How to pass exams – Part 7 – It’s hard work being on an adventure
“If you really want something, and really work hard, and take advantage of opportunities, and never give up, you will find a way.”
Jane Goodall, English Zoologist
For some – the next bit of advice might be a shock…
In our world of instant coffee, pot noodles and movies on demand, we can sometimes forget that not everything happens instantly. Have you ever tasted a Pot Noodle, you’ll soon be hungry again, instant sometimes just doesn’t cut it. There’s nothing better than a great home cooked meal, that’s why students go home!
When I first started researching success in life I came across this seemingly obvious advice and I sort of wish it wasn’t on the list. I wish I could say ‘you’ll just make it one day, it will all happen to you, you don’t have to work hard, just chill – everything will be fine’. It would make this blog go viral, but it just isn’t true.
We have to work hard to succeed in anything. Some people’s planning for their future is to simply buy a lottery ticket, I see people do it all the time. Many lottery winners have been called “Lottery Losers” because they wish they hadn’t won the money after a while as it makes them very unhappy.
Success is mostly in your hands, and Richard St. John agrees. He found out that successful people work hard, but if you’re passionate about something you can work hard and have fun. Result.
Larry Page (one of the founders of Google) said, “You can’t just have inspiration. It’s maybe 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration”, he was quoting the inventor Thomas Edison from 1903.
[ Based on years of research you can read more about Lee’s work at http://leejackson.org/education/howtoenjoyandsucceedatschoolandcollege – How to pass exams ]
Now, it has to be said I don’t look like a natural runner, (Rugby League player maybe), but one of my ambitions was to take part in the Great North Run in Newcastle. So one year I signed up and went from zero to running 13 miles in just a few months. Most of the training was boring, repetitive and sometimes even miserable but when, on the big day, I was struggling at 11 miles into the run I was so glad I had done all that training. The slog, night after night around Leeds meant that when it came to the crunch I could finish the race. Working hard paid off, when I needed it most.
Doing my research before I speak anywhere is exactly the same, hard work…works! Work hard, but even better, work smart. Take breaks, have a day off, but earn it by having 5 or 6 days on!
Work hard then reward yourself. As we say up north…CRACK ON, then have a cup of tea! My sister once got told off by her builder because she kept giving the lads bacon sandwiches first thing in the morning. “Stop giving them bacon” the boss said, “they don‘t get anything done otherwise!” Work then reward.
I know you’ve probably been told this many times already, but there are no short cuts to being successful at school. A lot of it is just working as hard and as smartly as you can. Work to your best, you know deep down what that is.
More to come…
This an excerpt from Top UK School Speaker Lee Jackson’s book “How To Enjoy And Succeed At School And College” Available in paperback and on Kindle (for only £1.99 during pre-exam time) here now.
