Why Your High School and College Grades Don’t Matter

Study, study, study. Your parents, teachers and relatives have all told you that you need to study to get good grades right? Of course! This seems like such a basic principle yet it has been contradicted in recent years due to the developing society around business.

When Will I Ever Use This?

I’m sure you’ve asked yourself this question while studying calculus or the growth rate of a lima bean in biology or something along those lines. Will you use that? Maybe; it depends what field you’re going into. I know for a fact I will not be using biology because nothing about the sciences appeals to me. So I am going to stray away from that. What is more important than learning in class materials is your ability to speak to others fluently and empathetically.

How I Learned to Communicate Better

Talk to people. It’s not a big secret. The best way to become more comfortable talking is to communicate on a daily basis. It doesn’t have to be long, intense conversations. Just simply ask how someone is doing or wish them a good day or greet them with a “good morning.” It seems simple and dull but each time you do something that makes you uncomfortable, it causes you to adapt and learn to be more comfortable. You need to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

You need to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

In order to do this, you need to step out of your comfort zone. It goes back to having that few seconds of courage. Take that brief moment to say hello and ask how that person is doing. Progress will come from it whether you succeed or fail.

What Careers Utilize this Concept?

In no way can you become a doctor and get by just communicating. You need to figure out which career path is designed by this concept. For example, a customer service rep has a lot to do with communication skills, as you can imagine. Similarly, marketing and sales also have to do with communicating. There are different ways to communicate when you are in different positions. Realize which careers are right for this skill and which are not.

How Do I Know This is True?

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs weren’t the most intelligent people. For example, in a previous post I spoke of the Founder of The Great Plate. He graduated high school with a 1.2 GPA and is now a very successful entrepreneur with a growing business. In another case, Gary Vaynerchuk shows his report card and it’s loaded with C’s, D’s, and F’s. His company is massively successful.

Don’t get me wrong, if you have the talent and drive to do well in school you should. Just don’t get caught up on a few B’s or C’s because there are so many great things in store for you. You just need to know how to communicate.

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