This is How One Test Changed Everything for Me

Most people don’t like taking risks. They like the idea of success and living a meaningful, exciting life. They want to travel the world, start a business, live in a dream home, marry the dream spouse, have a dream job. 

But they only like and entertain the idea. They want the end game, not the risks and sacrifices they have to take to get there. They want easy gains and quick fixes.

But that’s not how life works.

That’s why they remain in the same place, in the same city, in the same job, without growth, development or achieving anything extraordinary, just living a mediocre life.

Don’t be like those people! Here’s why:

Before coming to the US to study, I had to take a test that cost $200+. This test would increase my chances to qualify for a scholarship program to study abroad. 

The scholarship was very competitive. Only a limited number of applicants would qualify for it. 

At the time, I didn’t have much money. 

So $200 was a lot for me to spend on a test. 

Since it wasn’t guaranteed that I would get the scholarship, my mother thought it wasn’t worth it. She told me I shouldn’t waste my money.

The difference between scarcity and abundance mindset.

Simply put, someone with a scarcity mindset thinks “If I spend $200 on this test, I will have $200 less in my pocket!” and that gives the person a negative feeling of lack.

A person with an abundance mindset thinks "If I spend $200 on this test, this will increase my chances of landing the scholarship and I could see the world, travel around, increase my knowledge, and this can change my life forever.”

I would like to say that I live my life with an abundance/plenty mentality.
I feel grateful for what I have in my life,
but I seek good opportunities wherever I find them.
And I snatch them before they disappear forever.
I don’t like to regret not having done my best.

I listened to my intuition, took a leap of faith, paid the $200 and took the test.

I will tell you exactly what happened after that and why you sometimes need to take a risk in order to grow and completely change your life’s direction for the better. But you have to accept one simple fact: there’s no other way around growth and personal development.

You must take risks!

Sometimes, you are one test, one step, one click, one email away from a completely new direction in your life.

One of my favorite quotes in the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is the following:

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting"

I really believe in this quote because sometimes simply anticipating a positive outcome can be more thrilling than the actual event. 

Suppose your dad promised you that he would buy you a brand new smartphone if you get a certain grade on a test.

You get the grade he asked and now, you are so excited to go home and tell your dad the exciting news. You cannot wait to get your brand new phone. 

More excited than actually receiving the gift from your dad.

We have to keep the excitement going.

I took the test and passed. This increased the possibility of getting the scholarship.

I gathered all my documents, paperwork and prepared everything to apply. 

Click after click. Document after document. Day after day. 

I completed the application. Now there was nothing left to do on my part. 

As they say, I did my best and, to God, I left the rest.

Patience pays off.

It was the end of May 2011 when I heard that the names would be announced. I checked the website to see if my name was there in the list. There it was and I could not believe my eyes when I saw my name. 

I was the last one in the list who was granted the scholarship. Literally the last one.
The person below me on the list did not qualify.

I learned two lessons here.

• First, the test that cost me $200 was my ticket to secure the scholarship. It was the door to a whole new beginning for me and for the rest of my life. Because the scholarship was like a competition based on points, like your college GPA, your English proficiency, IELTS or TOEFL score, and other English proficiency tests. So that test that I took boosted my overall score and that’s how I secured my place in the list. It still blows my mind when I think about it. 

• Second, patience is key in every part of life. Sadly, people these days lack patience and expect instant gratification. They want things right away.  Not only that, they want things right away without putting in any effort. 

This is called instant gratification.

The best advice I can give you from years of experience is this:

• Trust your intuition;

• take action and put in the work; 

• and be patient for the outcome.

Live your life while waiting.

It took me one whole year for everything to be completed, applications processed and approved and it was not easy. I faced rejections many times.

So many universities turned down my application.

I didn’t have a credit or debit card to pay for any online fees, which was a huge challenge for me and I was working full time.

I was patient, but I was working on this goal and I was not going to let it go.

Don’t be like those people who are impatiently waiting for an outcome or result and their entire focus is on that. 

Don’t put your life on hold just because you’re waiting for some outcome.

As I am writing this newsletter, I have many goals that I am trying to achieve, but I still try to enjoy the little things around me.

I make my morning coffee and enjoy the taste and smell of it.

I go out and hang out with friends and family.

Yet, I’m working hard to achieve my personal goals.

You have to be patient, but have perseverance to keep going until you reach your destination.

The destination may not be exactly as you expected, but trust me, it will all be worth it.

• You will grow; 

• you will learn about yourself and the world around you;

• you will learn many lessons along the way, which will make it much easier if you ever have to start over again; and

• not to mention all the experience you gain along the way.

It’s worth the sacrifice.

You will probably not know how a decision you make today will shape your life ten years from now. This is called hindsight. You just have to take a leap of faith sometime and see what happens. Just see what happens.

Do not underestimate the power of intuition and instinct. 

If something feels right and you know it is a sound and meaningful decision, do it. You will face challenges, sadness, probably shed some tears, and regret why you made that decision, but trust me it is all worth it.

Santiago in The Alchemist faced many obstacles, challenges, drawbacks, moments of frustration and disappointment. 

He got robbed along the way and lost everything.

This made him regret having followed his dream.

He faced many trials and tribulations along his journey.

But he became stronger, wiser, more confident and more experienced. 

And it all started with deciding to sell his sheep.

For me? It all started with deciding to take that test.

It was not easy and I have sacrificed a lot of in my life
→ time
→ money
→ my comfort
→ distance from loved ones
to achieve my goals.
And without the pain and suffering, it would not be worth it; it would not be meaningful.

Now let me ask you:

• What is something that you are hesitating to go after?

• Does it feel right? 

• Does it make you feel excited about the outcome?

• Will this probably change your life for the better?

If the answers are ‘YES!”, then what is stopping you from taking action? 
Send me an email! I’d love to hear from you.

With love and respect,

౽iyad