How to Become the Envy of Your Graduating Class!

Becoming the Envy of Your Graduating Class!

 

Do you want to be that person that your old classmates come back to and say, “I never imagined that you’d be so successful?”  Then read on, and you will be able to do some sweet things with your life.

 

Almost everyone leaves graduation with the anticipation of what life is going to bring and the dreams that fill their heart; but not everyone gets the same results.  I have some friends that are still stuck in a rut – living on their parents’ couch, working at the local restaurant, and not doing anything with their lives.  Then there are the friends that have traveled the world, gotten advanced degrees, started beautiful families, and are making a living in jobs that they love.

 

What’s the difference between what the dead end friends and successful friends have done with their time?  Getting that first jump on life after graduation can be a challenge, but there are a set of skills that successful people always use.  How to Become the Envy of Your Graduating Class! gives you six tools to help you get started in life and achieve your dreams. 

 

 

1. Dream

The moment after I graduated, my parents wanted me to go to graduate school, my boss wanted me to become a business owner, and my girlfriend wanted me to be her husband! 

 

Sound familiar?  Forget about what everyone else wants – this is your time to have fun!  You may have some financial and family responsibilities now, but not as many as you will have in 10 years.  Travel with friends, go to college, go on adventures, do the things that you have always dreamt of doing.  In other words, revel in your lack of responsibility!

 

Make a dream list.  Include in this list everything you would ever want to do in your lifetime; activities, accomplishments, character goals… you name it!  Some of mine include getting an Ivy League MBA, hosting a radio show, living with integrity, and hiking the 26-mile floor of the Grand Canyon.  What are yours?

 

 

2. Live Life, On Purpose™

I recently ran into a client who felt stuck and unhappy with the way her life was going, so I asked her what her passions were.  What were the things that she absolutely loved and lived to do?  Tracy answered that question with a list of activities that brought brightness into her eyes, and I encouraged her to do those things.  Her passions may become her career, or they could just involve a couple hours of leisure per week – but at least she’s involving herself in what she loves.

 

Start out on the right foot, and Live Life, On Purpose™.  What would you do everyday for the rest of your life, even if you weren’t paid to do it?

 

Go, do those things.

 

 

3. Set balanced goals

When I was a freshman in college, I had my mind set on being a professional musician and teacher.  I was taking 19 credit hours (one of which was a 500 level course), was in two performance ensembles, and worked part time.  I got burned out very quickly, and found myself crying at the piano one day while practicing – I just couldn’t take all of the stress anymore. 

 

Successful people like you, have a talent for pushing themselves to accomplish great things, but they also have a knack for living life out-of-balance.

 

The most successful people live in balance according the “4F’s and a C”, their:

1. Faith

2. Family

3. Finances

4. Fitness

5. Career

 

To have a long record of success in life, set goals in ALL five areas, not just the most popular ones like financial and career goals. 

 

 

4. Change Your Circle

A friend of mine told me that I will become like the 7 people I spend most of my time with.  When I thought about my circle of friends, some of them included closet drug users, womanizers, liars, and people with no direction in life.  I immediately distanced myself from people that were making poor choices, and focused on finding friends that were either headed in the direction I wanted to go, or were already there.

 

Take out the trash in your life.  Your success is your responsibility and you are in control.  Don’t let poor influences or relationships hold you down.  Change your circle, change your life!

 

 

5. Be Confident

Simon Cowell was a mail boy before he became the rip roaring judge on American Idol.  Vince Vaughan worked as a telemarketer before he became a famous Wedding Crasher.  I’m sure plenty of people told them that they would never make it, but they had confidence in their ability to succeed.  Write down 5 reasons why you have the ability to accomplish your dreams, and remember those items as you build your confidence while working toward reaching your goals. 

 

 

6. Have Integrity

If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?  I realized that I couldn’t trust myself when one of my friends told me that my head is always in the clouds.  I am a dreamer and a visionary, but sometimes I don’t take action to achieve my dreams.  Make a commitment to yourself that you are going to set goals AND take massive action to achieve them.

 

Do what you say you’re going to do, not for others – but for yourself.

 

 

Your life is an open story, ready to be written, and I am so excited for your future!  You get to write it, create it, and make it every day.  Dream, Live Life, On Purpose™, live in balance, change your circle, have confidence, and take action.  Do those things, and you will be the envy of your graduating class!

 

 

Jamar Cobb-Dennard is a motivational speaker that challenges audiences to Live Life, On Purpose™, and improve their results by using their life’s passions.  Looking for a speaker to make your next event sizzle?  Contact Jamar at info@jamarspeaks.com or 317-946-5984.