Stay in the Fight

My former student from when I taught in Peace Corps and I are wrapping up a project: we wrote the manuscript for a 375-page guidebook and Bahasa Indonesia language course for Java, Lombok, and Bali, consisting of everything you’d need to have the BEST trip of your life so far. We’ve been working on this since I came back from SE Asia in April while juggling other work (and her getting married).??

I can’t speak for her, but this behemoth has been the hardest project I’ve ever worked on, in terms of energy and brainpower. Even if it isn’t a best-seller, the book has STILL delivered. And you have my word it will for you too once we get it out there--hopefully later this year :)?

How? I’ve had to keep pushing and going, and not quit in the middle when I've wanted to. When it was 80% written, it was only 50% done. To steal a lyric from Rise Against, “When enough is enough, that’s when you know that you’re halfway there.”?

And then, you hunker down and push with everything you’ve got.?

Near the end, (last month) I found a shot of inspiration while watching a video about how to improve my business skills, and from talking with a family friend who has started several businesses. He told me much of business is experience, trying, failing, and fucking up, and having the resolve to keep going….so, even though I have an undergraduate degree in business, it STILL doesn’t mean much–sorry U of U.?

I feel like I’m writing a policy on a country I’ve never visited, and have just read about…and I don’t know how much I don’t know because I don’t know it and can’t know it. I’m blind about what I don’t know, but will not throw in the towel nor let that stop me or scare me.? Rule #1.?

I started to think about how and why I am doing this, and where this strength to go on came from.?

And then—it just hit me.

From learning foreign languages. Then, I got another idea--to write ANOTHER book. And I did.

Learning a foreign language gave me discipline and resolve to keep going because I tied it into my passions and things that I love.?

Japanese came from Baseball (and from when I was a kid and loved karate)?

Russian came from Punk Rock and music (and my love for playing the drums)

Korean came from people telling me to quit (and using that as fire)?

Indonesian came from having to learn it–and then realizing friendship is a true gift.

Mandarin came from curiosity and desire to know more, and the beauty of figurative language..?

Georgian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Sunda came from a need to survive.

Spanish and Latin came because they filled a square, and I saw them as a stepping stone to college.?

Each language played a different role in my life, but each one let me rebuild and reconstruct two life skills we all need to be successful. Grit and delayed gratification.

I didn’t study each language the same way, but I used the same tactics and strategies across the board.?

And they are 100% universal for ANYTHING that you want to do in life.?

If you need a kick in the ass and want to make yourself stronger, and make a TRUE impact on others, study a foreign language. I've laid out everything you need here in my new book right here for less than the price of a latte, or a bagel at the airport--and I promise if you don't like it, I'll give you your money back.