Watching, Sunday Morning, last week I found Ben Stein’s commentary amusing. Addressing high school seniors on the topic of college acceptance/rejection letters, he cited famous and influential people who didn’t graduate from ivy league schools. He made the case that getting into the “right” school wasn’t as big of a deal as it seemed.
Great advice. Not only for those just starting out in the world, but for all of us as we go through different stages of life.
Frequently, there are turning points when everything seems to hinge on this big decision or that great event. The job interview, the city to buy a house in, whether or not to have a family. Moments when we ponder, weigh the consequences, and obsess about the outcomes. Sometimes, even after a decision has long since come and gone, we continue to wonder “What if?”
In his commentary, Stein points out that although getting into a good college may help you get a leg up, “…it helps a lot more to have good work habits, make a minute-by-minute effort to get along with the people you work with, and (most of all) to harmonize your goals with your talents.”
Rather than worrying about long-term success, in your career or personal life, ask yourself what you did today, yesterday, this week that was in line with your values.
The truth is that the little things we do every day are what truly make us who we are.
