For a quick look visit me here:
http://www.about.me/shawnmacdonell
My story really begins when I was 14 years old and I knew at that age that I was going to be a computer engineer. I was good at math, I was good at science, and I was good at tinkering with computers (and I even sort of liked that one), so yes that was my destiny. So the plan came together in Grade 11 (I'm from Quebec) I applied for Computer Science at Algonquin College.
During the summer between Grade 11 and the "real" world I found out that I was accepted to Algonquin College and I was thrilled. This was a life long dream (haha well 4 years anyway) that was falling into place.
It took only 1 semester (or maybe a little less) for me to realize that in fact I just didn't like much about this program or the thought of sitting at a computer for 8-10 hours a day very much at all. I quit!
This was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Then I thought, "next!" or was it "next?" I had no clue I mean this was my life plan.
So I went to see many different academic counsellors and career counsellors, I answered almost 500 questions about my skills and my interests and well when the print out came back (all of the printouts) they said one thing at the top "you are suited for a career in COMPUTER ENGINEERING"
"WOW! well thank you very much for that waste of time" is exactly what I thought. What the hell was I supposed to do now? I embarked on a personal journey of what it was I liked to do. I spent the next 2 weeks talking to people I thought really knew me, I went through some old report cards to read the comments (not look at the grades), I went through photo albums.
Then it hit me-"I need to put all of my highlights on one big LIFE MAP" My challenge was set-what did I like? A little while later I found the answer. My LIFE MAP was all done and I had mapped out many, many highlights in my life along with some of the lowlights (speed bumps, detours) that I had experienced along the way.
This was astounding because when I looked at it there was only 1 thing on there to do with computers and that was the very first computer I had ever got for Christmas after a few years of begging for one. Why did I ever choose Computer Engineering? Because I was good at it? Because people said I could make a lot of money? Who knew?
Well it was clear my life map was telling me I loved people and I wanted to be around people, help people, teach people, challenge people, I was a socialite.
So my new journey was set Social Science where I discovered a love for Psychology and the way people thought.
A really long story short I am now an entrepreneur who has created educational programming, done strategic planning, helped in the formation of various international brands, done lots of coaching (life, academic, and otherwise), and has found a passion for working with others and pushing others beyond what they see as their limits. I run an organization called Creativision (www.creativision.ca) where everyday we are helping others add a pulse to their passions.
I love hearing other people's stories and would love to hear yours. My journey has been one in chaos and confusion in the end the ride has been a lot of fun and really it is just beginning.
Don't be afraid to give me a shout at shawn.macdonell@gmail.com
