One of the basic tenets of life is that greater opportunities will appear to individuals that actively pursue and know how to recognize them. Since the majority of us do not have the luxury of being born into wealth or power, the choices that we make ultimately shape our successes in life. Adam Carolla begins by using examples to highlight the concepts of consistency and residual income. He explains that it is easier and more useful to understand how to sell something and continue selling it again and again as opposed to figuring out how to simply make a large amount of money. As a student that had performed poorly in high school, he worked a variety of jobs including carpet cleaner and boxing trainer before entering the media industry. Lacking a career support system, Carolla explains that it took him a long time to discover his path. The significance that he takes away from this lesson is the importance of “shooting for the stars” and finding a job that you can enjoy doing as a (pure) living.
Many individuals feel they do not have the time or ability to pursue their desired career. Although there is more semblance of stability to playing it safe, consequently, they become relegated into jobs that they lack passion for, thereby stifling opportunity. Adam contrasts the two career paths by stating the idea that optimal job satisfaction comes from the process of “doing what you would like to and getting paid for it.” He elaborates that while enjoying the work that you do, more opportunities will present themselves along the way. Citing the cancellation of his morning radio show in 2009, Carolla states that there is no straight path towards success and the ability to overcome the various obstacles in life will determine whether or not they become a steps-back or opportunities for moving forward.
Motivation is another key component of pursuing opportunities. Both positive and negative reinforcement can be utilized towards