I usually play the role of an educator (haha) here at Yes to Me, but today, I want to switch roles.  I have some serious questions about life, this world, and myself and I’m hoping my wise readers can help me.  (Photo by Sailing)

1. Why are people afraid of death?

There seems to be a consensus that the longer a person lives, the better.  I hear people say something like, “If I’m really lucky, I’d live to 100 . . .”  And when someone dies young, whether that is 80 years old or 60 years old or 40 years old or as a minor, that is considered bad and shameful.  Or in the case of children’s death, they blame God or the doctors or something.

Like (this is just one example of many, nothing personal here), Tim Brownson commented in Zen Habits regarding the Law of Attraction, “. . .my introduction to manifesting was The 28 Laws of Attraction by Thomas Leonard that originally came out (I think) about 6 or 7 years ago. Thomas Leonard then died at the age of 48, so his manifesting ability as an expert seems questionable at best ”

But then, most older people I see don’t seem to be particularly happy. Why?  If living long life is the ultimate goal of life (or at least one of them) and everyone wants it, they are the winners, right?

I don’t get it.  I don’t mind leaving here on Earth this afternoon (except that I have several weeks worth of waiting list for my service – hope someone would refund them after I’m gone).  Not that I want to die.  Well, honestly, I’m getting a bit tired of all the mess in the world, but I still enjoy my life and I don’t mind continuing to live and do some service work in the meantime.  But I don’t think it’s a bad thing to die.  Just spare me with excessive pain and drama.  (So don’t send me paper bomb, okay?)

But maybe I’m missing something?  Can someone give me a few reasons why living long is the ultimate goal?

2. Why do people want more money than they can spend?

I do understand that we live in a monetary system and money comes handy to get the products and services I want.  That is why I have my business and charge a heck of money ^_^  (I raised my rate three times in less than a year.)  But I don’t understand wanting more money than I need.

Let’s just say I make a comfortable living with 100K a year.  And let’s also say I achieve this goal.  (Not quite there yet, and I probably don’t need this much, but hey, it’s fun to think.  And I’m not good with numbers so I don’t want to work out the real numbers.)  There are three choices I can make at this point:

1. Keep working hard and make even more money
2. Work less, enjoy life more
3. Keep working hard but in a different way, including some work that may not produce income

I’d choose either 2 or 3.  But many people seem to choose 1.  Why?

For rainy days?  Again, I do understand the benefit of having some buffers.  Life is full of ups and downs.  But really, isn’t it a bit obsessive to think the more the better?  Or are there other reasons I have not noticed?

3. Why are some people so passionately against same sex marriage and other stuffs they are not involved?

I do understand that if you are homosexual and want to get married, you are passionate about legalizing same sex marriage.  It’s your issue. I don’t necessarily think legal marriage is particularly a wonderful institution, but if you want it, you want it, and that is fine.

But if you are heterosexual, what do you care about same sex marriage?  It has nothing to do with you.  I’m straight, and I simply don’t have much to say about homosexualism.  For me, they are just people like me or anyone else.

However, I do have something to say about love and marriage in general regardless of the participants’ gender.

And that is: love is good.  If you are gay and really hate being gay, that may be an issue, like a sugar addict hating sugar cravings.  But as long as you are happy with yourself, I don’t think any form of love is “wrong”.  (Oooops, I forgot the possibilities of extremes like incest.  There are people who want to argue using the fake logic of extremes.)

Some argue same sex marriage weakens marriage.  BS.  Marriage has been weakened by people getting married for wrong reasons like for money, security, or validation, and also weakened by married people who are cheating.  Two  adults getting married for mutual love and care cannot damage the institution of marriage whatever their gender may be.

I don’t understand the whole homophobia stuff, either.  Why is it bad for a man to sxxx another man’s penis while it is fine for a woman to do the same?  And why do you care about what other people do in their privacy?  It’s not like they are dumping lead paint off the drain, contaminating our Earth.

4. What is my image or brand?

The dignified, outspoken, and secretly sensitive James Chartland (the last one is tricky.  Apparently sensitive is not the image he likes to cast on himself, so he works hard to impress his readers with his manliness.  But I bet he is sensitive)  wrote an interesting post about branding.  In that article, he points out how Frank Kern utilizes the laid-back, every man image as his brand to sell his expensive info product.

I’m intrigued.  While I think I know myself pretty well, I also know it is extremely hard to know oneself.  So will you please help me?  Describe Akemi as you know her with three (or more) words, like I did for James and write them in the comment.  You can be honest ^_^

Thank you and a big smile!

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Become the next interviewee for the Interview With Successful Entrepreneurs series!

This is the second post of the Interview With Successful Entrepreneurs series. Before I introduce today’s great interviewee, however, allow me to report the surprise comment I received regarding the first interview. My intention for this interview series is to learn the insider stories of successful entrepreneurs that inform and inspire my readers. And Christine O’Kelly gave us such a story! When I read Nathalie’s comment, however, I realized I also created a potential goal for some aspiring entrepreneurs. Yes, I’d be honored to interview you when you become a successful entrepreneur! Stay around, learn whatever you need from me and other entrepreneurs, and make your dream come true. For me, this is like a miracle gift for my effort, to be able to offer something you can look forward to.

How can we turn adversity in life and in business to success?

Another miracle, a synchronicity, was taking place that day when I published Christine’s interview. I heard about Stephen Hopson at Andrea’s blog and emailed him earlier. He emailed me back just when I posted the interview and commented on Christine’s post for that day. Her post was about the lies we tell ourselves that effectively keep us broke, lazy, and stuck in where we are. So I disclosed one of my own lies, that public speaking is tough for me because I have accent. Christine commented back mentioning Stephen, who is a professional motivational speaker despite the fact he is deaf. So Stephen joined the discussion in her comment section. It was like the dots here and there in the big blogosphere came to connect at that miraculous moment.

Through that discussion (you really should check it out – Stephen almost took over Christine’s comment section), I learned how I can turn my perceived disadvantage to an advantage that sets me apart from the crowd. He said, “We can turn whatever so-called disadvantages that we might have and turn them into assets. Like my speaking despite being born deaf. I’d be crazy not to use that gift, right?” Can you believe this — he actually used the word “gift” for his disability. I was shocked. I’ve been writing about the importance of expressing ourselves in business, the “I Factor,” and yet this was a revelation for me. The result (one of it – more to come, of course) was my recent post, Is Becoming An Entrepreneur Harder Than Surviving In A Foreign Country?

So here we go, Stephen Hopson of Adversity University. Check out the video clip of his speaking demo, too. It includes the story of his spiritual awakening, which led him to quit his high-paying job on Wall Street.

1. Tell us a bit about your business and why you started it.

Obstacle Illusions is a LLC that was actually legalized in November of 2007 in an effort to turn my speaking and life coaching into a business platform to teach people who are ready to explore and overcome adversity because no one is immune from it – adversity does not discriminate. My services include fun and passionate presentations so that the audience can come to the conclusion that overcoming the impossible is truly possible if they have the heart to persevere. In essence, I teach people the power of transforming adversity into success.

2. What were the three biggest challenges when you were starting off as a new entrepreneur?

• Learning ways of getting my name out there, creating opportunities to be called upon to give powerful keynote presentations for organizations seeking inspiring speakers with a powerful message.
• Defining my target audience
• Defining and honing my message

3. And how did you work through these challenges?

There were several ways I went about doing this including but not limited to writing several articles, submitting stories for books like Chicken Soup for the College Soul: Inspiring and Humorous Stories About College, creating an Adversity University blog and networking with other speakers, bloggers, authors and entrepreneurs. The defining of my message was created through working and reworking a central message, eventually arriving at dealing with and overcoming adversity as my main theme for everyone has some form of adversity in their lives; therefore, it applies to everyone, regardless of who they are or where they’ve been in life. It’s a universal theme that touches everyone.

4. What is the best part of being an entrepreneur for you?

Having no one to report to, setting my own hours and doing what is best for me, rather than slaving away at the beck and call of an organization that might not allow me to pursue my life’s mission in the manner I was called by God to do.

5. Any advice for people who dream to have their own business and yet find it hard to make the leap?

Those who take the risk and take a leap of faith in the unknown are usually rewarded immensely for their faith. Following your intuition and trusting your instincts are the best ways to move forward. Be open minded and let others help you but understand that ultimately the decision is yours to make. Only your inner spirit knows what’s right, not others. Be willing to make a stand for authenticity and you will be rewarded far beyond your wildest imagination. See obstacles as opportunities in disguise and know how to surrender, not give in. There’s a big difference between the two. Giving in is like giving up whereas surrendering the outcome is trusting that what’s meant to happen, will happen. Do what your heart asks of you and trust that you will be led to the right opportunities, the right people, the right path to take. Keep trying but don’t bang your head against the wall for that won’t serve you.

My Takeaway
Thank you, Stephen. I understand the challenge of marketing, and I am impressed he has created such a powerful brand for himself. He is truly a one-of-a-kind man who heightens our spirituality. And I promise I stop banging my head against the wall – my next door neighbor will be glad, too.

If you like this article, you might enjoy my eBook on spiritual entrepreneurship. Click here for free, immediate download

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