How to Achieve Massive Success Before Graduating


How do you land your dream job, win the world's most prestigious scholarships, and get into your top school choices? Conventionally, students are taught that the main way to achieve these things are by getting great grades in the right classes and getting great summer jobs in the right fields.

This strategy may have been a safe bet for awhile, but it simply isn't anymore. With more and more people applying to the same positions, competition is spiking dramatically. Simply working harder or taking a test prep course isn't enough anymore. In fact, it's risky.

The best way to achieve massive success is to passionately plan, prioritize, and pursue your vision today, not tomorrow! Landing your dream job, winning the world's most prestigious scholarships, and getting into your top choice school has more to do with the choices you make today rather than how well you fill out your application. College students from across the country, even from the most prestigious universities, learned this lesson the hard way last year when fewer positions were available and recruiters had stacks of hundreds of resumes.

Below are some examples of students who planned, prioritized, and pursued their vision early and achieved massive results:

  • Successful serial entrepreneur, Joshua Newman, was offered a senior technology analyst position before he graduated from Yale by one of his former clients over dinner.
  • Devi Sridhar won the Rhodes Scholarship, the nation's most prestigious scholarship, when she didn't even decide to apply until a few months before the application was due. Some of the people that didn't end up winning had been preparing for over three years. She had done most of the work in the years prior when she was pursuing her vision.
  • Jamie Gonzalez, a successful student entrepreneur from the University of Oklahoma, got the highest job offer in his class even though he had a paltry 2.4 GPA.
So what can you do? Below are 10 tips for achieving mega success before you graduate:
  • You're failing if you're not making enough mistakes. One thing successful people have in common is that they fail a lot. The average millionaire goes bankrupt more than once. Pursue your dreams and use failures as stepping stones. "Every adversity carries with it the seeds of a greater benefit." ? Napoleon Hill, Best-Selling Author, Think and Grow Rich

  • If you don't have skeptics, than you're not thinking big enough. To be in the top .000000001% you cannot follow the road most taken. You must create your own. "If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it." ? Albert Einstein

  • Never take a job for money. Like a business, we all have tangible and intangible assets. Intangible benefits to our brand, network, growth, and knowledge are more important than our salary or hourly wage when choosing a career. "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin

  • Good grades and test scores are risky. The opposite of good is great. By achieving our school system's goals, we are set up to be good, but not great. We must create our own path in life. Like a business creates a business plan, individuals must create a life plan. "There is no correlation between high SAT scores, good grades, and money." - Thomas Stanley, author, The Millionaire Mind

  • Experience and knowledge can make you close-minded. By having experience of how things should be, we become close-minded to how they could be. Today's youth, the first generation to grow up with the Internet, have access to and the ability to implement new opportunities that adults can not see. "Young people will dominate most of the twenty-first century." - Don Tapscott, best-selling author, Growing Up Digital

  • If you are comfortable, than you're obsolete. By being comfortable being uncomfortable, we create new possibilities in our lives that allow us to excel over others who refuse to change or grow. "Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress." - Thomas Edison

    Don't pursue backup plans. Because of fear of failure, many people pursue careers that are safe, but that they are not passionate about. By doing this they set themselves up to be average. Individuals who plan, prioritize, and pursue their vision are bound to succeed. "Most people live and die with their music unplayed. They never dare to try." ? Mary Kay Ash, founder, Mary Kay Cosmetics

  • Don't always listen to your friends and family. While your friends and family may have the best intentions for you, their first reaction is often to shelter you from being hurt instead of encouraging you to take risks and pursue your dreams. "Be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best - night and day - to make you everybody else." - E.E. Cummings, poet

  • Pursue Extreme Endeavors. Pursue unconventional, success activities that you friends only dream about such as; making a job in a company or your own business, taking time off from school, shadowing a role model, attending interesting and relevant seminars/conferences, and conducting informational interviews. "In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different." - Coco Chanel

  • Plan, prioritize, and pursue your vision before you graduate. It is better to have a quarter-life crisis than a mid-life crisis. The decisions that you make now determine whether you have a life of success or distress. "The time is always right to do what is right." - Martin Luther King

    Michael Simmons is the author of the best-selling book, The Student Success Manifesto: How to Create a Life of Passion, Purpose and Prosperity and an award-winning entrepreneur. He is also one of America's top youth motivational speakers for college campuses. Read his online journal at young entrepreneur journey or click on the following link to download his free success ebook

    		•  RELATED ARTICLES
    Education Leads To A Healthier And Happier Life
    Do you feel you lead a healthy and happy life? If you answered yes, chances are you have received some sort of college or post secondary (post high school) education. If you are an adult, and don't have an education, an online education may be something you may want to pursue. There are many proven reasons why being educated leads to a healthier and happier life. I will list a few of these facts below:
    The Best Way to Perform the Miracle of Success
    These days success is a hotly debated subject. Nevertheless, people haven't realized that the real pathway to success is an internal process. As soon as you develop the consciousness of prosperity, this energy spreads out to your exterior world, imparting the Midas touch to everything you perform.
    You are the President of Your Own Nation
    Congratulations! You are the president of your own nation, and it is called "Imagination". This particular nation is the driving force behind your life and is the underlying factor for your future. You need to realize that you have an enormous responsibility as the President of this Nation, because you need to always focus on the future and strive to have the ultimate nation. You need to internalize the power you have as the President of your own nation. Among many things that you have is the power to choose and/or consider. You are the one who holds the votes on who is allowed to live in your nation!
    Success -Ten Winning Traits!
    No surprise - winning traits are common among high achievers.
    Success and Failure: Two Sides of the Same Coin
    Failure is Great
    Fantasy Versus Reality
    Building wealth isn't something for the frightened, ignorant, and lost. You have to be emotionally strong, prepared, and standing in the right spot. So many of us fantasize about making more money and call it prayer. We then wonder why the universe isn't delivering our fortunes to us. I can't tell you how many people I've listened to grumble about how they've taken all of the steps to manifest more abundance into their lives and yet it just doesn't seem to be working. As someone on the outside looking in, it seems so obvious why their money hasn't arrived. They are usually sabotaging their own plans and don't even know it. But why? Because they're living in a fantasy and not looking at the reality of what it takes to make your own fortune.
    Five Formulas for Committing to Success!
    1. Clear vision + Intention + Purpose + Focus�= Success!��A vision is many things:� the original blueprint of the successful outcome you desire, a thought picture turned into visual action, a full expression of you!� If you are given a vision, then it is within your power to make it happen, if you choose.� You would not have been given the vision without the ability to make it come true.� Visions are so powerful, it is essential that you know exactly what you are visioning and why.� Intention and purpose are partners.� Your purpose, or mission, must also be very clear�and firm.� Your integrity is bound closely with this pair.� If it is your intention to truly make your dreams materialize, then a commitment must be made to focus on the specific outcome you desire.� Goal planning works well�for focus.� Make your goals realistic, specific and have a definite timetable for meeting your objectives. 2. Authenticity + Passion + Commitment = Success!��Being authentic� means that the real you is�showing�up all the time - in words, thoughts and actions.� First - you are true to yourself above all.� You are dedicated to knowing what you are all about - your integrity, passion, strengths, honesty and reliability.�Knowing your values and acting in alignment with them are crucial to your authenticity.� Passion�is what�stirs from within that motivates you - inspires you to get up each morning, eagerly, to continue working on a job or project that excites you to want to do more.� Passion is the unique message that you want to bring to the world.� Commitment is a "can-do" attitude.� You want to accomplish something so�intensely that you are willing to use whatever resources of time and energy to make it so!�� You have an unabiding passion to stay committed to your project until it is complete. 3.�Spiritual�Practice + Flow = Success!���A spiritual connection is essential for the unlimited and energetic flow in moving forward on your journey to self-commitment and success.��Webster defines�'spirit' as a "person's essential nature, an emotional state characterized�by vigor and animation, strong loyalty or dedication."��Spiritual practices may include everything from organized religion to pagan ritual and ceremony.� Since there is no�one universal definition that fits all, one must explore and define his or her own description.��How does your spiritual path make a difference, not only in your own life, but how might it connect to a global flow of energy?�Your personal�definition of spirit is one of your own�making, touching the honesty of your own soul.� You get to choose how you wish to walk in this world and how you want to be connected to a higher source.��A strong�spiritual practice�allows you to flow with a vibrational frequency that�will energize and ground you on the 'success' journey. 4.� Energy + Expectations + Perseverance = Success!� Being energetic and creating reserves of energy are essential for success.� If your energy is depleted, you do not have the stamina to carry out the plans for your success.� One way to create energy is by taking extremely good care of yourself - even�being selfish with your needs!� If you support a healthy, energetic, life-affirming style, than you can continue working towards the expectations you have for yourself.��One way to�identify whether or not your expectations are realistic is to take a piece of paper and make two columns.� On the left side, write your expectation.� On the right side, write how you might accomplish that.� You do have the ability to reach your own expectations, and each one of�them needs its own plan.� When you look at the columns, you may recognize that some of the expectations are not realistic and that in order for you retain your energy and persevere to the final outcome, the items may need to be adjusted.� Perseverance is continuing firmly�on your path, regardless of�unexpected challenges. If you believe in yourself, and are committed to your processes, you will solve every conceivable quandary or roadblock that appears.� You know what the rewards will be if you persevere with your plan. 5.� Strong Mission Statement + Plan of Action + Focus = Success!�Your mission in life is simply your purpose - and your purpose, your mission.� You've heard the saying, "If you don't know where you're going, that's exactly where you'll end up - nowhere!"� Mission statements act as a rudder for your entrepreneurial-ship. When you know exactly what you want and how you're going to get there, you can make better decisions along the way knowing that all of your steps must support the mission.� If questions arise and you're not sure of the answer, or direction, look to your mission statement to see if it supports the quandary.� OK, everything is in place: your vision is clarified, you're feeling passionate about the path you're on, you are connected to your own flow, you're energized and focused, your mission is clear and NOW - you're ready to execute the "plan"!� Plans of action do not have to be ten pages long.� Your plan is whatever you want it to be - however, you must have one if you want to proceed firmly on your way and reach the pinnacle of your success.� A simple plan can consist of lists: i.e. your business name and legal entity (LLC, C or S Corp, sole proprietor etc.), accountant (essential for cash/flow analyses), your mission, administrative needs, budget, competitor research, services you offer, advisory team members...and so forth.� There are�hundreds of books on the market to help you specifically with business plans. The goal is to move into action at whatever pace you choose to set and keep a steady course to completion. Oh yes, focus again!� You can have it all - one focussed step a time! copyright by Sharon Hooper, Commit To Your Success, LLC � � �
    Listening - A Life Skill for Success!
    When I decided to have my web site built, I discovered 5 web site designers whose portfolios I found professional and creative. On approach, four of them asked me to fill out time consuming forms detailing my needs and objectives but none took the time to call me. However, the fifth designer started his sell by calling, listening to my needs, asking questions and following up with a detailed proposal. He called again for feedback and asked further questions about my needs. It was this coupled with his professional approach why I decided he was the one I wanted to work with.
    Swotting for Success
    Not so long ago, I impressed the daylights out of a friend, by showing him his face on my PC's screen. As I tapped away at the minus key, the picture slowly zoomed-out, revealing that it was a picture of the two of us, and it soon became clear where the picture was taken. As I continued to zoom out, more details came into view; the picture was actually a small part of a scanned photograph of the two of us sitting by my desk, watching the monitor. The photo was merely lying on the desk when the high-resolution picture was taken.
    Are You An Expert At What You Do?
    One of the most common refrains I hear from people is, "I can't create information products?I'm not an expert!"
    Tracking Success With A Goal Tracking Chart
    Creating a goal tracking chart is as simple as drawing a basic grid or table. Create as many vertical columns as you have goals to include, and include a horizontal row for every sub-goal or milestone you wish to divide your goals into, plus one row on top for your "Finish By" date and one row below for your goal heading or title. [Hint: Creating a goal tracking chart poster-sized on inexpensive and brightly colored poster board ensures visibility and accountability!]
    You Are What You Think You Are
    Think out of the box, they say. But what's a box?
    Success Through Expertise - Bring In The Experts Or Become An Expert Yourself
    This morning, on TV, I was amazed to see how a house could be transformed by experts. They were allowed to use only �500 (or $1100 dollars) and they had to complete the work in two days.
    Hooray, You Failed!
    So you vowed to make some changes - develop healthier habits, say no to unhealthy habits. You put some plans into place. You get going, fueled by momentum and positive feelings; maybe you're starting to see some of the results of your work. Then, after awhile, before you know it, it's over. YOU FAILED - HOORAY!
    Effective Strategies for Stopping Procrastination
    You will have the greatest success if you read the first newsletter and take some time to observe your own procrastination patterns. Once you have accomplished that, choose a few of the strategies outlined here. Keep working at it until you understand what you need to do to stop putting things off.
    Don?t Throw the Baby Out with the Bath Water
    Whenever we have a bad experience or we own up to having a weakness people immediately jump on the band wagon and tell us to work with our weaknesses. "Focus on them until you have overcome them and then you can move on".
    Help Yourself To Success
    If you help yourself, God and humans will help you too. Start helping yourself to achieve your goals with commitment and perseverance and others, including God or the Universe, will be attracted into your life to assist you.
    Bad Luck, Bad Choices, and Bad Habits
    We were at some friend's house the other day and the wife mentioned some other acquaintances of ours.
    Taking Responsibility
    Everything you are or ever will be is completely up to you. Everything that has happened and is happening in your life is because of your behavior, words, and actions. You have the freedom of choice. Virtually every circumstance in your life so far, you have chosen out of your own free will. This means, that you are completely responsible for all your successes and failures. Your happiness and unhappiness. And everything in your present and future.
    What Bowling and Success Have In Common
    I was flying home from a seminar in Atlanta yesterday afternoon on Delta and they have TVs on each seat.

    home | site map
    © 2005