eLooking back on my twenties, I realize I changed my mind about my career and my goals A LOT. I always chalked it up to just being indecisive. It took until I turned 30 to really look back and realize why.

It was because I listened to everyone else's opinions. I don't know why but no matter what you do in life, people want to tell you that you shouldn't or that you can't or that you should try something else. I suspect that they have the best of intentions, but now that I'm older, I know not to listen.

If I could offer my younger self advice I would say this, do whatever you want. Do what you're passionate about. Do the thing that you can't stop thinking about, that you love so much it keeps you up at night. It may not be the easy way or the most logical way or the thing that will make you the most money, but do it anyway.

Here's why. You're going to spend A LOT of time at work. Let me say that again. YOU are going to spend a lot of time at work. The average American works 47 hours a week. Your mom, dad, relatives, and friends might mean well, but they will not be the ones waking up to YOUR alarm and working a job YOU either love or hate.

The saying goes "Follow YOUR heart." It doesn't say "Follow your Aunt Cathy's heart." Be brave enough to smile and tell that sweet Aunt Cathy that you appreciate her advice, but you have it under control.

....And you will have it under control because when you do something you love, you find a way to make it work. You don't just go through the motions. You do your best. You put your heart and soul into it, and success comes naturally. No well meaning friend or family member can choose that for you. You have to choose it and then you have to be brave enough to pursue it.

If you've spent too much of your life chasing someone else's dreams because they told you that you should, you should know it's never too late. Where there's a will, there really is a way. Find your way and chase your passion.