What does it take to be successful at MIT Sloan? No, it's not the ability to discount cash flows in your sleep or have a ground breaking idea on where the price of gold is going in the next year. It's perseverance and a positive outlook. I would guess that by the nature of being here, most of the people at Sloan are used to being one of the best and at a minimum well above average. The reality is at Sloan, you are going to fail. Not at everything, but at something. Whether it is in recruiting, classes, or another area, odds are you are going to come up short at some point. Do yourself a favor and accept that reality now. However, my advice is to take this in stride. On multiple occasions in the last week something I valued has not gone my way. For example, at a recent recruiting event I found out they were not hiring for the division I wanted to work in. I'll admit I was frustrated and almost left without networking. Then I happened to speak with a company representative who told me about another division. The more I talked to her, the more I became excited about that area and realized it could possibly be better than what I originally wanted to do.
I have only been here a little over a month, but I have found the key to success so far is to just keep on trying and have a positive attitude. I liken it to swimming in the ocean on a rough day. The waves just keep on coming and as soon as you catch your breath and recover from one, the next one comes crashing on you. Over time though, it makes you a stronger swimmer.
On a related note, don't take yourself too seriously. I have found the best remedy to disappointment is to put on some throw-back music and rock out. Usually it is the point where I catch my aviator sunglasses wearing reflection bustin' a move to Journey in the mirror, that I forget the past and focus on the next challenge. Don't.... Stop.... Be-liev-ing!!!
