THIS is More Important Than Your College Degree (Read This if You Feel Behind in Life)

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” - Albus Dumbledore

While a Harvard degree may be the ultimate career credential, honing your character ethics is like acquiring the magical skills of a Hogwarts graduate—offering an elusive but powerful advantage that sets you apart.

Think of cultivating strong character ethics as learning a spell that empowers you to handle life's complexities.

In a world obsessed with credentials, here’s how you can stand out in a crowd of high achievers:

1. Trust

2. Integrity

3. Patience

Character ethics are the timeless qualities that transcend accolades and titles.

The Unhappy Millionaire

We've all encountered authority figures who exhibit more immaturity than we do – individuals who, consumed by the pursuit of success, neglect the development of their character along the journey.

The celebrity who overdoses.

The CEO with a history of verbal harassment.

The parent who will pay for your therapy but refuses to go themselves.

Inconsistent behavior leads to conflict and lack of trust, both internally and externally.

No one likes that person.

They don’t even like themselves.

The good news?

You can be successful without being a jerk because character ethics are a skill that you can learn.

Keep reading.

Embrace Your True Potential Through Character Ethics

1. Reflect on Your Core Values

I’ve got a personal recommendation…

STOP doing this – prioritizing how your life looks to others and filtering yourself based on whether others will approve or not.

If no one knew what your job title was, what your hobbies were, or could see or hear you doing it, how would you spend your time?

This is your life, your fulfillment, your success, your happiness.

Define those things for yourself.

Build that life.

START asking yourself this – what life would I live if no one else would know?

START believing this – people will benefit more from witnessing you enjoy your life than they will from the comfort they might have felt if you tailored your actions to please them.

Fulfillment is only possible when your actions are lead by your values (not what other people think). 

Later in this letter I'll guide you step-by-step through clarifying what your core values are.

2. Set Clear Boundaries

News flash: boundaries are not for other people – boundaries are for you.

Also, while we’re at it: respect is not earned – it’s taught.

Don’t expect other people to respect you.

Instead, respect yourself enough to maintain your boundaries regardless of what other people do.

At the end of the day you should be asking yourself:

How well did I communicate my boundaries?

How well did I stick to my boundaries?

Those who don’t respect your boundaries don’t respect you. Stand by your boundaries regardless.

3. Practice Self-Awareness

Self-awareness isn’t about finding flaws – it’s about understanding yourself deeply and embracing growth.

They say knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.

So, let’s make room for self-discovery and acceptance.

Hear me out:

What if truly understanding yourself unlocks potential you never knew you had?

Think about it for a second…

How many of your strengths and passions were revealed through self-reflection?

How many of your breakthroughs came from moments of complete honesty with yourself?

Probably more than you realize.

So, with that said, I know you feel like you’ve tried everything to understand and “fix” yourself, but what if this next insight is the key you’ve been waiting for but didn’t even know you needed?

This next realization might shift your perspective completely, paving the way for transformative growth. Your job is to keep exploring, keep reflecting, and keep evolving.

Keep looking within, and you just might find the self-awareness that leads you to a life of authenticity and fulfillment.

4. Seek Feedback and Support

You don’t have to have all the answers.

You don’t have to pretend you’re invincible.

You don’t have to navigate every challenge alone.

Truth be told, there’s incredible strength in asking for help and seeking feedback.

Once you open yourself up to input from others, you unlock new perspectives and solutions you might never have considered.

Understand that you cannot predict or manage every aspect of what will happen.

What you can control is your willingness to learn and grow.

So here’s the secret to leveraging feedback and support: You seek advice, and then...

You take what resonates and use it to strengthen your path forward.
Commit to being open and receptive, even when it’s uncomfortable. This means being willing to listen and adapt, especially when things don't go as planned.

By seeking feedback and support, you ensure that you are constantly evolving and becoming the best version of yourself.

Benefits of Building Your Character

A quick word from the wise to those who don’t think they have time to build their character skills…

When you develop self-trust, integrity, and patience, you’ll 10x your:

1. Fulfillment

2. Productivity

3. Impact on others

There is no faster path to external success than through internal character development.

How to Clarify Your Values (Step-by-Step Journal Prompts)

Clarity creates energy.

It’s only when you’re clear about something that your motivation for action is supercharged.

Rev-up your engines with this step-by-step exercise to help you identify and clarify your core values.

Pro tip: For this to be fun, keep your answers short and sweet. Also, go with your gut (no edits or judgment).

Step 1: Reflect on Experiences

The people, places, activities and things that make you feel strongly (from joy to anger) reveal your values. Journal on the following...

• Describe a moment when you felt the happiest - what value was being honored?

• Describe a moment when you felt the most fulfilled - what specifically contributed to that feeling?

• Describe a situation that made you really angry - what value was being violated?

• Describe a situation that made you feel deeply upset or frustrated - what did you feel was unfair or wrong about it?

• Write down the names of people you admire and respect - what values to they embody?

• Write down activities or topics you are passionate about - what values are you honoring when you engage in these activities?

Some examples...

Happy moment: Completing a marathon - health, commitment.
Angry moment: Witnessing a coworker being treated unfairly - fairness, respect.
Role Model: Nelson Mandela - integrity, courage, commitment to justice.
Passion: Volunteering at a local shelter - helping others, making a difference, community.

Step 2: Prioritize Your Values

Now that you have a list of potential values, it's time to prioritize them.

Combine all the values you identified in the previous steps into a single list. Circle the values that are non-negotiable and draw a line through the ones that are flexible.

Step 3: Define Your Core Values

From your list, select your top 5. 

These will be your core values. Write a short definition or statement for each of your core values based on what they mean to you.

Some examples...

Integrity - Acting in alignment with my principles and values.
Helping Others - Making a positive impact on the lives of others.
Achievement - Striving for personal and professional goals.
Fairness - Ensuring equitable treatment for all.
Justice - Advocating for what is right and fair.

Welcome, First Years

With your values clarified, it’s like you’ve just been “sorted” into a Hogwarts house.

Next, you hone and build the character skills that work like spells to make your life so much easier.

Before we part today, I wanted you to know – your future self called and left this message: 

Thank you.

;)

Jenna