The learning methods and training details of Harvard's top students

Chapter 12 Ambitious Goals Are a Beacon of Learning Success
(Harvard Representative: Zhang Zhaomu) The whole world will give way to a person who is dedicated to his goal.

——Harvard alumnus, writer, and thinker Emerson
【Wonderful Guide】

Biography of Zhang Zhaomu

Zhang Zhaomu was born in an ordinary family, and his parents were only ordinary teachers, but they definitely have their own uniqueness in raising children.Zhang Zhaomu has been smart since he was a child. In 1993, he was admitted to the Law Department of Peking University with an excellent score of 625. He minored in the economic center course at school. In 1997, he was admitted to Harvard University and studied for a master's degree in economics. Scholarships in US dollars and free tuition.After graduation, he chose Solomon Financial Investment Company among many world-renowned large companies that opened the door to him, with an annual salary of 1 US dollars.

【Character Story】

The dream of entering Peking University

When Zhang Zhaomu was in junior high school, his father brought back a commemorative plaque of Peking University from Beijing and gave him to him, hoping that he could also go to Peking University in the future.After Zhang Zhaomu learned about the situation of Peking University, he had a dream of entering Peking University. He seriously wrote "motto-believe that he can succeed" on the back of the Peking University commemorative plaque.

Later, when my father went to Beijing, he brought Zhang Zhaomu with him so that he could see Peking University with his own eyes.Zhang Zhaomu was very touched, and his ambition to be admitted to Peking University became more determined.But the college entrance examination was approaching, and a problem arose: in the final pre-examination, he got No.1 in the class, No.4 in the school, and No.4 in the city. No.2 and No.3 students have already confirmed that they will be recommended to Tsinghua University.School No.1 originally wanted to apply for Peking University, but was afraid of taking risks, so he changed his application again.At this time, Zhang Zhaomu's inner struggle became more intense.His classmates with similar academic performance were recommended to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Nanjing University, and Xi'an Jiaotong University.His mother persuaded him to go to Nanjing University, and if he failed the entrance examination for Peking University, he would not even be able to get into Nanjing University, and he regretted it in the end.

He thought over and over again, and finally became firm: "Mom, don't worry! I think that avoiding risks and being afraid of failure means giving up success. Dare to apply for Peking University itself is a kind of courageous competition... Now is the critical moment. Opportunities are never to be missed, time does not come again, life can have a few fights, I believe in my own strength, and I also have self-knowledge. Everyone is happy if I pass the exam; if I fail the exam, I have no complaints or regrets. Peking University is a well-known university in the whole country and even in the world. That is my dream. If I don’t even have the courage to apply for the exam, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”

In this way, Zhang Zhaomu finally entered Peking University with a score of 625 with a lot of hard work.

【Harvard view】

Ambitious goals are the inexhaustible source of motivation for excellent people
A proverb says: "A definite goal is half the battle." Only when a person has a definite goal, can he have a direction to strive for, and will not lose himself in the execution.A teenager who yearns for excellence must have his own goals, and he will keep moving towards his goals.

Napoleon once crossed the Alps when he led his army to invade other countries.It is said that when overlooking the mountains near and far, Napoleon said passionately to the soldiers: "We have stepped on the whole of Europe!" It is this kind of goal that made Napoleon win many battles in the war.

Ambitious goals are the spiritual pillar and source of motivation for people, which can continuously stimulate people's vitality and keep them eternally youthful.If there is no lofty goal, there will be no confidence in life, no upward motivation, and you can only spend your life in a daze and mediocrity.

A white teacher came to a poor primary school to teach children. What he saw here were fights, brawls, and the indifference and selfishness brought about by poverty.

He felt sorry for these lively and lovely children, and really couldn't bear to see them continue to live in such an environment, so he came up with a wonderful solution.Knowing that people here are very superstitious, he showed children palm reading in class.At first, these children were reluctant to approach the white teacher, but later they couldn't resist their curiosity and wanted to know what kind of character they would become in the future, so the children were willing to accept it.

A black child next to him saw that everyone was about to move, but couldn't hold back himself, and finally stretched out his hand to the white teacher. The white teacher carefully looked at the little black hand, "studied" it for a long time and then Only then said: "You will definitely be the governor of New York State in the future."

"Is this true? I will be a governor?" The black kid couldn't believe his ears.He looked at the teacher suspiciously, but since then he secretly set himself the goal of becoming a governor in his heart.

Since then, the black child has begun to get rid of all kinds of bad habits in himself. Perhaps in his opinion, a real governor should be like this.For a long time, the idea of ​​becoming a governor in his heart has not wavered in the slightest, until he was 51 years old, when he actually ascended to the position of the 53rd governor of New York State.

The story tells us that goals and dreams can transform a person's thinking and affect his actions.

If you expect yourself to be something and get something in your studies, then there will be expectations for yourself in your consciousness, and you will consciously or unconsciously guide your actions according to your own expectations in daily behavior, so that you can work hard. develop in this direction.

[Easy interaction]

1. Please set a goal for your study this semester and write it out.Why should it be formulated in this way?

2. Please make a general goal for your future and write it down.How are you going to achieve it?

【Parent-child total product】

Here are a few key points parents should keep in mind about their children's goals:
1. Encourage children to set goals
On the basis of children's correct understanding of themselves, parents should encourage their children to set their own goals.If the child often talks about his dreams or goals, smart parents should not laugh at the child's dreams, but should encourage the child to speak out, and at the same time guide the child to do it towards his own goal.

For example, if parents want to teach their children to learn scientific knowledge well, they can let their children study two books of scientific knowledge within one year.Of course, it is not necessary to set lofty goals such as scientists and politicians to be meaningful. In fact, there is no distinction between high and low goals. No matter what the child's goal is, as long as the parents are good at guiding it, it is a good goal.

2. Guide children to establish difficult and interesting goals

Parents should guide their children to set their own goals. This goal should not be too low or too high. It should be achievable by the children through hard work.In particular, it is necessary to guide children to establish their own goals of interest. For example, many boys like to play with computers, and parents can guide children to learn English or other computer programs through computers.

3. Teach children to learn to divide the big goal into a series of small goals

Children's goals are often unrealistic, too distant or not easy to achieve. At this time, parents should teach children to divide the goals into small goals, and encourage children to achieve small goals in stages until the big goal is achieved.

In fact, when children set goals, they might as well ask them to set lower requirements to enhance their confidence in winning, and then teach them to work hard to achieve every small goal.For example, if your child's academic performance is not good, you can teach your child to move from failing to passing and then to a higher score. Don't set a high score as a goal all at once.

4. Encourage your child to take the first steps

Everything is difficult at the beginning. When children are doing things, they often talk more and do less.At this time, parents should encourage their children to take the first brave step.No matter how hard that first step is, it is only when the first step is taken that the action can truly begin.

Take the first step with determination, and it is possible to keep taking more steps.

5. Find a role model for children to learn from
A role model is an excellent example in all aspects of study and life.Children always like to compare themselves with excellent people in their studies and life, and hope that they can be like excellent people.Parents can grasp the child's admiration, help the child choose an excellent role model, and let the child use the role model to motivate himself.

6. Teach children to build good self-expectations
When children participate in some challenging activities, such as important exams, before competitions, or when they encounter difficulties in learning, parents should teach their children to remind themselves secretly: calm down, don't be nervous, victory must belong to them.In this way, self-confidence is enhanced, emotions will be calm, impulses can be curbed, and adverse consequences caused by bad emotions can be avoided.

【Harvard view】

Break through self-imposed limitations, and the goddess of luck will eventually favor you

At Harvard, psychologists did an interesting experiment: they put fleas on the table, and when they patted the table, the fleas jumped up immediately, and the jump height was more than 100 times their height, which was the highest jump in the world. animal.

Immediately afterwards, the psychologist covered the cup with a piece of glass, so that every time the flea jumped up, it could not jump out because it hit the glass.Before long, the psychologist removed the glass, and as a result, the fleas no longer wanted to jump.

This is the famous flea experiment!A glass cover has been placed over the subconscious mind, over the mind.The desire and potential for action are stifled by myself!Scientists call this phenomenon "self-limitation."

In real life, the above-mentioned phenomenon of fleas is actually a reflection of the life of many teenagers, that is, encountering some difficulties, receiving some blows, censures, and criticisms from the outside world, they will gradually lose confidence and courage, and even become decadent.

In your usual study, do you often hang these words in your mouth: "I have a bad memory", "I am not good at studying", "I am easily nervous", "I will definitely not be able to do it", "I will definitely fail the exam" Go to Peking University and Tsinghua University"...

Once a "person" is added with the word "mouth", he becomes a "prisoner", completely restraining himself.

Self-limitation is like an inseparable killer. When you want to release your potential, it will come out and shout and make you hold back.Everything can't be brought to the extreme, so cumulatively, your chances of success will get smaller and smaller.

In other words, you can achieve as much as you are ambitious, and you will certainly not achieve anything if you are not ambitious.

In life, how can young friends break the glass cover in their hearts?

1. Raise your own expectations

The great goal of life, just as what you want at the beginning of the book, is achieved by small goals.You already have the ability to set goals by yourself and accomplish them, so what we have to do now is to improve those low goals that we set before, and improve each small goal a little bit, and life will improve a lot !

2. Do your best if you have a wish

When you have a desire, you should put 80.00% of your energy into doing it, instead of thinking too much: "Can I succeed", "I really have no experience before".These thoughts will directly affect your actions, and they are a manifestation of self-limitation.

Make a full plan before doing anything. This plan does not set any restrictions, but imagines a beautiful vision.Any ambitious goal requires detailed and precise planning support.

3. Stop Saying “Impossible”

You who like self-limitation say "impossible" the most. Before doing something, you tell yourself "impossible to complete". the height of.

From now on, don't say "impossible" before doing everything, and do it boldly.Even if you fail, you should feel that you have worked hard and have no regrets. You are much better than those who dare not try and work hard!
4. Act now
Complete a small thing that you think is impossible, such as not smoking for a day, getting up early to watch the sunrise, cooking a big meal for your family, etc. Don't set up obstacles for yourself in advance!Your purpose is to get it done!
[Easy interaction]

1. Teen friends, have you ever had many dreams?What is your dream now?Please write it down and share it!

2. Which dreams do you think are impossible to achieve?Where are the difficulties and problems?Parents and teachers please advise.

【Parent-child total product】

Harvard University has a very famous follow-up survey on the impact of goals on life.The subjects were a group of young people with similar intelligence, educational background, and environmental conditions. After 25 years, we looked at the surveyed people. The results of the survey are as follows:
3% of people with clear and long-term goals: They have hardly changed their life goals in 25 years.They have all worked tirelessly in the same direction, and now, almost all of them have become top successful people in all walks of life.Among them are self-employed entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and social elites.

10% of people with clear but short-term goals: Most of them live in the middle and upper classes of society.Their common feature is that those short-term goals are constantly being achieved, their living conditions are steadily rising, and they have become indispensable professionals in all walks of life.Such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, senior executives, etc.

60% of people with vague goals: Almost all of them live in the middle and lower levels of society. They can live and work stably, but they have no special achievements.

27% of people without goals: Almost all of them live at the bottom of the society, their lives are very unsatisfactory, and they are often unemployed.Relying on social relief, and often complaining about others, society, and the world.

(End of this chapter)