Here To Stay: The Beginning

Hi, my name is Jonathan, and I am thrilled to welcome you to my blog. Here To Stay is my attempt to document portions of my journey, connect with others who are facing similar challenges, offer insights, and build a community of like minded individuals who want to see each other grow. Whether you’re figuring out how to navigate your way through life, seeking personal growth, trying to advance in your career or simply looking for authentic stories to relate to, I hope, and truly believe, you’ll find value in the content I share.

As I sat down to write this post all I could think about was creating the perfect piece. Ideas rushed in and out of my head yet the page remained blank. I’ll be honest, it took me weeks to even finish this post. I consistently felt a mix of excitement and pressure, knowing how important this first impression would be. Despite the initial struggle to find the right words, I finally realized that perfection isn’t the goal, it never has been. Perfection is unattainable and striving for it is unrealistic. Although I may never be perfect, I will only grow and improve over time. Picture this blog as a reflection of that – just as I learn and develop, so will this space, and so will all of you who come along for the ride.

So, how did I get here? 

After graduating with a Business & Sport Management degree, I ventured into sales as a full-cycle Account Executive in the logistics industry, while also pursuing my passion for coaching as an assistant coach for my alma mater’s Men’s Soccer Team. Despite my enthusiasm, I quickly realized the Account Executive role I was in simply wasn’t the right fit and I moved on after six months. 

After a brief period of unemployment, I landed another Account Executive position at a Startup Accelerator. This fast-paced, gritty environment was vastly different from my previous experience and allowed me to thrive by working closely with innovative startup founders. Unfortunately, the company closed its doors after five months, leading me to reassess my career path and give up coaching along the way. 

Now, a year later, I am a Client Success Associate in the financial services industry, enjoying a role that aligns perfectly with my strengths and passions, surrounded by supportive colleagues who I consider friends. The events that have taken place in the early stage of my career have been nothing short of transformative. 

Throughout my first 2 years out of college, and in the “real world”, I have gone through a great deal of adversity. Not just in my career but in finding myself and my purpose while adjusting to life on my own. I often envisioned my ideal future but felt lost and uncertain in how to achieve it. As time passed, I increasingly felt isolated in my challenges, believing that no one else could comprehend my experiences. Leaving me to feel alone and hopeless. Yet, overtime, I began to realize that this was somewhat of a selfish viewpoint. The truth is, however unique my situation may have been, I was far from alone in what I was going through. In reality, the majority of people my age are most likely going through similar challenges professionally and personally. Moreover, they are probably feeling the same emotions and general displacement with where they are in life. 

As my mindset began to shift I also developed a desire to make an impact. With that desire came the idea of starting a blog – something I had always wanted to do, given my love for writing, but I lacked direction and a topic I was passionate enough about. However, through my own struggles and life experience I have become deeply committed to becoming the person who I have always dreamt of being. As I strive to do so, I want to pass that motivation and courage onto others because I know how hard it can be to find it on your own. 

Now, by no means do I want to come on here and market myself as an expert in career or life coaching, who’s guidance and opinions you should follow to a tee. Currently, I will be the first to admit, I am not an expert. In reality, what I am is a highly driven young professional with a passion for personal growth, professional advancement, and helping others. You can expect me to be authentic, empathetic, and realistic in the encouragement and advice I give to my readers.

Get an inside look at the motivations and experiences that define my writing by visiting the Why I Write and My Journey pages linked here and below.

Now, enough about me. What can you expect from this blog? 

I plan to leverage Here To Stay in a variety of ways to provide value to my readers. First and foremost, I want to, on some level, create content that each and every reader can relate to through authenticity, real stories, and factual posts. Of course, my views on certain topics come from my unique experience and opinions, but what my readers take away from each post is at the forefront of my mind.

Secondly, as previously mentioned, this space will be focused on both personal and professional growth. Two topics that are often looked at as separate entities but are truly intertwined in my eyes, something I don’t think is emphasized enough. By viewing these ideologies as one in the same, we are able to take a comprehensive approach to growth rather than leaving one portion of our life in the dust. While posts may initially be more geared towards one of the two main topics, they will seamlessly intertwine, offering insights that bridge the gap between each aspect of growth in our lives. 

Lastly, I want to use my blog as a platform to help people embrace the challenges life might throw their way and persevere through the obstacles standing in front of them. 

As I take this first step with Here To Stay, I am filled with nothing but optimism and anticipation for what lies ahead for this blog, myself, and whoever may be reading. This blog is not just a chronicle of my journey, but a space where we can all find encouragement and camaraderie. The road to growth is never linear, and that’s what makes it so rewarding. Here To Stay is a testament to that journey, a place where we can all find inspiration and support. As I share my stories and insights, I hope you’ll find moments of reflection and motivation to fuel your own path. Let’s grow together, embracing every challenge with courage and determination. I encourage you to comment your thoughts, share this post, and stay tuned for new posts as I embark on this journey with Here to Stay.