Listen up and listen good, because I’m about to give you some no-nonsense, straight-talking advice on how to be successful academically. I’ve taught high school and college math students for almost 25 years. What you may not know is that I also teach personal finance. In fact, I am a Dave Ramsey Master Financial Coach.
I’m here to tell you that winning in the academic game takes discipline, focus, and a game plan much the same as our financial game plan.
Do these seven things, and you’ll improve your chances of academic success, tremendously.
1. Set goals and make a plan.
Just like with your finances, you need to know where you’re headed academically. Set clear, specific goals for what you want to achieve, whether it’s getting straight A’s, graduating with honors, or earning a scholarship. Then, make a plan to achieve those goals. Break them down into smaller manageable steps, so you can create a timeline to keep yourself on track. I am a huge advocate of calendar blocking.
2. Budget your time wisely.
Time is a more precious than money. You can make more money, but you can’t make more time. So you need to use your time wisely. Too many students are living like they have multiple lives. Just like with budgeting your money, you also need to create a plan to budget your academic time. Schedule your study time, assignments, and other academic tasks just like you would for a written budget for your expenses. Stick to your schedule and avoid wasting time on distractions like social media or excessive leisure activities.
We all have the same 24 hours a day. If you don’t have time, I’m gonna say you don’t have priorities. You may be wasting your time doing too many unproductive activities. If you’re not doing a sport, not eating dinner with family, not out for a mind-clearing jog, not sleeping… what on God’s green earth are you doing with your time?
Seriously, you have far more time than you realize.
3. Live within your means.
In the academic world, “living below your means” implies not procrastinating and avoiding cramming for exams or rushing through assignments at the last minute. You must plan ahead, stay organized, and manage your time effectively to avoid unnecessary stress and the ensuing poor academic performance. You can’t out-earn a bad budget, you can’t out exercise a bad diet, and you can’t outperform your level of mastery. You will not rise to the occasion of tests, but fall to the level of your habits.
Living within your means also entails listening to what teachers and guidance counselors suggest. If they don’t think you’re ready for a challenging course, then listen to them. I have been teaching longer than any of my students have been living, so I see things that they don’t.
4. Invest in yourself.
Just like with your finances, you need to invest in yourself academically. You will need to actively participate in discussions, and seek help when needed. I have daily office hours every morning before school, and I can count on no fingers how many students have taken advantage of my free expert time. You do not have the right to complain about a class if you haven’t used all your available resources.
And it’s not just the office hours. I have also set up online classes on Khan Academy for all my classes. You may need to invest more time in NHS peer tutoring and other academic support services (like after-school Academic Improvement) to improve your skills and knowledge.
5. Stay disciplined and avoid timesucks.
Timesucks (e.g., scrolling TikTok) contributes to your falling behind on assignments, neglecting to study, or not meeting deadlines. Avoid procrastination and stay disciplined in your academic pursuits. Stay focused, avoid distractions, and make sacrifices if necessary to achieve your academic goals.
As I mentioned above, you have the same 24 hours a day as your high-performing classmates. The timesuck of things like social media is contributing to bad your grades.
6. Surround yourself with the right influences.
Just like in the grown-up world of personal finances, the people you surround yourself with can have a big impact on your academic success. You will be the average of your five closest friends. Broke people hang out with other broke people, and bad students hang out with other bad students. My grandma said it like this, “Birds of a feather flock together.”
So surround yourself with classmates who are focused and motivated, form study groups (e.g., cheesecake parties), and seek out mentors or advisors who can provide guidance and support.
You won’t soar like an eagle if you keep running with turkeys. Make sure your peer group is well-regarded and embrace them if they accept you.
7. Continuously learn and grow.
Tony Robbins talks about CANI – Constant And Never-ending Improvement. The Japanese call it kaizen. Whatever you call it, just know that education is a lifelong journey, not a destination. To be successful, you must never stop learning. Poke the box. Stay curious. Seek out opportunities to expand your knowledge. Stay up-to-date with the latest developments in your studies. Read books. Listen to podcasts. Help others.
And keep investing in your education even after you graduate. You have to not only stay ahead in your academics but also ahead of your future professional pursuits.
Going to school is practice for going to work one day. In real life, your employer and customers won’t allow you to be missing for too long.
So there you have it. Follow these seven principles with the same intensity you would with your finance goals, and you’ll be on your way to academic success. Remember, it takes discipline, focus, and a game plan to win in the academic game, just like it takes to win with money. Show the world what you’re made of! You’ve got this!
Until next time…
Remember that success is a planned event. Believe in yourself.
Pay attention, do the work, and don’t give up!
And don’t forget to check out my new YouTube channel!
www.youtube.com/@PlanetNumeracy
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