Scott Schimmel: Get Clarity On Who You Are

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Scott Schimmel is the founder and president of YouSchool, a for-profit business focused on making the most significant social impact possible. We do this by helping students discover themselves and build a plan for their future through a learn-by-doing curriculum that enables them to find, define, and unleash their true selves.

YouSchool’s goal is to be a leader in a new kind of education––one that advances the next generation of high school and college students by leaps and bounds. They partner with established schools, organizations and academic initiatives as well as corporations and individuals. And they combine purpose with profits to make a difference in lives, and do so with innovation and a sense of responsibility. YouSchool invites you to find out more about who you are and how you operate.

Favorite Success Quote

“Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.” – Romans 3:15

Key Points

During the interview, Scott laid out several powerful questions about how you can figure out your path and purpose and unlock your inner greatness.

Before you get started with the interview, I recommend that you find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed and pull out a pen and notepad so that you can answer these questions in depth and really get the most out of this interview.

1. Who are you?

I know this might sound like a simple question.

But when was the last time you really sat down and thought about who you are?

I don’t mean who you pretend to be for family and society… I mean who you really are deep down when the lights are off and no one is watching.

What are you biggest dreams and desires?

What makes you tick? What pisses you off? What makes you come alive?

Who are you really?

Until you can answer this question completely and honestly, you will never find true fulfillment.

Until you know on a primal and visceral level who you truly are, you will be living your life in reaction instead of anticipation.

Sit down right now and don’t get up until you have clearly written out the answer to this question.

Who are you?

2. What is the story that you are already telling about your life?

Each of us are on our own journey, our own path, and each of us are telling our own stories with the lives that we are living.

What story are you telling?

What pages are you writing?

Are you on your heroes journey, overcoming obstacles, finding mentors, growing your skills and competence, and pursuing what you love?

Or are you living a mundane and dull life just like everyone else?

Are you telling a story worth writing about?

Take time to answer this question honestly and clearly write out your story… especially if you aren’t proud of the story you have been living so far.

Because once you realize that the story you are living isn’t as inspiring or fulfilling as it should be, you have the power to take the pen and write a new story.

3. What is the trajectory that you’re on?

Based on the trajectory of your life, where do you expect to be in 10 years? 20 Years? 50 years?

What are the habits and routines that you have set for yourself and what are their ramification?

Maybe you aren’t where you want to be right now, but you have taken actions that have put you on the path towards success. Write this down.

Maybe you are comfortable where you are, but you have allowed that comfort to sabotage your growth and limit the potential of your trajectory.

Or maybe you are so far off course that you don’t think you have a trajectory going anywhere except for straight down.

Take some time to right out the trajectory that you see your life one.

Where do you honestly see yourself ending up?

And what can you do to improve this trajectory?

4. If you don’t do anything else or new where will you end up?

If things stay exactly as they are today, if your habits do not change, if your mindset doesn’t improve, and you continue on the path that you are already on… where will you end up?

Have you set yourself up for success?

Have you created habits, mindsets, and accountability systems that will automatically propel you towards success or have you created habits and rituals that will sabotage all of your possibilities?

Be honest here, if you don’t change a darn thing, where will you end up?

Who will you be? What kind of impact will you have? How much money will you have? And how much fulfillment will you experience?

5. What would be the worst case scenario 20 years from now?

Most of us have something that we want to do.

Something deep down that gnaws a hole in our gut and keeps us awake at night.

If you were to take bold action and go for it, what is the worst case scenario 20 years from now?

Not 5 years or even 10 years… but 20 years from now.

If you started that business and it failed, what would that mean for you 20 years from now?

If you asked that girl to marry you and ended up getting a divorce what would it mean 20 years from now?

If you dropped out of college to pursue your passion, what is the worst thing that would happen 20 years from now?

Odds are, the worst case is not as bad as you think, but whatever it is, write it down and figure it out.

Then it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it.