Build a favorable eco-system
One of the most common mistakes students do is to study hard and harder as if there is no end. All my life I have seen very studious and book worm children finally getting little in life.
Even parents push their children to study hard and get more marks. Unfortunately, this fallacy in the education system stops students from working towards a holistic growth, which is extremely essential for their future growth. I would wonder if most studious student in a class would rise to become a very successful person in any of the field.
Most of them taper out by being someone just ordinary. While some remain
contented, others complain about the managers who never took notice of them.
Students must understand that good degree, great and prestigious college and excellent marks would only get you in a job, but thereafter it is a race where there is no special favor given to these qualifications. It is the work, which speaks, and this is the area where only those who have holistic understanding of growth develop more.
“ Get into harmony with your ecosystem and understand your true strengths. “
Every student must map themselves to the successful people around them. See what different they have done to grow where they are today. You will certainly find something different to the rest in them. Some famous successful people never even completed their graduation, left alone Ivy League colleges or high marks. Steve Jobs and Dhirubhai Ambani are such examples who changed the way business is done through their persistence and vision. For a moment, let us understand what do we mean by building a favorable ecosystem. In old times, kings sent their children to gurukul under the guidance of a Guru for several years.
They never interfered and allowed their children to grow by doing every thing what an ordinary man would do and also gain knowledge. Education in these gurukuls never was about cramming of books and passing the exams, but about getting into harmony with their ecosystem and understanding their true strengths. This is how Arjun became a great archer and Bhim a great warrior.
If we map this to our current system, our education and life is completely overshadowed by our parents who try to guide us at every step and over protect us. This alone robs most of the students of the key ability to understand their ecosystem well. Teachers too do not understand this critical need and simply follow the books and the laid out systems in the colleges.
This is the reason why Ivy League colleges are different to the remaining thousand. These colleges take special care to introduce the students in doing things which is needed to move up to have a dream job.
These activities which help you build a great ecosystem would have the following elements
a. Building your network of contacts
b. Finding a mentor and a guide who can take you to next level.
c. Finding forums and external activities where you gain understanding of what new is happening in your dream field
d. Knowing what really matters for your growth and ensuring you have all resources in that line. Eg. English speaking may be important for some for their growth and you ensure that you are really good at that.
e. Ensure that your network is not about just taking from them, but you should actively share your knowledge with those who need that. In this time of extreme selfishness, you may end up thinking twice before this good deed, but you should understand that knowledge and power grows only by giving.
Becoming resourceful is a great way to become a great candidate of a dream job and you can look for a great growth once you land up with one.
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