Cool story, bro. Tell it again.

Sorry the last post was so long, but after a long hiatus, I figured I’d give you something to think about. As promised, I have yet to blog about my last two BIG goals…

On my birthday (OMG - I’m a quarter of a century old!), I find myself in the same dilemma I was in two years ago: doing something I’m not entirely 100% passionate about. Two years ago, I woke up with $40 in my account. Two years ago, I didn’t have the ability to change professions because of a commitment I made. But yet, two years later, even though I have plenty of personal savings, I’m not happy because I’m not living out my dreams.

I’m not living the life that I envision; I’m merely existing with no purpose, and I’m irritated and frustrated. And that’s a good thing. Why? Because my discontentment will force me to do something new and different in order to get me out of the rut that I’m currently in. Two years later, which is now, I can do something.

On (Higher) Education and the Labor / Job Market —

I watched this radical YouTube video that my friend sent to me, and I found myself agreeing with a lot of its arguments. Now for all of you who support (a) college education, STOP NOW, and skip this paragraph. For those of you who want me to provide you a brief summary, here it is… Basically the hour-plus-long video touted that it’s not wise to get into excessive loan debt at the expense of foregoing making money and accumulating real world experience that comes from working immediately out of high school. Furthermore, the video asserted that college graduates, a dime a dozen, can’t find work related to their major of study and instead settle for jobs that are below their education level. (Before you conclude the video is super biased, which it is, Yahoo also published an article citing the same crushing job crisis results as well.)

My point: I can honestly say, I don’t think I learned that much useful information or knowledge in college. In my prior post, I mentioned I only learned for two of the four years I was at UT Austin. I had numerous jobs in college, and I don’t think any of my coursework taught me to succeed in any of those jobs or in any of the others right out of high school, college, or what I’m currently doing now (managing a local business, doing Teach For America, and private tutoring, respectively).

You ask, “Why would anyone go to college?” You won’t hear many people say, “To learn something.” Instead you’ll hear, “To get a job.” As we now know, graduating from college doesn’t assure you a job, or a very good one at that (I mean, Harvard grads working at Starbucks?!??! #fail). So what are schools teaching us: How to think or how to think their way? IMHO, learning only one method or a set of rules from school and mindlessly applying them without learning to interpret meaning, think critically, or synthesize, numbs / deadens our brains’ ability to think creatively when we graduate. How then are we equipped to survive?

In these tough economic times, I ask myself, “If there aren’t available jobs that suit me, what am I going to do? Accept it? No! It’s my job to create a job.” When your back is against a wall, you’re forced to get creative, and that’s where some of the best ideas can develop and grow, when you have no other choice but to do something differently.

“If you want something you’ve never had, then you must do something you’ve never done.”

My Dream (Company)

I’ve always wanted to start my own clothing company, not small local boutique, like a brick and mortar store, but a brand. So my “goal” is…

GOAL #2: Learn to Sew / Tailor (Well) (in a Year).

RESULT #2: Tailor my clothes (at the very least). Ideally, start my own business to fill an under-served niche market. (Later on, sew for my kids?)

REASON(S): My clothes are (almost) always too big. Women need stylish, good quality, timeless options. The life cycle of clothes also needs to be extended (not wasteful like Forever 21) so as to conserve our environment.

I took some sewing classes in Hawai’i from January - June 2011, but I didn’t learn nearly enough. I plan on learning on my own / learning from my mom and taking classes at HCCS (less risky option that going to FIDM right now), while I save up a lot of money from tutoring. I have a pretty clear vision of what I want my clothing company to be and what my clothes should embody in design and functionality. I know who my customer is; I know what they earn in terms of expendable income. I even have the name picked out.

Ideally, if / when I start my company, I don’t want to design and sew in a studio all day (although it is important to know some general specifications and garment construction terms when talking to tailors who will sew your clothing). Rather, I want to have the final say on textiles used and garment construction in terms of seams, fixtures, design elements etc. So many people - friends and strangers alike - have complimented me on my good eye. I want to say what will and won’t sell.

So what am I doing now? Tracking down every possible lead: talking to anyone I know who’s ever started a business (both in and out of the retail / fashion industry), speaking with friends’ friends, researching small business start-ups and their costs, figuring out how to create a business plan etc. Oh, and probably starting a fashion blog featuring my own personal style (btw, anyone know of any great photographers in Houston???).

I’m a bit scared, but I’m willing to take the risk than to settle or do something I know I don’t want to do. A clothing brand may just be my Personal Legend. I’ll keep you posted.

Lew

I know, I know… it’s been a while since I’ve blogged. But I’m going to pick up from where I left off as if no time has elapsed. Cool? Cool.

My free time has given me the opportunity to think about what I want for my life. If you’ll remember my previous blog entries about my first two (of three) goals:

Goal #1: Speak (at least) three languages fluently: English, Spanish, French.

Right now, I’m working on making #1 happen. I’m in process of finding a job abroad, specifically in Paris. Yes, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Moulin Rouge PARIS! I’ve already applied, and I’m waiting for their response. And, I bought a discount subscription for a livemocha.com account, so I’ll probably use it to practice Spanish via skype.

Goal #2: Learn to sew / tailor well = start a fashion company.

I’ve been working on clothing brand names along with logos, but I’m still in the very pre pre preliminary stages now. Ultimately, I’ve put Goal #2 on hold because I know that once I start a company, it’ll be like my baby, and I’ll be solely responsible for growing it. Thus, sequentially, Goal #2 will be a work in progress, and its fruition will be attained at a later date. For now, I’ll be thinking up ideas, drafting designs?, getting inspiration etc. 

Goal #3: And now… lets hear a drumroll, please… it’s probably something you never thought I’d ever say… Goal #3: Cook (well) so I can feed myself / a family.

———-

Last August, during my three-month Europe / East Coast adventure, I visited my friend in his hometown on the Eastern border of Switzerland. My friend’s dad, being ever so hospitable, always asked what and when we wanted to eat etc. He asked me if I wanted to help cook, and I told him I don’t really cook. Slightly disapprovingly, my friend’s dad said in his German accent / broken English, “Let me get this straight, you’re so well-educated etc. but you don’t even know how to cook???” I was a little embarrassed to be honest. In my defense, and hoping for redemption, I baked my mom’s famous apple pound cake, which seemed to appease him. He couldn’t stop eating it! “Great, Lew, no longer in the negative point column!” Success. Ha!

But deja vu… 

Shortly after Switzerland, I met up with my good Norwegian guy friend from study abroad in Paris back in 2008. He flew from Oslo to meet me in Denmark to hang out and sightsee. In one of our many conversations, we started talking about food and cooking. I mentioned that I didn’t really cook, and he asked me incredulously, “Lew, how are you going to get a guy if you don’t know how to cook??!?!” We both laughed pretty hysterically, but what he said, coming from a guy and a good guy friend at that, made me stop and think back to the previous conversation I had in Switzerland. 

Those two questions played over and over again in my head throughout the trip.

When I returned home at the beginning of October, I questioned myself, “How did I make it 25 years, and I barely (*know* how to) cook??” I found myself at a crossroads with only two options: continue not knowing how to cook OR learn to cook. 

Well, my choice, the road less traveled by, was obvious: learn to cook. 

———-

My choice was pretty easy for a number of reasons:

1. I had time to learn. 2. My mom is an expert cook, so I could learn from her while I was at home. 3. I love to eat. 4. I’d save a lot of money by cooking. 5. I could control what ingredients went into my dishes. 6. Cooking (well) would give me a leg up on the competition! (Lets be honest, the way to a guy’s heart is largely in part through his stomach!) 7. It’s a necessary life skill not only for myself but for my future family.

Here’s some background on my experience with food.

I grew up in a house full of good food. My mom cooked every night, and she catered to, and still does, to our preferences. (I used to be a super picky eater when I was a kid. I don’t know how my parents put up with me!) My mom can cook anything, and when she creates her own recipes, none of her dishes ever taste bad. If fact, they taste good. I also went to a private high school, which had gourmet food. And, in college, I ate out a lot - I was a bit snobby, and still am, about the food I put in my mouth. To borrow a line from the Ratatouille food critic: “I don’t like food. I love food, and if I don’t love it, I don’t swallow.” LOL. Ultimately, the accumulation of numerous good food experiences has shaped my perception of what food should taste like and what it represents in my life.

First, I think the majority of food that we consume should generally be nutritious and delicious. Secondly, I think food is extremely important because of what it allows we, as human beings, to do. Not only does it give us sustenance to live, but it brings us together as people - to bond and share life experiences.

I attribute the breakdown of family life and American health to a number of issues, but one cause can definitely be linked to food. It seems like in America, we’re too busy working (which is another cause in itself), and as a result, we don’t have time to sit down at the dinner table and share a family meal. We lose the opportunity to talk about our days and share our lives with each other.

Moreover, what and how you eat growing up shapes your prevailing attitude towards food and affects your future family. If you don’t think food is more than energy to fuel your needs so you can continue to work, that’s how you’ll treat it. You’ll eat (unhealthy) on the go, claiming that you have “no time” to sit down and enjoy life with your family. Your health will suffer etc. And well, America, one of the richest countries in the world, has so many obese citizens. But access to health care and food etc. is a completely different issue, which I won’t tackle in this post…

In my next job (fingers crossed!), I’ll be responsible for child care and cooking, which will be the final building blocks of my responsible adult persona. After I return from Paris, I will be ready, more or less, to start a family. That is, once I establish a stable career (business owner?) and have a steady income. Oh yeah, and I guess find a guy. But my cooking skills are bound to aid in that, right? ;)

At the end of the day, I do believe I can bake my cake, and eat it, too, both figuratively and literally speaking. I believe I can accomplish all three goals: fluency in three languages, starting and operating a fashion company, and cooking for and raising a BIG family in the next few to five to seven years! Bon appetit! Cheers!

Lew

Lew: Role Model, Inspiration, Big Sister.

carlimei:

http://clewlessme.tumblr.com/

She taught me a lot. I mean, other than math (she was my Algebra 2 teacher my sophomore year at Kapolei High) haha. Check out her blog. She has a good head on her shoulders. She’s been all over the world. She graduated from UT (she was in their Business Honors Program, one of the top in the country). She taught math in Hawaii for two years. And now she’s going to FiDM to pursue a career in fashion! (Did I mention that’s where Lauren Conrad went? Yeah!)

Anyway, I could go on about her for a while. But she’s amazing! Check out her blog! You’ll learn a thing or two, trust me…

(I mean, after all, she was a teacher haha!)

This made my day! :) Of note: I’m not actually much bigger than Carli - I am the ‘big sister’ that stands maybe TWO inches taller than her, lololol! (What… we’re Asian! And a lot of people in Hawai’i are short, for obvious reasons!)

(via castawayy-deactivated20120705)