Professor Ken Pasch who leads my ACCTG 211 course starts each class with a tip that has nothing to do with the class but everything to do with life. I have been writing down each of Ken’s Business Tips for Life for my own record, and now, as the end of the semester approaches, I want to share them with you.
- The most important thing to work on and build is reputation.
- What’s more important? The grade you earn in a course or the information you learn in a course? As an employer, Ken does use grades for weeding out candidates, but grades are only a qualifier. Schreyer (Founder of the Schreyer Honors College) says “C+ students run the world.” Concentrate on what you learn!
- By what habits do you live your life by? e.g. What do you aspire to be? Ref. to Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- By what values do you live your life? Most people would agree that the most important value is integrity. Work on what values you will live by before you demand them from others. Start by “What will I never do?” And then think about “What will I always do?”
- In my life, what do I want to be? do? have? The order of these is critical. You should have this discussion with yourself often. People don’t think about this enough. You will get to the end of your life and figure out how shallow or hollow your life has been.
- Do you do things because it is the right thing to do? Or only because it serves some sort of personal, ulterior motive?
- What guarantees does life provide? Death and taxes… Don’t assume you will be hired for life. So make yourself indispensable. Set yourself up for success, not for failure.
- What’s the most important job you will ever have? It’s the one you have now. Concentrate on what you have now and make yourself the best in your current position, then people will come looking to have you working for them.
- True learning requires the ability to apply what you have learned, not just memorization of words.
- Will you self-actualize or settle for less?
- To self-actualize, be innovative, be different, be your true self! “Get all the education you can, but then, by God, do something! Don’t just sit there, make it happen!” — Lee Iacocca
The Conversation {2 comments}
Some great tips there!
Thanks
I really enjoyed reading your professor’s tips. I think many college students often put too much emphasis on professional success in their lives and do not take the time to reflect on what kind of person they would like to become. Often I find myself getting caught up in the competition and hype of the fast-paced technology industry (this is mostly due to being around IST students too much haha) and have to take a step back to reevaluate if my actions are inline with my overall life goals.
Your professor hits it on the mark that it’s important to take the time to think about your personal goals in terms of how’d you like to be perceived and strive to become that person.
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