The Academic Hustle. Matthew Pigatt
others. We have our favorites and we have those who irritate us to no end, simply because they’re breathing in the same room as we are. It is neither right nor wrong; it is just the way we are. We determine what is good and what is valuable based upon what we like.
When interacting with a supervisor, professor, or colleague, it is critical to remember that they are just as human as you are. Despite our age differences, we have the same basic desires, which are to feel appreciated and respected. We want what we want. We want what we value. And that is the key to success: give people what they want.
The sum of all these truths is this: If you want to earn money in this world, increase your value in the eyes of the people with money. That is the core of The Academic Hustle. It is a system designed to increase your value in the eyes of the businesses, institutions, and organizations to influence them to hire and award you scholarships.
The Foundation
There is more money in this world than there are people. Although there are millions of ways to make money, not everyone can take advantage of everything. You cannot be everything, however, you can become anything you want. The key to having the ability to make money is focus; identify what it is you truly want, then go from there.
The foundation of The Academic Hustle is in identifying what you want and why you want it. If you want to make sure you get to a specific destination, you must chart a path to get there. It is a very simple concept but too many of us are clueless about what we want out of life, where we want to go, or who we want to become.
We yearn for what we want but rarely take the time to figure out what it really is. Many fear cutting off options that could be profitable. It’s hard for some to make a concrete decision and have tunnel vision on their path. In turn, they miss the countless possibilities that they are unable to see from a distance. It’s time to get focused. Indecision will never attract money or the confidence of those who have it to work with you. This is the first step in The Academic Hustle. We must identify what we want.
Ask yourself: What are your career goals? What type of life do you want to live? What do you want to study in school? How much money do you need to pay for school (be realistic with yourself)? What school do you want to get into? What program do you want to be a part of? Once you know what it is that you want, you can figure out how to make it happen.
Knowing what you want is only half of the equation. There needs to be a strong reason or need to be fulfilled—beyond money—that will motivate you to get it. That deep motivating WHY will push you through all the obstacles that will inevitably cross your path. As a matter of fact, having a strong WHY is all you really need! If you are determined to get what you want no matter what, you will figure out what you must do.
Identifying what you want and why you want it sets the foundation for you to build yourself into who you need to become to get what it is that you want. This is extremely important, so much so that I’m going to say it again – Identifying what you want and why you want it sets the foundation for you to build yourself into who you need to become to get what it is that you want. It narrows your focus and helps you determine what you need to do to become valuable in the eyes of the people who have your money.
Four Pillars
The Four Pillars are your guiding posts. These are the areas you must develop to become a competitive candidate for the opportunities you are going after. In just about every opportunity you pursue, the employers or selection committees are going to examine you in these four areas to determine your value:
1.What do you know? Your Education
2.What have you done? Your Experience
3.What do people say about you? Your Relationships
4.What do you say about yourself? Your Presentation
Your mission is to identify what are the most valuable answers to these questions in the eyes of the selection committee. Once you have the answers to these questions, strategically develop yourself into the ideal candidate in those areas.
As with all things, there is a balancing act. You will be strong in some areas and weak in others. This is a part of being human.
Ensure that your weaknesses are compensated by your strengths. However, this should never take away from the fact that you must do what you must do to mold yourself into the ideal candidate in each of these areas. These are the pillars of your professional life. You must continuously develop in each of these areas. It NEVER stops. There is never a time to go on autopilot with your career. You have to be that person people trust within the industry. This isn’t going to be a problem if you truly love what it is that you do. You must invest time into updating yourself and improving in any area that is a weakness for you.
Two Costs
Once you know what it is that you want and why you want it, then you must invest your time and money into developing the Four Pillars in that area. Nothing will happen unless you invest your time and money into it. Put your money, your time, and yourself out there. When it comes to this, “scared living ain’t living.” It is a thief of time.
Time is of the essence and our most precious resource. It is the only thing that we can never get back or replay. Everyone has the same 24 hours daily. It is what we do with those 24 hours each day that develops us into athletes, professionals, or bums on the street. Your success is based upon how you invest your time. If you are careful about your time and invest it into the Four Pillars of what you want, you will eventually achieve your goal.
Everything costs. As you invest your time, you will inevitably have to manage your costs. Having a sound understanding of the expenses related to your goals and managing your money to make sure you achieve them is critical to success.
If you do not read anything else in this book, know this:
1.Make it your top priority to clearly identify what you want and why you want it.
2.Understand what type of education you need to attain your goals. Strategically pick classes that are interesting, challenging, and will further your goals. Strive to get an A in every class.
3.Get involved on and off campus. Do things that you enjoy and/or will set you up for your next step. Focus on developing an impressive résumé.
4.Be intentional about making great impressions on everyone you meet. Be strategic about cultivating good relationships with people who can help you develop into who and what you want to be, write strong recommendation letters, and who can be a good reference.
5.Tailor how you present yourself as the ideal candidate for every opportunity you go after.
This is the heart and soul of The Academic Hustle. A motto worth remembering is: STRATEGICALLY FOCUS ON WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. If you want to ensure that you are never without opportunities, then continue to develop and always plan your next step.
To get the most out of this book, complete each exercise. They build upon each other, which means they are more effective if completed chronologically. For more insight and resources, check out the website:
Life is not about the quickest speed.
What you achieve
come degree by degree.
And what you get is what you see
in your mind visually
and manifest physically.
If you stick to it sh*t’ll
work out terrifically.
—Dead Prez, “The Game of Life”
Do You Need The Academic Hustle?
As