To Be Something Special, You Must Do Something Special

by Bob Roth
The “College & Career Success” Coach

Almost every college student wants to be something special. They dream of the day when people will read about them in the newspapers or see them on TV. Often, they think about being wealthy, so they can afford to do anything they want. It brings a smile to their face when they picture their big house, a glamorous job, wealthy friends, travel, cars and fame. It’s a wonderful dream.

Unfortunately, many students forget one important fact. To be something special, they must do something special. That usually means working very long and hard to do something new, something different or something better. That’s why, for many students, it will always be a dream. Little can come of an idea, when the person is unwilling to put forth the effort and make the sacrifices that will make their dream come true.

“Dreams are not fulfilled by doing the least that is required.”

It doesn’t matter what they are dreaming about or who is doing the dreaming. The dream can only come true if they act on it. A dream remains a dream until someone does something about it. Nobody becomes something special by doing little or nothing. It doesn’t work that way. Therefore, if students want to be something special, they should keep the following steps in mind.

Offer A Positive Attitude - Successful students have an attitude that drives them forward. They truly believe that they will succeed because they will do whatever it takes. These students focus on the desired outcomes and won’t let obstacles stop them. Giving up is not an option.

Identify A Specific Goal - Wise students write about their dreams. They describe exactly what they want to accomplish. When they condense the goal into a single sentence, it can be taped to their computer, where they will see it every day.

Lay Out A Plan - To achieve their goal, students will need to follow a plan. They write out all of the steps that will be required. Over the next month or so, they add and delete steps until they are satisfied. If their goal is significant and will take a long time (many months or even longer) to achieve, they write the desired completion date next to each step.

Gather the Resources - Money, people, equipment, time and information are usually needed to achieve goals. Without the necessary resources, the chances of success are greatly reduced. When students take the time to identify and accumulate the needed resources, they open the door to success.

Take Action - Successful students fight like hell to make their dreams come true. It’s clear to everyone around them that they are going someplace. They have something that must get done. Action oriented students understand that they are solely responsible for their own success. They fully appreciate the fact that nothing gets done by maintaining the status quo. That’s why they utilize every tool in their tool box, in order to move forward.

Make Adjustments and Keep Going - The most effective students expect, accept and are prepared for obstacles, problems and delays. However, regardless of what happens, they keep their feet moving. They demonstrate their passion by finding alternatives, gathering additional resources and by using new methods and techniques. Most importantly, students like this never stop. They make adjustments and keep going.

“The most significant achievement one can have in life is to master the art of making adjustments and moving on.”

There is one important fact that should be realized by every young adult. It is that the potential to do something special lies within everyone. They may not see it now or believe it yet, because it remains dormant, deep within. However, in time, they can find that one thing they truly care about, the thing that ignites their passions and makes them fearless, when others want to give up.

"People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be." -- Harvey Mackay

Although the path is frequently long and difficult, being something special is within the grasp of every student, including you. So, why not throw off the chains that have held you back? Make the decision to be special. Decide to take the first step, that critical first step that will begin to make your dream a reality. Remember, if you want to be something special, you must do something special.