Figuring Out Who You Are and What You Want in Life - Study Motivation

TL;DR

To figure out what you want in life, identify the people and sacrifices behind your “why,” then ask what you can uniquely contribute. After spending six to nine months unemployed, the speaker transformed failure into the ProFound Ivy mentoring program by changing his question from what Princeton could give him to what he could give Princeton. Read on to see how this “be the 51” mindset created purpose and opportunity.

Transcript

through our biggest failures sometimes the most amazing opportunities will sprout right before us how many of you in the last six months has had an idea that you would have liked to implement that you did not act on that you wish you would have I have the opportunity to step on the campus of Princeton University the youngest of seven mom went to hi... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Failures can lead to new and unexpected opportunities.
• ⛽ Remembering the sacrifices made by others can fuel passion and motivation.
• 🔓 Changing the question from what can I get to what can I give can unlock doors and opportunities.
• ❓ Embracing a selfless mentality and being the 51 in a community or situation can bring success and fulfillment.
• 🥺 Informing oneself with external knowledge and inspiring oneself from within can lead to personal growth and positive change.
• 🌍 Discovering one's passion and staying true to it can make a difference in one's life and the world.
• 💦 Understanding the "why" behind one's ideas and having a vision can bring passion and purpose to one's work.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can you figure out who you are and what you want in life?

The speaker recommends remembering the people who sacrificed for you and identifying the person or experience behind your “why.” He also suggests asking what you can uniquely give to a community or situation, because that question can connect your personal story with purposeful action.

Q: Why is knowing your “why” important for motivation?

The speaker says people often focus on what they do and how they do it but forget why they are doing it. Remembering the people who support and sacrificed for you can restore the passion and conviction that day-to-day routines may weaken.

Q: How did failure create a new opportunity for the speaker?

After graduating, the speaker was unemployed for six to nine months and questioned why finding a job was so difficult. That painful experience helped him recognize that other student athletes might also need guidance, leading him to create a mentoring program.

Q: What was the ProFound Ivy mentoring program?

ProFound Ivy was a mentoring program for student athletes at Princeton University. It brought students together to discuss networking, professional development, and academic efficiency, and it continued running after the speaker left the campus.

Q: How did the ProFound Ivy program grow?

The group began with eight students and grew to 12, then 25, 40, and 70 students. The university president later emailed the speaker and offered to support the program financially.

Q: What mindset shift changed the speaker’s direction?

He stopped asking, “What can Princeton do for me?” and began asking, “What can I do for Princeton?” He describes this as a shift from focusing on what a community could give him to considering what he could contribute to it.

Q: What does the “51/49” or “be the 51” mentality mean?

The speaker contrasts an even 50/50 interaction with choosing to “be the 51.” For him, 51/49 means entering every community or situation by first asking what he can give.

Q: How did the speaker balance his job with building the mentoring program?

He worked his regular job from 9:00 to 5:00 in Princeton’s athletic department. From 6:00 to 9:00, he developed his own effort to contribute back through the mentoring program, initially without pay from the athletic department.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker recounts personal experiences and the sacrifices made by others that have led to his success and passion for his work.

• He emphasizes the importance of remembering why we do what we do and the people who have sacrificed for us.

• The speaker shares his journey of overcoming failures, changing his perspective, and starting a mentoring program for student athletes.