"The start is the most difficult part"
That's a statement I stumble upon in the description of numerous situations through life and it seems to be applied in my current state too. I keep saying to myself that I don't have time, that other things have higher priority and I have to finish them first. Finish your exams and then you can start, finish that project, finish the other project, do this, do that and the list goes on and on. Excuses never end, you just have to overcome them. Which is what I was not doing for the last 93 days (from the day I sign in steemit for the first time).
But how could I overcome them if I didn't know that I am making excuses? Because that was exactly my problem until I started writing this introduction post! Only after I wrote the title and started thinking about the content it flashed on me!
Andreas, you think you have an excuse, but in the end you are just too afraid to start!
That's it, that's the problem and the only thing I can do is focus and start writing. Focus on the current task, align my priorities and keep writing until this post is finally over.
You can even understand my previous state of mind from the title of this post (which I will leave untouched), I thought that I had an excuse, I thought that because of my workload it was acceptable to not start posting immediately. But here I am, facing my September's university exams and thinking of letting this go once again.
NOT this time. My introduction post will be out today!
My name is Andreas and I am 22 years old.
At the moment I’m in the third year of my studies as an Electrical and Computer Engineering student at the National Technical University of Athens. For the past years, my main thought was that I wanted to become a programmer, a developer of somehow that will write code, solve problems and create amazing things. But at the same time, those secondary thoughts were there, telling me not to limit myself in that specific field from so early in life. That’s why I aimed for that course, a 5 years technological university course that will provide me for the first 3 years with a lot of knowledge in different fields to hopefully find my passion and choose by the end of the third year a more specific study path. That’s a decision I don’t regret because upon my arrival in Athens my thoughts changed a little bit. Athens has no similarities with my hometown in Cyprus, big and noisy was the first thing I noticed but soon after that, I understood that I couldn’t find a better place (among Cyprus and Greece) to plan for my future. Athens is a place full of opportunities in every area I searched for. But that’s the critical part, you have to search for them, no one will knock your door and offer you opportunities if you don’t first smash a few doors on your own. So I started a journey to smash, or even knock for now, as many doors as I can.
With this in mind, I believe that I have managed to accomplish a few things and my efforts are increasingly paying off. However, being self-aware, I recently came to the conclusion that the things I am doing, may not align with my goals.
I know that I want to be successful, but how does someone defines success? Success has a different definition for each one of us, you may consider yourself successful at the moment your bank account reach the million, or when you score your dream job or accomplish whatever target you want to, but that's not what I aiming for. I actually can't define what success means for me at the moment. I want for sure to be economically comfortable and do professionally something that I'll love but I don't see those as a milestone to success.
The very first time I tried to figure out what I wanted to do with my life was upon the end of my second and final year at the Army (yes compulsory military service exists in Cyprus) when I had to decide my university path and that forced me to make long term thoughts for my future. At that moment the best scenario that I could think of was the one I explained above, I had to follow the opportunities. That brought me to Athens and from there I just took advantage of every shot I had, with the belief that by doing as much as I can, I will have more shots to success.
I recently stumbled upon a speech by Denzel Washington, from which I quote:
Remember just because you're doing a lot more, doesn't mean you're getting a lot more done. Don't confuse movement with progress.
Which is exactly my current state. By saying "yes" to every opportunity, I ended up moving around without actually doing any progress. I ended up being busy when in fact, I had to be productive. That's what I want to change from now on and that's the reason I am super pumped for the upcoming year! I am confident that from now on I will align my priorities and focus my efforts to what is actually important, to what will actually put me in the right path.
For the past couple of months I have been massively influenced by Gary Vaynerchuk's content. I will not take time to explain his thesis, I will only stand to one piece of content that I believe to be a life changer. In the following video, this guy is providing so much value but I will try to sum up how I got inspired from it so you don't have to watch the entire video. Although I highly suggest you do.
With the minimum of words he managed to give the solution to my questions. I don't have to define success prior to the journey, I don't have to define my goals before I start. I can do it while I am going there, Ι just have to understand who I am along the way.
Document, Don't create.
That phrase is the thrust for my journey's takeoff. I am inspired to talk about the journey of the climb and that's what I will try to accomplish with those blog posts. I am hopping that by sharing my thoughts and my experiences I will not only define myself but inspire others to do the same.
By reading up to this point you are one of the first people that broke into my thoughts and I really appreciate it. I know that I didn't give enough context for what I'm up to at the moment but with my upcoming posts I will explain everything. I just couldn't fit it in.
Upon the process of writing down my thoughts it became clear to me that the fear for this very first post was directly related to the fear of the journey. I subconsciously knew that this post would mark the beginning and it seems that I was just too afraid to get out of my comfort zone. If by any chance you are in the same position as I was, I hope that you will find the willpower to mark the beginning of your own journey. Thank you all for your attention, I will not let you down.
Welcome aboard. The journey has begun.Optimistic as f#*k,
@kouloumos
Ha ha - proof of mugshot. Good one. Welcome on board, Andreas.
This post received a 3% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @initforthemoney! For more information, click here!
Thank you! I am happy that someone comment on that! It may become the official steemit verification in the future😜
Ha ha + quite possibly. Did you read the bluepaper? Proof of brain is what they call it now... No shit...
I haven't read it yet. Proof of brain? It doesn't sound suitable. To identify bots maybe? but that's not the concept.
It's definitely meant to be humorous, but that is - nonetheless - the words they use...
Μια χαρά! Καλή συνέχεια!
Ευχαριστώ, εκτιμώ πάρα πολύ την ανταπόκριση! 😃
Καλως ορισες. Ελπιζουμε το επομενο post να ειναι πιο συντομα. Keep on steeming . :)
Καλώς σας βρήκα! Σίγουρα θα είναι πολύ πιο σύντομα =D
Nice to meet you! Steem on φίλε!!
Happy to be here!
Να ξέρεις ότι εσύ ήσουν η έμπνευση για τις φωτογραφίες στοιχισμένες στα δεξία =D
A new Steemian :-) hello @kouloumos I hope you enjoy your time here, its a great community ! Nice post, wish you much luck! I will follow your account. Don't hesitate to contact or follow me at any time :-) See you around @tradewonk
Hello @kouloumos :-)
Welcome to Steemit.... at last! Well at least you finally dove in, eh? Embrace the fear my friend, that's all the fun! I am upvoting you, and giving a follow, I hope to see some of your numerous upcoming posts.
Have a great day!
Thanks for the positivity! I believe that the community's vibe will help a lot on the journey =D
The posts will come, I will not let you down!
So true... When I first joined, I waited a few days to get my focus, then just went for it. Steemit has totally awesome, and Steemians are super friendly too! Hope that you enjoy your time, here. :-)
I was enjoying my time here for the last couple of months, but now that I will actively post the experience will be 100x better! What stands out in steemit it's the community, if we keep that we will all enjoy our time here 🙃
Indeed! I couldn't agree more... ;-)
Welcome to Steemit! Nice introduction post! Thanks for sharing :) Keep on Steeming.
Thank you for taking the time to read it! I am very happy to be part of this community! :)
Welcome to Steemit @kouloumos! I’ve been identified with you at several points: “I keep saying to myself that I don't have time, that other things have higher priority…” “I ended up moving around without actually doing any progress”. However I realized that the first step to success is to overcome my fears and take the decision to get out of my comfort zone, quit unfruitful journeys and try myself on a new one aligned with my goals! I wish you the best :)
That's the plan! and you used a really cool word to describe it,
"quit unfruitful journeys" Nice!
Thanks for the wishes and the attention =D
i can totally relate to "the hardest part is getting started". It took me a while to set everything up. My direction with Steemit will present itself to me as I become more active. For me, it's like taking a canvas, brushing a color on it and seeing the forms in the the light and dark hues to create the picture :)
Welcome to steemit kouloumos! just express yourself and the things that you enjoy and you will do fine here.
Thank you @lopezdacruz! That's exactly what I am planning to do!😁
Καλώς ήρθες :)
Ευχαριστώ! Ευχαριστώ!
Welcome φιλε
Ευχαριστώ! 😃
Kalosirthes Andrea!!! Epitelous emfanistika k go, eno pane meres pou eida to post sou sto Steemit Greece, omos tora gyrisa apo diakopes k kano to katallilo catch up! Tha ta peraseis yperoxa s'afti tin platform, you have what it takes for sure !!! ;)
Sou ekana randowhale k dystyxos meta eida oti eixes kanei idi :/ Miso dollario den variesai, aksizeis tin skepsi!!!
Egrapses polla k kala, k idiaitera i frasi tou agapimenou Washington me kollise...giati eimai kapos k go stin idia fasi!
Akolouthisa amesos apla tora kano k to proto comment episima :D
Last but not least, your English is flawless! - Den perimena kati allo apo tin agapimeni Kypro mas vevaia!!!
My kisses to my hometown, Athens, from windy Copenhagen!
Once more WELCOME and Steem On !!!!
Πραγματικά ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ για τα ωραία λόγια!!😁 Ήταν τόσο θερμό το καλωσόρισμα που δεν ξέρω τι άλλο να πω:) Ευχαριστώ και πάλι! Επίσης μπορείς να δεις ολόκληρη την ομιλία του Washington εδώ. Είναι πολύ motivational🙃
S'efxaristo, tha ti do tora! :D Den eimai paaaara poly kairo sto steemit, alla eimai xronia blogger k social media freak opote ksero na anagnorizo to .... 'kalo proion' k sou leo me sigouria pos eisai steemit material!! Andrea, proxora, se thelei oli i xora (tou steemit! :D )
Welcome to community my friend!
Thank you very much! Είμαι σίγουρος ότι θα είναι απίστευτη εμπειρία😃
Geia sou re kouloume!!! wraios nice post.
Ευχαριστώ! η στήριξη από την κοινότητα είναι τεράστια και το εκτιμώ ιδιαίτερα =D
Πραγματικά σου δίνει ώθηση να συνεχίσεις :)
Welcome to Steem @kouloumos I have upvoted and sent you a tip
How are you? Kouloumos, I'm just here to leave a nice Hello ^^. Unfortunately i don't have much voting power, but i will be back and vote my followers. Need to grow a little ^^. Have a great time @rightuppercorner
Hello @kouloumos From Aceh Sumatra, Nice To You !!
Welcome TO Steemit and esteem
Thank you good friends to meet you.
The best and amazing
Nice to Meet You All steemians
My name is Al?ne Cappellar? from the National Liberation Front of Sumatra (ASNLF)
I Say Welcome And Happy For You Here #steemit or esteem.
Do not Forget Follow Me Also @chocolate20180
I would like to express my gratitude.
Welcome. follow me and look at my pics
https://steemit.com/spanish/@bawer/no-es-un-simple-payaso
and my biography https://steemit.com/spanish/@bawer/bawer
This post received a 2% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @kouloumos! For more information, click here!
Welcome @kouloumos on Steemit ,nice to meet you !
I have followed you on Steemit, please be kind enough to follow me as well.
welcome to #steemit @kouloumos
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STOPwelcome to steemit. I hope you will succeed here. I wait for the best work from you. Nice to meet you.🤗
Hey, thank you for taking the time to copmment on my post. Best of luck.
Hi @kouloumos welcome to steemit....enjoy @jacksonmil980
Welcome! Hope you enjoy Steemit!
Congratulations! This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by kouloumos from the Minnow Support Project. It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, theprophet0, someguy123, neoxian, followbtcnews/crimsonclad, and netuoso. The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows and creating a social network. Please find us in the Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel. It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.
This post has received a 3.13 % upvote from @drotto thanks to: @banjo.
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STOPχαχαχαχααχ.. με τρέλανε το gif με την φωτό σου και το steemit ! καλή αρχή !!!
Ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ! Χαίρομαι που σου άρεσε, έφαγα αρκετή ώρα μέχρι να το ετοιμάσω 😁
This reply is a little late but hello Andrea, welcome to steemit. This is an awesome introduction post! I understand the issues you are facing, as I'm struggling with this stuff myself. I also have no idea what my goal is (apart from creating art) and I've been trying to figure it out for like 10 years. Ultimately I think, the important thing is to provide value to others. This is a slow process wich can take a while until you discover who you are and what you can give to the world. It's good that you have realized that time is not the issue and that you make the time for the things you love. Many people do not get over this road block.