The document outlines a set of reflective exercises aimed at personal development and career planning, including identifying passions, skills, and areas for improvement. It emphasizes the importance of preparation, building relationships, and understanding the personal brand in achieving success. It also encourages taking risks, engaging in continuous learning, and pursuing one's interests to create an optimal life.

1. Camden City Public Schools – May 14, 2010
Success is a journey, not a destination. The
doing is often more important than the
outcome.
‐Arthur Ashe

2. Sterling T. Ashby
From Overbrook (West Philadelphia)
High School Activities
Soccer, Wrestling, Volunteer,
Lifelong avid reader
Schooling:
Lehigh University, BS Industrial Engineering
Columbia Law School, JD
Reside in Washington, DC
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3. Plain Piece of Paper
Fold it in 3rds (as if mailing)
Fold it in Half
You should have 6 places to write.
I will give you 6 points to quickly reflect and
jot down.
60 seconds for each set of notes
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4. Write down what you LOVE…
Love doggies?
Arts & Crafts?
Sports, Health & Wellness?
Gift of Gab?
Helping others?
Collecting things?
Reading, Studying Architecture?
Art History, Drawing, Designing?
Financial challenges, Real Estate
All things Green/Organic
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5. What skills do others complement you?
Wow! You should do X!
You are really analytical! You follow details
really well!
You have great speaking skills!
You can really motivate others!
I want you on my organizing team!
I can always count on you!
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6. Not focused, distracted?
Do not follow through?
Over promise, under deliver?
Don’t apply oneself?
Not rising to one’s potential?
Disorganized?
Don’t listen?
Always rushing?
Not detailed oriented
Too detailed oriented
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7. Seem to get overwhelmed easily
I can’t start something from scratch, need
initial direction
Don’t really like to engage groups of people
Feel a need to be in the spotlight
Get bored and distracted easily
Never seem to finish anything
I don’t know how to share tasks
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8. Lawyer, RX, Teacher
Founder of Google
Game software designer
Wine Sommelier
Newscaster
Design pet apparel
Holistic therapist
Motivational Speaker
Food Network Star
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9. Identify Person/Famous or not who has that
role. (Newspaper article, interview, etc)
High school Alumni
Parent’s Friends, Other Relatives
Organizational Associations
Trade Magazines
Read Biographies
NY Times Obituaries
Informational Interviews ‐ Everyone Loves to be
heard…
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10. What is the essence of you that should not be
lost?
What should you change about yourself?
What is/will get in the way of your goals?
Trajectory between how you want to be
perceived and reality?
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11. I am an entrepreneur, … but what does that
mean?
I have demonstrated to others from an early age
“intellectual skills”. How does it translate?
Building on an inherent intellect, I have taken
the myriad of experiences, utilized advanced
education to fill some technical gaps,
understood my ability to withstand risk,
remained curious and solution driven.
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12. Attempt to shed shortcomings by hiring,
partnering, avoiding or fixing.
Be great at something.
Passion: FIND SOMETHING TO LOVE!
Business is broad and generic. What is your
preferential difference in the marketplace?
Increase your personal discipline.
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13. Baker that wants to own a Bakery
Motivational Speaker puts on Conferences
Doggie clothing designer with Web business
Fitness instructor with outdoor training
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14. Learn on someone else’s dime!
Liberal Arts/ Job at a company that 2nd company that will
High School Technical offers great primary provide perspective of
College Training the 1st
Additional
Strike out on
Training/
own!
Grad School
Make your passion your hobby to lead you to your optimal life!
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15. Personal Brand
Tenacity
Detail Oriented
Ability to understand
the big picture
Customer Service
Network
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16. Stress
You’re never the boss –
you’re always responding
to the client’s needs
Never Off
People Can be Difficult
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18. Preparation: Diligent study and good grades now will help
prepare for the real corporate world where you’ll have to
convince clients (or partners) you can handle their matters.
Joining In: Student organizations related to issues you
might encounter in the corporate world.
Authorship: Write about related issues that interest you
now – this will help prepare you for all the documentation
and explanations necessary in day to day corporate law
work.
Relationships: The relationships you form now with other
students and teachers may really come in handy in the
future.
Do Something Intellectually Hard: Take Intellectual Risks.
Show that you can take up a subject matter and master it. 18

19. Read And Travel
Write Down Your Goals
Make Commitments And
Follow Through On Them
Say ‘Thank You’ In Writing
Don’t Put Off For Tomorrow
What You Can Do Today
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20. E‐MYTH
Michael E. Gerber
Outliers: The Story Of Success
Malcolm Gladwell
4HOUR WORK WEEK
Timothy Ferriss
THINK AND GROW RICH
Napolean Hill
RICH DAD POOR DAD
Robert T. Kiyosaki
China Safari: On the Trail of Beijing's
Expansion in Africa
Serge Michel , Michel Beuret, Paolo Woods 20

21. Act
Start Early
Do More with less
Listen
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24. Sterling Ashby
Sterling.Ashby@gmail.com
Actualizing: The Process Of Bringing Ideas
Alive
http://actualizingprocess.blogspot.com/
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