1. Be Antifragile
Nassim Taleb wrote a great book called Antifragile. There is a big difference between being fragile, resilient, and anti-fragile.
Fragile people break under pressure. Resilient people break only under extreme pressure. But anti-fragile people only get stronger under pressure.
Choose to be antifragile. Repeat this as your mantra: OMMS. Obstacles Make Me Stronger. (Thanks for this tip goes to Brian Johnson, Philosopher's Notes)
2. The Slight Edge
Jeff Olson wrote a great book called The Slight Edge. The first time that Kay and I heard about this concept, it revolutionized our life!
Break down your large goals into super-simple and repeatable tasks and do them EVERY DAY. This is your slight edge over your competition. This is what makes great people great.
We used this concept to get out of debt, build an awesome business, and become much healthier people. What will you do with this knowledge?
3. Sharpen the Saw
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." Abraham Lincoln
Before you jump into a big task, make sure your tools are in tip-top shape. If it's computer work, make sure the computer's working well and quickly - maybe do a restart. If it's a physical challenge like a long running race, make sure you're body's in great shape. If it's preparing a big Thanksgiving dinner, make sure your kitchen is clean and organized.
Dr. Stephen R. Covey takes this to the next step. In his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he wrote about sharpening the saw. It is the 7th habit. Sharpening the saw means enhancing yourself. You are the saw. Renew yourself in these four areas of life:
1. Physical
2. Social/Emotional
3. Mental
4. Spiritual
You are your life's most effective tool. Make sure you are always staying sharp. Don't forget to focus on self-care.
4. Pay Attention to Your Fundies
Everyone has their basic fundamentals. If you ever want to achieve anything worthwhile, you need to master your fundamentals. What are your fundies? At the very least, everyone has the fundies of Eat, Move, and Sleep.
Don't bother trying to solve any of your life's problems before doing your fundies. Are you eating right? Are you exercising? Are you sleeping well? If you answered no to any of these, solve these fundamental problems first.
5. Do Your Research
Never jump into any big project without doing the proper amount of research.
How do others overcome this problem? Is there any wisdom to gain before I invest a lot of time and/or money into this project? I bet there is...
The most important tip we can give you is to DO hard things - just do them. Don't run away from something just because it seems hard. Sometimes the things that are worth doing are hard - but do them anyway. Following the 5 tips above can help you accomplish your goals and succeed where others fail.
And to all our students out there.... practice, practice, practice! We believe in you, and your hard work will pay off :)