Simply be still.

A common question throughout college (and really all of life we just didn’t know what to call it) is how do we get where we’re going and what’s the most successful path to do whatever it is we set our sights on?

The short answer to this is from the wisdom of Alice’s Chesire Cat: if you don’t know where you want to get to, then it doesn’t much matter which way you’re going. We all want to make an immediate impact and change the world, but it doesn’t really matter at all if we have no idea where that is or by what underlying reason we’re doing it.

Before embarking on your journey to leave your mark and add your own personal value, you should sit down and really know where you want to get to. The main reason for this is that no matter where you are in life we will probably find yourself rushing to the next thing. A less noticeable attribute of this desire is that we find ourselves constantly sitting on the moments in-between; The time in life that is spent between knowing where we are and where we want to get to next.

It’s a beautiful moment that shouldn’t be discounted. However, it is necessary to take the proper time to decide what it is that fits into the plans we try to set out for ourselves.

Strive for excellence through the empowerment of others. One way this happens is through the people we encounter, which is the cornerstone for this goal. People present a vast array of ideas and stories which make the occupation so interesting. The great part about this answer to the Cheshire Cat’s question is that the title could be whatever fits best: CEO, doctor, friend, or philanthropist.

Finally, we should strive to leave a legacy that changed the world for the better, perhaps through social entrepreneurship or some other method. In the end, the goal is that we long for the day when that legacy is forgotten, and the inspiration to change the world in similar ways has been taken up by others who have accomplished amazing things.

By striving for excellence, we are on our way.