Here’s a thought experiment.
Consider a class of 50 students pursuing a degree in science from a reputable university. They study the same subjects, namely physics, chemistry, and mathematics. After completing their three years together, these students hope to obtain a B.Sc. degree. They take the same university-required course modules. Aside from their academic studies, these students must also complete various assignments, project work, and live projects as assigned by their professors. They also participate in a variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities on campus, such as athletics, indoor and outdoor sports, debates, elocution contests, and cultural activities, among other things.
Let us skip forward to the future. Imagine, the same students have met you at a reunion organized by the college a decade later. You may not be surprised to find out that hardly 10 % of students have reached the stage of their professional self-actualization. They have bagged leadership positions and are living a financially rewarding life. Some of the students from this category may also have become entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, or successful consultants or may have achieved national renown.
What about the other 90% of students? If you dig deeper, you may discover that roughly half of the students took the typical routes. They are all now working as employees in various small and medium-sized businesses. They are content with their middle-class lifestyle (with a few exceptions who may be upper-middle-class due to familial wealth). But why is this so?
As a management professor at a few professional institutes for over a decade, I’ve been confronted with the above narrative numerous times. The moot question is what makes some students in the same class extremely successful despite receiving the same educational experience. After extensive reflections and discussions with numerous colleagues, I have developed some well-structured opinions on this critical issue. I’ve summarised my thoughts below and welcome feedback and comments from both students and educators.
So, here is what I think.
Of course, students benefit a lot from the academic and non-academic opportunities that an educational institute offers, and the students who make the best use of their campus life effectively are benefitted the most.
A typical classroom, in my experience, consists of three groups of students: Group A consists of the top 10% of students who are highly ambitious and want to do something big in life; Group B consists of around 60% of students who have not yet decided what they want to do. They have no big goals in life and may just go with the flow; and Group C – the remaining 30% – they are neither good nor bad, have diverse interests outside of academics, and are ready to seize any good opportunity that comes their way. I want the readers to be mindful here, I am not condemning any group of students. I’ve seen students from groups B and C do exceptionally well in life, particularly in the areas of entrepreneurial development and enterprise promotion. It happens because their motivation level shifts after college life.
I’d like to argue that there is a type of student who gets the most out of their college experience. Such students demonstrate a high level of dedication, hard work, and sincerity in their assignments. They are extremely dedicated and determined in everything they do. They have a positive mental attitude and create a favourable environment around them. They learn from their own errors as well as the errors and experiences of others. They choose good role models from real life, but they also learn from the stories of other entrepreneurs and read popular biographies.
I genuinely believe that this is not an inherent quality in a student. It is developed with intention. For this reason, I want to counsel some student readers on my blog. Using these tips, they can make their classroom journey more effective and lay the groundwork for their future.
Irrespective of the group you identify with, if you want to make great success in your life, you have to become a student of life for life! To meet this laudable objective, you have to do a host of things. I have tried to list them from my experience and observation.
Love what you do until you find out what you really want to do. After discovering that you should only do what you enjoy, stick with it and never let go. When you work on something you enjoy, work becomes enjoyable and enjoyable. Always strive for excellence in everything you do or intend to do.
If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.
Marc Anthony
Be a person who takes action. Instead of analysing and thinking (what we call analysis paralysis), practise performing and acting. There is no such thing as a perfect time to start a business or a project in this world; you must act and solve problems. Remember that action overcomes all doubts and fears. Do not be afraid to experiment with new ideas. If you have a new idea, put it in a cage. Instead of discarding it because it is new and different, celebrate it. Your strange new idea could be the one that propels you to success.
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
Dale Carnegie
Be ready and determined when faced with challenges. Prepare yourself. Bring your own notes and perspective to the table before an important meeting or task. Only by working and preparing will you be a hero the following morning. It is critical to keep your promises. You should also be tenacious in your pursuit of the goal.
Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.
Bobby Usner
Get along with others. Building positive relationships is always a good idea. You never know who will turn out to be someone who can significantly assist you or even be a good and supportive friend. As a result, help others and they may help you; and be nice to others and they may be nice to you. Make enough time for yourself and your family to spend quality time with them.
Emotional intelligence is your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others, and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships.
Travis Bradberry
Your salary and job title are critical because they provide you with wealth and financial satisfaction. But don’t let this overpower you. Both your physical and mental health is critical to your success. A sick body or mind cannot be successful. Last but not least, make time for spiritual wellness in order to find meaning and purpose in life. It can be accomplished through a variety of means, such as organised religion, prayer, meditation, and yoga, as well as a careful examination of your morals, values, and beliefs.
Wellness is the compete integration of body, mind, and spirit – the realization that everything we do, think, feel, and believe has an effect on our state of well-being.
Greg Anderson