to cheat. Except for that one time. Back in the Day I fell, fast and quickly for a her and soon we were [...]

A few key lessons I’ve learned from people more experienced than I. Not a full list because I’m constantly learning, so stay tuned for more lessons. “If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Isaac Newton Meditate – Paul Hagey Moisturize your hands in the winter. Girls don’t [...]

As of October 15th I am living in Belgrade, Serbia. Pretty random, huh? “Why Serbia? Why did you stop traveling? What made you take a break?” Tired of Moving So Much After about 10 weeks of constant travel I became tired of always leaving. It was a great experience but after awhile the repeated moving [...]

Electronics Apple MacBook Pro External Hard Drive iPod Shuffle iPhone 4s S100 Cannon Camera Kindle (broken) Chargers (Ipod, Computer, Camera) Clothes 1 Lulu Short 1 North Face Short 1 Patagonia Bathing Suit 1 Pant 1 Belt 1 Lulu Metal Vent Workout Shirt 3 Cotton Shirts 1 Waterproof Shell Jacket 1 Down Jacket 1 Scarf 1 [...]

One Google search will yield thousands and thousands of posts about “Why You Should Travel”. You can should read as many of those as it takes to get you moving, but in addition I also offer my perspective with the hopes of inspiring you just a lilllll bit. “Show them that there’s more to the [...]

The idea started after our Tallinn walking tour, eating lunch with our tour guide. “People hitch hike all the time to Tartu.” Light bulb. I’m in, doing it for sure. A few days later I’m taking the bus to the spot she recommended. Walking, walking, and surprisingly there is someone with a sign headed to [...]

I don’t want to think right now. Not about her, not about leaving again, not about anything. Hood up, glasses on, headphones in. Leave me alone, Thoughts, I want to be alone. Despite his efforts to escape, his thoughts and emotions keep running laps through his brain, around and around and around, cancelling out the [...]

Leaving kind of sucks. Leaving people, leaving places, leaving experiences, it all kind of sucks. I say kind of because that’s what I mean: kind of. Leaving is not devastating, not life altering, not terribly emotional. For me it just kind of sucks, just a little. It’s painful but it doesn’t happen that often so [...]

Zoom Horvath hitching from Tallinn to Taru

I’ve been traveling for 2 months to 7 countries, 18 cities. I can’t say enough good things about the last two months. Everything has gone fairly well with only a few slip ups / mistakes. I’ve liked every city, liked the people, liked… pretty much everything. Nothing has been stolen, haven’t gotten home sick, haven’t [...]

Science say it takes three seconds to judge somebody’s attractiveness. That’s all it took for him to realize, head to toe, inside and out, that she was gorgeous. (3..) Her pedicured nails, her glistening legs, her dress that (2…) perfectly outlines her figure. Power, class, self-respect, (1..) ambition, independence, beauty. Flash. Her characteristics noted in [...]

Above the city wall protecting Chefchaouen is a jagged and harsh rock formation that overlooks the valley encasing the overlooked Moroccan destination. “We’re climbing that” slips out of the American’s mouth and is immediately accepted by the ears, and hearts, of his French and Australian adventure companions. The point is understood, no need for further [...]

I’ve had countless conversations about many of these topics with people from several different countries. Seeing and hearing how people live, discussing what each of us takes for granted, and lots of thinking have brought up many questions about ideas / thoughts I have believed are right / wrong. Just throwing this out there, feedback? [...]

The Dirty Traveler and the Beautiful Colombian

Wandering, lost, towards a destination that Joakim can’t seem to pinpoint. The Swede is trying to guide the four of us, who have been traveling together around Italy for the last few days, to a delicious Italian restaurant: but although we know the ‘where’, we don’t know the ‘how’. Familiar territory: from Rome to Florence [...]

We’re on a 11,30 euro train from Florence to Cinque Terre. We is Amanda and I and Joakim, a hilarious Swede who we met in Rome, and Brylee, a Aussie with an increasingly foul (hilarious) vocabulary who we met in Florence. Booking this trip to Cinque Terre has been a crazy, drawn out process. To [...]

We'll see what happens but I'm feeling good about it.

I started drinking again. No, it wasn’t an impulsive action. No, I wasn’t peer pressured. Yes, the implications were fully considered. Yes, I know this will shock a lot of people. I’m writing this to help you walk the path with me, to fully convey my thoughts and feelings that wrap around this topic. What [...]

I get that feeling that she likes me, that we have a connection. It’s the lingering looks, it’s the comment then the glance in my direction to see if I laughed, it’s the… actions and subtleties that give me the feeling that we connect, or should connect, differently than the other people around us. It’s [...]

Morocco has blown my mind. It’s a totally new place with a culture and an environment I have never experienced before, like stepping back in time with pieces of today stepping with it. Or maybe it’s an older time stepping reluctantly into a modern age where adaption is somewhat necessary but only in the slightest [...]

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

The last month or two in Austin were crazy. Like, totally wild, upside down, twisted. I dropped a lot of my healthy habits and I picked up a few questionable ones. I was all over the place mentally and physically. I didn’t do any grocery shopping the last month I was in Austin. That means [...]

Someone once told me that in different cultures, when one transitions to a new phase of their life, they are given a new name as a way of marking the end of something and the beginning of something else. On Independence Day I started a new phase of my life and decided to embrace this [...]

A few years ago, a few months ago, I would have passed this scene, no stopping with no second thought about what was happening. “A family playing in the water, no big deal.” But, in the time it took me to approach this family, then carefully make my way across the fallen tree, and turn [...]

Zach Horvath is leaving the U.S. in one month

I’ m a month out from leaving. I’m a month out from leaving the country for a long time. I’m a month out from leaving the comfort of my home, of the familiar, of the normal. Towards to the new, the exciting, the adventure. Towards the unknown, towards the risk, towards the road. In some [...]

What I’m Wearing

Here’s what’s in my closet. North Face Outward Bound Shorts 2 cotton shirts 5 Socks 2 lulu lemon shirts 1 lulu lemon tank top 1 lulu lemon work out short 1 Pair of Levi’s Jeans 1 Pair of Chinos 2 Short Sleeve Button Downs 1 Pair of Patagonia Baggies (swimming) 1 Pair of Running Shoes [...]

People Are Scared to Have Fun

I haven’t been writing much because, well, I’ve been living. Yes, that’s an excuse, a bad one, and I hate excuses so it’s more appropriate to say that I haven’t made writing for Action Catalyst a priority.Which is a shame because I have been doing some pretty awesome stuff, mainly Big Ass Canvas. Go check [...]

ZCLOCO turns 22, leaves to travel the world and adventure

I’m 22. Scary? No, not really. Compared to those I surround myself with, young. Early twenties with a few years to spare. 3 years to spare. 3 years to learn, grow, adventure, risk, and fail. Why? Because that’s what the next 3 years will look like. (Will it stop after 3, no..) See, I’m 22. [...]

I’m Leaving the US (forever?)

In roughly 3 months I’m leaving the United States for Pamplona, Spain, the first step in my two years of world travel. Hell yeah you heard me right. Around early July I will be leaving the U.S. and quite possibly not returning for two years. The details? There aren’t many. Starting in Pamplona, then: who [...]

22. Twenty-Two. XXII. 22/?

Today I am 22. Time seems to be speeding up. I can remember exactly a year ago writing about turning 21. Yesterday, almost. The piece titled “First Step, Again” was about getting focused and starting to hustle, again. It was inspired from a journal entry a year prior about my frustration with college and the [...]

I went for a ride last night and wrote about it. Now, the metaphors, the backside, the explanation behind A Ride at Dusk. 2.3 miles. That’s how far I’m about to ride, to Mozart’s, to write. I knew that I needed to do this. I knew I needed to ride, to go to Mozart’s, to [...]

2.3 miles. That’s how far I’m about to ride, to Mozart’s, to write. My usual morning routine was disrupted which I haven’t been able to write today. I need to write, to think, to create. I ride a fixed gear, matte black, with white deep V front wheel. Noticeable but understated. Loud but quiet. I’m [...]

I Suck @

We All Suck at Stuff Maybe it’s patience, maybe it’s being alone with ourselves, or maybe it’s being self conscious. Wait.. those are mine. You have your own though, too. What are they? Don’t be scared to address these areas. Sure, once you start thinking about them you will realize more and more that you [...]

10 Rules I Wish I’d Learned at 10

Sometimes lessons have to be learned the hard way but if possible, learning from others mistakes is the best form of learning. Second hand experience saves immeasurable time, pain, and energy. When given the opportunity to talk with someone with more experience, take it. You won’t regret your decision. It will give you insight that [...]

How to Sip Productively

I’m continually surprised at the amount of college students that don’t know how to take advantage of coffee. Most cities have awesome coffee spots yet quite a few college students don’t take full advantage of them. If you can learn the tricks early, it will treat you fantastically over the course of your professional career. [...]

Why I Dropped Out of College

ROI wasn’t worth it Too many people “Wish they had not gone.” Felt too “entitled” while in school Knew there were other options Didn’t want to waste $ “figuring it out” I can always go back “I didn’t go to college. Well, I went to college but I dropped out. I have always been entrepreneurial [...]

Questions To Stay On Course

Some questions I ask to help focus on what’s important, to find areas I need to work on, and to stay on the right path. What does “LIVING” look like? What does “PROGRESS” look like? What wakes me up / what keeps me up? What do I suck at? How do I define “SUCCESS”? How [...]

My Minimalist Journey

Last year during my Twitter beginnings I came across Joshua Millburn’s “Why I Quit My Six-Figure Corporate Job To Pursue My Passions”. I thought this move was incredibly bad ass and immediately retweeted the essay. He just quit his six-figure job, hell yeah I’ll follow him. Then, while visiting Austin for SXSW, he offered to [...]

1000 Mistakes Per Day

I’ve been making an insanely huge number of mistakes and bad decisions lately. Daily, hourly, minutely I am messing up. Sometimes the mistakes are big and bad, sometimes they are inconsequential to the world, something that only I notice. I am not trying to make mistakes, which would just be counterproductive to growth. In fact, [...]

Don’t Worry about the Lions

Humans approach decisions with “Loss Aversion Thinking” meaning we will sacrifice the opportunity to win more in order to not lose less. Don’t worry, almost everybody does it, it’s how we’re wired. It dates back to when humans were battling to survive and our thinking was something like this: Mistake > broken leg > infection [...]

Me, My Thoughts, My Life

I wrote this post to take another step towards being more genuine and honest about myself. I want people to either like or dislike me for who I really am, not a facade or a fake image, so I am publishing this as insight into my life. The clips are part of a 30 minute [...]

Wild Card Salon

SALON – a discussion that allows thought leaders to focus on key ideas that further personal thought, challenge beliefs and inspire action. The Salon was an Italian invention of the 16th century which flourished in France throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Throughout this time period people gathered together in Salons to discuss relevant issues [...]

50 FREE

As part of my 2012 Theme, I want to focus on doing what I love by getting back to the basics of why I started Action Catalyst. To start this off I am now offering 50 FREE ONE-ONE Action Assemblies. I love helping young adults ask the tough questions and make the decisions to move [...]

I’m a Selfish Asshole

I recently came to the realization that I am very selfish, self-centered, self-absorbed, self-seeking, and self-serving. I do what I want to do, when I want to do it, how I want to. I am pretty extremely wrapped up in myself and my life. I handle myself first, look out for myself, prioritize my interests. [...]

My Theme for 2012

Theme not Resolution I didn’t make a resolution this year. I’ve made them in the past and they worked, but this year I wanted to set a direction for my growth, my learning, and my life instead of resolving to quit / start something. I have no idea what 2012 has in store for me. [...]

Success is succ-SEX

You know in the movies when the two teenage characters finally have sex for the first time and it’s magical, romantic, and beautiful? Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. Think Twilight. Now remember how your first time wasn’t like that at all? Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t [...]

Who the Hell Are YOU?

Cut the bullshit. Seriously, cut through all of the airbrushed, surface-level, perfect image bullshit. Strip away your college degree, your job title, your family history: look deeper. What drives you? What motivates you? What do you love? What do you hate? When you are alone, with nothing to distract you, no one to impress, and [...]

Brian Boitmann

I came to the University of Texas with no idea where my story was going. I knew I wanted to do something I was passionate about and I knew I wanted to live out my faith in Christ but I had no idea where this would take me. My path became a little clearer when, [...]

7 Observations About Friendship

This Thought was almost published as a defense to the backlash from “Relationships, Un-Friending, and Burning Bridges”. Yet, lying in bed last night, I reminded myself that this site was design to help young-adults take a proactive approach to living meaningful lives and that relationships play a crucial role in this journey. Therefore, there was [...]

“Don’t Care” Update

At the beginning of November I decided to push myself to stop caring what others think of me, to be more myself, and to put myself in situations that force me to disregard self-consciousness. Needless to say, it was a crazy month of personal growth! Out of all my personal development history, the choice to [...]

Relationships, Un-Friending, and Burning Bridges

Moving Forward The holidays are a time when people across the country are packing their bags and heading home. For most young adults this means reuniting with hometown friends. However, this holiday season I have decided not to take part in this usually joyful reunion. I’ve changed a lot over the last three years, making [...]

Your Life is a Dream

Picture this: You’re 28, living in a house or apartment in the center of town: your friends are near, you’re close to downtown, and you’re right in the middle of the action. Every month rent gets paid, no problem. You work, but not too incredibly hard. (You’re not busting it everyday, going all out, hustling [...]

Graham Wasilition

Everything in life is about balance. Most of us are in a spot to manage this balance, using it to our advantage without even realizing it. I have been lucky enough to experiment with both participating in and pushing the status quo at a young age. I graduated from Virginia Tech with an Engineering degree [...]

Climbing Trees and Overcoming Fear

Four times a week I babysit my 8 and 10 year old “dudester” cousins. Needless to say, we do a bunch of awesome stuff: wrestle, sword fight, play football, swim and most recently we’ve started climbing trees. When Sam and Charlie first began, they were climbing small, easy trees. Then, as I started suggesting moving [...]

I Don’t Care What You Think

“Started not to give a f*** and stopped fearing the consequence.” Drake The Background Recently, an older acquaintance (50-something) shared with me that he finally doesn’t care what people think of him. This tiny statement started my mind running about how much I care what others think of me. After much introspection, reminders from song [...]

Paul Hagey

I was on a fast track to a Biochemistry career about 10 years ago. The semester before I was to graduate undergrad summa cum laude with a B.S. in Biochemistry, I was sitting in the office of my Biochemistry mentor Eamonn Healy, one of the coolest people I knew. We were talking somewhat casually about [...]

Quit My 6 Figure Job, Traveled the World, and Started an Online Business (NOT)

Just kidding: I didn’t have to make those extreme, life altering decisions. And I won’t have to. Why? Because I learned from those before me not to follow a path that would result in a dead end. I looked at the multitudes of people who followed someone else’s path only to end up hating their [...]

Fueling the Fire

Everybody has a fire inside that pushes them to accomplish something, to move forward, to be someone. This fire doesn’t grow or burn without fuel and finding fuel can be difficult. Sometimes fuel comes from friends or family. Sometimes the opposite happens and friends or family want to put out what you are seeking to [...]

A Little More about Action Catalyst

The website is live. The traffic is flowing in. And now it all starts. Soon “Thoughts” will be constantly updated with new ideas, people will be contributing to the conversation, and young adults will ask themselves the tough questions needed to take action. And Action Catalyst will spread. Small flames will be enrolling in “Figuring [...]

Steering a Parked Car

Have you ever tried steering a parked car? Even if your navigation is set, your car is in perfect mechanical shape, and your wheels are facing the right direction you cannot get to your destination without moving. Starting the car and putting it in drive is the most crucial part of the trip because all [...]

Trying this new fad called, “Silence”

Silence. Quiet. No noise to distract you, to allow you to escape, to let you off the hook. For the month of September I made the decision to cut out noise while driving. As a personal experiment, I decided to not listen to music, talk radio, my iPOD, or any other noise. I decided to [...]

Running in (the right) Circles

Bad company corrupts (but good company does the opposite). Corrupt is defined as “cause to become morally depraved.” That’s harsh. What’s the antonym of corrupt? Improve, inspire, make better? The thesaurus doesn’t give quite an antonym that really captures the exact opposite of corrupt. Association has a huge impact on the entire group and if [...]

Crack The Surface

Crack the Surface: Urban Explorers The guys in the video know that trespassing in underground tunnels and train tracks allows them to LIVE. It fuels their travel around the world, their willingness to endure day jobs, and the possibility of arrest. But they are ALIVE in the adventure and it’s all worth it. What makes [...]

“Long Middle”

“I think this is when most people give up on their stories. They come out of college wanting to change the world, wanting to get married, wanting to have kids and change the way people buy office supplies. But they get into the middle and discover it was harder than they thought. They can’t see [...]

“Do right and study”

“Therefore, my son, if you wish to please me, and to bring success and honour to yourself, do right and study, because others will help you if you help yourself.” – Niccolo Machiavelli Here’s what this quote means: be yourself and continually progress. A person that has true passion, who follows their heart, and invests [...]

“Chase Your Passions”

“Chase your passions and the money will come. Chase money and you’ll be lucky to ever find your passions.” Colin Wright It’s cliche. You’ve been told a million times. You’re tired of hearing it: follow your dreams, not your wallet. Got it. But do you really understand the importance of the choice between money and [...]

What is a “Meaningful Life”?

As you know, the goal here at Action Catalyst is to help people continue their pursuit of a meaningful life. “But what is a meaningful life?” This question comes up over and over again and honestly, I can’t give you an answer. Because the definition of “meaningful” ranges widely from person to person, I can [...]

“Ambitions are stories”

”The ambitions we have will become the stories we live. If you want to know what a person’s story is about, just ask them what they want.” Donal Miller What do you want? Like, right now? What do you want in 5 years? What about 10? Don’t give me the “I don’t know what I [...]