Advice

 

A former student recently got in touch with me to ask for some career advice.  While my response was focused on the workplace, I think it can also apply to school.

My first recommendation was to volunteer for the hard jobs at work.  When you are taking on the most difficult tasks, it will force you to take your game to the next level.  The same would be true for those attending college: Take some difficult classes with tough teachers.  When you are uncomfortable, it forces you to stretch yourself.

Secondly, be a great learner.  If there is one strategic advantage a person can have in the workplace, it is the ability to learn.  If you are a great learner, you will be flexible because you are able to adjust to different situations.  While nobody can truly predict the future, those who learn and adapt will be able to thrive.

Do not worry about what you have to do to be promoted.  Focus on the job you are doing and do it to the best of your ability.  Allow your performance to speak for itself.  The same can be applied to those in college.  Do not worry about building your resume.  Instead, focus on figuring out what you enjoy and what you want to pursue as a career.

Finally, yet importantly, develop a network of strong friends—people who you can trust to help you solve difficult problems and who will rein you in when you are off base.  All jobs have their down moments, and these are often the people who will provide support when you need it most.

My former student asked me if I followed my own advice.  I let him decide.  Hope this is helpful and would love to hear some feedback from both those in the business and academic world.

Power of Negative thinking

 Recently a student asked me if I believed in the power of positive thinking. They wanted certain things to happen and were trying to will them into being, yet these goals were not coming true. 

I remembered a research study I had read in which participants all wanted to lose at least 40 pounds. The control group was told to think about positive thoughts: how they would look, compliments they would receive from their friends, how much healthier they would be, and how this might improve their romantic lives.

 

The experimental group was told to think about what they would feel like if they did not lose the weight, the obstacles blocking them from hitting the goal, and their friends not noticing any weight loss. 

What happened was surprising. The group that thought negatively about the goal lost 10 more pounds on average than the group who had positive thoughts. Psychologists speculate that when you think negative thoughts, it triggers your body into action, which gets you to move toward your goal. 

With this research in mind, Gabriele Oettingeno developed a process called WOOP (more here). stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacles, and Plan.  

Before you start, I recommend shutting down all your electronics. Then take five minutes and think about a wish that is achievable, challenging, and important to you. Try getting this wish down to 3-6 words. 

Secondly, close your eyes and think about what is the best outcome of accomplishing your wish. Visualize the feeling you will have if you accomplish your wish. 

Thirdly, you switch gears and think about the obstacles that might prevent you from hitting your goals. Is the obstacle an excuse or something you can overcome? 

Lastly, you develop a plan to overcome the obstacle. So, when the obstacle occurs, you have already developed a plan to handle it. 

WOOP has been successful in improving grades, weight loss, and time management. I challenge you to think about something important to you and use WOOP to accomplish it.