A student’s take on Tim Ferriss’ Fear Setting Exercise (Part 1)

Ahnaf Aaqif
Aug 25, 2017 · 4 min read

This was one of my favourite TED Talks by a man I admire a lot. He’s a genius at marketing and is highly skilled in several different categories.

I listen to his podcast on a weekly basis and I have started reading his books. 10/10 would recommend.

In this first part of this series, I discuss how to be a better student and an effective AIESEC member among other things.

The Question

  1. Define your nightmare, the absolute worst the could happen if you did what you are considering. What doubt, fears and “what-ifs” pop up as you consider the big changes you can — or need- to make? Envision them in painstaking detail. Would it be the end of your life? What would be the permanent impact, if any, on a scale of 1–10? Are these things really permanent? How likely do you think it is that they would actually happen?
  2. What steps could you take to repair the damage or get things back on the upswing, even if temporarily? Chances are, it’s easier than you imagine. How could you get things under control?

The thoughts

1) UNSW Data Science Student

Worst case: Taking 4 ambitious courses and doing terribly in any one of them. The hardwork of my both my parents is being flushed down the toilet.

I will question my intelligence? Is this what I should be doing? Is this what I am destined for?

Long nights, assignments weekly. Imagine, I miss one? Get 0/10 on the quiz. I haven’t been to a single consultation.

Would it be the end of my life? No, but it make the rest of the course a lot shittier.

Impact:
a ) Today: 7/10
b ) 10 Years from now: 2/10

How can I work on this?

  1. Never ever miss a lecture. I can’t sleep without catching up on lectures.
  2. So no to that Friday night dinner.
  3. Be the last person to leave the Library.
  4. Stop mindless browing Quora or Medium in class.
  5. Always, always stay ahead of the problem sets and assignments. I must start them on the day I find out about them without a doubt.
  6. I have to go to two consultations every week, put it in your schedule. Get on a first name basis with the professor. = Most difficult and challenging but trust me. BE KNOWN.
  7. Do not give up on your assignments. Preplan for deadlines and set everything 1 day before. Tune out the world and get everything done one day before.
  8. Do the excerises for Maths on time. Get help from Levi every Friday.
  9. Attend AI/Data Science Workshops. Engage with post-graduates and professors working in your field.

2. Director of Customer Service at AIESEC

Worst case: I try hard every week but I still have 0 approves.

Impact:
a ) Today: 7/10
b ) 10 Years from now: 5/10

How can I work on this?

  1. Curate a list of projects that you can immediately recommend off the bat. Make these projects your go to and make your EPs apply on the spot.
  2. Contact LC’s of those projects and get on a first name basis with them.
  3. Don’t sell the unsellable, don’t convince why volunteering/internship is important. Just tell them how AIESEC is an ideal experience for the trip they want to go to.
  4. Ask for feedback from your EPs later on. How did the CC go? What could I have done better?
  5. Ask around for projects and stuff. Find out projects that every member has already gone to. Look for new ones. Keep speaking to other LC’s.
  6. Learn the art of closing. Close, close, close. Streamline the CC process by hosting 2–3 Peeps at once. Saves a fuckton of time.
  7. Create a new document for your peeps. A profile of sorts = Put CVs and preferences in there.
  8. AIESEC FB Group that you’re incharge of. Do good things. Speak the truth. Become friends. Give them value. Give, give, give and then ask.
  9. How can I ask an AIESEC member give them value? Fixing their CV for free, finding projects for free and show them how they can effectively find projects for themselves. Jab, jab, jab and then ask.

3. Internships

Worst case: I just flat out get rejected from every company I apply to.

Impact:
a ) Today: 4/10
b ) 10 Years from now: 1/10

How can I work on this?

  1. Just maintain an above credit average WAM.
  2. Update your resume. Get it checked by your local careers staff.
  3. Stay involved with extra-cirricular activities.
  4. Networking events, personal connections, LinkedIn Profile. Sort that shit out.
  5. Seek out opportunities. You need to keep your eyes and ears open at all times. You never know where your next chance might come from.
  6. Actually reach out to your connections. Make it known to everyone that you are looking for an internship;
  7. Prepare, prepare, prepare. Study companies that you get selected into. Tailor the cover letter and CV accordingly.
  8. Learn to work on delivering interviews. Do as many mock interviews as possible.
  9. Follow up post interviews with a thank you letter.

Moving on

Those are three key aspects I have decided to tackle in this article. There is more to come in tomorrow’s article.

)

Ahnaf Aaqif

Written by

Lover of books, writing and people. A 19 year old trying to make an impact by taking action everyday.

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