nobility-iq

Lessons I Learned Hiking Mount Timpanogos Updated

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:59:46 GMT

A Prelude to My Next Book

I recently hiked Mount Timpanogos in Utah with a high school friend, Ryan Fairbanks, the owner of Land Runner Inc. Knowing that I’ve participated in many personal development workshops, Ryan asked me during the hike, “What’s one of the most powerful experiential things you’ve done?”

Until that moment, most of my experiential learning had come from conferences, tough CrossFit workouts, and everyday life experiences. But honestly, hiking Timp turned out to be one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done.

Before the hike, I made a decision: I wanted to set an intention. Reaching the summit was a given—I knew I’d give it everything I had—but I also wanted to come down the mountain with something deeper than just the bragging rights of saying, “I hiked Timp.”

My intention for the hike was to build confidence in myself and to learn something that would help me in my business and other areas of life. As I reflected on the experience, I began brainstorming a list of lessons I learned—lessons I hope to eventually expand into a book, much like I did with a blog post a few years ago.

Here are just a few things I learned while hiking Timp:

Preparation: It’s Okay to Not Be Fully Prepared

As a former Boy Scout, I was taught to “Be prepared.” So when it came to prepping for this hike, I loaded up on what I thought were essentials: trail mix, jerky, nuts, snacks, electrolyte juice packets, and more. My backpack was full. When I arrived, I noticed my friends had tiny hydration packs with just water and a few snacks to get them through the day.

I had even packed frozen water bottles, thinking it would be nice to have ice against my back and cold water throughout the hike. But as we were about to start, I realized I had overpacked. Wanting to lighten my load, I hastily tossed out my trail mix, a bag of almonds, and all but one thawed water bottle—assuming the frozen ones would melt quickly.

I was wrong.

The frozen bottles took far longer to thaw than I expected, and I found myself needing water, not ice. Worse still, the snacks I had tossed out ended up being the ones I craved later on the trail. Next time, I’ll prepare much more strategically.

(Thanks to TERT for being on the trail with fresh, filtered water)

In addition to packing smarter, I also realized how I could have better prepared physically. At one point during the hike, Ryan’s nephew Jake asked me, “Why do you want to prepare better for next time?” I told him, “Because I want to be able to do the hike faster, feel less sore, and not be so tired at the end.”

In hindsight, even though I would have liked to be better prepared, I wouldn’t trade the experience as it was. Had I been perfectly prepared, I might not have learned the lessons I did. And those lessons—about overthinking, letting go, and adapting—are what made the hike truly impactful.

Comparison: Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

I lost count of how many people I saw running the Timp trail. My first reaction was, “They’re crazy!” But my second thought, more often than I’d like to admit, was, “I’m so slow. There’s no way I could ever do that.”

The truth is, I’m actually in great shape for a 49-year-old. I’m no spring chicken, but I don’t feel old or frail. In fact, I’m physically stronger than I’ve ever been in my life—maybe not faster, but definitely stronger.

Humility , I’ve learned, isn’t thinking less of yourself—it’s seeing everyone as equal and recognizing your own divine worth. I’m in a different phase of life than those trail runners. I have different goals, different responsibilities, and different priorities. And that’s perfectly okay.

It’s also okay that it took me the entire day to hike up and back. It’s okay that my feet, back, shoulders, knees, and thighs—well, everything—hurt. As my dad once said near the end of his life, “I hurt everywhere more than anywhere else.” I felt that.

When you’re doing something challenging, especially something that pushes you physically and mentally, the only person you should compare yourself to is the person you want to become. Set goals. Reflect. Learn from each experience. That’s how you grow.

I may never want to run up and down Timp—but I do want to do it better next time. And now, I know how.

A Few More Lessons from the Trail

As I reflected on the hike, several more lessons stood out—simple but meaningful reminders I took with me:

Goals give direction. When you set a goal, it becomes much easier to stay focused and accomplish what you set out to do.
Perspective fuels perseverance. I got a second wind when we reached “The Saddle” and could see the Utah Valley below. That bigger-picture view gave me the energy to keep going.
The right tools matter. Most of the hike, my hiking stick felt like a nuisance. But when we hit the steep climbs and descents, it became essential. It offered safety and support I didn’t realize I needed until I did.
Every path has different terrain. Just like life, this hike had changing terrain—easy paths, rocky stretches, steep climbs, icy glaciers. Each required different kinds of preparation and mindset.
Watch your jerky. I left my pack open at the wrong time, and a passing dog helped himself to my bag of jerky while his humans scrambled to wrestle it back. Lesson learned: Keep your pack closed and don’t underestimate a snack thief with four legs.
There’s more going on beneath the surface. In one stretch, massive boulders covered the path, and we could hear the sound of rivers flowing beneath them. It reminded me that life holds hidden wonders if we take time to notice.
CrossFit helps—but it’s not enough. A long CrossFit workout is a sprint compared to this kind of endurance challenge. While it helped me physically, I realized true stamina comes from pacing, persistence, and mental grit.
There are new friends everywhere. We started the hike as a group of three. By the end, we had a fourth—Dennis—who joined us along the way and stuck with us the rest of the day. A simple hello can lead to an unexpected and meaningful connection.
Gratitude makes it richer. Though, I am sure, that many have made this hike, not everyone will have the chance—or the health—to do something like this. I’m grateful for my body, for this experience, and for the beauty I witnessed along the way. I won’t take that for granted.

In addition to career and business coaching, I help people apply the principles of career exploration to healthy lifestyle exploration. If you would like to discuss your health goals and ways you can find activities that meet your interests, let's talk .

Lessons I learned Hiking Mount Timpanogos

nobilityiq@gmail.com (Trenton Willson) — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 18:10:57 GMT

A Prelude to My Next Book

Comparison: Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

I may never want to run up and down Timp—but I do want to do it better next time. And now, I know how.

Here are just a few things I learned while hiking Timp:

Preparation: It’s Okay to Not Be Fully Prepared

I was wrong.

(Thanks to TERT for being on the trail with fresh, filtered water)

A Few More Lessons from the Trail

As I reflected on the hike, several more lessons stood out—simple but meaningful reminders I took with me:

Goals give direction. When you set a goal, it becomes much easier to stay focused and accomplish what you set out to do.
Perspective fuels perseverance. I got a second wind when we reached “The Saddle” and could see the Utah Valley below. That bigger-picture view gave me the energy to keep going.
The right tools matter. Most of the hike, my hiking stick felt like a nuisance. But when we hit the steep climbs and descents, it became essential. It offered safety and support I didn’t realize I needed until I did.
Every path has different terrain. Just like life, this hike had changing terrain—easy paths, rocky stretches, steep climbs, icy glaciers. Each required different kinds of preparation and mindset.
Watch your jerky. I left my pack open at the wrong time, and a passing dog helped himself to my bag of jerky while his humans scrambled to wrestle it back. Lesson learned: Keep your pack closed and don’t underestimate a snack thief with four legs.
There’s more going on beneath the surface. In one stretch, massive boulders covered the path, and we could hear the sound of rivers flowing beneath them. It reminded me that life holds hidden wonders if we take time to notice.
CrossFit helps—but it’s not enough. A long CrossFit workout is a sprint compared to this kind of endurance challenge. While it helped me physically, I realized true stamina comes from pacing, persistence, and mental grit.
There are new friends everywhere. We started the hike as a group of three. By the end, we had a fourth—Dennis—who joined us along the way and stuck with us the rest of the day. A simple hello can lead to an unexpected and meaningful connection.
Gratitude makes it richer. Though, I am sure, that many have made this hike, not everyone will have the chance—or the health—to do something like this. I’m grateful for my body, for this experience, and for the beauty I witnessed along the way. I won’t take that for granted.

It’s Not About Fame—It’s About Impact

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 20:18:00 GMT

Why I Want the Spotlight—and Why That’s OK

You Were Meant to Be Seen

Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved to perform. I still recall playing an onion in a church play—I had to cry on stage, so they handed me chopped onions to hold near my eyes. Theatrics at its finest! I started taking theater classes in 8th grade, and to this day, I still enjoy being on stage. There’s something exhilarating about hearing an audience laugh at your antics or connect with your words.

At one point, I even considered performing as a career. Over time, I’ve realized that while it may not be my professional path, it’s definitely a passion—one that connects me to my community and brings me joy.

Today, during a mastermind group with fellow entrepreneurs, we explored ways to make the most of our time together. One member introduced us to the HARD goals framework —a more personal and powerful take on goal-setting:

Heartfelt – Your goal should resonate with you emotionally and connect to a deeper purpose.
Animated – Visualize it. See it vividly in your mind before it becomes a reality.
Required – Make it necessary. Understand why this goal matters to you.
Difficult – It should challenge you and invite you to grow.

As I reflected on my own goals, a recurring thought kept surfacing—the one I usually push aside:

I love being on stage.
I love being seen.
I want to influence people—not for the fame, but to help others become the best version of themselves.

As a coach, I guide people through tough transitions—career changes, lifestyle shifts, starting businesses. To do that well, I have to be a light. I have to model belief, confidence, and joy. I show them what’s possible so they can see it in themselves. I love making people laugh. I love helping them feel something—hope, clarity, inspiration. I have a dream to inspire an audience of 1,000+ and I will do it!

Music, theater, comedy, motivational speaking—these experiences move us. They wake us up and remind us that we're capable of more.

So, if you ever find yourself battling the desire to be “seen,” “famous,” or “influential,” know this: you’re not alone . Wanting to be visible and impactful doesn't make you arrogant—it makes you human. Tell that inner voice of self-doubt to take a seat and enjoy the show.

You were meant for greatness.

* I teach a variety of classes and have presentations I would love to share in your next conference, or event. To see a short list of topics, visit https://www.nobilityiq.com/Career_Products. Or you could contact me to discuss other topics. I am always happy to create new courses/presentations.

Adding Structure to Experience: Research vs. Experience, Which is Better?

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:01:32 GMT

Research vs. Experience

A Cold Plunge

I experienced my first ice bath on Memorial Day this year after completing the Memorial Day Murph . The Murph consists of a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats, and finishes with another 1-mile run. I had heard plenty about the benefits of ice baths and wasn’t sure I wanted to try one. But between the sweat, soreness, and a little peer pressure, I decided to go for it.

I’m not sure I felt the full effects I had hoped for. I was still tired and sore for a day or two afterward. However, I did notice a bit more energy that day. We also included a sauna session, which may have contributed to that boost.

Personal Experience

In my full-time role as a Program Specialist, I help people find remote work. I’ve been a career coach for 15 years and wrote a book about my journey from accountant to career coach: Nobility Road . Most of what I learned about career transitions came from mentors and personal trial and error. Over the years, I’ve developed tools and strategies—refined through hands-on experience—that have helped hundreds of job seekers discover their career vision.

But it wasn’t until I was invited to attend the National Career Development Conference (NCDA) that I began to hear more about the formal theories used in higher education and the career development field. Before the conference, I joined a virtual workshop where someone asked, “What’s your favorite career development theory?” I gave an answer I felt confident in—but I wasn’t sure if it aligned with the more commonly cited theories.

Curious, I did a bit of research and came across this article that helped clarify things. As I reviewed these theories, I realized many of them mirrored approaches I’ve been using for years—just without the academic labels or research references.

The Value of Research

Working for a higher ed institution and participating in a research program, I’ve come to value research more than ever. It provides credibility through data and measurable validation. Still, my book, Nobility Road, wouldn’t be used as a textbook—it’s not rooted in peer-reviewed studies. But does that make it any less meaningful? I don’t think so.

Personal experience does count. And I’ve recently discovered that much of what I’ve developed through experience is actually supported by a wealth of academic research.

Conclusion

Just like with ice baths—I can read all the studies I want, but there’s something powerful about actually stepping in and experiencing it for myself. There may be added value in repeated trials and evaluating to see if it really helps as it claims it does for me personally.

I’d love to see my book tested and evaluated through a research lens someday, but I’m not yet sure how to begin that process. In future versions, I may look at aligning the “ Ten Steps to Find Your Purpose ” with established career development theories. It could be a way to bridge the gap between lived experience and academic insight.

________

If anyone would like to help me run my book through research, I would love to hear from you. I'll give you a free book!

Conference Networking: Get the Most Out of Your Experience

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 18:50:31 GMT

Who you meet at a conference is more important than what you learn!

I occasionally have the opportunity to attend professional conferences, and recently, I had the privilege of attending the National Career Development Association (NCDA) Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. With over 900 career counseling professionals from around the world. I even connected with some from Japan and China—it was a rich environment for connection and growth.

Pre-Conference Opportunities

The conference included optional Professional Development Institutes (PDIs)—intensive, four-hour workshops led by some of the most respected voices in the field. In my experience, these pre-conference sessions often offer deeper value than the shorter breakout sessions during the main event.

One highlight was a session on Career Construction theory developed by Mark Savickas (pictured above). While the workshop was led by his students and colleagues, Mark himself also participated. I jumped at the chance to volunteer as the subject for a live demonstration. Through questions about my childhood heroes, interests, and formative memories, Mark walked us through his powerful process. It was inspiring and deeply personal.

Afterward, I continued to connect with Mark, his colleagues, and others in the workshop, gaining both insight and meaningful relationships.

Saying Yes Leads to Opportunity

Throughout the conference, I volunteered whenever possible. One memorable moment came when I participated in a Jeopardy-style game and won a free one-year NCDA membership. My win was mostly thanks to being teamed up with NCDA President Marty Apodaca who fed me the correct answers. I also connected with President-Elect Dirk Matthews, who played a fairly good likeness to Alex Trebek, and several other board members. These interactions weren’t just fun; they were meaningful networking moments that opened doors.

How to Get the Most from a Conference

Whether you find conferences energizing or intimidating, here are three ways to maximize the long-term benefits:

Prepare Beforehand
Connect with attendees or presenters in advance via LinkedIn or a conference app. If the agenda is available ahead of time, choose your sessions early and research the presenters. Pre-conference contact makes walking into sessions much less intimidating.
Participate During
Engage by asking questions, chatting with peers, or volunteering. If you’re introverted, lean into one-on-one interactions. You might turn to the person next to you and say, “I’m a bit introverted—mind if I share my thoughts with you instead of the group?” Ask people you meet if you can send them a LinkedIn request or email to continue the conversations at the conference.
Follow Up After
Stay in touch with mentors and peers. Offer help where you can and remind people how you met. If your LinkedIn connection wasn’t personalized, send a follow-up message referencing your interaction.

I added at least 50 new contacts to my network before, during, and after this conference—many of whom are industry veterans, collaborators, and future mentors. I intend on joining committees and engaging in virtual meetings. I’m excited to see how these relationships grow and hope to return next year as a presenter to reconnect with these incredible professionals.

Final Thoughts

Networking is the most powerful tool for building your career, finding clients, and discovering mentors. Whether you’re at a global conference or a local meetup, these small steps can transform your experience. You never know—you just might get inspired by a "living legend" in your industry.

*I teach a pre-conference virtual workshop about networking before, during, and after, a conference and would love to have an opportunity to share it with your attendees. If you have the ability to add this option for your conference, please let me know. Ideally, I would teach this on Zoom 2-3 weeks prior to a conference. Cost is negotiable and trade options are welcome as well. Contact me for more discussion.

Is a Failed Business Really a Failure?

Wed, 07 May 2025 19:24:22 GMT

Lessons Learned From a Failed Business

(This blog post was originally posted on July 6, 2018 on LinkedIn . An update will be included at the end.)

My Failure

For nearly eight years now, I have worked tirelessly to make my business succeed. It appears that in the coming weeks, I will likely close the legal entity I created, retaining only the business name—one that has yet to become profitable. And yet…I am thrilled!

"Huh?" you say. Why would anyone be thrilled by the apparent failure of a business? Let me explain—and hopefully, my story will bring hope to others who feel they, too, have failed.

DreamCoachers began while I was working at a fine art bronze foundry. I realized that many artists remain “starving artists” simply because they lack the business acumen to turn their talent into a sustainable enterprise. Over time, I delved deeper into job search and career mentoring. Eventually, I expanded the concept into a full-fledged career coaching business for anyone seeking direction. Most recently, I added entrepreneurship and business coaching to the mix.

When I first started, I found the most success in teaching job search skills. I had built a network within the industry and began offering workshops. My first real gig was teaching at Utah’s Department of Workforce Services. I had built strong relationships with several people there and offered to teach a few classes. After teaching two sessions at three different offices, employees began encouraging me to apply for open positions. I ultimately worked for the state for over four years.

Eventually, I felt the urge to grow again and left my state job to refocus on DreamCoachers. Despite criticism from many, I set out to succeed on my own. I collaborated with community partners who gave me valuable opportunities to build my reputation. I was making a difference in my community. Unfortunately, the market turned out to be a dry well. I felt like I was failing—again.

Success!

Encouraged by my mentors, I applied for what was my fourth “perfect job” at the local university—and this time, I got it! With each previous rejection, I would tell myself, “That was the perfect job and exactly what I wanted to do with DreamCoachers.” Disappointment always followed, softened only by reassurances from friends and family that better things were coming. They were right. This job came with a much higher salary, opportunities to work with leaders at the state, local, and even national levels, and a chance to support legislation that brings better opportunities to rural communities in our state.

So, was my business a failure? Absolutely not. Through DreamCoachers, I secured two amazing job opportunities doing exactly what I love. Now, I have financial security and the means to continue pursuing my passion.

So if you find yourself stewing in failure juice, realize that you didn’t just fall in—you climbed up, exercised your resilience, grew as a person, and positioned yourself for future success. Savor the fact that you’ve grown—and keep going!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As mentioned, this blog was originally written in 2018. Since then, I am still with this "dream job" and am helping people succeed. I have published my book "Nobility Road," and I am now in the process of starting my next business venture, Nobility IQ. I have also been able to turn a few hobbies into additional income as well as a community resource. Past failures have led me to be motivated to be better and keep on trying.

If you want help working through your failures to create success, send me a message and we can talk. I offer a free one hour coaching session.

Livin' the Dream

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:35:30 GMT

Chasing Your Dream is Closer Than Ever Before
Originally posted on LinkedIn May 24, 2022

If you've ever had a dream for your life, do me a favor and like and share this post!

Your Dreams

Now, let’s talk about that dream. Are you living it—or did it shift over time? Did it evolve into something better? Maybe you even surpassed it. Or perhaps, like many people, you set it aside for the sake of practicality and just focused on work. Whatever your circumstances, know this: living a fulfilling, purpose-driven life is still within reach.

Our world is changing in ways we never could have imagined just a few years ago. Opportunities that once felt impossible are now right at our fingertips. Take writing, for example. In the past, publishing a book required landing a deal with a traditional publisher. They’d take a large portion of the profits, and you might be forced to print hundreds or thousands of copies upfront. If the books didn’t sell, you'd be left with unsold inventory. Today, self-publishing platforms allow anyone to share their work. Books are printed on-demand, and digital formats make it even easier to reach readers. And that's just one example—there are countless other ways to build a career or passion project that fits your dreams.

My Dreams

As a kid, one of my dreams was to play in the NBA. (Spoiler alert: I never made it—don’t bother Googling.) So how can I still talk about chasing dreams if I “gave up” on mine? The truth is, there’s a difference between a dream that reflects who you truly are and a “wouldn’t that be cool?” kind of dream.

I loved basketball. I still do. But I realized over time that being in the NBA wasn’t the dream I was meant to chase. Instead, I found ways to incorporate the essence of that dream into my life. I play basketball regularly for exercise, stress relief, and connection with my son who loves basketball. I also discovered other interests—like CrossFit. Now, I coach CrossFit classes and actually get paid for it. It’s not exactly an NBA salary, but I’m a paid professional doing something I love. And to me, that’s a dream fulfilled.

Influencers

I recently watched a video about streetball legend Grayson “The Professor” Boucher . In my opinion, he’s had more influence on basketball in the past decade than many NBA players and coaches. Through YouTube and social media, The Professor helped redefine the entertainment side of the sport with over-the-top ball-handling skills, acrobatic dunking abilities, and their passing finesse. In his video, he addressed the question: “Will The Professor ever play in the NBA?” His answer was powerful. Two reasons were beyond his control. The third? He simply loves inspiring people and creating cool content. That’s his lane. And in that lane, he’s thrived—becoming a coach to NBA players and influencing the culture of the game more than most pros ever will.

He didn’t need the NBA to live his dream.

Go For It!

With remote work, global learning platforms, content creation tools, and international collaboration more accessible than ever, and now ever improving AI tools, your dream might be much closer than you think. You don’t need to follow the traditional path to success. The world is wide open—so what’s stopping you from living to your full potential?

If you’d like to talk more about your dream, let’s connect. I’m full of ideas, tools, and resources to help you make it happen.

Unemployment is a Mindset

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:46:52 GMT

3 Steps to Create a Value Mindset

The Value of Focus

I recently drove to the top of a mountain near my home in Utah. I love taking nature photos, and I found some beautiful things to capture. My daughter had taught me a trick on my phone’s camera that helps get better pictures of small objects. She showed me that by tapping the image of the item you want to focus on, the camera sharpens its focus on that specific object, resulting in a much better picture.

You can see in the photos below what happens when you pinpoint your focus on the subject versus just snapping the picture without intention. The detail of the flower in the first image is incredible—and with the right focus, the value of the photo is dramatically increased.

Just like those photos, our personal value increases when we focus on the right things.

Too often, an unemployed person adopts statements like “I am unemployed” or “I’m looking for a job.” While seemingly harmless, these affirmations have a powerful effect. The brain is an incredible tool that believes what we repeatedly tell it. What we think directly influences who we become.

“Watch your thoughts, they become words;
Watch your words, they become actions;
Watch your actions, they become habits;
Watch your habits, they become character;
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
—Frank Outlaw, Late President of Bi-Lo Stores

Our thoughts and words can ultimately create our destiny.

In our brain, there's a function called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) , which acts as a filter between the conscious and subconscious mind. Through repetition, our thoughts pass through this filter and settle into the subconscious. Our automatic bodily functions are managed from the subconscious—so when we repeatedly focus on something, we program our body and mind to act on it. In other words, repeated thoughts lead to words, words to actions, actions to habits, habits to character, and character to destiny.

We literally become what we think.

So, when we constantly say “I’m unemployed,” our brain begins to operate under the mindset and behaviors of someone who is unemployed. This can lead to desperation and a need for external validation. But here’s the truth I’ve learned again and again from my mentors:

"Money follows value."

Create Value

Instead of spending your day seeking validation or waiting to be hired, focus on creating value. Here are three steps to help you get started:

1. Invest in Yourself
Learn something new every day and do something kind for yourself. Investing in personal growth—whether through books, mentorship, or a career coach—will improve your self-image and build confidence.

2. Create an Environment of Success
Treat your home like an office. Set up a space that inspires productivity and professionalism. You are the proprietor of you—a valuable product or service. Build an environment that reflects the business you want to create or the person you want to become.

3. Get Out and Do
Don’t spend all your time scrolling job boards or perfecting your resume. Instead, get out and add value. Teach, volunteer, mentor, or attend local events. Whether or not you turn it into a business, you’ll be seen as someone who contributes. People will recognize your value—and if the statement holds true, money will follow you.

Following these three steps will help shift your identity from “I am unemployed” to “I add value to people’s lives. I make a difference and contribute to my community.” When you truly believe this, opportunities, offers, and income will come your way more naturally.

What mindsets have you held that brought negative results? How have you shifted your thinking to focus on creating value?

Originally published on LinkedIn June 27, 2016

Chapter 1: Nobility Road Book

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 20:02:09 GMT

Chapter 1

Know Thyself

Explore deeply who you are, your strengths, weaknesses, interests, skills, and your place in this world. This includes your beliefs of where you came from, why you are here, and where you are going.

As I pulled into the Walmart parking lot, I saw a familiar figure in the distance. He was slightly bent over pushing a long line of carts towards the store. I felt a little excitement build in me as I rushed to catch up to him. I was eager to know how he was doing in his job. The smile on his face and the confidence in his voice told me all I needed to know about how he was doing. I didn’t need to ask.

The moment he recognized me his reaction made me blush a little. We reminisced about his journey as he accompanied me into the store. “This is my job coach,” he would shout shamelessly to his colleagues, “he helped me get my job!”

Greg, who we affectionately referred to as our platinum customer, had been attending our job club from its beginning. Only rare emergencies kept him from attending. Without fail, his car would be parked out front, promptly 15 minutes early, even before most of the employees arrived, waiting for the doors to open. His punctuality and consistency would eventually be his golden ticket.

When I first met him, I recognized that he had special needs. It wasn’t until I worked my way into managing the job club, did I know the extent. His learning disability made it difficult for him to grasp new tasks and most of his professional experience was gathering carts at grocery stores. A false claim of carelessness and a sagging economy left him jobless at the onset of the great recession and he would patiently, and persistently keep trying for nearly three years.

As the facilitator of the job club, I had developed a twelve-week curriculum that taught the critical points of the job search. The repetition of the topics sank into his mind as he meticulously applied every effort to succeed. At one point, not long before he found work, the topic of our discussion was interviewing. I asked for a volunteer to do a mock interview. Instantly, his hand shot up before I could finish the question. His mock interview was nearly flawless! His commercial was well prepared and natural. He told stories of situations he had been in, the actions he took, and the results of his actions. He was confident and poised and he knew who he was.

We were finally able to find him a couple part-time jobs for which he was highly commended for his work ethic, but when we learned Walmart was building a new store and would be recruiting employees to fill the positions, he knew this was his chance to do what he loved to do. With absolute confidence, I recommended him to the recruiters and assured them that he would be their best employee. He would always be on time and never take days off. Greg knew what he wanted, and he knew who he was. He was an All-American cart pusher.

====

Have you ever really pondered deeply the question, who am I? What does it mean to know thyself? What makes us unique? There is nobody that can fill a space as you do. There is nobody that has the skill to do what you are meant to do. There is a purpose in this world and it is part of our test in life to figure out what that purpose is. To “know thyself” is to understand what makes us unique, what we are best at, and a complete understanding of our divine purpose for our existence.

Mindset

We are the conglomeration of many factors. One of the most powerful is our experiences and the decisions we make in life about ourselves based on those experiences.

As children, our ability to decipher between reality and perception was often skewed. A child who comes into the room with their version of the Mona Lisa to show a parent who is on a very important phone call will likely not understand the full situation if the parent brushes them off because they are dealing with a serious situation at work. The child might interpret the short response of, “honey, not now, I am dealing with something urgent for work!” with, “honey, you aren’t as important as what I am doing, and I don’t have the time nor the interest in your childish art right now.” This is a big difference in what is the reality, as compared to what a young child might perceive. This child may make the decision in that moment that they are not loved, they are not important, and they are not talented. All of which were completely unintentionally communicated by the parent.

As parents, we must recognize that our children are lousy interpreters. They are still building the connections in their brain of how to use logic to analyze a situation. Their brains are very elastic and susceptible to incorrect thinking. If our child comes to us when we are stressed and we literally can’t pay attention, we must do all we can to show our child that they are the most important thing to us and we will give our full attention when the current crisis has been resolved.

Invite them to sit on your lap while you have your phone call. Ask them to leave it on your desk so you can look at it better after the call. Then when the call is done, give them your full attention and praise that they need to feel loved and recognized.

We have our own experiences that contributed to our limiting or incorrect beliefs. How do we discover these beliefs and change them? Sometimes it will require a professional counselor or a mentor who knows how to help with this. Once you identify your limiting beliefs, create new ones. Search for evidence that your new beliefs are truer than your old beliefs.

Declarations and vision boards are tools that many experts teach to help eradicate negative thinking and give us a new mindset about ourselves. Repetition about who we truly are, and who we want to become eventually creates new pathways in our brain that we begin to gather evidence for these new, healthier beliefs.

Some of the most powerful words in the English language are “I can’t” and “I am.” These are two phrases that create in us what comes afterward. If “I can’t” is our belief, we won’t, almost ever! When we say “I am” stupid, unworthy, poor, or any other negative word, our mind searches for proof. But if we change that to a positive, “I am” smart, powerful, creative, worthy, we begin to see the evidence all around us. A mindset is a powerful tool that if we understand how to use it correctly, it will change everything in our lives. After all, one of the greatest teachers in the history of mankind is “The Word,” The Great “I Am,” The “King of Kings,” even Jesus Christ. When we use the phrase, “I am” keep in mind that this is one of His names.

Strengths

Brainstorming a list of our strengths is never an easy thing to do. Why? Because for some crazy reason, society has hammered it into our brain that to be humble, we should avoid bragging about ourselves. Humility is not lowliness, it is seeing others as equals AND knowing OUR divine value.

I once had a teacher suggest that if she were to ask someone in the audience to write on the chalkboard all the good qualities they possessed, it would be difficult to fill a portion of the board. But if she asked the same person to write all the qualities of another person, they would easily fill up the chalkboard. Why do we struggle so much to see the greatness in ourselves? We will never become our greatest self if all we see and focus on are the things we can’t do.

In the book Strengthsfinder 2.0, the introduction discusses in great detail the flaw in the societal focus of turning weaknesses into strengths. The authors instead teach a focus of building on our strengths instead of trying to fix our weaknesses. I don’t think they intend to discourage us from trying to be better by improving our weaknesses, but how much easier is it to strengthen muscles we already have than it is to build them where they aren’t?

Knowing what strengths we have, and narrowing them down into a hierarchy of our greatest strength to our baby strengths, can offer a great deal of insight into the best chance of success for our career.

After spending a good 10-15 minutes to truly examine, and list all of your strengths, it is good to review them by asking:

What are my top strengths?
Where did I learn these?
Which ones do I not remember being taught? (They come naturally)
Which ones do I use in all aspects of my life?
Which ones energize me the most?

These questions can expand options for you that you may have never thought of before. Too often, as we choose a career, our focus is, what’s the pay? Does it have benefits? And can I tolerate it? This approach more often than not leads to misery and a life well below our potential. This is called settling. There is a time and a place for accepting any job, but you must have a plan! Who do you aspire to be? What career will fit my skills and interests? Where can I make the biggest difference? If you stay where you settle, you become stuck and stuck people are depressed, angry, frustrated, and live a life of regret because they settle for now instead of reaching for a better future.

Weaknesses

When we hone in on our strengths, our weaknesses become apparent. Although I just finished explaining how important it is to focus on strengths, understanding weakness still is important in choosing a career. Besides, none of us will ever go through life, completely avoiding our weaknesses. Some we are meant to turn into strengths. Some are simple to overcome like being computer illiterate for instance. Will it take time? Yes! Will it be easy? Probably not. But is it easier than adding 6” to your stature so you can play basketball better? Absolutely!

There are several kinds of weaknesses we need to understand to properly decide which ones we can and should work on:

Unalterable Weaknesses – These are usually physical and there is nothing we can do about it. If I love basketball, but I am vertically challenged, there is nothing I can do about that. I may still be able to learn to play well, but I will likely never be asked to be the Center for an NBA franchise.
Character Weaknesses - We rarely will recognize character weaknesses in ourselves until they are pointed out by someone or we are faced with a situation where the obvious sign smacks us in the snoot. Character weaknesses are difficult to overcome, especially without help. We have likely been raised by parents who, “bless their hearts,” did their best but they too were handed a faulty handbook by their parents. It may take counseling, personal study, and even divine guidance to chip away at these weaknesses. Unfortunately, character weaknesses are important to work on because, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you have always gotten” and what you have gotten has been the same for generations. If you want to break the family patterns, ya gotta do something different!
Skill Weaknesses – These are probably the easiest to fix. They may not be the most critical, but anyone can be taught a skill. Other types of weaknesses may shimmy into the learning process and even stifle success, but one can always learn. A person who can’t carry a tune may be able to learn how to read music and even control their voice but a hearing problem may make it difficult for them to become a great singer.
Personality Weaknesses – These are similar to character weaknesses but aren’t as ingrained. Our personalities play a big role in who we are. We have a natural personality that we are born with and then we have a nurtured personality that can and often does change depending on our circumstances. Personality weaknesses are simply a lack of effort or experience in reacting to a given circumstance. Awareness is the key to becoming more well-rounded. A shy, nurturing, emotional person, rarely chooses to be the football coach who has to motivate by loud, animated instructions, but they can learn how to if they choose to step out of their comfort zone.
Knowledge Weaknesses – Often, we are unaware of what we don’t know until we learn what we were unaware of before. Some things are weaknesses because we have never been in a situation where we could learn that skill or information. There is a saying that people are kept from the truth only because they know not where to find it. People are often kept from a skill or hobby only because they know not where to learn about it.

Interests

At an early age, we begin to express the interests of who we are (nature) as well as how our environment (nurture) has influenced our interests. Often an only girl in a large family of boys tends to enjoy traditionally masculine activities whereas, a boy who grows up with all sisters may take on a softer, more feminine behavior and interest.

When I meet with someone wanting to seek a better career, the following conversation often occurs,

Me : When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Them : An NFL football player.

Me : Why did you want to play in the NFL?

Them : Well, I was good at it. I enjoyed playing the game and I enjoyed playing it with my friends.

Me : What made you good at football, and what did you like most about the game?

Them : I was faster than most of my friends and I could catch the ball well. I have really big hands which made it easy for me to catch the ball. Plus, it gave me time to be with friends, I like being around people, doing active things. The accomplishment of catching that long pass and scoring a touchdown is a feeling I rarely fell doing anything else.

Me : What do you do in your life today that makes you excited as football did back then?

Them : Well, spending time with my family is what I like the most. I go to work and though, I am not loving what I do, I enjoy working with the people there. I have really good friends at work and I can get along with them well. I manage a team and helping them be more productive and achieving their goals is exciting to me. I’ve been able to get three of my workers promoted in the last year and that was energizing to me.

Me : What don’t you like about your job?

Them : I just don’t feel like I am developing myself. The job is kind of a dirty job and I would rather be in a more strategic role. I am a good manager and I am well respected, but I am not being challenged and growing the way I would like. I am in a stagnant spot in my career and I would like to be a better provider for my family, have more time at home, and contribute my experience in the community and I don’t feel like I can do that where I am now.

Let’s analyze this conversation and understand a bit of the psychology. Notice that the length of responses from the first question to the last. Also, see how emotional the responses become. Often when we interview someone, the first question brings a very surface response, the second layer opens the door a bit and the third question hits the heart and reveals a great deal of emotion.

In this conversation, we learned that he enjoyed football as a kid because he was good at it, he enjoyed the thrill of victory, and the social aspect of the game made him feel closer to his friends. Presently, his family brings some of those feelings, so does being at work with his coworkers, and he loves to develop success in other people. We also learned that he wants to be where he too can grow and progress and not just develop others. He also loves to be physically active, play, spend time with his family, and make a difference in his community.

This is a lot of important information that builds a pretty good foundation for searching for a better career. Further discussion would begin to analyze which jobs resonate with the priorities identified in the conversation. Hobbies would play a big part in pinpointing a career. Many people subscribe to the fallacy that work is a serious thing where hobbies and fun don’t belong. Many hobbies are less than profitable but finding a career that involves at least some of their hobbies alleviates some of the seriousness of a job and brings joy into work.

Skills

The internet has a bounty of options for skills evaluations. It may seem a little high schoolish for a grown, experienced professional to take a skills assessment, but if they are in a career that doesn’t suit them, why wouldn’t they take a little time to explore what they like and are good at.

Skills assessments typically consist of several questions or statements about random subjects, such as, “Do you like to build cabinets?” or, “Do you like to create spreadsheets?” or “Do you like conducting meetings?” or “Play is important to me at work.” Each question is rated according to your skills or interests and at the end is calculated into results that correspond with a list of industries or jobs you may be interested in.

Skills can easily be developed through learning and practice, or they can also come naturally. Physical abilities, such as dexterity, strength, speed, or keen senses are often a natural gift, whereas the use of tools, software or other machines has to be learned. Skill development is amplified if there is a combination of natural abilities combined with effective mentoring and practice.

Mentoring significantly accelerates the learning process. Mentors are professionals who have had a great deal of experience and a proven history of abundant success in a specific arena.

Mentoring happens in four different ways:

Practice is also essential to effective skill-building. But “practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes progress.” No truer words could have been taught than these. Most skills will never be perfected, but with perfect and consistent practice, we find progress.

Your Place in the World

I believe in God and that has profoundly shaped my life. I recognize that many who will read this book may have different views of deity. Regardless of what your spiritual beliefs are, one thing is for sure, there are forces in this world, powers in this universe that are greater than man and we must recognize our place.

No creation in this world compares to the magnificence of life. If God exists or if he doesn’t, there is no doubt that the miracle of life is undoubtedly the most fascinating, complex, infinitely marvelous aspect of this world. Science can scarcely touch the complexities of our cells, the regeneration of our body, the capacities of our brain, the miracle of sight, the electrical power of touch and so many other facets of our being. Is it not a wonder that we are here to make a difference?

We all have a mission, a purpose. We have been given through this miracle of life very distinct bodies with varying abilities. We have been placed into circumstances that are uniquely ours that has shaped and formed us into an individual that has no equal. With this knowledge and the truth that we are the only ones on this planet that exists, has existed, or will ever exist with our exact body, experiences, and perceptions, what are we going to do with them?

Though we are unique, our experiences resonate with others. I am not the only one to have stubbed my toe. I am not the only one to have an addiction. I am not the only one who recently lost a parent. My experiences matter to others and other’s experiences matter to me. We are all in this word together and we can use these experiences to help or we can set them aside thinking they aren’t valuable. If we choose the latter, unfortunately, someone in this world will miss out on the lessons you could have taught them.

My belief in God and my spiritual beliefs have taught me that I have a purpose on this earth and if I don’t discover that purpose and fulfill it, I have failed my earthly brothers and sisters. I believe that they will still have their opportunities to learn because others will accept the call I failed to accept. I may someday face that person and have to answer why I didn’t keep my promise to them. We must burst out of our comfort zones and live our divinely agreed-upon mission.

Summary

Knowing who we are and accepting the entire package is one of the most important things we must do in life. I live in a demographic where personal flaws abound, but the moral standard is set so high that knowing who you are is painful, depressing, and outright shameful if we focus on our weakness or perceived faults. That is why a deeper reflection and recognition of a higher power and influence is so important. The purpose of this book isn’t to make Christian believers out of whoever reads it, but it is to draw people to a realization that even though we are weak, and frail compared to the strength of the earth or the immensity of the universe, we are infinitely remarkable. We are miracles. We are one of a kind. We are noble!

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If you enjoyed this chapter and would like to have your own copy of the book, you can purchase a copy here.

Endless Potential! 10 Steps to Your Purpose in Life

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 20:44:16 GMT

Endless Potential! 10 Steps to Your Purpose in Life

Originally posted on LinkedIn March 24, 2016

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/endless-potential-10-steps-your-purpose-life-trenton-willson/?trackingId=nM9j%2Ff8eTVCWNEJaWVBybg%3D%3D

Is there such a thing as the perfect job or career?

Are you satisfied with your job? Is the pay and benefits worth the effort? Do you have enough family and leisure time? If not, why?

I have always enjoyed my jobs, but to be honest, until now I have failed to reach financial freedom and a family/leisure lifestyle that I crave. I have come to realize that we all have an ideal purpose in life. We all have a collection of talents arranged in such a way that no one else in the world does. We are uniquely in position to bless the lives of others. So logically, I firmly believe that we all have THE perfect career option and it is our job to find out what that is.

Watch this video of Steve Harvey speaking to his audience and join me for a discussion afterward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-952IaLtKM

Have you ever settled for "just a job" when you know you are more capable and qualified for something better? Imagine how this world would be different if everyone loved their career and believed in their potential to change the world. Here are 10 steps that you can do to find your natural, world altering career:

Know Thyself- Explore deeply who you are, your strengths, weaknesses, interests, skills and your place in this world. This includes your beliefs of where you came from, why you are here and where you are going. (See a follow-up post on this topic here )
Your true nature- Knowing your true nature involves understanding your chemical make up, your personality, your tendencies and your natural movement through life. (See It's Just My Nature by Carol Tuttle for an excellent system)
What is your question? - Michael Wesch, Professor at K State University says that "all great learning begins with a question (a quest!)" You must find your quest and see where it takes you! (Full speech "The end of wonder in the age of whatever. " )
How do you learn? - Knowing how you learn is an important part of knowing what you are capable of doing. Understand the different styles of learning and what that means for you in your profession.
Skill Building- Conducting a skills inventory to see what you already have is critical to building the skills you need. Focus on your best skills. In the introduction to the book Strengthsfinder 2. 0 it discusses building on strengths instead of focusing on weaknesses.
Put yourself in the right place at the right time - Create a vision! Stand in the places where the jobs and people are who can get you where you want to be. Get involved in the community and in your industry and eventually, fate will introduce itself to you personally.
Surround yourself with the right people - Effective networking and mentoring with people who are already living your dream is one of the best ways to succeed. "We become the average of the 5 people we associate with the most." Dan Clark
Create your success - Take action, decide your destiny and go after it. Take the leap! If you are off track, the act of motion will take you through the course corrections to get you where you need to be.
Spread the wealth - The most successful people give back! Once you are living the dream and creating wealth, give back. Pay it forward! The money you make is far less important than what you do with it once you have it.
Pass it on - Now it is your turn to teach. Find or create a medium to mentor and provide others with the tools and wisdom you have obtained in your journey.

"It is our failure to become our perceived ideal, that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It's not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound reinvention."

Conan O'Brien Dartmouth 2011 Commencement Address

What did you learn from this post? Do you have an experience of your leap you could share? Let's discuss it in the comments below! Thank you!

Trenton

nobility-iq

Lessons I Learned Hiking Mount Timpanogos Updated

A Prelude to My Next Book

Preparation: It’s Okay to Not Be Fully Prepared

Comparison: Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

A Few More Lessons from the Trail

Lessons I learned Hiking Mount Timpanogos

A Prelude to My Next Book

Comparison: Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

Preparation: It’s Okay to Not Be Fully Prepared

A Few More Lessons from the Trail

It’s Not About Fame—It’s About Impact

Why I Want the Spotlight—and Why That’s OK

Adding Structure to Experience: Research vs. Experience, Which is Better?

Research vs. Experience

A Cold Plunge

Personal Experience

The Value of Research

Conclusion

Conference Networking: Get the Most Out of Your Experience

Who you meet at a conference is more important than what you learn!

Pre-Conference Opportunities

Saying Yes Leads to Opportunity

How to Get the Most from a Conference

Final Thoughts

Is a Failed Business Really a Failure?

Lessons Learned From a Failed Business

My Failure

Success!

Livin' the Dream

Chasing Your Dream is Closer Than Ever Before Originally posted on LinkedIn May 24, 2022

Your Dreams

My Dreams

Influencers

Go For It!

Unemployment is a Mindset

3 Steps to Create a Value Mindset

The Value of Focus

Create Value

Chapter 1: Nobility Road Book

Chapter 1

Know Thyself

Endless Potential! 10 Steps to Your Purpose in Life

Endless Potential! 10 Steps to Your Purpose in Life

Is there such a thing as the perfect job or career?

Chasing Your Dream is Closer Than Ever Before
Originally posted on LinkedIn May 24, 2022