Forget Failure
In school, if you perform poorly on a test, you’ve “failed.” If you couldn’t turn something on time, because you were busy working on material for another class, you’ve “failed.”
The idea of failure has caused many to turn to cheating, copying, and other means of deception at a young age. Contrary to what many are taught, the act of failing is where the majority of growth occurs.
In entrepreneurship, failure is a way of learning. It’s a way of finding another way around the problem. If you’re unable to handle failure, life is going to be tough for you. Failure isn’t an exit strategy, it’s a part of life.
Take Action
Some call it action, I call it the leap of faith. Despite failure, which shouldn’t have any meaning to you, step up to the plate and take the leap.
This is how you differentiate yourself as a leader. You take action, you take rejection, you take the pain, and in the end you gather the success. If you’re reading this, you’ve already taken the first step.
Ask
It’s too common in school where you have a question in a class of 40 people, but don’t ask. It’s not because you’ve found the answer, it’s because you don’t want to ask a “dumb” question in front of others.
There are no dumb questions. It may sound cliche, but it’s true.
Ask with confidence, and get your answer. To those who laugh, you’ll see them again when they’re working for you.
Find Your Passion
The school system today tells you that you must do this to learn. You must do this to succeed. You must follow this specific curriculum. But, if we all follow the exact same thing, how is one expected to finish higher than the other.
Don’t get me wrong. Education is important, and I’m a big believer for it through Chahal Foundation’s scholarship initiatives. But, if you only focus on academia, it can hinder your ability to pursue something you’re passionate about. You begin a chapter, and then it’s over. There’s no assignment to find what you’re passionate about and dive into it. The earlier you learn this, the faster you’re going to win at the game of life.
Teamwork
In school, we loathe working on group projects. Everyone feels they’re the only one putting in the effort. And, the grading system is done in a way that if one fails, everyone does.
This creates a mindset that working solo is the only way to succeed. And, that’s wrong.
In reality, outside of school, working in teams is the best way to complete a task. That’s when leaders are made. You learn to distribute tasks, take leadership, and see greatness in others. Work with the smartest people you can find. Smart people make beautiful music together. Lots of smart people, working in unison, can have the power and beauty of a Beethoven symphony.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”