Paul Angone's Blog, page 7
January 30, 2017
[UPDATED] Top Websites for Millennials and 20-somethings
With millions of blogs and websites out there, how do you find the top websites for Millennials and best websites for 20-somethings?
What are the top websites for Millennials that you can visit not just for information, but actually relevant, life-changing info?
My goal is to rescue all twentysomethings and Millennials out there from the pounding waves of Internet-ness onto a tropical island filled with lush, chocolate trees of Internet-bliss.
(Yes. It’s that epic).
First — What makes me an expert on the top websites for Millennials and best blogs for twenty year olds?
Well, I’ve had the honor of running one for the last six years here at All Groan Up that has been read by millions of people in 190 countries — with articles like 21 Secrets for your 20s, 25 Signs You’re Having a Quarter Life Crisis, and 5 Shocking Statistics About Actual “Millennial Problems” going viral on the Interwebs.
I still can’t believe that I get to write books, encourage, inspire, and speak to Millennials for a living. Then as well, speak about how to lead and retain Millennials to leaders seeking to understand them better.
Alright, let’s get to it — What are the top websites for Millennials?
Apart from your website (of course, that’s a given), and my website (no brainer, Professor), this is the question.
Below is an updated and expanded list broken down into the following categories: career and finance websites for Millennials, top Millennial bloggers on life advice for your 20s, relationship websites for 20-somethings, faith in your 20s websites, and even sites for Millennials who love to write.
I’d love to hear your suggestions within the comments if your favorite Millennial website is not on here.
Here we go.
Here are some of the top websites that I believe every Millennial needs to take a big bite from, or else, continue consuming Internet meals that are small, stringy, and lacking flavor.
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Career, Personal Finance, and News Websites for Millennials:
Life After College
Jenny Blake, recently published author of the amazing career/change book Pivot, presents practical and insightful “tips & resources for life, work, money, happiness, personal growth & productivity”.
I have been a regular contributor for Life After College, wow since 2013 and I’ve been a big fan of Jenny Blake since my early days on the Internet. She’s still killing it.
2. Happen to Your Career
Scott Barlow, who runs Happen to Your Career, is one of my favorite people whom I’ve never met in person. His excitement, inspiration, and knowledgeable career advice is unstoppable. He regularly posts on his website, mainly his latest podcast. Then as well, he offers a Figure Out What You Want to Do – Free 8 day course that is an excellent resource for Millennials struggling with their career (or lack thereof).
3. The Template
Danny Rubin is the most hardcore practical career blogger I know. He brings the details to the details, giving you the tools on how to effectively communicate through emails, resumes, and job interviews. His book — Wait, How do I Write This Email? is an excellent career resource and go-to-guide for every Millennial. I had the honor of connecting with Danny years ago — and year after year he remains one of my favorites.
Shannah Compton Game is the real financial deal. She’s a certified financial planner and brings a wealth of personal finance information that all Millennials need. If you need advice on finances, she’s your go-to resource. Shannah is a thought-leader in the financial space for Millennials, is extremely smart, and is a wonderful person to share ideas with.
5. JOB JENNY
As the head of her own recruiting agency for over 11 years, Jenny’s job has been to find the you’s and me’s jobs, thus why her blog, courses and e-books are chalk full of gold.
For anyone looking for resume help, you need to check out Job Jenny’s Weekend Resume Makeover. It’s a paid course, but it will help you land a better job so definitely worth the money. Plus, Jenny is just good people. She is so good, she’s also given me a $40 off coupon for the community here at All Groan Up for her Resume Makeover. Just click the link for the Resume Makeover and enter the code: AGUVIP
6. theSkimm
My wife is an avid Skimm-er so I needed to give theSkimm it’s due. It’s the daily news condensed into a humorous tidbit and delivered to your inbox daily. Pretty helpful way to stay abreast without having to watch the nightly news — because seriously is there anything more depressing than watching the nightly news?
Jon Mertz, is a Baby Boomer, marketing executive, and the creator of The Thin Difference. What I love most about Jon’s work is that he offers Millennials practical, insightful advice on advancing your career. And he does it from a place of support, encouragement, and wisdom, instead of the condescending generalizations that some Boomers cling to when trying to describe Millennials.
Jon is a Millennial mentor and his book The Thin Difference is a great resource for young professional Millennials and those leading them.
Blogs/Podcasts about ROCKING LIFE as a Millennial:
1. GEN Y GIRL
Kayla Cruz is about Sharing. Learning. Improving. And ensuring that we are best equipped to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Not too shabby.
I had the honor of writing the forward to Kayla’s new book — Corporate Survival Guide For Your Twenties. If you’re doing corporate and you were born a Millennial, this is a great resource.
Rachel brings a wealth of know-how to un-confuse the most confused Millennials out there. Whether business advice or a little pop culture humor, this is an informative, fun, well laid out blog every Millennial should check out.
3. GenTwenty
GenTwenty is the twentysomethings guide to life. That’s a hard tagline to live up to, but GenTwenty does a stellar job of making it happen. They have wonderful articles from a range of writers. And it’s all just nice to look at — each graphic a piece of art.
4. Our Quarter Life Comeback Podcast
Bryan Teare offers insightful dialogue on dealing and thriving through the daily struggles twentysomethings are going through. I had the privilege of being a guest for his episode “The Anatomy of a Quarter Life Crisis“. Bryan is an excellent, thoughtful host. Plus his South African accent is like podcast butter to your Millennial ears (that metaphor didn’t really work, but you get what I mean…)
5. Our 1/4 Life Crisis – Documentary
I had the opportunity to be flown up to Vancouver, Canada and be a part of this international documentary “Our 1/4 Life Crisis” about the shared struggle twentysomethings are going through. Skilled Millennial documentary filmmaker Sonia Suvagau, along with her equally amazing mother Adelina, worked diligently for years on this film and created a poignant, scary, yet hopeful story about the quarter life crisis struggle that is all too real for Millennials across the globe.
Molly Beck has been rocking this site for years and it’s still going strong. It’s a wonderful, delightful, simple post every time. She talks about something smart, something pretty, and something to make you (less) awkward.
With all the success this site has experienced through Molly’s blend of wisdom and wit, you definitely don’t want to miss out.
Twentysomething Faith, Calling, and More:
1. RELEVANT MAGAZINE
God. Life. Progressive Culture. Your one-stop-shop to stay informed and engage. I’ve been honored to be a semi-regular contributor for Relevant Magazine over the years with popular articles like 5 Lies Twentysomethings Need to Stop Believing
Ally and I go way back. I appreciate the beautiful way Allison writes and the beautiful way she shares what’s truly on her heart. She is raw, honest, to-the-point, and a good read for anyone trying to figure out this crazy little thing called love, life and faith. Ally even did a great guest-post on the relationship between twentysomethings and their parents here at All Groan Up — Dear Mom and Dad, a Letter From Your Twentysomething
Dan Cumberland is the brain-child behind the meaning movement, which touches on great topics like creativity, purpose, work, and courage. I’m a big fan of Dan’s work because, like the content here at All Groan Up, he focuses on helping people live on purpose with purpose.
Millennial RELATIONSHIP Websites:
True Love Dates
Debra Fileta is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in dating, marriage and relationship issues, along with a spectrum of mental health disorders and issues. She brings truth, warmth, and incredible insight to Millennials biggest relationship questions. Plus, Deb is just a solid, inspiring person who encourages me to do better work. (If you’re noticing a trend here, I really like promoting people that I’ve gotten to personally know over the years and who are super-solid individuals).
Also check out her book by the same name — True Love Dates, published by Zondervan who was also my publisher for All Groan Up: Searching For Self, Faith, and a Freaking Job!
2. Bryan Sands
Bryan loves talking about sex. Seriously. But probably in a little different way than you would think. Bryan delves deeper into the emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual impact of sex on individuals and cultures. Bryan’s also a campus pastor so is daily interacting and leading Millennials.
I was honored to write a foreword for Bryan’s new book coming out soon — “Everybody Loves Sex: So Why Wait?: A Discussion in Sexual Faithfulness.”
3. Boundless
This site could be categorized in Faith as well, but their main focus is preparing Millennials for marriage. Boundless offers a litany of resources for young adults who want to grow up, own their faith, date with purpose, and prepare for marriage and family.
Millennial Writing Sites
Goins Writer
Over the years Jeff Goins has become the leading resource for anyone that is looking to write a book, grow a platform, connect with an audience, etc. Jeff knows his stuff and offers an amazing community to support and teach writers at Tribe Writers. He typically opens a limited number of spots for Tribe Writers a few times a year, so jump on the waitlist if you’re interested. Jeff has taught me a lot about growing a platform and he even helped connect me to my first publisher, so I’m definitely a product of his writing/publishing wisdom.
This is a jam-packed site for anyone who strives to become a better writer. Because The Write Practice offers you a ton of opportunities to, get this, practice your writing. Creator of The Write Practice, Joe Bunting loves the craft of writing, down to the smallest detail of whether or not to use neither, either, or, and nor, and this love for writing shines through every comma and period on The Write Practice (he probably would have a few things to say about this run on sentence).
Plus, Joe once worked at the same college as me as my intern, but that is a story for a different article!
TWENTYSOMETHING WATCH LIST:
Holy shiiiiiizzzer — I included a ton of great resources on this list, but I know I left out so many notable/amazing/what was I thinking? websites as well.
So please add your Millennial/Twentysomethings website MUST’S to the list below within the comments.
(Disclaimer: Some of the links used in this article are affiliate links. If you end up purchasing one of the great resources linked in this article you’re also supporting the work here at All Groan Up. Double-win!)
The post [UPDATED] Top Websites for Millennials and 20-somethings appeared first on .
[UPDATED] List of the Top Websites for Millennials and 20-somethings
With millions of blogs and websites out there, how do you find the top websites for Millennials and best websites for 20-somethings?
What are the top websites for Millennials that you can visit not just for information, but actually relevant, life-changing info?
My goal is to rescue all twentysomethings and Millennials out there from the pounding waves of Internet-ness onto a tropical island filled with lush, chocolate trees of Internet-bliss.
(Yes. It’s that epic).
First — What makes me an expert on the top websites for Millennials and best blogs for twenty year olds?
Well, I’ve had the honor of running one for the last six years here at All Groan Up that has been read by millions of people in 190 countries — with articles like 21 Secrets for your 20s, 25 Signs You’re Having a Quarter Life Crisis, and 5 Shocking Statistics About Actual “Millennial Problems” going viral on the Interwebs.
I still can’t believe that I get to write books, encourage, inspire, and speak to Millennials for a living. Then as well, speak about how to lead and retain Millennials to leaders seeking to understand them better.
Alright, let’s get to it — What are the top websites for Millennials?
Apart from your website (of course, that’s a given), and my website (no brainer, Professor), this is the question.
Below is an updated and expanded list broken down into the following categories: career and finance websites for Millennials, top Millennial bloggers on life advice for your 20s, relationship websites for 20-somethings, faith in your 20s websites, and even sites for Millennials who love to write.
I’d love to hear your suggestions within the comments if your favorite Millennial website is not on here.
Here we go.
Here are some of the top websites that I believe every Millennial needs to take a big bite from, or else, continue consuming Internet meals that are small, stringy, and lacking flavor.
Career, Personal Finance, and News Websites for Millennials:
Life After College
Jenny Blake, recently published author of the amazing career/change book Pivot, presents practical and insightful “tips & resources for life, work, money, happiness, personal growth & productivity”.
I have been a regular contributor for Life After College, wow since 2013 and I’ve been a big fan of Jenny Blake since my early days on the Internet. She’s still killing it.
2. Happen to Your Career
Scott Barlow, who runs Happen to Your Career, is one of my favorite people whom I’ve never met in person. His excitement, inspiration, and knowledgeable career advice is unstoppable. He regularly posts on his website, mainly his latest podcast. Then as well, he offers a Figure Out What You Want to Do – Free 8 day course that is an excellent resource for Millennials struggling with their career (or lack thereof).
3. The Template
Danny Rubin is the most hardcore practical career blogger I know. He brings the details to the details, giving you the tools on how to effectively communicate through emails, resumes, and job interviews. His book — Wait, How do I Write This Email? is an excellent career resource and go-to-guide for every Millennial. I had the honor of connecting with Danny years ago — and year after year he remains one of my favorites.
Shannah Compton Game is the real financial deal. She’s a certified financial planner and brings a wealth of personal finance information that all Millennials need. If you need advice on finances, she’s your go-to resource. Shannah is a thought-leader in the financial space for Millennials, is extremely smart, and is a wonderful person to share ideas with.
5. JOB JENNY
As the head of her own recruiting agency for over seven years, Jenny’s job has been to find the you’s and me’s jobs, thus why her blog, courses and e-books are chalk full of gold.
For anyone looking for resume help, you need to check out Job Jenny’s Weekend Resume Makeover. It’s a paid course, but it will help you land a better job so definitely worth the money. Plus, Jenny is just good people. She is so good, she’s also given me a $40 off coupon for the community here at All Groan Up for her Resume Makeover. Just click the link for the Resume Makeover and enter the code: AGUVIP
6. theSkimm
My wife is an avid Skimm-er so I needed to give theSkimm it’s due. It’s the daily news condensed into a humorous tidbit and delivered to your inbox daily. Pretty helpful way to stay abreast without having to watch the nightly news — because seriously is there anything more depressing than watching the nightly news?
Jon Mertz, is a Baby Boomer, marketing executive, and the creator of The Thin Difference. What I love most about Jon’s work is that he offers Millennials practical, insightful advice on advancing your career. And he does it from a place of support, encouragement, and wisdom, instead of the condescending generalizations that some Boomers cling to when trying to describe Millennials.
Jon is a Millennial mentor and his book The Thin Difference is a great resource for young professional Millennials and those leading them.
Blogs/Podcasts about ROCKING LIFE as a Millennial:
1. GEN Y GIRL
Kayla Cruz is about Sharing. Learning. Improving. And ensuring that we are best equipped to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Not too shabby.
I had the honor of writing the forward to Kayla’s new book — Corporate Survival Guide For Your Twenties. If you’re doing corporate and you were born a Millennial, this is a great resource.
Rachel brings a wealth of know-how to un-confuse the most confused Millennials out there. Whether business advice or a little pop culture humor, this is an informative, fun, well laid out blog every Millennial should check out.
3. GenTwenty
GenTwenty is the twentysomethings guide to life. That’s a hard tagline to live up to, but GenTwenty does a stellar job of making it happen. They have wonderful articles from a range of writers. And it’s all just nice to look at — each graphic a piece of art.
4. Our Quarter Life Comeback Podcast
Bryan Teare offers insightful dialogue on dealing and thriving through the daily struggles twentysomethings are going through. I had the privilege of being a guest for his episode “The Anatomy of a Quarter Life Crisis“. Bryan is an excellent, thoughtful host. Plus his South African accent is like podcast butter to your Millennial ears (that metaphor didn’t really work, but you get what I mean…)
5. Our 1/4 Life Crisis – Documentary
I had the opportunity to be flown up to Vancouver, Canada and be a part of this international documentary “Our 1/4 Life Crisis” about the shared struggle twentysomethings are going through. Skilled Millennial documentary filmmaker Sonia Suvagau, along with her equally amazing mother Adelina, worked diligently for years on this film and created a poignant, scary, yet hopeful story about the quarter life crisis struggle that is all too real for Millennials across the globe.
Molly Beck has been rocking this site for years and it’s still going strong. It’s a wonderful, delightful, simple post every time. She talks about something smart, something pretty, and something to make you (less) awkward.
With all the success this site has experienced through Molly’s blend of wisdom and wit, you definitely don’t want to miss out.
Twentysomething Faith, Calling, and More:
1. RELEVANT MAGAZINE
God. Life. Progressive Culture. Your one-stop-shop to stay informed and engage. I’ve been honored to be a semi-regular contributor for Relevant Magazine over the years with popular articles like 5 Lies Twentysomethings Need to Stop Believing
Ally and I go way back. I appreciate the beautiful way Allison writes and the beautiful way she shares what’s truly on her heart. She is raw, honest, to-the-point, and a good read for anyone trying to figure out this crazy little thing called love, life and faith. Ally even did a great guest-post on the relationship between twentysomethings and their parents here at All Groan Up — Dear Mom and Dad, a Letter From Your Twentysomething
Millennial RELATIONSHIP Websites:
True Love Dates
Debra Fileta is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in dating, marriage and relationship issues, along with a spectrum of mental health disorders and issues. She brings truth, warmth, and incredible insight to Millennials biggest relationship questions. Plus, Deb is just a solid, inspiring person who encourages me to do better work. (If you’re noticing a trend here, I really like promoting people that I’ve gotten to personally know over the years and who are super-solid individuals).
Also check out her book by the same name — True Love Dates, published by Zondervan who was also my publisher for All Groan Up: Searching For Self, Faith, and a Freaking Job!
2. Bryan Sands
Bryan loves talking about sex. Seriously. But probably in a little different way than you would think. Bryan delves deeper into the emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual impact of sex on individuals and cultures. Bryan’s also a campus pastor so is daily interacting and leading Millennials.
I was honored to write a foreword for Bryan’s new book coming out soon — “Everybody Loves Sex: So Why Wait?: A Discussion in Sexual Faithfulness.”
3. Boundless
This site could be categorized in Faith as well, but their main focus is preparing Millennials for marriage. Boundless offers a litany of resources for young adults who want to grow up, own their faith, date with purpose, and prepare for marriage and family.
Millennial Writing Sites
Goins Writer
Over the years Jeff Goins has become the leading resource for anyone that is looking to write a book, grow a platform, connect with an audience, etc. Jeff knows his stuff and offers an amazing community to support and teach writers at Tribe Writers. He typically opens a limited number of spots for Tribe Writers a few times a year, so jump on the waitlist if you’re interested. Jeff has taught me a lot about growing a platform and he even helped connect me to my first publisher, so I’m definitely a product of his writing/publishing wisdom.
This is a jam-packed site for anyone who strives to become a better writer. Because The Write Practice offers you a ton of opportunities to, get this, practice your writing. Creator of The Write Practice, Joe Bunting loves the craft of writing, down to the smallest detail of whether or not to use neither, either, or, and nor, and this love for writing shines through every comma and period on The Write Practice (he probably would have a few things to say about this run on sentence).
Plus, Joe once worked at the same college as me as my intern, but that is a story for a different article!
TWENTYSOMETHING WATCH LIST:
Holy shiiiiiizzzer — I included a ton of great resources on this list, but I know I left out so many notable/amazing/what was I thinking? websites as well.
So please add your Millennial/Twentysomethings website MUST’S to the list below within the comments.
(Disclaimer: Some of the links used in this article are affiliate links. If you end up purchasing one of the great resources linked in this article you’re also supporting the work here at All Groan Up. Double-win!)
The post [UPDATED] List of the Top Websites for Millennials and 20-somethings appeared first on .
January 18, 2017
There has to be more to life than this….
There has to be more to life than this.
This phrase. This thought. This FEAR permeated my mind every day as I sat in my cubicle chair, doing work that was so far removed from what I felt I was supposed to do.
My main goal of the work day — to not look at the clock.
Because I knew if I did, I would think — it must be close to 5:00.
Then I’d look and realize it was only 2:15!
You might have seen this picture before, but here’s literally me in all my cubicle non-glory.
I’m pretty sure my exact thoughts while laying there on the floor were ––
There has to be more to life than this…
Well, that, and…
I should probably stop trying to drown my cubicle misery in more office birthday party cake.
This is also when I learned what I wrote in 101 Secrets For Your Twenties — the Freshmen-Fifteen is nothing compared to the Cubicle-Cincuenta.
It was that feeling, that gnawing fear, that extra piece of birthday cake, that put me on this decade long journey to figure out how some people live and work with purpose, while others stay stuck and frustrated.
I’ve since written books about it. Spoken around the nation about it. My goal being to help others who felt stuck and alone. Over the years, we’ve built an amazing community built here at All Groan Up to do just that.
Whether you found me through one of my books, an article I wrote on Relevant Magazine, or just from Googling “Quarter Life Crisis”, my goal has not changed. I want to help you get off the floor, so to speak. Because I know what it’s like to be there.
That’s why I’m really excited to announce that I will be opening up the doors again to my Finding Your Signature Sauce 10-module online course and community to go through the program together with group coaching from me.
I love the chance to really get to know your story and help you find the life you were meant to live.
And I’m even more excited to announce that if you sign up before 11:59pm Monday, January 23rd I’m going to give you a crazy, early-bird discount of $100 off the Pro Membership level, which includes the group coaching from me. Each call is also recorded so you can access at anytime if you missed the call or want to re-listen.
People going through the Signature Sauce program alone have had good results.
People going through the Signature Sauce program together with live group coaching from me have seen amazing results!
Take for example Fernando who wrote after he completed the program:
“…I used Paul’s advice on “relationshipping” and voilà, now I’m exploring this fascinating business of helping people find the job that suits them best at a Talent Management company in Barcelona!”
Or Keri who wrote:
“Paul communicates clearly and offers concrete, actionable steps when you have no idea where to begin. To top it all off, his enthusiasm is contagious and he offers the support needed to step outside your comfort zone. I can’t thank Paul enough for creating this course!”
The Signature Sauce program consists of 10 modules covering the 10 key ingredients to uncovering where your passion, purpose, and career collide.
Each ingredient has been strategically created by me through over 10+ years of writing and research on why some people find their calling, career, and purpose. While others feel like they’re simply just going through the motions.
On top of all the exclusive training and teaching videos from me, you’ll also receive these bonuses:
The Signature Sauce Workbook to accompany every lesson, filled with in-depth, strategic questions that will guide you in uncovering and defining your Signature Sauce.
10 Guided Implementation Videos where I walk through and breakdown each module in more depth with an individual to accompany each module teaching.
Bonus videos on effective “relationshipping” techniques (I’ve had some students tell me this video alone was worth the whole program)
Private Signature Sauce community for support and accountability (you’ll also have the option to be directly partnered with someone in the course for intentional support, if you so choose).
Email access to me personally, and feedback (I’m so passionate about seeing you succeed in this program that I won’t stop helping you until that happens)
Weekly group coaching calls with me (for those who enroll at the pro or master level)
1-on-1 coaching calls with me (master level only)
Then as well, more bonuses include 9 exclusive interviews with best-selling authors, successful entrepreneurs, career coaches, a tech startup CEO, and even a spoken word poet! Yes…a POET! (all of whom normally get paid crazy amounts of money to share the advice they give away inside the Signature Sauce course).
The price for a Signature Sauce Pro membership is $247 (includes 3 group coaching calls with me over a span of 6 weeks + the entire course + all bonus interviews/content + lifetime access).
But again if you join before 11:59 pm, Monday 1/23, I’m going to take $100 off to make the whole program and group coaching just $147!
Just meeting with a life coach once for an hour would probably cost you anywhere between $100 – $200. Getting this whole program, interviews, workbook questions and group coaching for $147 is seriously pretty insane.
I can’t wait to kick off the new group on Thursday, January 26th with a welcome call to connect with you more and for you also to begin to connect with each other.
Let’s find your Signature Sauce — that unique flavor only you can bring to the world. Let’s make 2017 the year where you start really pursuing your purpose with purpose.
Paul
PS — I’m not sure when or if I’ll offer group coaching again so jump on this now. Go sign up for the Pro Level and use the promo code “100off” to snag your discount.
The post There has to be more to life than this…. appeared first on .
December 28, 2016
Your 2017 Needs THIS… (plus the top 6 articles on All Groan Up in 2016)
Can we all just agree to wash 2016 off with a hot shower?
Geesh…what a polarizing year.
It felt like a year full of strife, picking sides, and cynicism on steroids. And if you’re like me, you might be struggling with a little new years blues as you focus on your non-successes of 2016.
Let’s start 2017 anew like a freshly baked cinnamon bun.
Let’s make 2017 a year to remember because of the good instead of the bad.
Here’s how we do it.
We all need more of THIS in 2017…
In 2017, let’s create more than we complain.
Let’s bring life to a room when we step inside.
Let’s bring The Hope more than we bring the horror.
Let’s hone and own our Signature Sauce, giving the world our personal flavor that no one else can.
Let’s fail but refuse to call ourselves failures.
Let’s read some seriously good books instead of wasting away on Netflix.
Let’s be brave enough to be vulnerable. We don’t connect with each other through our pretend perfection. We connect over our shared struggle.
Let’s be brave enough to be awkward. Let’s be present and available throughout the day instead of escaping into our phone.
Let’s build more than we rip down.
Let’s pursue our purpose on purpose with purpose.
Let’s make 2017 amazing.
The top 6 New Articles on All Groan Up in 2016
If you need more inspiration and motivation on starting 2017 off right, check out the countdown below of the top six new articles on All Groan Up this year.
#6 — The 7 Stages of Your 20s (as explained by hilarious GIFs)
The definitive list to help you sort out what season of your 20s you’re in.
#5 — 6 Ways You are Making Life Much Harder Than It Has to Be
#4 — 5 Simple Strategies for Getting Hired at an Amazing Company
#3 — 7 Most Important Skills You Need in Your 20s
#2 — What Kind of Millennial Are You? — Take the Quiz
Are you actually a Millennial hipster? Are you all about blazing your own trail? Or are you a Millennial that is actually straight from the 1930s? Find out by taking the Millennial quiz here.
#1 — 5 Shocking Statistics About Real “Millennial Problems” (and how we overcome)
Millennial problems are real and a little bit more substantive than the cliche critique that we all received blue ribbons in 3rd grade, which has somehow made us all Millennial monsters.
Read about these shocking statistics about the challenges facing Millennials and how we overcome.
Need even more encouragement for 2017?
Here are the Year after Year Top Articles on All Groan Up
These are the gold standard articles on All Groan Up. These articles might be the way you found All Groan Up in the first place.
If you haven’t eye-gandered these articles yet, you should.
25 Signs You’re Having a Quarter Life Crisis
Top 27 Books to Read in Your 20s
21 Secrets for your 20s (this is the article that changed my life here at All Groan Up 3 years ago and it’s still going strong)
The Secret to Finding and Marrying “The One”
4 Things I’d Tell my 21-Year-Old Self
Thank you!
Thank you again to all the amazing readers here at All Groan Up for your continued support and encouragement.
You all are the reason I do what I do and I’m honored that I get to be a voice of encouragement and inspiration in your life. I’m excited to see all that 2017 brings.
The post Your 2017 Needs THIS… (plus the top 6 articles on All Groan Up in 2016) appeared first on .
December 13, 2016
Your year was better than you think…
I don’t know if you’re the same way, but I never feel like I’ve done enough.
I could’ve worked harder. Could’ve been more organized. Could’ve made more money. Could’ve impacted more people. Could’ve been a better dad, husband, and friend.
Could of, should of, and seriously, what’s wrong with me — the narrative I run through my head daily.
Are you the same? Or are you one of these people who actually live at peace with yourself? (weirdo)
No, seriously, I want to live at peace too, while still challenging myself. I don’t want to creep and crawl towards every new year feeling like my year resembled crap on a stick.
So let me ask us all this important question —
What if your year was actually much better than you think?
What if we accomplished some big things this year, we just simply don’t give ourselves the freaking credit for it?
Sometimes finding vision is simply about removing all the crap blocking your view. (click to tweet that)
What if instead of approaching the new year with the long list of things we suck at, we made a list of things we did well this year that we want to build upon.
Rip up the New Year’s Resolution and Do This Instead…
For another website I write for, the wonderful Life After College created by Jenny Blake, they asked me to list out things I accomplished in 2016 for their end of the year newsletter.
I then of course put it off because I didn’t want to think about my year and start eating a tube of raw cookie dough dipped in a tub of icing (it happens. Stop judging me.)
Then when I finally sat down and started putting accomplishments down from my year, you know what, I was shocked how much good stuff was on my list!
I worked with and spoke at some big companies like Aflac, Wells Fargo, and Stewart Title on engaging and retaining Millennials.
I launched a three-year dream — my online course Finding Your Signature Sauce and people have achieved some amazing results from it.
And the publisher of 101 Secrets For Your Twenties just told me that 101 Secrets just had it’s best month ever this November 2016 — two and half years after it came out! That doesn’t typically happen and I’m crazy thankful that the book has found a life of it’s own.
Oh, and my family moved half-way across the country and we had another kid! A boy this time to go along with my two daughters, which I was slightly excited about.
Sure, the year wasn’t perfect. But really, is it supposed to be?
Perfect only exists in the dictionary.
But heck, it was a pretty dang good year and I’m blessed beyond belief.
And for 2017, I want to take what went well and build on it. I want to take those ingredients from my Signature Sauce and heighten the flavor.
Instead of focusing on everything that I suck at, I want to focus on what I’m good at and can do even better.
Because you now what — I’m a squatty 5 ’11 Italian and I’m not built to run a marathon. It ain’t going on my list.
I’m never going to be super organized, so I’m not going to beat myself up for it and create some insane resolution that will only feel like a huge drain on my energy.
We need to stop resembling the nightly news — focusing on the isolated terrible things that happen.
Let’s focus on the good and more good will come.
Let’s stop acting like the sky is falling and start making it rain ourselves.
You with me?
So right now I give you permission to give yourself credit where credit is due.
In the comments section on this article, share some of the successes you had this year. I know you had some. Force yourself to think about it. Write down a few successes and then how you want to build on them for 2017.
I’ll pick my favorite 1-2 responses in the comments and send you signed, free copies of both my books — 101 Secrets For Your Twenties and All Groan Up to jump start your 2017.
Let’s Celebrate the Good of 2016 and Take Off in 2017
I’ll start. I plan to launch and take another cohort through Signature Sauce in January.
And I’m working on two new books that I’m really excited about! One book that is similar in style to 101 Secrets For Your Twenties and I know will impact even more people. Then the second book — a fiction story about a midwestern high school boy named Fanny who loves opera music. Can’t wait to have you meet Fanny…
Yes, we all experience challenges and setbacks. But we will never feel blessed if we never give the blessing any credit.
So go ahead, share some successes in the comments and how you plan to grow them in 2017.
Your year was better than you think if you’ll just stop and think about it. And heck, if we keep thinking this way maybe 2017 is going to be even better.
December 5, 2016
NEW QUIZ — What Kind of Millennial Are You?
Are you sick of being labeled a “Millennial” as if there’s one set definition for millions of us?
Well, now you can figure out what kind of Millennial you really are with this fun new quiz at All Groan Up. Just click the link and take the quiz. No catch. No email to enter. Just Millennial quiz fun.
When you find out your result you will also receive a custom badge and article suggestions that I think will be helpful for your Millennial type. I spent more time than I should have on this quiz, but I really think you’re going to like it.
Take the Millennial quiz. Then share your results with friends on Facebook or Twitter to compare results.
Have fun!
– Paul at All Groan Up
November 18, 2016
A day in the life of an independent contractor
This post is sponsored by Aflac. The views expressed in this article are my own.
What in the world is an independent contractor and what does a typical workday look like for one?
A few weeks back I talked about my experience working as an independent contractor and all the valuable skills I learned through the experience.
As we’re always exploring professional possibilities and “best fit’s” here at All Groan Up, I wanted to bring a perspective of an actual independent contractor for you all to get an even better idea of what the world of one is like.
Below is an interview with Kayla Mulligan, a successful independent sales agent who works with Aflac. Kayla went straight from college into being an independent contractor and in this interview she shares some great behind-the-scenes insight about what being an independent contractor has been like for her.
In this interview Kayla shares:
The biggest shock for her as she left college and entered the working world.
How she transitioned between two seemingly different worlds – from being a PR major to becoming an independent sales agent.
What a “normal” day might look like for her in her role.
The opportunities and challenges of being an independent contractor.
What advice she would give herself five years ago to be more successful in business.
I think working as an independent contractor can be great fit for entry-level professionals, in particular, who are looking for more job flexibility and freedom than the standard office job.
Watch the interview below to see if a day in the life of a current independent contractor sounds like a possible good fit for you.
Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and American Family Company of New York. Aflac agents are independent sales agents and are not employees of Aflac.
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November 15, 2016
How to Make it Through Disappointments in Life
If you’re alive and reading this right now, there’s a good chance you have something very real to be disappointed about.
A crappy job. Relationship problems. Sickness. A political election. Or life in general is going nothing like you planned. Pick your poison.
Disappointment loves sneaking up on you — like that weird one-eyed neighborhood cat who keeps showing up on your porch and peeing all over your decorative pillows.
So the question becomes — how do we deal with the disappointments in our lives?
And I write this having gone through my fair share. You don’t take the path of an entrepreneur without a lot of failures paving your way.
We can’t avoid disappointment. But when it comes your way will you crush the disappointment or let it crush you?
I say we crush it. But how? Here’s some ideas:
Think about the past disappointments in your life
I can almost hear you now —
“Great Paul, I’m feeling terrible about my life and now you want me to start thinking about some of my biggest disappointments. Swell. Why don’t you just tell me to eat raw chicken and then ride on a spin-a-wheel.”
While I don’t recommend eating raw chicken (although it would probably put your current disappointments in a different light), I do recommend thinking back to some of your past disappointments. And then think back to how things somehow worked out afterward, and maybe even for the better.
Typically when we think our life as we know it is over, our life keeps going.
For example, I remember a girl breaking up with me and feeling disappointed about it. Then a friend told me this wise advise —
“If you thought this girl was great and yet it wasn’t meant to be, think about how amazing the woman you are going to marry is going to be.”
And now eight years of marriage and three kids later, what my friend told me was a million times more true than he could’ve ever known.
Sometimes what we see as a disappointment now is merely a blessing to be discovered later. (click to tweet that)
You never know how a “disappointment” will look in retrospect.
2. Stop tying your identity to the perceived outcome of your work
Sometimes we’re wrought with disappointment because we’re tying too much of who we are to what we do.
As I first wrote in my post “When your dream kicks the crap out of you,”
You are more than the visible outcome of your work.
And the outcome of your work might be more than what is currently visible.
Do good work. Put your dream out there. Do your best to help others.
Then, let it go. Your dream can’t fly if your identity and self-worth is clinging onto the back of it.
3. Relax and have faith
The more I’m trying to have everything work out exactly how I planned it, in exactly my timing, the more disappointed I’m going to be. I know this. Yet, I still try to grip tight to all the details of my day.
The more adaptable I am. The more faith I have that God is working things out better than I ever could, even if I can’t see it at the moment, the more peace I have.
It’s not a blind faith, it’s a faith seeing with eyes wide open how many times God has come through for me.
If we’re only looking at what we can see, we will miss everything else that is going on.
4. Be willing to be adaptable
Sometimes the best plan you can make is to plan to continually make new plans.
It’s hard to be too disappointed in life if you’re willing to adapt your plans when they don’t go exactly as planned.
If you let each failed plan and exploding expectation overwhelm you with disappointment, you won’t be able to move forward with much in life.
It’s only a dead-end if you let it stop you. Or you can climb the wall in front of you and get a better view.
Or as I wrote as Secret #1 in 101 Secrets For Your Twenties,
Sometimes surviving your 20s is nothing more glamorous than just holding on for dear life on the back of an inner tube like a kid being whipped around by a speedboat.
You can’t see a thing.
Repeated waves knock the wind out of you.
Your hands are gripped so tight your fingers begin to cramp. And your only choice of survival is to just let go.
October 12, 2016
9 Signs You’re Ready to Get Married…
I was meeting with a long-time mentor of mine and I asked him a question I’d been wrestling with for years–
“How do you know if you’re ready to get married?”
His answer —
“You don’t know you’re ready to get married until you’re actually married.”
Well, thanks. That doesn’t help much.
Sure, he was right. Sort of.
Everything you think you know about marriage flies out the window once you’re actually married.
Yet, now that I’m married I do believe there are some signs you’re ready to get married. Or at least more ready than not.
And if the stats are right, there’s a lot of Millennials in particular that aren’t even sure marriage is for them. They would much rather have kids than get married.
So if you’re dating or just freaked out about the idea of marriage in general. Or you’ve been married for seven years and can relate, read these 9 signs you’re ready to get married.
1. Right when your favorite song comes on, your friend changes the radio station. And you don’t freak out!
That exact moment in some shape or form, happens about once a week in marriage. If you can take some deep breaths and sometimes let your song, your plans, your ideas go, you might be ready for marriage.
If you have to fight to have “your song” on all the time in marriage, you’re going to be fighting a lot.
2. The one thing you absolutely know is how much you don’t. And you can live and breathe in that space.
Marriage has a funny way of challenging everything you were absolutely sure you knew. If you need to be right all the time–then in marriage you’ll be absolutely wrong no matter how right you are (I might be speaking from ass-like experience here).
If you’re as flexible as a piece of wood, then marriage will smack you upside the head with it.
3. You can clean a toilet.
And mop floors. Buy groceries. Pay bills. Basically you’re becoming, you know, all groan up and stuff.
4. You’re ready for a crazy-ass adventure through the absolute depths and heights that life has to offer.
Picture the worst moment of your life.
Now picture the best.
Now picture someone standing right there next to you, holding your hand, trying to read your face.
In marriage you don’t visit someone at their worst moment. No, you live with them through it. (click to tweet that)
If that doesn’t freak you out too much, well saddle up partner to holy matrimony.
But the real beauty of it–you learn more about how to love someone and what love is not during the Instagram moments, but during those hard moments you don’t want anyone else to see.
That definitely can sum up the unexpected way I met my wife.
Honestly, having someone to share my life with, the good and the bad, is one of my favorite parts of marriage. It makes the bad a lot easier to get through and makes the good that much sweeter.
5. You’ve tackled some of the monsters hiding in your back closet.
Marriage will not solve any of your problems. Marriage will show you just how many problems you really have.
As another mentor shared with me when I was struggling to find “The One“ — “Don’t focus so much on finding the right person. Focus on becoming the right person for whomever you marry.”
The more skeletons you can face in your closet now, the more monsters you can tackle and then throw out the back door, the better off and more prepared you’ll be for marriage.
The more skeletons you try to sneak into marriage, the scarier marriage is going to feel for awhile.
6. You’re sick of sowing all those wild oats
If you’re throwing your oats out there like bird seed to pigeons, marriage might not be in the five year plan.
If you’re sick of sharing your oats with everyone to only get a bunch of pain and regret in return, and you’d rather have a nice, hot bowl of gluten-free oats at home, then marriage might be around the corner.
Or as All Groan Up reader Abby wrote in the comments section for the article 17 Signs You’re Actually…gasp…an adult:
When I just want a fun guy with a bitchin’ ride and awesome hair!” has been replaced with “I just want a nice guy with a good job, 401K and a plan for the future.”
7. You’re starting to define and live by your soul values
If you don’t know the core stuff that is most important to you that drives your decisions and actions, then how can you or your spouse trust your decisions.
As I first wrote in 15 Questions You Need to Ask When Dating:
Too many marriages start (and end) with vague and un-identified core values.”
8. You’re secure enough to talk about where you’re the most insecure.
We don’t connect through our pretend perfection. We connect through our shared struggles.
If your dead-set on living a life pretending you don’t have any problems, then marriage is going to be one giant one.
Your partner is going to know what you struggle with probably better than even you do.
Marriage is about complementing each other’s weaknesses. If you keep pretending you don’t have any, that’s going to be a weakness that’s really hard to work through.
9. You’re done believing love should be effortless and easy…
Falling in love is simple. We all fall face first into stuff.
Getting up and daily working for love is the hard part.
As I wrote in 3 Things Love is NOT —
Love is war. Not against one another, but for each other.
In a relationship, you have to fight against everything that is trying to keep you fighting.
Marriages don’t just explode, they slowly unravel.
Day by day, life and time and to-do’s and struggles and hurts and strains and bad habits left untouched create rifts that grow over time.
As I wrote in 5 Myths About Marriage:
Marriages don’t fall apart because of one big compromise. They fall apart due to a thousand small ones. Like a windshield crack, the longer you drive on without addressing the issue, the more shattered your relationship will become.
Sure no one is ever going to have it all figured out when they say “I Do.” I know I didn’t.
Yet, the more intentional you can be about having a healthy marriage before you’re actually married, the better off your marriage will be.
September 21, 2016
How to be an Entrepreneur Without Being an Entrepreneur
This post is sponsored by Aflac. The views expressed in this article are my own.
Being an entrepreneur looks really sexy when we’re posting pictures of our laptop at the beach.
Yet, you don’t see the pictures of us in the freak-out pose, both hands grabbing our hair (that probably hasn’t been washed for a few too many days…let’s be honest) as we try desperately to put together a puzzle that feels like it’s missing half the pieces.
I’ve been completely on my own for three years now and there are many days that I feel like I’m one step away from a free-fall, clutching a parachute I’ve patched together with duct tape and old clothes.
However on my rough entrepreneurial days, I think back to those days working where I felt like a cog in a tie while my cubicle walls closed in on me.
For many workers, I think our number one fear might be death by cubicle.
So can there be the best of both worlds?
Well, there was a season where I worked as an entrepreneur of sorts without actually being an entrepreneur, and I think it taught me more than any job I ever did.
How to be an Entrepreneur without fully being an Entrepreneur
I think I’ve done every type of work a person can do.
But one of my favorite/challenging jobs was working for a non-profit to raise awareness for a college scholarship contest to inner-city middle school students in Los Angeles.
I wasn’t a full-time employee. I was an independent contractor with a large territory, a list of goals and resources, and a nice shove out the door to go get the job done as I best saw fit.
This job was wild, hard, fun, and freeing for many reasons.
1. How many people can say they’ve been the headline speaker for a middle school assembly in Compton? Also that I directly followed the band/dance group that absolutely crushed it?
Let’s just say now when I feel my heart start to race before I speak to a room full of business execs, I picture the hundreds of middle school students ready to lead a full-scale mutiny against me the moment they smelled any fear. All those suits and ties I speak to now look a lot less scary.
2. I had support and direction from the organization, yet I only went into their office…once. At the very end of the contest to turn applications in. Mainly, I was completely on my own in how I accomplished the work, if I met my goals, when I worked, where I worked, how I worked, if I decided to wear pants while I made phone calls from my house, etc.
Growing skills as an entrepreneur while under the covering of this non-profit was one of the most valuable work experiences I’ve ever had. It was a pre-cursor training for me in my work now, while simultaneously earning steady pay and organizational support the whole time.
What could a similar type role look like for you?
The Rise of the Independent Contractor and Freelancer
There’s definitely not one set definition or example of what it might look like for you to work as an independent contractor or freelancer. Much of it will depend on your skill set and the type of work you’d like to do.
One example would be working as an independent agent with a company like Aflac (I can hear that duck quack even as I write these words). You’re not an employee chained to a cubicle, you’re an independent contractor building your own business while receiving top-notch sales training, support, bonuses, and the powerful brand recognition from a Fortune 500 company.*
I recently interviewed an Aflac agent and I’ll be sharing that interview soon so you can get an idea of what the actual day-to-day of being an independent contractor at Aflac looks like – the challenges and the opportunities. I did learn through the interview that agents are fortunate to find a multitude of training programs and tactics to suit every possible personality type.
The sweet spot of learning how to be an entrepreneur is when you can do it under the covering of a great organization.
Growing a Business is Challenging, yet Rewarding
As I first wrote in my book 101 Secrets For Your Twenties, “Sometimes the most dangerous job you can have in your twenties is a comfortable one.”
The real value of a job isn’t always how much you earn, but how much you learn in the process.
But it’s a pretty sweet combo when you can earn and learn on the job at the same time.
Sure, I learned the hard way in my twenties that sometimes you learn the most in the jobs you like the least. However, I also know when you find that role that challenges, yet supports you at the same time, well that’s like finding career gold.
If you dream of freedom and flexibility, not just being roped down to an office chair because the clock says you have to be there, yet making the jump to being a full-fledged entrepreneur is a bit of a reach for you right now — maybe it’s time to learn the skills of being an entrepreneur while not having to do it completely on your own.
Watch the video below to hear me tell more stories about my experience giving presentations in inner city LA. And get a glimpse of the entrepreneur freak-out pose in action!
Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and American Family Company of New York. Aflac agents are independent sales agents and are not employees of Aflac.
*FORTUNE 500 is a registered trademark of Time Inc. and is used under License. FORTUNE and Time Inc. are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Aflac.
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