Humility (and finding success on the FE Exam)

Humility (and finding success on the FE Exam)

Humility.

It’s meta, but after a decade working with engineers at all stages of life, I have seen it as one of the most consistent traits of those who have found success on the FE Exam.

Admittedly, it’s a double edged sword with real benefits in one sense –

And imaginary, yet paralyzing, downsides on the other.

Let’s get in to it.

As engineers, it’s in our DNA to “figure it out”.

Often times, just the thought of asking for help cripples us with fear that others are going to realize we actually don’t have it all figured out.

But let’s be real…

No one does.

Despite what it may seem like on the surface, everyone is trying to make the best out of the cards they were dealt.

Often times, we are operating at the edge of chaos and uncertainty.

We are trying to align the pieces the best we are able while hiding behind a facade of “I’m doing just fine”.

Reality is, most aren’t – and that’s OK.

For better or worse, humility can facilitate growth…

Or it can debilitate progress.

It can energize us to push forward towards loftier goals…

Or it could sap our energy and leave us in a gray state of mediocrity.

So what’s this have to do with success on the FE Exam?

Everything.

We are constantly bouncing up against the threshold of what humility will do for us.

On one side we recede, defining humility as a weakness –

Doubt, self-deprecation, and anxiety manifest and increasingly establish themselves in such dense ways that we end up living a life of “what if”.

On the other side we receive, basking in the positive attributes of accepting reinforcement.

Humbling ourselves in seeking guidance from others isn’t a weakness.

It’s a move that shows that we aren’t only passionate about our dreams and aspirations, but that we are humble enough to admit we need support along the way.

With a heart of humility, we open our lives up to the benefits of wisdom.

We open our lives up to the lessons learned from those that have gone before us.

Society wants to condition us to believe that living with humility is weak.

Even more so, society wants us to believe that humility is a vulnerability that will only expose us to the evil ways of others.

That’s nonsense.

Living in a cocoon will get us nowhere fast.

So today I ask you to do just one thing:

Be more gracious with yourself.

Understand our natural bend is to escape humility, to put up a front that we’ve got it all handled.

Open yourself up.

Be OK with not knowing everything right now and look to others who are willing and ready to make your dreams a reality.

You work hard.

You deserve it.

Is this the year you pass the FE Exam?

It can be – but the action lies with you.

If I offered to personally walk you through a program we developed that has helped even those with the deepest of doubts prepare for and pass the FE Exam, would you take it?

If so, click here to start your 7 day trial with Prepineer and see just how possible passing can be for you too.