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Dropout University

Dropout University

by Josh Krivanek

Self-Improvement

Season 1

S1E10: Why Morals Can't be Taught

Over the years, school systems have taken on more and more responsibility for life education: ya know the stuff they don't put in textbooks. But no matter how hard they try, there's one thing schools will never be able to teach: morals. In this episode, I want to explain why there are not enough philosophy books in the world for you to define a formula for values like happiness and greatness. As you'll hear in the episode, there are no wrong answers to this one.

S1E9: Frequent Failure Miles

In school, there are no positive failures. Especially if you're like me and you're used to hyper-competitive academic environments. At some point, the avoidance of failure morphs into a fear of failure. Through many failures of my own, I've started to learn that failure itself hardly bothers me. But the shame I feel every time I fail? Well, that's enough to keep me from trying anything new ever again. Tune in this week to hear how I'm using failure to work through my fears.

S1E8: The Power of One

Which is greater, 1 or 1oo? By the simple principles of numbers taught to us in school, we naturally come to value larger as better. The same can be said for the audience we have. The more followers, the more subscribers, the more eyes we have watching us makes us more of a success. In this episode, I'll explain why realizing how small we are can be the biggest relief.

S1E7: You Have to Go to Know

I would be lying if I told you school alone caused my anxiety, but there's no question that it gave my anxiety a place to thrive. Running deadlines, applications, standardized tests, and all the other things that I was told all "good students" were constantly preparing for. Check out this week's episode for my short, simple strategy for those anxious moments when you know exactly what you need to do, but feel stuck in place just thinking about it.

S1E6: Improbable Over Practical

School teaches us to think within the bounds of practicality. From a young age, we're taught imagining and dreaming larger-than-life scenarios is okay, but has no use in the "real world." This week I draw from one of my favorite Disney movies, Up, to explain why sometimes we have to prioritize the improbable over the practical if we want to live without regret.

S1E5: You Already Made It

One thing I learned in school for sure was: it's not good unless someone else says so. That's right, I'm talking about grades. Internally, I began to transfer this feeling to everything I put effort to in life - it only mattered if someone else says so. This mantra left me feeling like success didn't come from any achievement in of itself, but the recognition that came along with it. Take a listen to find out why I've learned (and am still learning) true success comes the moment we recognize embracing our story is the greatest success we'll ever have.

S1E4: Count the Cost

Short-term costs, long-term costs, fixed costs, and variable costs. All topics that will not be covered in this episode. The single greatest cost we experience on our day to day is not related to money at all, actually. It's our energy. Check out this episode as I discuss how to evaluate where all your energy is going.

S1E3: The Center

What happens if you just work out your arms and legs a bunch and never make your core stronger? This episode has a first hand account from 15-year old me. But the bigger point is, what happens when you constantly focus on the outside, and forget about your center? Check out this episode for some insight and tips on tuning out the noise around you so you can start living for you.

S1E2: Do the Hard Things First

When I was in school, teachers always told me to do the easy problems first. This way I would get some momentum and that "easiness" would carry me through the hard problems. Check out this episode to find out why that approach didn't help me make progress on anything other than homework.

S1E1: Be Honest with Yourself

It's easy to tell ourselves we're happy. In fact, other people seem to like us more when we always seem happy. I'm here to say it's okay not to be...but if you want to change that, you're going to have to be brutally honest with yourself.

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