River Castelonia currently studies mechanical engineering at Manhattan College, specializing in solid modeling and mechanical design. After working on Nobel Prize-winning research at Brookhaven National Laboratory, he began his undergraduate work in engineering. During his first academic year at Manhattan College, he began working for Tesla Motors Inc. in their sales division to develop skills in both marketing and business. Combining his technical and business background, he helped co-found Haven Labs, a non-profit that designs 3D printed prosthetics for amputees in the NY area.

River’s Second Chance:

Is there a better fit for me? Perhaps you have asked yourself this question, as River did while still a young college student. He was studying physics but having a rough time when he received a “wake-up call” that drove him to transfer to Manhattan College, change is major and life plans, and begin working on himself and his dreams.

TWEET: “People do what they’re good at, and not what they necessarily like to do.” @rivercastelonia

Your Environment is KEY:

Who do you surround yourself with? It’s very important to get the help and support that you need in pursuing your dreams—people who believe in you! We are each responsible for finding the support we need to fulfill what we want out of life. No one else will do it for you.

TWEET: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” @rivercastelonia

Fast Forward to the Future:

What would you say to yourself 10 years from now? River shares how everything we do is an investment in ourselves. Life only gets harder, and if you quit now, then you’ll never know what “could have been.” Invest in long-term happiness and perfect fulfillment.

TWEET: “Everything is an #investment, even time.” @rivercastelonia

Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take—“It’s important to know that those thoughts that you have about a certain idea are the ones we sometimes talk ourselves out of. You have the ability to create whatever you choose. Take the leaps and bounds and don’t ever give up.”

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

[1:37] River’s TED talk, current projects, and THE “wake up call”

[6:17] Anxiety, doubt, and lack of support

[9:42] Why a physics major at first?

[11:50] Environment is KEY

[12:33] Kids do what they’re good at

[14:07] Selfish WHY vs. Selfless WHY

[15:49] Going the easy route

[18:19] Tying yourself to unhappiness

[20:48] The creation of Haven Labs

[25:00] Taking the leap in 2015 with his team

[30:13] River’s passion for helping people

[32:39] River’s full-time focus

[33:24] River’s ONE action for a dream chaser to take

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

River on LinkedIn

River on Facebook

River on Twitter

River’s Website

Tweets You Can Use:

TWEET: “There’s always a way to get from point A to point B, but it’s about finding that path.” @rivercastelonia

TWEET: “We are just a couple of guys who had an idea.” @rivercastelonia

TWEET: “At the end of the day, it’s important that you do something you love and care about.” @rivercastelonia

https://youtu.be/oL4XWs67Shk