H-LSAMP Scholars Senior Memory Book Volume 2016-2017 | Page 23

Advice
The following is taken from a book that I found the most useful during my time at
Texas State. I highly recommend it! (The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking by
Burger and Starbird)
1. Ground your thinking: Understand deeply
a. Understand simple things deeply, master the basics
b. Clear the clutter-seek the essential
c. See what’s there and see what’s missing
2. Ignite insights through mistakes: Fail to succeed
a. Welcome accidental missteps
b. Find the right question to the wrong answer
c. Failing by intent
3. Create questions out of thin air: Be your own Socrates
a. Teach to learn
b. Improve the question
4. See the flow of ideas: Look back, look forward
a. Understand current ideas through the flow of ideas
b. Create new ideas from old ones
c. Iterate ideas. Think back. Extend ideas.
5. Engage change: Transform yourself
a. Remember that learning is a lifelong journey; thus each of us remains
a work-in-progress—always evolving, ever changing.
Adding on, the following are to conquer the challenges you encounter.
Cultivate a burning desire for success.
Decide you’ll do whatever it takes to get the results you desire.
Apply overwhelming force.
Learn from the experts.
Seek a thorough theoretical understanding.
Apply your understanding.
Teach others what you have learned.
And last but not least, become one with coffee!