Most people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in a decade.

A little over a month ago I turned thirty years old. As I reflect back on these past thirty years of my life I realize that I have accomplished a great deal. I have surrounded myself with amazing family, friends, and coworkers. I have traveled, explored, journeyed, and set my eyes upon some of God's beautiful creations in this world. I have grown to be a strong, confident, independent woman. I have ran nine Spartan races, joined two salsa dance teams, performed at a salsa festival in New Mexico, learned to pole dance, performed in a pole dancing show and will be performing in another. I have dealt with adversity and risen above every challenge thrown my way. I have had heartbreaks, great loves, and learned that the greatest love of all is self-love. I have done all of this and so much more, yet I'm not even half way through my life. At thirty years old I have a lifetime of chances, opportunities, moments both big and small to make my dreams come true.

On a mission to build an empire and leave a legacy.

At the end of July I came across a podcast episode of Ed Mylett interviewing Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich. Since I follow Jules and Brooks on instagram I decided to check it out. At the end of listening to the three of them speak I felt a small spark inside of me ignite into a flame. Whatever had shifted inside of me since coming back from Costa Rica wanted me to sit and listen to it. So I sat in silence and asked myself what I truly wanted. Over the last month I have been listening to more of Ed's podcasts, meditating, and reading a lot to dig down deep and discover my sole purpose in life.

There are two big concepts that Ed talks about in his podcasts that resonate a lot with me. The first one is that he wants to be having a "life crisis" every year of his life. I loved the idea of this and I believe I already live it, but not fully. I don't want to be the same person I was at 29 now that I am 30. This past weekend when my sister and I were on a road trip she mentioned to me that she's seen a change in me. I'm usually someone who is easily triggered with anger, but as of late I've been more calm and carefree about things. I am a person who wants to grow and become the best version of myself, this can only happen if I aim to not be the same person I was a year ago.

Image says "Don't fear failure. Fear is being in the exact same place next year as you are today".

The second concept that Ed talks about is that when he dies he believes that when meeting our Maker he will also meet the man he could have been. When Ed meets that man he wants to be staring back at his twin. How profound is that? When I die I want to come face to face with the person I was made to be and meant to be on this earth. I want to be staring back at my twin. I want to look myself in the face and for her to say back to me, "you did it. You not only made your dreams come true, but you changed the lives of so many. I am proud!"

Image says "be the kind of person that you want to meet."

If I am to grow year after year and eventually meet the person I am meant to be I need to spend the next decade (and many after that) putting in the work. In order to do that I must establish my goals, visualize them, and work towards them on a daily basis. I started this post with the saying, "most people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in a decade." I have big goals that I want to reach by the time I am forty, but I recognize that they will not happen over night, nor will they be easy. So what are my goals?

Image says "if you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.

Financial

Before I turned thirty years old I had a goal to make six figures a year. I reached that goal this past year. Some days I wake up and can't believe that I made it here, especially after the financial setbacks I have been faced with. I am honored and blessed to be able to say that I make six figures, but it's not enough for me. I want to strive for more, not for selfish reasons, but in order to accomplish some of my goals I will need to be making more money. Because nothing happens over night I split my financial goals into five year increments. By the time I am thirty-five years old I want to be making five hundred thousand dollars. Then by the time I reach forty years old I want to be making a million dollars a year. To some of you this might seem a bit excessive, but in order to accomplish great things I need to dream great things.

Travel

One of the big things I have always dreamed of is taking a year off of work and traveling the world before I have children. I ultimately would love to travel with my partner, but we will see what God has in store. Exploring is something I grew up doing. My parents instilled in my siblings and I this sense of stepping outside and seeing different parts of the world in order to truly appreciate the life we are given. I want to dog sled under the Northern Lights in Alaska, swim with humpback whales in Tonga, learn about various wild animals in their natural habitats, and meet people along the way to learn their cultures and what makes life beautiful to them. I want to spend time truly getting to know this world and seeing its beauty around every corner I turn.

Family

I want to fall in love with a wonderful, caring, hardworking man. One who supports my dreams in the same way that I support his. A man to walk hand in hand exploring this world and accomplishing our goals one day at a time. With this man I want to build an empire. One where we serve God's children and help others find the greatness within them and find their own successes in life. Along with an amazing husband I want to foster and adopt children. There are many children out there who don't get to experience extraordinary love and I want to give that to them. I want to provide a home where they can walk in the door and leave their worries outside because they know that inside they are safe and loved. This home that I raise my family in will be one of inclusiveness where their friends will feel safe as well. Open doors and open hearts.

Image says "be a boss. Date a boss. Build an empire."

Helpful Hand

Years ago I had gone down to Skid Row and tutored underprivileged children. When it came time to say goodbye to them for the night I remember the looks on their faces. They would tell me that they didn't know where they would be sleeping that night, or if their parents would even show up to get them. My heart would break to pieces every time. This past year I became involved with the groups #shedoes and The Shower of Hope. Both groups are out their trying to change the homeless issue in Los Angeles. I aim to become more involved with both groups and work alongside them to help end homelessness. Along with that I want to fight the fight against poverty. I don't know yet what exactly I will do, but I will do everything in my power to fight for these people. One of my biggest goals is to open a shelter where people can come and find a restful place to sleep and have counselors to work with to get them back on their feet. Making a million dollars a year will help me do this. Every single human on this planet deserves to be treated with dignity and to have a fair chance at the life they dream about. My goal is to make that happen for at least one person, but hopefully thousands.

Fitness

I've seen what I am capable of. I've lost weight before and I am working on losing weight again. I love my body one hundred percent in every state that she is in, but there is no greater feeling than that of being in shape and being able to have the ability to do anything. As I stand in the shower every morning I run my hands over my curves and tell them how beautiful they are, but I also remind them of the strength they will have when we are at the healthiest version of our self. I recognize that in order to accomplish all of my dreams I need a body that will be able to carry me through each and every moment. In order to do this I must be in tip top healthy shape. So my goal this next year is to get myself down to one hundred and twenty-five pounds. Once I accomplish that then I can focus on my other goal of being a personal trainer. I want to inspire people, show them what can be done and push them to conquer the goals they set out to accomplish.

The next ten years are going to be filled with many ups and downs, but I know that when I set my mind on something I can see it to fruition. As the weeks, months, and years go by I will be sharing my journey with you on here. I hope that as you read about what I am accomplishing that you work towards accomplishing any goals you may have. Remember, every goal is important so never doubt what you set out to do. You are a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time, so enjoy each high and be thankful for each low. Go out there and kick ass because I know that I will.

Love always,

Jess