At this point, I can’t remember if it was a Gary Vaynerchuk Snapchat, a quote from a book or a discussion with someone for my senior thesis, but the lesson was that instead of just blindly following advice, we should adapt it to our own goals. It really resonated with me as someone who reads their fair share of books and articles spewing advice, methods,etc. on how to be successful. Hell I even ask people I network with their advice for someone in my position.
I have always been someone to do things my own way, or at least adapt a conventional method to fit me a bit more. I’m not saying I blatantly ignore traditional methods, but I am now at the point where if I want to send an email as a follow up on a job interview or hand write letters to announce a milestone, I do it because it seems like the proper thing to do.
What I’m getting at here is that there are all these lessons for students wanting to be successful – network, read, intern, etc. and it is AMAZING to do all of those things, but you also have to realize why you are doing them to make it worthwhile. Don’t just have conversations to have conversations or intern because it is what you are supposed to do. Network because you want to learn about a certain area, read because you are investing in knowledge to make you better at your craft, intern to learn what you don’t like as much as what you do like.
If I’ve learned anything in the past four years as a college student it is that there are thousands of people who want to do the same thing as you and hundreds doing the same thing as you to get to that point. What can make you stand out is being a bit unique in your methods and thinking about why you are doing something. I’m all about trying new methods to make it happen. Didn’t get a response to the email you spent hours crafting? Pick up a phone. That isn’t working? Write a letter (yes like pen and paper) and send it to someone’s office because I can almost guarantee that will stand out. Sure it might be things that were ‘cool’ twenty years ago, but isn’t retro a thing right now..
Anyways, If this post made any sort of sense that is amazing and I’m so glad it did. If it doesn’t then let me know why. Share some thoughts below!
