Page 229 - Keys to College Success

WRITE IT Communicate

Emotional intelligence journal: How feelings connect study success. Think about
how you were feeling at times when you were most able to recall and use information in a high-
stress situation—a test, a workplace challenge, a group presentation. What thought, action, or sit-
uation put you in this productive mindset that helped you succeed? Did you go for a run, talk to
1 7 your best friend, take 30 minutes for yourself? Create a list of thoughts or actions you can call on
CHAPTER CHAPTER Real-life writing: Combining class and text notes. Choose a course for which you have a
when you will want the best possible outcome from your studying efforts.

test coming up in the next four weeks. Create a master set of notes for that course that combines
one week’s classes and reading assignments (make sure it is material you need to know for your
test). Your goal is to summarize and connect all the important information covered during the
period.

WORK IT Build Your Brand

Memory and Networking
Your ability to remember people you meet or interact with in the workplace—their names,
what they do, other relevant information about them—is an enormous factor in your career
success.
Consider this scenario: You are introduced to your supervisor’s new boss, someone who could
help you advance in the company, and you both exchange small talk for a few minutes. A week
later you run into him outside the building. What if you greet him by name and ask if his son is
over the case of the flu he had? You have made a good impression that is likely to help you in
the future. What if you call him by the wrong name, realize your mistake, and slink off to work?
You’ve set up a bit of a hurdle for yourself as you try to get ahead.
With what you know about memory strategies and what works for you, set up a system to
record and retain information about people you meet whom you want to remember. For your
system, decide on a tool (address book, set of notecards, electronic organizer, computer file),
what to record (name, phone, email, title, how you met, important details), and how you will
update. Choose a tool that you are most likely to use and that will be easy for you to refer to
and update.

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