Will You Settle For What You Think You Deserve?
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Many college students can recite a litany of reasons for why their performance is relatively average when it comes to college and career endeavors. They talk about their lack of resources, their family history and the disadvantages they have faced. Because these students focus on personal problems, shortcomings and failures, they are trapped in the mind set of someone who is likely to underperform.

For most students, the reasons they give are just excuses. More than fifty percent of all students are underperforming simply because the have settled for what they think they deserve. The mind is a powerful tool that can either work for you or against you. When students are well-prepared and confident, they will always do better than students who lack that confidence.
If you think you can, you can.
If you think you can't, you can't.
And, either way, you are right.

-- Henry Ford
Anytime you believe that you can't do something, you have dramatically reduced your chances for success. However, when you truly believe that they can do something, you are quite likely to get it done.

People who believe in themselves are confident that:
  • They can figure out a way to get things done
  • Their passion will help to carry them through
  • They can obtain the information, tools and resources they will need
  • They can find others to help them
  • The rewards of success are worth the effort and risks
  • They probably will not fail, but if they do, they will survive the consequences
That's why they set their sights higher than others. High performing students understand they they must be willing to try new things, take a few calculated risks and fight for success. They know that success does not just fall into your lap. High performers have clear goals, are resourceful, have courage, take reasonable risks, perform to the best of their abilities and don't give up easily. When they fail, they don't make excuses or give up. Rather, they pick themselves up, figure out how they can do better the next time and move forward again. They try to fulfill their potential, not settle for the status quo. Nobody moves forward by standing in one place, doing nothing and ignoring the changes that are taking place in the world around them.

Many students fall short of their potential simply because they:
  • Aren't willing to pay the price.
  • Place the blame on others or on circumstances.
  • Always take the easy route.
  • Let things fall where they may.
  • Give up easily.
  • Offer up lame excuses
  • Miss or ignore opportunities
  • Listen to the nay sayers
Since almost every student has the potential to be more and achieve more, what is it that you think you deserve? That is an important question, since your answer is likely to be what you achieve. Only when you believe in yourself can you dream great dreams and push past the barriers that hold most people back. You have a choice to make. Will you fight to reach your full potential or will you settle for what you think you deserve?