This Weekend: The Best of the Best on Full Display 👀

If I were to quantify this weekend's events with one word, I'd land on the word "grit." Whether at the Olympics or the Super Bowl, the talent on display didn't just land there; it journeyed there. Each person in attendance has their own unique story that got them on the world stage of greatness, but the thread between each athlete is so common, even stating it evokes yawns. You know what those words are, right? Grit, perseverance, sacrifice, dedication, fortitude, moxie, spirit, spunk, tenacity, toughness, even luck! If you squint just a little, you'll find these are the same character traits found within those admitted students accepted into the best colleges in the nation.

Am I overstating? Well, I don't think so. The competition to get into those highly selective colleges is just as competitive as making an Olympic team (maybe even more so!). There may be something missing in today's teens. I hope I'm wrong. My observations tell me there's a whole heck of a lot of wishing going on these days, but not much working for it. Why should there be? Making money as an Instagram Influencer seems to be all play and no work. Passive Income is a buzzword I don't know many business owners experience, but the claim is still all over the Internet. No one wants to think of the labor pains; people just want to coo over the baby after it's been cleaned and bundled up.

When I work with teens who truly have a chance at admission to highly selective colleges, I see self-starters, follow-throughers, and changemakers. I see them stepping out and finding out more about what makes them curious. They not only think deeply, but they also act on exploring what they love even more. Today's college admissions are not looking for students who dip their toes in many pools; they're looking for divers. Those who go deep into the end of one pool, those who want to go even deeper, still.

So, are you a toe-tipper or a diver? I think there might be a good way of finding out. Over the last several weeks, a vast region of the country has experienced unusually cold, deep-freeze temperatures. For many, many students, that meant days off from school, calamity days. I mean, it wasn't just one day, but several! Ask yourself: how did you spend those days? Examine your answer, and that's where you might get a glimpse if you're up to the challenge of a top-notch university or college. If your answer encompasses sleeping in until 2:00, playing video games, or "hanging out with friends" the ENTIRE time, maybe you need to reexamine the plan ~ you might be "wishing" more than you are "doing." Olympic athletes and Super Bowl contenders didn't get to where they are by wishing it into existence. I mean, I believe in manifestation as much as the next person, but there comes a point where you have to do something - A LOT of something! Grit, discipline, perseverance, all of it is a product of the task that comes out organically. Figure out what your "something" is, then take the plunge. Perhaps your path to higher education isn't at the pinnacle level? That's okay, too! Success isn't always determined by where you go to school. There are so many colleges out there that will fit you perfectly; you just have to know yourself first, then accept who you are today.

If you'd like to learn more about whether you have what it takes to be a competitive applicant at a highly selective college, I invite you to register for my Masterclass in March. Click here for registration details. Thanks!