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Secret office

I just got back from a trip to Costa Rica. The trip was extraordinary.  Not only because the country is beautiful and the weather was warm but also because I thought more about my secret office.

The office isn’t Costa Rica, and it’s also not the beach.  But instead it’s getting out of the office.  Stepping away from emails. Being out in the country. Being away from the hustle and bustle and instead being at the beach and the mountains.

In those places, it’s like having my own office. More time to think and write. Spending time  with the best company. Having the best views and the best time to think. And of course having time to meditate and do more yoga.

Instead of writing emails to clients, I wrote blog posts, scribbled in my journal, and took photos. I caught up with friends and did yoga in the sunlight.  And in the end I felt renewed and had more ideas than ever.  I even started the blog for Yoga 100 (and now have a lot more participants) and managed to come back to happier … all while having an experience I won’t forget.

In short, we are often very productive at work and at home. But sometimes, it’s good to change things up and find your secret office. Sometimes you can get more done than ever, all in just a few hours, and spend the rest of the time enjoying the trip.

Just a thought.

(This is a view from my office in Costa Rica)

100 Days of yoga blog is live and ready to share

How can we be more connected to ourselves and those around us? How can we find change not just in our bodies but also in our minds?

I hear people talk about these questions all the time. And often times, I like to bring up the topics in my small group sessions I do.  Often times, I’ll share my experiences with them and one of them is from my recent time of doing 100 days of yoga.

Over the past few weeks I’ve shared the experience. And the response has been better than expected.   So we’ve created a project for people to do the same thing in 2014,  to complete 100 days of yoga and meditation and find change for themselves.

We have a blog.  It’s totally free to read and share.

It took a lot to get here. A lot of yoga,  a lot of making time, and a lot of conversations about it.  So I encourage you to take a few minutes to check it out after we get started on 2/1.  And perhaps consider joining.

http://yogi100.wordpress.com/blog/

What if I’m afraid I can’t do it?

Then you’d be in extraordinary company.  Many people I know have been afraid.  And most people who dare to do big things feel the same way.

To that end, a better question might be, “how will I respond after I am afraid? Will I respond with courage or fear?”

One of the best ways to find change is to do things we haven’t done before, things that are scray, and things that might not work.  If you do, you will be one step closer to not just succeeding but to succeeding in a really big way.  Coming up with a new idea for the next big startup, the next blog post that moves people, or the next movement in your community.  More importantly, you will be wiser and stronger no matter what the outcome is.

Many people in the world shy away from things they are afraid of. On the other hand, people who get courage and go after the things they are initially afraid are the ones who find change.

A few people have mentioned that they are nervous they can’t finish a 100 day yoga challenge.  You’ll never know if you don’t try.  Please consider joining on 2/1/14.

Inspirational video on never giving up

This is a must see video. I love stories like this, ones that help us understand what we could we accomplish in our lives if we didn’t give up. More people need to see this! But be warned it’s a tear jerker.

I love this video because it’s about the triumph of the human spirit. About working toward your Wildly Important Goal even when others tell you that it’s impossible. Another reason I love this video is because it shows yoga can create change.  This is great inspiration as we head into our second 100-day yoga challenge starting on 2/1.  Stay tuned for a blog being built for the challenge!

Thanks to my friend Kim Lampaglia for sending me this video this weekend.

“They said I’d never walk again. Show’d THEM!”

~ Arthur Boorman was a disabled veteran of the Gulf War for 15 years, and was told by his doctors that he would never be able to walk on his own, ever again.

Tags: inspiration, yoga

#AskJeremy: Advice on Real Estate Programs and the GMAT

In a recent question, a reader in New York asked me asked a question about real estate programs and the GMAT.

As usual, I did this during my first take. Given the size of the question, I kept my response fairly brief. If anyone has any follow up questions, feel free to send them my way. See below for the question and below that for my response.

Good day Jeremy Wilson, this is Ezra. Hope your Thanksgiving week went well with family. Thank you for the advice on career advancement when we met at Cornell University’s Information Session in Fall 2008. I have decided to pursue obtaining my masters in real estate development finance. To help me move forward in taking the next steps, any advice on courses, study materials and resources for preparing for the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) would be greatly appreciated. I thank you in advance for information provided on the subject.

Professionally,
Ezra

Here is my video response.

embedded by Embedded Video

YouTube Direkt

High level summary:

1.  You’ll have to choose between MBA programs where you can study real estate/finance or Masters in Real Estate finance programs.

2.  MBA programs (despite being a great launching pad) can provide challenges as most don’t have large real estate programs and you’ll have to convince employers/real estate firms that you really want to do it.

3. The program you choose will determine the test you take.

4.  If you end up taking the GMAT, many people who do well take classes.  I took Manhattan GMAT as did a number of others I know.

5.  It’s also a good idea to mix resources. One thing I did and like to recommend is to use a book from another GMAT company. That book will probably ask questions differently than the format of the class you’re taking. This will make you more prepared for the range of questions/styles that could come up.

6.  Remember to be organized with how you study, to understand what parts you need to work on and that all sections are not weighted equally.

As always, let me know if you have any more questions! 

Happy New Year!

#EducationMatters #AskJeremy