If I Was A College Student Again, I’d Do THIS! 👨🏻‍💻 | Ishan Sharma

Ishan Sharma

23 Sept 202411:49

Summary

TLDRThe video emphasizes how college can be a pivotal time in one's life, encouraging students to focus on productive habits, choosing the right academic path, and surrounding themselves with ambitious peers. It highlights key skills like coding, communication, sales, content creation, and understanding human behavior as essential to success in 2024. The speaker stresses the importance of combining multiple skills to stand out and also underscores the value of maintaining good health. The video concludes by recommending a platform that helps students choose the right college and program.

Takeaways

📚 College is a foundational period in life that shapes your habits, thoughts, and beliefs.
👥 The people you surround yourself with in college will greatly influence your mindset and future goals.
🎓 Choosing a branch of study you're passionate about is more important than picking a prestigious college.
⚖️ The 'forbidden triangle' of sleep, academics, and college life means you can’t fully excel in all three simultaneously.
👩‍🏫 Spending time with seniors provides valuable insight into mistakes to avoid and what's important long-term.
💻 Skill development is more important than degrees; focus on coding, communication, sales, content creation, and understanding human behavior.
🗣 Communication is a highly underrated skill; mastering it can greatly enhance your personal and professional opportunities.
💼 Sales skills are essential, from pitching yourself to negotiating salaries and closing deals.
📝 Creating engaging content is crucial in the age of social media and AI, even if you're not an influencer.
💪 Health and fitness are essential to maintaining energy and longevity, and surrounding yourself with health-conscious people will positively influence your lifestyle.

Q & A

What is the main advice the speaker gives about making the most out of college?
-The speaker emphasizes that college is a foundational period of life, and who you spend time with, along with the habits and skills you develop, will shape your future. It's important to focus on productive activities rather than partying or wasting time.
Why does the speaker recommend choosing a branch of study over the reputation of the college?
-The speaker advises choosing a branch you are genuinely interested in because it will be the subject you study intensely for the next four years. It's important to enjoy and feel passionate about what you’re learning, as it will consume most of your time.
What is the 'forbidden triangle' the speaker refers to in college life?
-The 'forbidden triangle' refers to the idea that you cannot master sleep, college life, and academics all at the same time. You will likely need to sacrifice one to succeed in the other two.
Why does the speaker encourage college students to spend time with seniors?
-The speaker recommends building friendships with seniors because they offer perspective on what mistakes to avoid and what to focus on. Learning from their experiences can help avoid common pitfalls.
What are the five essential skills every college student should learn according to the speaker?
-The five essential skills are coding, content creation, communication, sales, and understanding human behavior. These skills are vital for future success and are more important than just attending lectures.
Why is communication considered a crucial skill for college students?
-The speaker believes communication is underrated but essential for articulating thoughts and debating ideas. Effective communication can significantly improve how others perceive you, making you more impactful in both professional and personal settings.
How does the speaker define the importance of learning sales skills?
-Sales skills are important because they allow you to influence and persuade others, whether it's negotiating a salary, onboarding freelance clients, or simply pitching yourself effectively. Having a strong 'one-minute pitch' is critical for success.
Why does the speaker emphasize combining multiple skills to stand out?
-The speaker encourages students to be 'paradoxes' by combining unrelated skills, like coding and marketing, to create something unique. This ability to integrate different talents sets individuals apart in the job market.
What is the importance of health according to the speaker?
-The speaker stresses that health is fundamental, recommending regular exercise, a balanced diet, and hydration. Many people focus on learning and skills but neglect their physical well-being, which can negatively impact energy levels and productivity.
What role does human behavior play in succeeding in the future, as explained by the speaker?
-Understanding human behavior is key to success because it helps you anticipate what people want, how much they are willing to pay, and when they need something. Observing and understanding people allows you to create products or services that meet market needs.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 College Life: Make or Break

The first paragraph discusses the two types of college students: those who focus on learning, skills, and internships, and those who prioritize partying. It emphasizes that college is a foundational period that shapes habits, beliefs, and outlook on life. The choice of college and the major is crucial, and students should prioritize their field of interest over just getting into a prestigious college. The paragraph also introduces the 'forbidden triangle' concept, where students must balance sleep, academics, and college life, but mastering all three is challenging. The speaker credits spending time with seniors as a key strategy for gaining perspective and making better long-term decisions.

05:03

💼 Essential Skills to Win in 2024

The second paragraph shifts to essential skills that every college student must learn to succeed in 2024. It argues that skills matter more than degrees and emphasizes five core skills: coding, communication, sales, content creation, and understanding human behavior. Coding is essential for building and scaling ideas, while communication is highlighted as a crucial yet often overlooked skill. Sales skills help students sell themselves, secure jobs, and negotiate effectively. Content creation is important for engaging audiences in a digital world, and understanding human behavior helps in creating products people want. The paragraph also stresses the power of combining multiple skills to stand out in a competitive world.

10:05

💪 The Importance of Health and Habits

The third paragraph focuses on health, explaining that good habits and physical fitness are essential for long-term success. Many people neglect their health, leading to issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart problems, which are becoming increasingly common in younger populations. The speaker advises maintaining a balanced diet, avoiding unhealthy foods, and incorporating simple activities like daily walks. Surrounding oneself with health-conscious people can help reinforce positive habits. The speaker concludes by summarizing the three key points for college students to stay ahead: making wise decisions, learning essential skills, and focusing on health.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Make It or Break It

This concept highlights that college is a critical period in life where habits, thoughts, and beliefs are formed. The narrator emphasizes the importance of spending time wisely, as it can shape one's future success or lead to failure. The phrase signifies that the choices made during college will have a lasting impact on one's life.

💡Forbidden Triangle

The 'Forbidden Triangle' refers to a common saying in college life, which involves balancing sleep, academics, and social life. The idea is that students can excel in two of these areas but will likely have to sacrifice the third. This concept is used to illustrate the trade-offs students face when managing their time in college.

💡Skills Over Degree

The video emphasizes that in today’s world, skills are more valuable than the degree itself. This is especially true in the context of hiring, where the ability to demonstrate skills such as coding, communication, and sales is more important than academic qualifications. It reflects the shift in focus from traditional education to practical, applicable skills in the job market.

💡Communication

The narrator stresses the importance of communication as an underrated skill in college. Being able to articulate thoughts clearly and debate ideas is described as essential for success. This is tied to building confidence and making a strong impression in both personal and professional settings.

💡Sales

Sales is identified as a crucial skill for college students. It goes beyond selling products and includes the ability to sell oneself, whether in job interviews, freelance gigs, or salary negotiations. The narrator argues that many students lack confidence in this area and need to develop a concise and compelling self-pitch.

💡Content Creation

Content creation is described as a valuable skill, especially in the digital age. The narrator views it as a key differentiator, with the ability to create engaging content on platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram being crucial for standing out. Content is likened to oil in today’s world and a diamond for the future.

💡Human Behavior

Understanding human behavior is framed as essential for success in business and life. Observing people’s needs, desires, and behaviors enables one to create products or services that are in demand. This skill is tied to entrepreneurship, as seen in the example of Mark Zuckerberg’s success due to his deep understanding of psychology.

💡Paradox

Being a 'paradox' means combining multiple, seemingly unrelated skills to create a unique and powerful skill set. The video encourages students to stand out by mastering different fields, like coding and sales, or content creation and software development, to set themselves apart from others who specialize in just one area.

💡Health and Fitness

The video underscores the importance of maintaining physical health alongside academic and career achievements. The narrator advises students to engage in daily physical activity, drink enough water, and eat a protein-rich diet. It’s a reminder that success is not just about skills and knowledge but also about sustaining energy and well-being.

💡Surroundings

The narrator highlights how one's surroundings, including the people they associate with, significantly influence behavior and habits. Hanging out with motivated and health-conscious individuals is likely to lead to positive lifestyle changes. This concept is used to stress the importance of choosing one's company wisely during college.

Highlights

The time spent in college is foundational for developing your habits, thoughts, and worldview, depending on the people you surround yourself with.

Choosing the right branch or major is critical, as it will define what you will be studying for the next four years, more important than the prestige of the college.

The 'forbidden triangle' of college life suggests you cannot master sleep, academics, and social life all at once—one must always be compromised.

Spending time with seniors can offer valuable insights and perspectives on avoiding common mistakes and focusing on what truly matters in the long run.

Learning to code is one of the five essential skills every college student should master in order to build and launch ideas from scratch.

Communication is an underrated yet essential skill, with the ability to articulate ideas well being crucial for standing out in professional environments.

Sales skills are vital for selling yourself, securing freelance clients, negotiating salaries, and even building confidence in presenting your personal brand.

Content creation is described as 'the oil of today but the diamond of tomorrow,' making it crucial for students to learn how to create engaging digital content.

Understanding human behavior and psychology is essential for creating successful products and services by tapping into what people need and desire.

Being a 'living paradox,' by combining multiple seemingly unrelated skills (e.g., coding and communication), is key to standing out from the competition.

Health should never be neglected, and simple daily habits like walking, drinking water, and avoiding unhealthy food can drastically improve overall well-being.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of your environment—if you surround yourself with people who have healthy habits, you’re more likely to develop them as well.

Skills such as coding, content creation, sales, communication, and understanding human behavior are highlighted as crucial for thriving in 2024 and beyond.

Creating a 'one-minute pitch' about who you are and what value you bring is a must-have skill for job interviews and networking.

College students should focus less on lectures and degrees and more on learning skills that will be applicable in real-world scenarios, especially coding and communication.

Steve Jobs’ quote on health reminds listeners that while focusing on intellectual and professional growth, they should not forget the importance of physical health.