TGIF: Josh Murphy

TGIF:

This Goal Is Finished

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Today's This Goal Is Finished achiever is Josh Murphy. Josh is a proud member of Generation Y. He's already written two books and is working on his third big writing project now. Read more about how Josh is elevating discourse and changing the world for the better in his interview below.

The Achiever

Photo by Alexander Morozov

The youngest of eight children, Josh Murphy began his writing career at a very young age, publishing his first book "Writings from a Teenage Mind" in high school. While in college, Josh spent a year writing a column for his local newspaper and was actively involved with numerous campus leadership organizations and volunteer projects before graduating with a degree in government and world affairs from the University of Tampa in 2008. His experiences in college lead him to join City Year, where he tutored, mentored, and taught students. Murphy has always been inspired by the power of young people to enact sustainable social change. Josh recently finished his second book, Generation We Solve: A New Era of Social Change, which should be available in March 2011. When he's not working or writing books, Josh is writing on his blog, www.youthspeak.blogspot.com.

The Goal

My goal was to publish another book that was based on a vision of the world and humanity that was truly inspired and improved by ordinary people with extraordinary talents and a view of a brighter world.

Why This Goal?

I think expressing my views on the world and what it means to change adverse situations around us all is a powerful tool to creating a more sustainable earth for future generations. I believe that we each have a unique talent or gift that is to be used for the good of mankind. We should be willing to share our gifts with the world around us and be willing to leap with faith even if the light has not yet brightened the path. The creative qualities that we are blessed with as humans are truly a unique and awe inspiring toolbox to solve the world’s social and structural ills.

The First Step

My first step was to simply believe in myself. Once I convince myself that I need to share my thoughts with the world my blog became an extension of my brain. My blog allows me to write my thoughts over time and then gather them up into a book that inspires, educates, and hopefully moves society just a little bit closer to equality and full opportunity.

Sometimes we beat ourselves down too much, we convince ourselves that we are not enough, that our ideas are not good enough, that success is not our destiny, however I beg to differ. Once you believe in yourself anything is possible.

Challenges

There were many times when I didn’t feel I was qualified to write my thoughts, when I felt like time was not on my side or that I’m never going to get a publisher. Of course those thoughts are never the ones you should follow.

There’s a point in life where the only true obstacle is your own negative thinking. Once you can overcome that you can do anything. You should not be your own worst critic, save that job for someone else. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t critique your work and seek the best possible solution or product, but you shouldn’t be the negative Nancy in your own mind on a continuous basis.

When I discovered that one of my favorite authors Seth Godin, a bestselling author at that, was going to back away from traditional publishing because of its many faults, I was truly empowered to move forward with self-publishing. I have had more control, more creative leeway, and frankly, more fun publishing my own book.

It has definitely been hard work, but when it is complete I will know that I put my sweat and energy into the whole publishing process and that is truly a special gift. We have all failed at some point in life. The most important thing is to not allow failure to end up as the crutch of your demise, but as a learning tool to improve and achieve at an even higher level.

Staying Motivated

Motivation for me is listening to music, watching movies, or going to a Barnes and Noble and reading books and business magazines. Motivation for each person is different and it just depends on what inspires you to achieve at your highest level.

Who Helped?

My boss, who is a former Clinton cabinet secretary and US Congressman, has made some really positive statements about my writing. I love it when someone who has done great works gives me a compliment that really inspires me and gives me some validation that my work is worth the effort.

LuLu.Com has also been fun using for self-publishing my book. It has been a pretty clean process up to this point.

I also just love bouncing my ideas and thoughts off with friends and family.

TGIF - Celebrate!

When I finished writing my second book I was ecstatic. I think I kept reading it for weeks making edits. If I recall, I definitely went out for some drinks as well. ☺

Advice

Don’t stop believing. Keep dreaming. Keep writing. Keep thinking about how you can make the world just a little bit better for the rest of us. Your ideas and thoughts could become an inspiration for someone you never expected. When you are able to be a positive source of energy for someone else with whatever you do, that within itself is an emotional and empowering journey. Life is meant to be lived ON purpose and WITH purpose. Discover your purpose and live it!

What's Next?

I’m currently working on a third writing project. This time it is a screenplay. In high school I was in two plays and I always loved acting and movies. I’ve never written a screenplay, so it is also an opportunity for me to learn something new and to be inspired. I think there is this energy in each of us that is released, either due to tragedy or success, that challenges us to step out of our comfort zone to see the world in a whole new light.