I had two days off…or better yet two day between presentations. I turned Angelo’s living room into the Department of Motivated Vehicles head quarters and went to work. I focused my energy on two major projects—A $250K Pepsi Refresh Everything Grant for the Route 66 Tour and learning Dabble DB (similar to Microsoft Access, but online) creating an online database for 30 Day Do It groups to self-organize all over the country. I also had some inspirational calls with a few old and new friends you should check out.
Route 66 at Cal State Fullerton
Last night we had another group of 55 come out. This was huge considering that they are still on Winter break and that it’s a 3 day weekend. Big thank yous to Rosa and the NSCS team there for doing such an amazing job. The Fullerton group was extremely engaged in the presentation. I felt like I connect with everyone at the heart.
One brother started at Fullerton in 2000 when I started at UCLA, dropped out after 2 years, and just returned back to finish up. He said that the presentation made him feel okay about his decision to leave school, find what he wanted, and then return because he didn’t know when he arrived as a freshman. Now he is maximizing every opportunity that comes to him. Sometimes letting go teaches us to appreciate things more.
Another young woman came up to me afterwards with watery eyes on the verge of crying. She said that presentation really helped her release some assumptions and beliefs that she was holding onto. She didn’t specify what, but I could tell that she felt free to get in the driver’s seat of her life and that she could live according to the things she already knew were true inside of her.
And finally, an older woman shared her story of leaving her job to take care of her grandmother who was ill. But guess what, her grandma is better now and the Route 66 moved her to stop hiding behind her grandmother and reengage her passion for cooking. I told her to consider every old person as her grandmother and use her passion for cooking to prepare love-filled meals for them. That’s a huge business opportunity. We’ll see 
Two potential partnership opportunities have opened up with The Princeton Review (Hey Anthony, Sheen, Catherine, &) and Universum (Hey Jonas, see you and Paula soon).
My teammate Patty is headed back to DC. Without her, none of this would be possible. Thankfully, Tommy is coming to San Diego with me to fill her shoes.
Other MVMTs
Dwight Transparent Taylor, is an old friend from high school. We were on the same basketball team then, but now we aligning on our passion for purpose. He is Christian hip hop artist. Check out his latest CD “LIFE” on CD Baby. I get to see him in person for the first time since we graduated from high school at Bishop O’Dowd in 2000 when I arrive at UC Davis next week. I can’t wait for the moment to hand him a signed copy of my books and for him to hand me a signed copy of his CD.
I also got a chance to connect with Nick Kislinger, a friend of my good friend Michael Cox (rock star!). Nick is organizing reading groups in Los Angeles and DC for social entrepreneurs. He and I share a passion for building community through food and action so we talked about potlucks and 30 Day Do It groups. He is working with a team to build a HUB is Los Angeles. If you haven’t heard about HUBs, they are amazing work spaces for people on the frontiers of various industrries to converge. Imagine a TED conference but everyone actually working together, not just talking.
And finally, I got to meet Suparna Bhasin who also shares my passion for purpose and building community. We connected through Maritza Alacaron. She runs an organization called She Creates Change that inspires women to transform their lives. We’re definitely going to partner when I get back to New York. I can’t wait to meet in person.
One last story. I got a call from a sister in Brooklyn and she said that her circle of 30 powerful sisters called The Fast Girls has chosen to read the 8 Cylinders of Success together over the next 90 days and that they want to document their journey inward online. How amazing is that! 30 women in search of their purpose and sharing that journey online with the world. Wow! More to come on that.
For the weekend, two more 30 Day Do It groups are starting in Los Angeles and I’m having dinner with friends at Derrick’s Jamaican Cuisine tonight. UC San Diego is on Tuesday.
Read more updates on the Route 66 Tour Blog.
On to the next one…
