Over the years, I have studied this topic constantly, written about it on many occasions, and even preached a sermon on it once. But this last week, a great friend asked me to give it another shot and write a letter as a part of his son’s fifteenth birthday “welcome to manhood” celebration. As it […]
Philosophy
Must-See TedTalks
Since 2008, I’ve been an avid watcher of TedTalks. These are the ones that I’ve found to be the most impactful: Simon Sinek – How Great Leaders Inspire Action Amanda Palmer – The Art of Asking Tony Robbins – Why We Do What We Do Dan Pallotta – The Way We Think About Charity is Dead […]
The 3 Things I’m Most Thankful For
Rather than put together an exhaustive list of all amazing blessings that I’m thankful for (like I do most years), I’ve decided to go a little deeper and focus on the Top 3… #1 – The Gospel of Christ Nothing has changed my life more than the Good News. How the creator of the universe […]
168 Hours
Have you ever wished there were more hours in the day? Have you ever wondered how some people were able to accomplish so many things, while all of your time seemed to be spoken for? In this lecture, I share some proven techniques that can help you make each day both more productive and more […]
Fighting The Good Fight
No matter how great or how terrible the past has been for each of us individually, there is one thing that is true about the future for all of us: There are obstacles ahead. For some, these obstacles will be financial. For others, they will be relational and spiritual, and for still others, they will […]
God The Potter
An illustration by Omar & Bonnie Bravo that explores our relationship with God by interpreting the metaphor of “God the Potter” as it is found in the Bible. Share What’s Good! [Video Presentation – Length: 21:33] Transcript: Metaphors, Illustrations, and Parables are used throughout the Bible in order to communicate complex ideas into meaningful, […]
Write a Great Resume
Resume Guidelines guaranteed to help you get an interview: [Video Lecture – Length: 32:43] As an example, feel free to download (and copy) my resume’s layout / format here: Omar’s Resume
Job Interview Tips
Interview Guidelines guaranteed to help you get the job: [Video Lecture – Length: 34:33]
Interdependance = Maturity
When asked about matters of finance, the most common response I’ve received from people both young and old is this: “I don’t want to be rich, I just want to be secure. I just don’t want to have to worry about money.” Seriously?! You really think these two things are mutually exclusive?! Being so “financially […]
Relationships Are Everything
Fame. Fortune. Status. Security. They are all worthless. Unless, you have someone to share them with. In college, I remember one of the Jesuits (Mario Prieto) telling a story during the 10pm Student Mass about how he and his 10 older siblings used to fight over the food at their dinner table. To combat their […]
My 5 Greatest Failures
I’ve failed far more times than I’ve succeeded in my life, but I consider these to be my greatest hits (in chronological order)… Education, 1998 From the time I was eight years old and my older brother got accepted to Stanford University, I knew I was going to go to Stanford too. Then, when I […]
38 Backers, 19%
By the world’s standards, the Journey Notes’ Kickstarter project was a complete failure. With only 38 backers and 19% of the budget raised, it easily falls into the category of “not even close”. Fortunately, I don’t exactly see eye to eye with the world and her views. Or more accurately said, I choose not to. […]
Help Needed
It’s not often that I ask for help. Whether it’s because “I can do it myself” or because I’m too damn proud to admit that I can’t, asking for help has never been a common practice of mine. But, God is working to change this in my life. I first decided to write a book […]
Resignation Lecture
/div>How do you tell a classroom full of students, whom you’ve spent the past 4 years of your life pouring inspiration into theirs’, that you’re resigning? I decided to tell them whole story, from my perspective:
Make It Count
iv>/div>Some simple advice for making this year the best year of our lives…. Make It Count: Physically Exercise Limit Addictions Drink Water, Stretch Body Fuels the Mind Mentallly Learn from Others Mistakes, Listen > Speak Teach Emotionally Emotions Can’t be trusted Keep Your Cool Cry If You Want To Choose Happiness Spiritually Know What You […]
Let Go
A lecture on Letting Go of that which is unproductive in our lives in order to focus on that which matters most… Let Go… Our Past (Who We Were) Our Ideal Future (Who We Were Supposed To Be) Our Hurts (What Doesn’t Kill You) Our Wins (Your Last At Bat) The Excuses (A Lot […]
106 Things I’m Thankful For
Some might call me an optimist, but I feel that my perspective is simply accurate – Could things be better? Sure. Could things be worse? Most definitely. So, when I take an accurate inventory of my environment and current life situations, I always start by giving thanks for the blessings I’ve received and the people […]
Love Your Job
There are times in each of our lives when we have to work at a job that we don’t particularly like (or in some cases hate), but let’s be honest, it’s called “work” for a reason. Even so, for most of us, we actually have options when it comes to where we work. Now, if […]
Give Hope
The story of Jesus Christ is the greatest story ever. It is a story of humble man, who came from humble beginnings, and rose to great fame at the opposition of the ruling class. It is a story of man who willingly and sacrificially gave his own life so that the lives of his best […]
Tyler & Steff’s Wedding
>iv>/div>On September 7, 2013, I had the incredible honor of officiating my best friend Tyler’s wedding and marrying him and his beautiful bride Steffinee. Though it was my first time serving as an officiant, Ty & Steff tasked me with putting together the whole ceremony (including writing their vows). Even so, I believe everything came […]
Expectations of My Spouse
Before Bonnie and I got married (4/4/2009), we went to a few pre-marital counseling sessions at the direction of our church. One of our assignments was to individually write a list of “What We Expected of Our Spouse” and then share it during one of counseling sessions… Fortunately, everything matched up. :) Even so, we […]
Build Sand Castles
This is a lecture I gave about Doing What You Love, Chasing Your Dreams, and Living Each Moment to the Fullest. Take a look, let me know what you think!
Written On My Gravestone
When you die, what would you like the words on your gravestone to say? “Loving Father & Husband”? “Devoted Teacher”? Or would it be something more profound like “Honor” or “Faith”? The first step in this exercise is to identify two or three words that you would like to have sum up your entire life […]
Speaking Out of Insecurity
Have you ever heard someone speak about a topic they really didn’t know much about, but they did their best to sound as though they were an expert? How about guys in the locker room, trading “tales” of their many sexual conquests? Have you ever heard a “bully” (be it on the playground or in […]
Faith vs. Fact
Faith – A belief in something that has not been proven. (example: God created the universe.) Fact – An inescapable truth that can be repeatability proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt. (example: 2 + 2 = 4) In the debate of theology vs. science (which I don’t believe to be mutually exclusive), participants on […]
Voices In My Head
This is a video of a lecture I gave a few weeks ago where I identify and evaluate the four main “voices” (i.e. influences) we experience as both people and designers. Take a look, let me know what you think!
Give a Damn
A number of years ago, I went to the VA Hospital to visit the Veterans with a Young Professionals group from my church. This was something we did a few times a year, usually around the major holidays of Christmas, Easter, and 4th of July. In general, it was a pretty simple thing to do… […]
Christian Rhetoric
Towards the end of a recent Sunday Church Service, our Pastor gave an impassioned speech for the entire congregation to “be bold in their faith and stand up for what they believe.” As he was reaching the crescendo of this call to arms, a number of manly sounding “yeahs” and “amens” could be heard responding. […]
Turn Signals
When I encounter a driver swerving in and out of traffic without using their turn signals, it appears as though they are “driving erratically” as I have no idea where or when their next lane change might be. As such, the surrounding drivers and I start driving defensively, tapping the breaks, and causing the rest […]
Pity the Fool
Sometimes, we make bad decisions and sometimes, we have friends and family who make bad decisions… When we make bad decisions, it’s usually out of selfishness and a disregard for the people around us (especially the ones who really care for us). When our friends make bad decisions, it is our duty as friends to […]
My Valentine
In the Summer of 2007, God and I had a serious conversation about my personal life. He said that I had my shot at marriage and that I blew it. He said that being in a relationship was a privilege, not a right, and that if I were to find another love it would be by […]
Embrace Change
“In life, the only constant is change.” Some people absolutely, positively, hate change. These “creatures of habit” tend to follow a consistent routine where the more they can maintain the status quo, the better. For some, this may stem from a desire to “control” their environment, for others it may be due to a […]
Die Broke
In about 1999, I read a book by Steven Pollan called “Die Broke” and his four tenants about financial management have completely shaped my view and relationship with money ever since. Since we are all getting older and have parents who are also getting older, the topics of retirement, inheritance, and savings (or lack there […]
Daily Bread
I used to worry about money alot. Not that I don’t ever worry about money anymore, but not nearly as much as I used to. In the past, my obsession (or worry) about my finances was a legitimate problem. The weird thing was that it had absolutely no correlation to the “amount” of money I […]
Relationship Rules
When Bonnie and I first started dating, one of the first conversations we had started off with Bonnie suggesting that we were both terrible at relationships. Not believing myself to be “terrible” at anything, I requested that she elaborate. She then explained “since we’re currently dating, that means neither of us have ever had a […]
About Journey Notes
Life is a Journey… These are my notes. One step at a time, we all travel through an endless array of obstacles that make up our lives. At times, we are called to climb mountains. At other times, we are required to roll down the hillsides. Some days take us for a stroll along the […]
Nothing Worthwhile is Easy
I’m not sure if it is an instinctual trait or something that is learned through our culture, but it seems more common than not for people to desire and seek an “easy” route towards their goals. Though this makes logical sense that one would choose an easy route opposed to a challenging route if both […]
Decisions, Decisions
At the beginning of every journey, throughout every journey, and even before and after every journey, there are decisions that must be made. Some of them are tough while others are trivial, nonetheless, the must be made… Will I start this journey? Will I complete this journey? What will I take on this journey? […]
What’s Your Story?
Everybody has a story. Some are happy, some are sad, some are dramatic, unbelievable, and/or inspiring. And though most people don’t think too highly of their own personal story, the fact is that everyone’s story is important. Which leads us to the question: What is your story? Before you start panicing because you haven’t ever […]
My Story
In order to completely understand a thought or opinion, it is necessary to understand the perspective from which the idea comes… Many of the ideas that will ink in the following pages come from the unique experiences that I have personally had though varies scenarios and situations in my life. As such, you may not […]
My Thanksgiving List
A wise person once said: “Happiness isn’t having what you want, but wanting what you have.” Often times, I think we spend too much time focusing on the things we don’t have rather than enjoying, appreciating, and sharing the the things we do have. In my understanding, God doesn’t bless us just so that we […]
The Original Super Hero
While speaking to a group of high school students on a mission trip in Costa Rica, I posed this question to the group: “According to American Society, what defines a REAL MAN?” Immediately, hands shot up and the students (both guys and girls) started shouting answers like “a nice car”, “a big house”, “a boat”, […]
Definition of Family
There is no greater blessing than “family”. Why? Because a REAL FAMILY is the only place that the unconditional (agape) love of God exists. Real families come in all shapes and sizes… Large, small, fat, conservative, loud, many kids, no kids, biological, social, etc. But one thing that all Real Families have in common is […]
Husbands: Love Your Wives
One of the most misused verses in the entire Bible comes to us from the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 5:22-24… Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now […]
Mission 50/50
Mission 50/50 is a lifelong faith journey and life ministry to love our neighbors AS ourselves. Several years ago, while contemplating the idea of leaving my successful corporate career to pursuit a life of service in the mission field / non-profit business sector, I found myself running into the same circular argument over and over […]
Got A Better Story (Letter to Donald Miller)
Dear Mr. Miller, My name is Omar Jesus Bravo and I am writing you to say thanks… For inspiring me to “get a better story”, follow Jesus Christ whole-heartedly, and live a “page-turner” life! It all started in February of 2007 when I saw you speak at the Fusion / Right Now Conference in Orlando, […]
Free Milk (Living Together Before Marriage)
“Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” I’ve heard this phrase a thousand times, as I’m sure you have too… Always from males, in reference to females, with regards to sex and marriage. From a business perspective, the statement makes perfect sense. Even so, I don’t think I’ve ever met […]
Attitude & Perspective
Positive or Negative, your attitude is 100% contagious. Just think about it: Have you ever been around someone who had a really negative attitude? And didn’t that person seem to just bring a bad vibe into every social circle they entered into? Likewise, have you ever been around someone with a positive attitude? Not an […]
The Super Hero In You
The flagship article of Real Men Defined is The Original Super Hero as it is displayed on the homepage. Thus, as Jesus Christ is the Original Super Hero, it only makes sense that we each have a Super Hero inside of us… Right? Again, Jesus is a Super Hero, we have the Holy Spirit in us, thus […]
Under Armour Boxer Briefs
In general, I believe we are to be good stewards of our financial blessings and not waste money. That said, I have always believed that there are three things that you should not “cut corners” on when purchasing (if at all possible): Shoes, a Mattress (bed), and a Car. If you don’t have the best […]
The Rhino Crash
The following was adapted from the book “The Barbarian Way” by Erwin McManus: It’s a swarm of bees and a colony of ants. A pod of whales, a school of fish, a flock of birds. But wait, they get better: A pride of lions, an ambush of tigers, a committee of buzzards, and a flamboyant […]
Where Have All The Real Men Gone?
There is a stereotype in American Society that Men have gotten soft. Gone are the days of generations pasts, where “Father Knows Best” and “Ward Cleaver” stood tall. The prominent male figures in present media are known more for their athletic triumphs and off-the-field antics than they are for their values and integrity. If it’s […]
Resignation Letter
Dear Friends, After five spectacular years at Texas Instruments, I have decided to resign my post as the Florida DBM in order to pursue full-time employment opportunities in the non-profit business sector, completely outside of the semiconductor industry. What that means exactly, I’m not quite sure yet… The first order of business will be to […]
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