An Important Lesson From College That You Won’t Find in a Classroom

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy!” – Dale Carnegie

Intro from Martin: The following is a guest post from my new friend and new blogger, Dave.

Dave writes to us about taking action and following up on ideas. As you may know by now, if there’s one thing that offends me the most, it’s not taking action. I hate discussing ideas for hours. I hate chatting about useless plans. I love to take action and make things happen.

I recently wrestled in a pro wrestling match with only three months of training. Was I ready? Hell no. You’ll never be 100% ready for anything. You always need to take action though — or you can sit in your parent’s basement watching adult movies.

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The most important lesson I learned in college didn’t come from a classroom.

One night, after a few drinks with a buddy of mine, we had a “brilliant” idea for a business. This wasn’t the first time I had heard an off-the-cuff idea for a business or project. So, we had fun kicking the idea around and then went back to the dorms. I thought that would be the end of it.

The next day, my buddy got in touch with me and wanted to start the planning for the business idea we had discussed.

What?

He was actually expecting to follow through?

This idea was just some ridiculous drunk chatter, right? Apparently, he had other ideas.

So, I actually took a moment to think back on the idea – this time keeping in mind that we might actually pursue it. The more I thought about it, the more I liked it.

Within a week, we were discussing strategy, setting up meetings with possible project mentors and getting started on a business plan.

In the end, the idea failed.

We were very close to landing a huge client, but the stars didn’t align and we missed out on the opportunity due to some factors that were out of our control. However, we did gain some great experience. I learned about entrepreneurship, forming an LLC, and creating a business plan.

However, the most important lesson of all:

Take action.

We’ve all had ideas pop up, whether they be after a late night of drinking, lunch with a buddy, or just thinking about a problem by yourself. Don’t take those ideas lightly. Take action towards making them real. Right away!

Now, I’m not saying that every idea is worth spending all of your time and energy on. The first step in taking action is to consider whether the idea is worthy of the next step. If the answer is yes or even maybe, then research it more. Treat it as though you plan on following all the way through with it until you find that the next step is no longer worth it.

Too many great ideas are brushed aside without a second thought. The time to start realizing your ideas, plans, and dreams, is now.

The ideas don’t have to be big business ideas either. My blog at The New York Budget is dedicated to ideas for saving money and living well. Martin here at Studenomics posts great ideas all the time. But all of those ideas that can help you better your life are worthless if you don’t take action.

As an easy first step, I have a challenge for you. Find one article here on Studenomics or over at The New York Budget that you can start implementing in your life today – right now.

As the great hockey player, Wayne Gretzky said, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

What shots are you going to take?

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.” — Steve Jobs