Through my extracurricular activities and work experiences, I make it big effort to abide by three rules.

Take risks – I learned early about wanting and needing take risks. Many times, taking risks resulted in failure. But, from each experience, I always ask myself: why did the risk fail, what I should have done to better the result, and also recognize the circumstances leading up to the failure so I would know how to avoid it next time. More than anything, through these exercises, I learn to take smarter risks – evaluating the cost/benefit of each decision I make. Sounds pretty logical, right? The upside in risk taking? Risks presented new opportunities that I otherwise wouldn’t have ever experienced. You learn something new, you meet someone willing to help you, you discover opportunities, and/or you learn that you’re more capable than what you originally thought. The list goes on. Without risk, you truly don’t know your limits. Without limits, you don’t know what you can accomplish.

Ask questions, be curious, stay hungry – I’m still working on this. I’ve never had the problem to be curious and be passionate about my work. But, sometimes, I’m reluctant to ask questions if I feel they are too elementary and I may come off as incompetent. The more I give in effort, the more I realise how willing those are willing to teach and answer my questions.

Build your toolbox – I feel we sometimes lose sight of this necessary rule. that you can control (luck aside) is the ability to constantly add to your personal toolbox. Challenge the status quo is extremely tough when we’re taught to be stay within status quo. But, taking risks begets taking more risks. And if you are true to the two other lessons, risks and experience, in turn, will lead to success.

We have all the tools, resources, and freedom to become more than status quo. Sometimes, we just need to remind ourselves of it.