Page 353 - Keys To Community College Success

talk risk and reward . . .

Risk asking tough questions to be rewarded with new insights. Use the following ques-
tions to inspire discussion with classmates, either in person or online.
■ As one saying goes, “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Do you agree
that this risk will bring financial reward, or disagree? Support your opinion with
examples.
■ People who work freelance jobs make their own schedules but need to be careful
money managers in order to save, pay for health insurance, and pay taxes. People
who are employed by companies may have less freedom but are more likely to
enjoy benefits such as insurance, savings plans, and having taxes taken out. Which
suits you better?
■ Have you had a job application rejected, failed to get a job after an interview, or been
fired from a job? How did you cope? What reward resulted from your risk taking?
CONSIDER THE CASE: Stephen wasn’t sure that a short-term career solution would
provide stability for his family as effectively as his long-term plan to become a lawyer. If
you knew him, which risk would you advise him to take? Would your advice change if you
were his father? When should you deviate from what you consider to be a rewarding
career plan?

4. Know how to make the most of their abilities. They understand what they do
well and capitalize on those skills and abilities in school and work.
5. Translate thought into action. Not only do they have good ideas; they are able to
turn those ideas into practical actions.
6. Have a product orientation. They want results. They focus on the reward they
are aiming for first, then figure out what risks will get them there.
7. Complete tasks and follow through. With determination, they finish what they
start. They also follow through to make sure loose ends are tied and the goal has
been achieved.
8. Are initiators. They commit to people, projects, and ideas. They risk action rather
than sitting back and waiting for things to happen to them.
9. Are not afraid to fail. Because their risks don’t always bring the rewards they
seek, they often learn from mistakes, build brain power, and enjoy greater success
down the road.
10. Don’t procrastinate. They are aware of the negative effects of putting things off,
and they avoid it. They create schedules that allow them to accomplish what’s
important on time.
11. Accept fair blame. They strike a balance between never accepting blame
and taking the blame for everything. If something is their fault, they accept
responsibility.
12. Reject self-pity. When something goes wrong, they find a way to solve the
problem. They don’t get caught in the energy drain of feeling sorry for
themselves.
13. Are independent. They can work on their own and think for themselves. They
take responsibility for their own schedule and tasks.
14. Seek to surmount personal difficulties. They keep things in perspective, looking for
ways to remedy personal problems and separate them from their professional lives.
15. Focus and concentrate to achieve their goals. They create an environment in which
they can best avoid distraction and they focus steadily on their work. Careers and More

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