Mental Toughness: The easy way to get the right mindset
1. Work as little as possible to get the best grades you can.
I do not give this advice lightly. I do realize that we need smart and studious doctors, engineers, accountants and the list goes on but there is no reason you should be giving your all to get an A in Introduction to Prehistoric People. Use test banks, multiple guess, flattery or whatever to pass those classes. When you get into your major then focus on understanding the concepts.
2. Befriend as many people as possible.
Notice I didn’t say networking. Networking is just a term for strangers who want or need something from someone else and think that handing out a business card or shaking someone’s hand at a meet and greet will be enough for others to help them or give them advice when needed. You have to invest in people early and often in order to reap the benefits of genuine relationships. I.e. Friendship. Being friendly and accessible to others gets you people who will tell you when someone’s uncle knows of a job opportunity, advice etc.
3. Get out there
Life doesn’t happen in a classroom. Don’t rely on just head knowledge. Experience, meeting people, and learning by doing is just as important, if not more so than the theories taught in class.
4. Be creative
You were born creative. Every child colors or dreams about how things will be on their birthday or when they grow up. We stop being creative when we become adults. Don’t do that. Creativity isn’t just about finger painting, it’s about thinking of different ways to approach a problem or deal with a situation. In short, it’s a very adult skill.
5. Keep your common sense
I’m being very PC here because I realize that everyone has different beliefs. However, as a follow up to creativity I’d advise you not to forget to rely on whatever common sense or religious foundation you were brought up with. I’ve heard countless success stories and surprisingly several have moments when someone decided to trust their intuition or to go in a certain direction because it seemed right. This common sense or intuition is worth its weight in gold.
Don’t miss out on any opportunities. Learn wherever you can: Ditch Class, Go Greek, Party Hard, and Succeed: The Real Four Year Plan for Winning in College While Bending All the Rules. This is the best book ever written about college.
