Young Wisdom

Visionaries, like Steve.

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:43:28 -0700

In the past few days, the interweb has proven to have feelings, like the rest of us, as a reaction to visionary and CEO of Apple. Inc. passing away at the ripe age of 56, leaving the world wide web shocked and mourning. Everyone from my 17 year old brother to friends of mine in Dubai are reposting quotes, stories and articles about his death. One article in particular from the New York Times entitled, “Steve Jobs, Son of a Syrian, Is Embraced in the Arab World” struck me. This may be one of the first and only American deaths that has affected the Middle East in a embracive manner.

In lieu of the mourning process, I can’t help but ponder how one man was able influence so many people spanning across such different cultures. I firmly believe that the reason Mr. Jobs left a legacy of this magnitude was because he had a vision and he was devoted to fulfilling it. I’m not sure if his vision was to start a successful company, or to make technology simple. Perhaps it was to make enough money to provide for his great great grandchildren or just to love what he did for a living. But whatever the vision, his devotion touched both savvy and unsavvy people alike, giving each person a product that met our needs and helps us function from one day to the next.

While I reflect on Mr. Jobs accomplishments, I hope that every person can find a vision of their own to be devoted to. Whether it’s creating a family, practicing generosity, being an expert, traveling the world, making people happy - finding that vision is the hardest part, but once you’re devoted, you will leave the same lasting impression to the people that come across in your life too.

Emotional e-commerce: 2 items in checkout

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:35:19 -0700

The more I live, the more I see myself as an emotional e-commerce. Depending on what stage of life, I have search in my life for the product that allows me to be that livable, lovable person that makes me who I am! Right now, two items are in my cart: hope and patience. As I’m interviewed by at a new employer each week, I find in the interviewer seat too - unabashed by my own regard for the potential employer. What I mean is, I’m interviewing them too and looking for a place I can call home for a few years.

After being in the job search for the third time in two years, I’m investing in the emotional market of patience and hope, because finding the right employer is just as important as those looking for a solid candidate for their company. I’ve learned that nothing is personal, especially when in contact with small start-ups, successful tech giants and the like without any results.

This is my take: without any foresight I choose to remain patient and hopeful, because the alternative just sucks. Check please!

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Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:00:52 -0800

No matter how many times I do it ...

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:00:28 -0800

Pushing the start button feels SO good. In a sense it’s scary, but it really does make me re-evaluate myself in a whole new way. Almost like I’m looking in from the outside.

It’s awkward - looking at myself that way, but it builds character and it builds it quickly. I must learn to be independent - to know what I stand for because no matter how happy or sad I am in the world, that will always keep me curious. Regardless of how awkward I feel right now, I can laugh at myself. Truth is, I didn’t realize how UNhappy I was until I arrived to this new place.

We’re human. It’s part of our nature to want to fit in and stand out at the right time. No one is ever truly “alone”, but somehow we always feel like we are. Especially in the beginning, when that start button is pushed, it’s easy to feel alone. But we’re not. EVERYONE has been there before and that is the key moment where we must define ourselves and what we stand for. In that primitive moment, we are uninhibited and untainted by biases.

Right now, I am in that moment. I must look, pray, seek, ask, read and do everything it takes to be curious again, to envisage each person, place or thing as an opportunity to be enlightened. Most importantly, I must realize that I am not alone — that I am just another human, seeking happiness and fulfillment like everyone else.

me.

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:13:58 -0800

Life: it’s simply complicated. Luckily there are still people on the planet that have the art of turning complex situations into simple lessons and those are the people that are deemed “wise”. So this is my attempt portray that the complex experiences of quotidian life really are difficult to those who need control. I’m young and hopelessly idealistic, but I hope to substitute my lack of life experience with my endless curiosity about the wonders of this world through learning and creativity. But first, a brief introduction about myself:

About me!

Name: Shoghig Balkian

Age: not important

Location: Earth

Theme of the day: Beginnings

So I shall begin by saying that I’m just as excited about beginnings as I am skeptical about newness. But I’ll try anything at lease once.

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Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:15:50 -0800