As the book name goes, I wish I knew (this book) when I was 20. It was written by Tina Seeling, a professor teaching class about creativity in Stanford. Honestly, it rocks my world. All stories it contains are from the real world, which sets up a perfectly strong persuasion effect. More important, the stories bear inspirational ideas. There are a few points inspiring me a lot that I want to share.
1. Step back; Look at the problem more broadly.
There are 5 dollars for you to make as much as money as possible in 2 hours. What would you do?
Buy something and sell them in higher price or what else? A team thought of asking the companies that are fond of Stanford students to come to view the student’s presentation of this assignment. And even charge them!
Here is the clue: Don’t frame the problem because of 5 dollars. Step back! Carefully consider how you would make money with absolutely nothing at all.
Here is another example. A team set up a stand for airing bicycle tires for 1 dollar, while one-hour distance away, there is a gas station for free to air. Meanwhile, teams talked with people that came to them and they found people spending 1 dollar for convenient service expressed great appreciation.
Accordingly the team changed their strategies- did not request money but donations. Soon their income soared. Step back! Make advantage of people’s thankful heart helps.
Here is the clue: When you don’t ask, but you are given, you may thank the helpers a million and would like to offer a high pay.
2. Write thank-you notes (Strongly recommend reading the reason carefully.).
It suddenly hit me that I do not write thank-you note that much (or express my special thanks to my great helper, but I do show thanks to service people basically every time. Sounds a little wired.).
“Showing appreciation for the things others do for you has a profound effect on how you are perceived! Keep in mind that everything someone does for you have an opportunity cost. That means if someone takes time out of his or her day to attend to you, there is something they haven’t done for themselves of someone else. It is easy to fool yourself into thinking your request is small. They have to stop what they are doing, focus on your request, and take the time to respond. With that in mind, there is never a time when you shouldn’t thank someone for doing something for you. In fact, assume a thank-you note is in order, and look at situations when you don’t send one as the exception. Because so few people actually do this (unfortunately), you will certainly stand out from the crowd. ”
3. How to raise an example?
This is not the point the writer want to make. I just by accidently discovered I could learned from it.
The contents are filled with abundant materials from the real world, as previously mentioned. It makes great sense to quote them in different ways to avoid a bore of repetition. I excerpted a few below.
Echoing this point, Tom Kelly says…
Here’s a powerful example from…
Let me give you one example…
Somebody’s story shows that…
Stan gave his students a case involving a real estate deal that demonstrates this point.
Actually, I could have quoted more, however, I thought of quoting when nearly finishing my reading. What a pity!
4. Be willing to fail.
Failure does shape my confidence. I have even on purpose manufactured slightly embarrassing situations to raise the level of my confidence. Attention! I say slightly, not awfully, so I define myself a big fan of mild failure. Surely, the confidence I attained from these little stacked awkwardness stands me out, maybe, over 50% of my peers, I dare to think.
But this is not enough. Students there are told that it is much better to have a flaming failure than a so-so success. A flaming one? In my experience, I just got one and it was my will to approach to it-choose a male singer’s song in a singing competition in senior high school. The judges are students in my grade. One of male judges laughed at me when I was singing. Every time I came across him or thought of my miserable experience, a blow of discomfort came out. After reading this “failure” part of the book, I see the reason why I frequently feel uncomfortable when taking on challenges. Not enough flaming failures!
Last but not least, write yourself a “disadvantage resume”, including whatever stupid things you have done and what you have learned from them. Looking back your stupid streaks, you may surprise at how big a progress you make and discovery the aspects needing your further adjustment.
5. Never miss an opportunity to be fabulous.
Keep in mind that never miss an opportunity to be fabulous. What is fabulous for? Good? Very good? Exceptionally good? Or perfectly good? The answer from this book is “Being fabulous implies making the decision to go beyond what is expected at all times.”
Go beyond expectations! Usually, our acquaintance will have more expectations on our performance, it is not easy to reach, so I partially interpreted never miss an opportunity to be fabulous among strangers or those who don’t know you that much. This is really a chance to construct your image. As for acquaintance, you must mind their compliment with flying colors.
Frequently and strongly stretch the limits of us is the key of becoming superachivers. But how? When I Wish I Knew When I was 20 is a guidebook for you. Don’t be treated by its name, whatsoever you are 30, 40, and even more, you can read it. Although you may not fond of being a superachiver, stretching yourself out of your comfort zone really adds additive to your life, doesn’t it?