The Importance of Goals

by Fred Stuvek Jr. | Jan 8, 2019

One of the common traits among successful individuals, in whatever walk of life, is goal setting. They have a vision, set goals, and take action. These goals give direction, provide a sense of purpose, and motivate. Setting these goals also creates a bias toward action, rather than continuing your daily routine on autopilot and reverting to your default mode. The body follows the mind, and as you think about these goals your physical side comes into play, putting you in an action mode.

You may not realize it but you set goals for yourself each and every day. These goals may not be written but are there nonetheless as you tick them off one by one. What you need to do is to take this one step further and create a roadmap for yourself on those steps you need to take to turn a vision into reality. Remember, everything may seem the same today, but a year from now, everything will be different.

Not having goals is somewhat analogous to getting into a car and not having a destination.   If you do not have any goals any road will take you there so figure out what it is you want to achieve, why is important to you, and what you are going to do. Remember to document your goals as studies have shown that individuals who write down their goals have significantly increased prospects for success than those who do not. What gets written down gets measured and the process of measuring yourself and the progress towards the goals focuses your energy in a positive direction with your new priorities.

With the new year upon us many of you will make one or more resolutions or goals. While these goals are made with the best of intentions, many of you will fail to keep them, with the majority of them falling by the wayside within a month or two. This is not unfamiliar to you as many of you have either had a similar experience or know someone who has set goals for the new year but after a while watched them drift away. Remember, if nothing changes, nothing changes. Vow to yourself to make the necessary changes. Adopt good habits, be disciplined, and take the necessary steps. The time is now.

How Will I Do In School?

by Fred Stuvek Jr. | Oct 10, 2018

I asked a number of teens and young adults to pick one thing that was on their mind which was a source of concern to them. The response from the majority of those was “How Will I Do in School” hence the topic.

The classes you will take can be broken down into two categories. The first category is classes you want to take and will find interesting. The second category are those classes you do not want to take and do not find interesting. Unfortunately, there are always some core courses that you must take that fall into this category. Harkening back to my time at the Naval Academy Electrical Engineering and Differential Equations most definitely fall into the second category.

Rest assured that if you develop good study habits and follow some simple, time tested techniques you absolutely have the potential to do well, but that is up to you. Here are some suggestions.

• Go to class – While this may sound like a marvelous statement of the obvious you need to show up at every class. In addition to showing up and being seen you will not miss out on classroom lectures, discussions, and key points your instructor makes which may very likely end up on a test. Also, be seen and be heard.
• Learn how you learn best – Everyone has a style of learning that best suits them. Some people are more auditory, some are more visual, and some learn best through being actively engaged in a project, such as a study group. They all have their place and you will learn through a combination of these methods. Hone in on what works best for you.
• Leverage technology – Advances in technology give you an array of choices to help facilitate your learning. Sonocent note taker and SMART pens are just two examples. Later you can type up your notes which presents the information again and provides further reinforcement and retention.
• Develop good study habits – Rather than cramming, set aside a time every day, that works best for you and study some of the material. You have to be disciplined about this and ditch the excuses for not studying. Studying spread out over time combined with repetition helps convert the information from your short-term to long-term memory and is more effective than cramming. Pick a place that is conducive to studying, devoid of distractions.
• Ask for help – Do not be afraid to ask for help – either other students, a study group, or the instructor. Talk to your instructor to let him or her know you are struggling. Your instructor is there to teach and will work with you. Anytime I was struggling with a class I got actively involved with the instructor and in each instance things worked out.

Also, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Ensure you exercise, which helps stimulate learning; and get adequate amounts of sleep since you will learn and test better if you are rested versus being sleep deprived.

Be Strong. Be Accountable. Never Complain

by Fred Stuvek Jr. | Oct 10, 2018

The Navy Football Brotherhood is an organization with a mission “To serve and support the United States Naval Academy Football Program and players of the past, present, and future. The “Brotherhood” is the brainchild of Frank Schenk, a fellow alumni and former football player. One of Frank’s claims to fame is kicking the winning field goal at an Army – Navy game with seconds remaining. Frank has done an outstanding job and puts a lot of time and effort into the Brotherhood organization. He keeps everyone informed and has developed a number of initiatives which support the overall mission. At each home game in Annapolis there is a Brotherhood tent where former football players gather and get acquainted or re-acquainted.

Frank sends out updates on a regular basis, especially during the season. In these updates he also honors Our Fallen Brothers, former football players who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. On a recent update he mentioned Brendan Looney, which brought back memories of the book “Brothers Forever”. The book is the story of two Naval Academy graduates, Brendan Looney and Travis Manion, who were classmates and close friends. Brendan was a Navy SEAL and Travis was in the Marines. They both ended up making the ultimate sacrifice for their country and their enduring bond continues to this day as they are both buried side by side in Arlington National Cemetery. If you haven’t read the book I recommend it.

Brendan’s core values, and a saying he lived by was “Be Strong. Be Accountable. Never Complain”. He further outlined how to live by this code:

• Make good choices
• Create goals
• Give 110%
• Work hard in school, on the field, and in the workplace
• Help and encourage others
• Give back to community
• Working always to better yourself, means giving your best self to others. No regrets.

There is a great deal of wisdom in his advice. In whatever you strive to do keep these words in mind. Your mindset is your primary weapon, so Be Strong both mentally and physically. Be Accountable since once you commit you are responsible to yourself. Never Complain and do something about it, find a way or make one.