Your standard competition for internships boasts a 4.2GPA, volunteering at an animal shelter, and a referral from a distant relative who belonged to the same fraternity as Warren Buffett. Fortunately for you, everyone and their grandma have these 3 things on their resume. They are not your competition.
Your competition is portfolio builders and overcomers of adversity.
Trying things to discover what you like, but aren’t necessarily good at, sets the stage for a lifetime of fulfillment, contribution, happiness… and your portfolio. Start this now, and you can erase any mistakes you have made during college with your GPA and lack of participation. If you have those covered, you will be unstoppable with a portfolio. Even more, portfolios may also be the most fun and rewarding thing you do in college. Design and create an infographic about something silly. Build a website for your favorite coffee shop. Launch a Kickstarter for an animal shelter. It doesn’t matter what it is, just that you tried. Make it fun and make it yours.
In truth, portfolio builders get 2nd place for greatest competition. People with demonstrated perseverance win 1st place. Swam your way out of communist Hungary? Hired. Came out of poverty and drug-addicted parents to be the first in college? Hired. Studied your way out of rural China? Hired.
So what can you do now to stand out among a sea of do-gooders & perfectionists, portfolio-builders & self-starters, and people who have triumphed over adversity? There’s only so much time in the day… become the last two. They will be the best investment you ever make in yourself and make the biggest difference for your life.
3 Must-Haves for Your Portfolio
1) Business. Launch a mini-side business. Freelance or selling goods on Etsy, you have, are, or produce what people will pay money for. If business isn’t for you, now you’ll know. Either way, you had the courage, self-motivation, and tenacity to try. It doesn’t matter what job you are looking for, these 3 character traits are rare and will always be in high demand. Having trouble thinking of businesses? Start with these freelance skills, by Rich20Something.
2) Writing. Read nonfiction. Start a blog. Write nonfiction. The 10,000 hour rule definitely applies here, so start now. See criticism as feedback, because this is how you will grow and learn from your mentors, managers, and peers. Be bold with your opinions without relying on shock-value or vulgarity. If it scares you to publish it, publish it. While you’re at it, learn SEO and guest post on other blogs.
3) Coding. Push through CodeAcademy and a few others, even if you don’t like it at first. Persevere until you build something cool that you can show off in your portfolio, and then choose whether to continue or not. Regardless of the job, you’ll stand out. In addition, coding is becoming more common to kids (now a requirement in the UK), so this is how you will compete later on.
Manufactured Hardship
A scene in Modern Family perfectly depicts what manufactured hardship looks like. While applying for college, the daughter complains about her sheltered and uninteresting life. So, her mother abandons her daughter on top of a mountain. Find your way home. You’ll be fine. And daughter was pissed. She got home covered in scrapes, bruises, and dirt. But she survived. She persevered. This is manufactured hardship.
How can you do this in your own life? Take risks and fail. If it makes your stomach float and gut flinch, but seeing yourself on the other side makes your heart sing, DO IT. Public speaking, blogging, dancing, solo travel, whatever it is that has you jealous of or intimidated by other people. They only seem like risks. They’re not. Get really clear on what is the worst that could happen. More often than not, you are afraid of looking bad. Unless your situation is dire, the likelihood of you ending up homeless is low. Fearlessness is a muscle. Exercise it now. Spoiler: you will discover something fun that you can get paid to do.
You’ll probably have to give up TV and Pinterest for this. But willpower is a muscle too.
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” – Earl Nightingale.
My life is for hacking everything that matters to me, especially myself. My blog broadcasts my learnings about success, happiness, competition, learning, personal growth & development, business, and relationships. I propose experiments and post notes from very cool and useful events and workshops.