The time is now, your life is right now

Paul Watson

Chris Maunder wrote: David Cunningham once told me that when you are old the only things you'll regret are the things you never did. Very true. Chris Maunder wrote: My only piece of advice is that you have to trust in yourself and be prepared to make mistakes, be prepared to be laughed at, and be prepared to grab onto opportunities without hesitating You are a good example of someone successful who has taken the "plunge", who has stepped out of the comfort zone most of us stay in. Yet, and I mean this with all respect Chris, you do not have special powers. You don't have a rich uncle nor did Lady Luck throw you a six while we all got fours. You are a good bloke who has made something incredible and all through hard work, being pro-active and daring to go further than before. Sure you are damned smart but that is not because you were gifted with faerie dust or anything, you developed your intelligence, your smarts. You did, no one else. I would never phone up MS and weedle a good VS.NET deal out of them. Yet, you do not have a silver tongue or Jedi mind trick which made them relent and give it to you. Right? You just got up and did the deal, stuck your neck out. This is the kind of thing we all need to realise. Here we have someone successful amongst us, Chris, and he is pretty much like everyone else here. Tow arms, two legs, a brain, couple of eyes etc. But he made his opportunities and from what I have seen of other successful people once you start making your own opportunities new ones come about just that bit easier. People willing to give opportunities will rather give it to a proactive guy than a comfort-zone-potato-couch guy. I am rambling, but Chris, you are a good example and we could all learn something from you. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront

Mauricio Ritter

Paul Watson wrote: Konstantin gave me some food for thought earlier on his post about his life and how after 15 years he has suddenly realised his youthful dreams have fallen to the wayside of reality. I am sure also that you remember, whether in a good or bad light, my post a month or two ago on finance. Finance and dreams are related. Sometimes you can´t fullfill your dreams because you don´t have enough money. Sometimes you can´t fullfill your dreams because you can´t just "drop" your job (and stop making money) and try to do what you like. Mauricio Ritter - Brazil Sonorking now: 100.13560 Trank My latest article: Pentominos - A C# implementation of the famous Puzzle Game

Jason Hooper

Paul Watson wrote: , you do not have a silver tongue or Jedi mind trick Ah, but what a good skill to acquire.. I happen to use Jedi mind tricks to keep idiots out of my chat room! It's working so far..... - Jason Do you have a Pulse? SonorkID: 100.611 Jason

Paul Watson

Mauricio Ritter wrote: Sometimes you can´t fullfill your dreams because you can´t just "drop" your job (and stop making money) and try to do what you like. You see, that is exactly where most of us are wrong. Tell that to the hundres of thousands of entrepreneurs who have built companies from nothing. MS started in a garage! BillyG had no money to start with. CP was started with no money really and look what it has become. Mauricio if you keep thinking like this then you will forever be a 9 to 5 Joe working for someone else. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront

Todd C Wilson

Paul Watson wrote: What advice or lessons about dreams do you have to share Backup early, backup often, and always have an escape route.

Visual Studio Favorites - improve your development! GUIgui - skin your apps without XP

Mauricio Ritter

Paul Watson wrote: Mauricio if you keep thinking like this then you will forever be a 9 to 5 Joe working for someone else I don´t think that way... it was just a comment. :) Mauricio Ritter - Brazil Sonorking now: 100.13560 Trank My latest article: Pentominos - A C# implementation of the famous Puzzle Game

l a u r e n

1. follow your heart at all times even in the face of reason 2. leave the places you visit at least as good as you found them 3. always be honest 4. be prepared to be scared 5. we live therefore we change ... accept this fact 6. you can't always be the star ... sometimes you will be the supporting role heh ... some words of wisdom from the oldest 20 year old you'll ever meet --- "every year we invent better idiot proof systems and every year they invent better idiots ... and the linux zealots still aren't being sterilized"

Reno Tiko

I would also add that people should not dwell and pout about the past, constantly wishing that you had did something different and/or something else had happened instead. It'll just make you depressed and the past still won't be changed. Someone once said, "The past, is the past, and we can only concentrate on the future." That said, we shouldn't totally ignore the past, but quickly learn from ours pasts and the paths that took us on those journeys then move on. Moaning and groaning isn't going to change anything, the future will be bright if you want it to be. You're in control of your life and can make a significant difference in the future of your lifestyle as long as you have the drive and dedication to realize those goals. Money and luck helps a bit, but those aren't the only inputs to the equation of life. So don't give up if you lack one or more of those factors, make up for it with something else and you'll bound to succeed in whatever you want.

Erik Westermann

These are the two means I've used to achieve my dreams... 1. Set a goal and always keep it in sight 2. Understand that some goals involve both solitary work and the help of others. Recognize the help of others and credit the people involved. Details [1] I knew from the time I was eight that I wanted to work with computers. By 12 I decided that I want to go into programming or robotics. By 20 I was 100% a programmer and having a great time! All my activities supported my dream: I got good at math, spend a lot of time reading and adapting to changes in the marketplace and technologies, cultivated relationships with people that have a similar mindset, and a lot of other activities. [2] We sometimes have to bite the bullet and get down to work on our own in the face of an uncertain outcome or in the face of challenging situations. It is at these times that we express our will and re-affirm our commitment to our dreams. Along the way, you'll probably encounter people that either can or are already willing to help you. Ask for or accept their help and recognize them when they do. Also recognize the people that may not be directly involved with your efforts but play a supporting role (for example, your family, acquaintances, peers, and co-workers) - chances are that without them you wouldn't be able to get much done. As the saying goes, we all stand on the shoulders of giants. For example, I love to write and my writing career would not have gotten off the ground if it weren't for the help of a good friend of mine, Tom Archer. Once I got started people like Brian Sawyer (Charles River Media), and Brad Jones (internet.com) and others either exposed me to new opportunities or helped me develop existing ones. Always recognize the people involved and give credit where it's due. Essam - Author, JScript .NET Programming
...and a bunch of articles around the Web

Christian Graus

I can think of two things - after a particularly lousy childhood, it was my dream from a pretty early age to have a close family. Obviously in the first instance there's not much you can do to achieve that, and I note I've never chased the idea in terms of dating a lot of people, I prefered to have a range of friends and let things develop from there. I married both girls I have gone out with. However, having had kids, I have always worked at being close to them, it wouldn't happen otherwise, and I do indeed have a very close relationship with them. Example #2 is that when I hit 30 ( three years ago ), I decided I wanted a programming job. I worked *damn* hard to learn C++, and I got my first paying job within about four months of first laying eyes on the language. Two and a half years later I got a second job, where my knowledge of C++ was sufficient for me to be the first non-graduate they have employed. I still work hard to learn new things and improve my skills. So I agree - nothing will happen if you sit on your tush, if you want something, take it ( to quote Lord Flash from Black-Adder 4 ). Christian The tragedy of cyberspace - that so much can travel so far, and yet mean so little. "I'm thinking of getting married for companionship and so I have someone to cook and clean." - Martin Marvinski, 6/3/2002

SpiderMan

Dare to do great things :) .

Vivek Rajan

The best lesson I have learnt in 28years - dont plan too much (to a point of obsession with the future) I think it was john lennon who said, "Life is what happens, while you are busy making other plans" :-D

Brit

MS started in a garage! BillyG had no money to start with. Actually, Bill Gates was the grandson of the person who created Seattle's most profitable bank. His dad was a prominant lawyer in Seattle. Billy G had a multi-million dollar trust fund from his grandparents on the day that he was born. He was sent to the most prominent school while growing up and went to Harvard (where he dropped out to form Microsoft). Nevertheless, the point still stands that many sucessful entrepreneurs started out with little or no money, even if Bill Gates wasn't one of them.

ISIS55

Paul Watson wrote: Isaac replied to Konstantin saying that he was just begining his adult life and that he could hardly wait to be able to achieve his dreams. My response was "The time is now" i.e. don't wait, start right now. You missunderstood me Paul, I am already making my dreams come true. I meant I can hardly wait to answer him whether I succeeded or not. I always believed that we create our opportunities, we're the ones who hold the helm. I always try to convince my friends in this. I am a living proof that you can change your life even if it seems that you can't. I quit high school 2 years ago, and decided to study by myself (meaning sitting down alone with books, no tutoring or such). As far as I know this has never happened in my country. Those who quit usually never graduate or they just go to private teachers (which is what I was trying to avoid). Since then 2 people from my old school were inspired by me and done the same. I have worked in programming for a nation-wide company at the age of 16. Simply because I was persistent. I knew nothing about the job when I got it, learned everything while doing it (but don't tell them :-D ) I make my dreams come true every day, simply because I believe in my capabilities. I am always open for new options and I'm always willing to try again when I fail. My favorite quote regarding life is this one, got me going on some of the hardest/most embarrassing events of my life: "You'll see it's all a show, keep 'em lauhging as you go Just remember that the last laugh is on you." Isaac Sasson, Small time programmer - complainer at large. Sonork ID 100.13704

Nish Nishant

lauren wrote: some words of wisdom from the oldest 20 year old you'll ever meet who? ;-) I don't see anyone... Nish

My miniputt high is now 29 I do not think I can improve on that My temperament won't hold www.busterboy.org

Nish Nishant

Vivek Rajan wrote: The best lesson I have learnt in 28years - dont plan too much True. Every time I've planned something in advance I've messed up. Specially with respect to approaching women ;-) Nish

My miniputt high is now 29 I do not think I can improve on that My temperament won't hold www.busterboy.org

Andrew Peace

lauren wrote: heh ... some words of wisdom from the oldest 20 year old you'll ever meet Maturity is an attractive quality to have IMHO - at least I hope so... -- Andrew.

Andrew Peace

"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most beautiful flower of all" Not always true but quite often the case. -- Andrew.

Andrew Peace

BTW I'm not suggesting that as men we are like flowers :-O; I enjoy a beautiful woman as much as the next straight guy (not that I'm homophobic, God this is turning into one of those CYA type posts) - the quote just seemed to fit what I was trying to say I guess. -- Andrew.

Paul Watson

Brit wrote: even if Bill Gates wasn't one of them. I stand very much corrected :) Thanks. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass Cape Town, South Africa "The greatest thing you will ever learn is to love, and be loved in return" - Moulin Rouge Sonork ID: 100.9903 Stormfront