Through hours of emails and borderline harassment I pursued and interviewed nineteen incredible role models who have pushed through obstacles of their own to realize their dreams.
They come from a wide range of life experiences, activities, and careers including millionaires and billionaires, world champions, and creative geniuses. There are people who have made a name for themselves in their respective fields of endeavor—inventors, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, military leaders, sports stars, social media influencers, and entertainment celebrities. It is an excellent representation of success stories across the board. I also researched other renowned individuals to derive lessons from their struggles and triumphs.
I’ve crystallized it all into a plan for teenagers to follow, a way to construct a mindset for winning in all aspects of life. I call it the TICK TOCK Formula. First, because such a name is a reminder that the clock is ticking and that we shouldn’t waste time before making impactful life changes. Second, because it’s a useful acronym, as well as a play on the phenomenon that is TikTok, to remember the key elements in this formula. TikTok, as I will discuss, is a pernicious influence that dominates the lives of many young people.
The TICK TOCK acronym stands for:
T—Taming Social Media
I—Inspiring Hard Work
C—Choosing a Mentor
K—Knowing Your Struggles
T—Treasure Beyond Money
O—Owning Your Passion
C—Cultivating Relationships
K—Knowledge Expansion