It’s just like in business.  By following certain keys to success, you can greatly improve your lot.  Working toward a degree needn’t be a slog and it should be fun.

While reading various tips to success from top businessmen, it becomes apparent that they are good tips for life in general.  So you can use this same advice toward succeeding in your degree and beyond.  Here are 10 keys to success that are consistently mentioned by those at the top:

1. Put the work in/Work hard – This is pretty obvious, but we all need reminding from time to time.  You won’t get anywhere if you sit around and wait for everything to magically finish by itself.

2. Do your best, then aim for better – Doing your best is great, but that doesn’t mean there’s no scope for improvement.  When you know what your best looks like, consider what you can improve.  Target areas that were (constructively) criticised by tutors, marked lower than you would have liked, or structured in a way that no longer look as good in your mind.

3. Keep at it (practice makes better…and better…not perfect) – Tiger Woods doesn’t stop practicing his golf.  He may be bloody good, but there’s no such thing as perfect.  One of the secrets of many successful people is not that they were true overnight successes…they actually put in many years of practice before establishing themselves in the public eye.  So the more you work on something, the better you can master the necessary skills.

4. Don’t be complacent – It’s a big mistake to ‘get by’.  Just doing enough might feel like a good balance, but it’s not enough.  I have first-hand experience of this and it was my biggest issue when at school (all those many years ago! 😉 ).  I don’t regret what happened, because I learned not to be complacent again.  Sometimes we just have to learn the hard way before it sinks in!

5. Have the courage to change – There are several human blocks that hurt more than help, yet they are regularly used to make life feel easier.  Crazy.  One of those blocks is the resistance to change.  Routines and comfort zones feel so safe, but they end up getting us nowhere.  Plus, we look around and see more successful people and grumble about that too.  One of the reasons for the success is no doubt down to embracing change.  If something isn’t working, do something else.  When a process can be improved, make the alterations with pride.  How do you get whatever you want?  You adapt until you find a way to get it.

6. Let go of fear – Another blocker.  When you fear, you don’t give it your all.  When you fear, ambition fades away.  When you fear, success is trampled over by negative thought.  You don’t need to be cocky to be ambitious and you don’t need to be arrogant to reach your goals…A lack of fear is the beginning of confidence.

7. Failure doesn’t mean losing – If at first you don’t succeed, try TRY again.  We learn from our mistakes, which are plentiful.  You’re not alone in getting things wrong.  You’re not an idiot.  The most successful of people often fail just as much (or perhaps more) than they succeed.  But they learn lessons, they pick themselves up, and they move on.  Whatever does turn out a success more than makes up for the past failures.

8. Stress out and relax…in equal doses – Full-on stress is clearly a bad thing, but it’s just as bad to chill out non-stop.  To make the most of a project, you must push yourself beyond what you already know.  Learning isn’t always cosy, but that shouldn’t make it less fun.  With some intense focus, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t surprise yourself.  And once that push results in achievement, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy a well-earned break.

9. Be open, be warm, be friendly – Whatever your mode of study, there’s more to be had from it when you consider others and treat them as you would want to be treated yourself.  Even if you’re usually a lone worker, there are still occasions where you need to ask questions or you have to interact with staff.  The more you can engage with them on a friendly level, the more you should get out of them.  A big part of success is getting people on your side.

10. Take some risks – It feels good to play it safe, but it’s pretty exhilarating to take a risk.  Well, that’s as long as you’ve considered the risk and you don’t just blindly go forth into dark and scary lands.  If you’re just reaching out to danger for the thrill and danger, you’re on your own mate!  But sometimes the risk is about either improving your lot a great deal or taking a minor setback that can easily be recovered from.  If the potential advantages outweigh the disadvantages (and it’s not completely outlandish, natch), it might be time to take that risk with a smile and a skip in your step.

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There are 2 other keys that don’t particularly rely upon your input, but are worth thinking about:

1. Sometimes you just get lucky – Success can occur when you least expect it.  Sometimes a half-hearted effort turns out to be pure genius and you’re hailed a hero.  While congratulations are in order, don’t expect this to be the case and don’t bother too hard trying to work out how to emulate this fluke success.  If we could all do that, we’d all know the answer by now.  Although you could try to make your own luck…
2. Sometimes other people just get lucky – All that hard work you put in to something may end up getting you nowhere special.  Then someone else comes along and strikes it lucky without even trying.  Again, you won’t be able to emulate that success.  And it’s certainly not worth dwelling upon.  You’ll get your fair share of success if you follow the 10 keys set out above…

It’s time for me to take a post from the blogosphere about a different subject and put the university focus on to it.

Today, I’m looking at a recent post from Life Coaches Blog, called “How to Boost Your Confidence at Work“.  It highlights 5 ways for those in employment to get out there and feel good about what they do.

But the 5 tips can be used in the context of university life.  Either through your study, or when socialising:

How to Boost Your Confidence at University

1. Fake it till you make it

• Study

A new module can prove daunting for the best of us.  Remember you’re in the same boat as everyone else.  There’s no reason why you shouldn’t just crack on with the work without fear.

Taking on a positive persona as you work can work wonders.  There’s nothing wrong in seeking further advice when you feel stuck.  If anything, it shows greater confidence and forward thinking.  A winning situation.

• Social

This doesn’t mean you should lie.  The main thing is to realise that you don’t know everything.  Doing something new can feel uncomfortable, but it’s part of life.  And at uni, everyone is doing new stuff all the time.  Rather than cautiously dip your toe in the water, jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride.

…er, so long as it’s not something potentially life-threatening or expensive…! 

2. Soak up knowledge and don’t be afraid to ask questions

•  Study

When you ask questions, you want answers.  But in university terms, when you ask questions, you usually get into a great debate.

Never fear.  Debate helps you soak up information and it points you in the right direction for taking in even more useful facts.

If you feel confident on a particular topic, try to find different opinions and viewpoints.

If your confidence lacks the scope to go that far, at least ask questions in seminars, tutorials, and one-to-one meetings with tutors.  They’ll probably be happy to talk things through with you.  In no time, you’ll be taking on the world!

• Social

University isn’t going to find you.  You have to find university.  That means finding out what clubs and societies are around.  That means checking the uni Intranet, student magazines and leaflets, and all the posters up around campus.

If you’re uncertain about something, speak to whoever arranges things.  They’ll probably be happy to hear you’re interested.  If you show enough interest, you may be introduced to even more goodies.

3. Delete negative self talk

Even the brightest of students can’t ace everything.

When you put yourself down and think the work is all too much, you’re denting that positivity within.  Get out of that hole and stop talking yourself down.

Admit that the work’s hard and accept that you have to put in a lot of work.  But the problem doesn’t lie with you if you’re willing to put the time and effort in to getting it done.

If you start convincing yourself, “Everyone else can do it, so why can’t I?  I’m such an idiot, I’m so rubbish”, then you need to turn this all around.

Why not use this exaggeration for positive gain?  Convince yourself of this…”Everyone else can do it, so why can’t I?  I’ve got the passion and the drive, so I’ll give it my all.  I can do this just as much as anyone.”

4. Avoid saying “I can’t”

Saying “I can’t” is usually a way of getting out of something.  It’s a bit of a comfort blanket.

I’m confused by those two simple words, “I can’t”.  How does anyone know that they can’t do something if they haven’t tried?  And if they’ve tried and failed, why does that mean all hope is lost from now on?

I’d be amazed if there was 100% certainty that you genuinely couldn’t do something, especially if it’s linked in with an assignment you’ve been asked to complete.

Give yourself that push and tell yourself that you can.  It doesn’t matter what the task is, so long as you have that drive…As the Adidas slogan says, “Impossible is nothing“.

5. Look the part

Instead of sitting about in the communal areas of your halls, why not set out a proper plan, listing your aims for the day/week/semester?  When other students moan that they’re bogged down with their study/reading/life, why not think twice before agreeing wholeheartedly with them?

People don’t always want to be fed advice if they’re not looking for it, but there’s no harm in positive encouragement of others.  So don’t automatically agree that life sucks, because you’ll end up believing it too.

At uni, it’s not about what you wear, how you look, or the visual presentation of yourself.  It may help in certain circumstances, but it’s not the answer.  You need a sturdy attitude that’s ready for anything.  With a positive attitude and confidence shining through, others will pick you up further and appreciate your outlook.  This, in turn, will boost you even more.  The cycle continues until you truly believe in yourself and know that you look the part because you’re firmly IN that part.

Confidence is not showing off.  Confidence is about positivity, drive, passion, and striving to reach a particular destination.  Showing off is telling people how wonderful you are.  There’s a difference!

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Have you discovered anything great that gave your confidence a boost in the past?

Do you regularly use a tried and tested method of letting confidence flow effortlessly through you?