A college degree doesn’t differentiate you in the job market- You were probably told throughout your four years of college that you go to a ‘premier university that will give you the keys to be successful’. Sounds familiar? The harsh truth is that it doesn’t matter what type of degree you have, what your GPA is, or what your major is. You land a job through networking, being personable in an interview, and showcasing your sickening work ethic with awesome work experience. I know that you just paid $_____ for your undergraduate degree, but it’s time to let go of it. A degree is a degree and it truly doesn’t matter where it was from. You either can produce or you can’t…….it’s that simple.
More schooling isn’t necessary to land a job- I believe that the worst advice out there is the idea that you need more schooling to land a job. I could go on a rant on this topic, but instead I will redirect you to this article on how to land a job: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2011/09/29/8-steps-to-getting-what-you-want-without-formal-credentials/.
Redefine your circle of friends- Another big thing that you must do after graduating college is decide who your true friends are. Truly reflect on this topic: what friends will push me forward so I can continue to grow? When you are growing and maturing at a rate that is faster than other people, those individuals tend to attempt to ‘restore the balance of power’. What I mean by this is that they continuously bring up the person you were, not the person you are striving to become. Live in your hopes and dreams, not in the past.
You have the power to do whatever you want- Ever since I graduated college I have embodied this mentality. I wholeheartedly believe I can do whatever I set my mind to. To me, I’m indifferent to whether this comes across as arrogant or cocky to people from my past. It’s what I believe and I back up my statements through hard work and dedication. If somebody views you differently because you are now strong and confident then that individual probably didn’t respect you to begin with. Your friends should be happy for the new you, not jealous.
Stop drinking every weekend- It’s simply part of the American college lifestyle to party every weekend. However, this won’t bring you long term happiness because it’s a short term solution to having fun. If you don’t believe me then you should dive into some yoga training. You don’t need booze to be confident in yourself and to talk to the opposite sex. The power is within you.
Exercise frequently- I recently ran a lifestyle experiment to gauge my energy level from when I workout every day during the week to when I do not exercise. The results unquestionably proved to me that waking up at 5AM to workout gave me so much more energy compared to gaining an extra hour of sleep. It’s a great feeling to get your blood moving that early in the morning because it makes you feel alive. Additionally, whenever I workout in the morning I tend to not even need coffee to get me going. I get my energy from my inner G.
Never stop networking- Even if you have a job you should not stop networking and meeting new people. You never know when you can help that individual or when they can help you in the future. Your network is your networth.
View your social media accounts as your personal brand- What type of photos are on your Facebook page? What are your status updates about? If your Facebook page is your company then what type of message are you sending out to your consumers? Personal Branding 101.
Find a mentor- As much as your parents and college want you to succeed, they shouldn’t be go to person for advice all the time because they most likely haven’t done what you want to accomplish. Find an established professional who can guide you on your pursuit of your dream career.
Look for inspiration daily- The working world can be awfully tough at some points and there is no such thing as B work. Furthermore, you can’t take an afternoon nap to recover from a stressful morning. Therefore, you must be on your A game 24/7. My three main sources of inspiration are the following websites: http://www.primermagazine.com/,http://www.therisetothetop.com/, and http://www.dailyom.com/. Whenever I need an extra push in the afternoon these sites always do the trick for me.
Create a bucketlist- In ten years, do you want to sit back and reflect on what could have been? What if I went on that roadtrip? What if I went to that conference? What if I traveled to ___? Or, will you take responsibility for your life and do whatever the f*&^ you want?!
