Don’t wait to be sure. Move, move, move.

-Miranda July

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Lots of people have big dreams. But only a few will take them beyond the daydream stage. Execution is what makes a vision a reality.

As I noted in a recent speech, composer Stephen Sondheim captured this reality in a song that asserts: “Having just a vision’s no solution. Everything depends on execution. Putting it together, that’s what counts.”

Wherever you are in your life, I hope that you will seek, find and actively pursue a clear vision of your professional and personal future.

Lester Lefton, President of Kent State University

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I remember when New York began for me, several years ago. I had moved out to stay with a friend for a few weeks before beginning my job working for an NGO at the United Nations. The size of everything was astounding, and so were the prices. I remember getting lost trying to find my way to the headquarters of the organization where I would work, and calling them trying to explain why I was late, but being too embarrassed to say and making something up. I had confused west for east, and thus Riverside Park for Central Park, and the Hudson River for the Jackie O Reservoir. I realized my mistake and took a bus across the park, arriving at the office an hour late. I was briefed by my future boss, after which I hurried to the nearest Duane Reade and bought a pack of cigarettes, my first in years, and smoked three to calm down. It seemed like a city where nothing less than perfection would be tolerated. Was anyone ever so young?

Casey Downing

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It’s freezing in New York City. Saturday marked the first snow fall. Yes, it really did snow in October. Blasphemy really. The cold weather always seems to slow life down. Brrr.

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11:53 PM

Dear blogosphere,

All I keep thinking about is the future. When will it get here?

Tired of waiting.

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(10:33) the cold truth is that not all of us are brilliant we are not all big thinkers. Not everyone’s TED talks will change the world some of us will just dissipate into the ether

(From M) Interesting article in New York Magazine.

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I finally made it out to Zucotti Park on Sunday- the main headquarters for all things Occupy Wall St. It was a lot quieter than I expected. Perhaps since it was Sunday people were recovering from the weeks protests. Once you enter the park you kind of feel like you are trespassing into someone’s home. There were sleeping bags and makeshift tents throughout the grounds, a food station where they serve free food, and a medical station. I spotted a few people sleeping. One guy was on a hunger strike. The best was the guy who made a diorama of the park out of lego’s (check his fb page here). Overall the atmosphere was relatively peaceful.

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midnight dinner:

4 scallion pancakes

2 reese cups

1 delirium tremens

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Today is John Lennon’s Birthday. On behalf of his birthday I decided to visit Strawberry Fields in Central Park. It was packed with fans singing songs, people waving their hand peace signs, there was even sky writing spelling “give peace a chance.” In the current slew of economic protests, which I’m sure Lennon would be a part of, it was invigorating and refreshing to see a crowd of people getting together to collectively spread good cheer.

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Sometimes life’s going to hit you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. Im convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for work as it is your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Steve Jobs, RIP

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