Do you want to pursue a Ph.D.? Are you hoping to land an interesting and well-paying job? You may be the cleverest person on this planet, but if you fail too many exams, nobody will care whether or not you studied very hard. Unfortunately, in this life, access to future challenges is often limited by judgments on past achievements with past challenges. “If you are so clever, why ain’t you rich?” That’s an old comeback saying, but it could be rephrased into an appropriate question about exams: “If you are so clever, why didn’t you pass the test?” I know very well that these words may sound harsh and unfair-especially so, if you’ve made true efforts in the past without achieving the results you thought you deserved. Believe me, my intention is not at all to hurt you but to wake you up early enough to make a difference in your next exam. In order to stand out in your next exam, you need a roadmap to success, a plan that guides you where you want to go. Therefore, do yourself a favour, sit down and answer the following five questions to yourself before you start studying:

1. What information do I have to master?

2. What skills do I have to master?

3. What is the format of the exam?

4. What does the grading system look like?

5. What is my personal goal?

By answering these questions, you will have a much easier time when you start developing your winning training plan.

Now turning to the big picture of your life.

# Do you really know where you want to go in this life?

# Do you have a vision, a master-plan, for your life?

# Can you summarize your vision, in one minute?

# How do you define success?

# Do you believe in yourself or does that feel strange?

# Do you worry a lot?

First and foremost, you need to know that you can get wherever you want, be whatever you want to be. Second, do not accept limitations that other people place on you-and get rid of limitations you put on yourself! Learn to follow your intuition and define your aspirations. Now, imagine and describe your future in the brightest of colors. Be enthusiastic, be ambitious; aim high, and write it all down-it will happen in your mind, first, but you need to see it to make your plan. Are you still waiting for life to fit perfectly into your current circumstances? Don’t waste your time! Take things into your own hands. From now on, don’t blame other people for your underachievements, missed opportunities, and frustrations. Instead, define what you can be, determine what you can do. . . and DO IT!

I am inviting you to discuss your plans for the future with me as I believe that you can make the difference, however only

IF YOU CHOOSE TO.

Let me be blunt: being successful has nothing to do with destiny, being “lucky” and for sure, it’s not in your genes. It’s a choice!

Have you made your choice yet?

Author Bio: With a background in intellectual property law, Dan Vandon has earned law degrees in several countries, a chore that led to perfecting the tools presented in “Red Rubber Duck’s Learning & Study Skill Guide”. Visit www.redrubberduck.com

Category: Self Help
Keywords: Success, exam, test, coaching, law, master-plan, challenge, university, college