Take the Path Less Traveled to Unlock Your Full PotentialDetermine what success means to you - then tailor your course to get there.

As a teenager, I was one of those annoying students who would wait until the day before an exam tostudy, then cram for six hours straight. I sawgood gradesas something I knew I could get, but they held little value for me.

But in my final year of high school, I decided to prove the nay-sayers wrong. I studied like I never had before and graduated in the top three of my school. I had succeeded. But by whose measure ofsuccess?

Now as an entrepreneur, I ask myself that same question. What does success look like to me — and is there an unusual but better path that'll take me there?

Let your goals dictate your actions — not the crowd

There are1 million fewer students at collegein the U.S. than there were in 2019. But this number gives me more hope than anxiety.

I dropped out of大学twice. A love for technology led me to studying IT, then graphic design and then film. The business world and the prospect ofinnovationwere calling to me. Would a diploma hanging on the wall really help me get there?

Don't get me wrong, there are definitely upsides to college. Crucial learning for professions like medicine or law, for example. The chance to meet people from all walks of life. But when it came to business, reading from a textbook wasn't going to get me to where I wanted to be.

Knowing whatyour version of successlooks like is more important than what it looks like to the rest of the world. As you continue down your entrepreneurial path, put every decision you make to the test: Does this follow myvalues, or the world's?

If you're unsure whether your current path is the right one, there are a couple of important ways to evaluate. Let's see how takingthe path less traveledcan move you in the right direction.

Related:Does an MBA Make You a Better Entrepreneur?

Know your learning style

I was studying IT at an Australian university (my first kick at the can) when the host family I was living with showed me their new DSLR camera. I had zero idea how to use it, but the manual didn't really engage me. Instead, I took the camera down to the lake every day and practiced using it. I watched YouTube videos. Talked to people I met about photography. Instead of just learning how to use a camera, I was actively learning how to be a photographer.

Eventually, that story played out again in San Francisco. I studied film there for a year, and while the practical sessions satisfied, the theories and classroom time lost my interest. The majority of my learning as an entrepreneur actually came from shadowing and speaking with tech executives.

Here's the thing. There's no right or wrong answer. Some thrive in a classroom, othersdrop out, and some dismiss the idea altogether.

The more you learn, the more impactful your actions can be. But learning takes many different forms. If a particular learning method leaves you dragging your feet, don't force yourself. Try something new. There are evenquizzes to help determine your unique learning style.

Business books leave me sleepy, but a YouTube video that relates the same content? I'm all ears. Reflect on past learning experiences, as well as school, and ask yourself: When did I learn the most?

Related:What Type of Learner Are You? (Infographic)

Get work experience (even if it's not in your intended field)

After I left college, I ended up living in a building that was full ofinnovatorsand entrepreneurs. I would chat casually to big tech executives, shadow them in meetings, even intern with some of them. And I always credit those experiences with where I am now.

If you're done with school (and you aren't looking to join a profession like medicine or law), find a position at a local company in an industry you like. Even if it's as an intern for a bit.Joining a professional communitycan further that experience, allowing you to connect with people in a chosen industry in a more social format — it's like college without the classroom. Your job title doesn't matter, but the hands-on experience and insight into what working in that industry looks like do.

Related:5 Ways Varied Job Experience Helps Your Career

没有人18岁时知道他或她的future holds. It's about exploration, and sometimes taking the path less traveled can give you the biggest adventure and reward.