Introduction

Some people seem to spend their lives stumbling from one emergency to the next. They barely accomplish what it takes to get by. Other people fearlessly take on huge challenges and solve them in a seemingly effortless manner.

Why are some people so successful at life and business? Do they have the perfect set of genes for taking risks and achieving great things? Perhaps they were just lucky. Perhaps they just have the courage to make a difference and skills to empower others to do the same.

The Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence has based its approach to education on the hands-on experience of successful entrepreneurs. In a world full of underachievers, these are the men and women with the attitudes, habits and instincts it takes to accomplish great things.

In a short pamphlet entitled “A Message to Garcia” Acton describes their approach to life, business and education. By taking a moment to read this, you will be inspired to take actionable steps that will change your life and empower you to build a world-class organization.

Scenario

Joe Smith opened his mailbox to reveal a thick envelope with the name and logo of his high school on top. Immediately, he knew what he was holding: the invitation to his 20 year college reunion. 

This overwhelmed him with emotion. Where had the time gone?

It felt like Joe had been and landed here. He still had big dreams, like starting a business that helped other people or learning a foreign language. Why had he never done those things?

Joe realized how desperately he wanted life to be different. He wanted to be a brave decisive person. But where could he start?

Then he remembered that he had once been friends with the class president, now a successful CEO. Maybe Joe could get some advice on how to achieve his long dormant goals. 

He fingered the RSVP card for his reunion. Going might be embarrassing. It might also be the chance to have a life-changing conversation.

Was he brave enough to go? 

Instructions

1. Write down your dreams.
   Block out some time for dreaming. You might want to go somewhere quiet, like a cabin in the woods, or your backyard around sunrise. Take a notebook and try to write down every dream you have ever had. This might include your dream job when you were a kid, an idea for a business or the plot for a novel. Write down everything that comes to mind. There are no bad dreams.
2. Read “A Message to Garcia.”
   This can be found at http://www.actonmba.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/messagetogarcia.pdf. Highlight any meaningful or surprising ideas you encounter. Write down any questions, disagreements or ideas that you have.
3. Identify and learn from role models.
   – Name the traits that make Colonel Andrew Rowan a role model for decisive individual action. Consider what other admirable traits he possesses.
   – Research role models whom you don’t know personally. Read a biography or speak with someone who knows them. Keep an inventory of the traits you admire in these men and women.
   – Identify role models whom you know or who live near you. Find one who is available to meet you for lunch or coffee. Research as much as you can about their career and their current business. Ask them about their life and what makes them successful. Keep an inventory of their traits you want to emulate.
4. Mind the gap.
   Identify at least five characteristics that you see in Rowan and your role models.  Pick one characteristic that you would like to embody. What is the gap between your current behavior and the behavior of your role model? You can bridge this gap! Create a plan for practicing this characteristic over the next three months.Your plan should include the following:
   -Name of Characteristic
   – Description of characteristic (in your own words)
   – Example of characteristic
   -The answer to the question “how would my life be different if I embodied this characteristic?”
   – A plan for practicing this characteristic in daily life for three months.
5. Name your long term goal.
   Looking back at the list of dreams from #1, choose one long term goal. A proper goal should include the following elements.
   Specific – A clearly identifiable achievement.
   Measurable – Includes quantifiable elements.
   Attainable – Is physically possible for you to achieve within the restraints of your life.
   Relevant – Achieving this goal will help you progress toward becoming more of the person you hope to be.
   Time-bound – This goal can be accomplished by a specific date.Collect feedback on this goal from role model as well as your friends and family. Having the courage to tell others about your dream is an important step towards achieving your goal!
6. Take the first step quickly.
   Achieving your long term goal will be include many steps. Often goals are never achieved because people are afraid to take the first step. Don’t let that be you. Identify one step you can take quickly, then go for it!
7. Answer the reflection questions.

Reflection Questions

1. What is one dream that you have forgotten? What has kept you from achieving it?
2. What is a characteristic you see in Rowan and your role models that you struggle with? How will your life be different when you master this trait?
3. Some day you will be the role model! What advice might the future version of you give the person you are today?

The post Curriculum — “A Letter to Garcia” appeared first on Chris Morton | Wordsmith.

There are 3,944 different colleges in the United States! How do you choose where to go? You start by researching schools. As you learn about them, you will see some things you like, and some things you do not like.

The following exercise will help you discover different tools for learning about colleges.

1. Visit at least two of these three websites: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search, http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator, and http://www.youniversitytv.com.
2. Make a list of different categories the sites use to organize the schools. Some might include location, cost or size. You should be able to list at least five different categories.
3. Reflect on what you have learned. Did you know how challenging it would be to choose a college? Which category is most significant to you?
4. Share what you’ve learned with a parent, teacher or friend.

The post Curriculum: Identifying the Options After College appeared first on Chris Morton | Wordsmith.