MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Mindset

Intrinsic Motivation

Write down one assignment today and add “because I want to grow as a founder” to reconnect with purpose.

Link one current assignment to your values—why does this matter to you beyond just passing the course?

Block ten minutes to work on a task that excites you—focus only on the joy of learning, not outcomes.

Start your day by asking: “What would make today meaningful for my growth, not just productive?”

Keep a “why I study entrepreneurship” note visible—anchor tasks to your deeper purpose and vision.

Say no to one task that drains energy and doesn’t align with your purpose for studying entrepreneurship.

Journal about the last time you lost track of time working on a startup idea—what made it fulfilling inside?

Reflect on which class activities feel most joyful—how could you bring more of that energy into your week?

Explore how your early interests still shape your drive to study entrepreneurship—what themes persist?

Write about a time you felt proud of your effort more than results—what did it show about your drive?

Identify when external pressure distracted you from intrinsic motivation—how can you guard against it?

List three values guiding your studies—how do they show up in this week’s choices?

Spend one hour this week on a “passion project” idea—track how it energizes your learning.

Share what drives you internally with peers—invite them to share their motivations too.

Choose one study task and focus only on enjoyment and learning, not grades or recognition.

Rework a routine task to include your strengths or personal interest—make it yours.

Speak up for a value-driven change in class—even if unpopular—let purpose guide your voice.

Declutter your to-do list—keep only what connects to purpose, curiosity, or impact.

Ask a peer what they see as your deeper “why” for studying entrepreneurship—does it match what you feel?

Share your core motivation with a mentor—ask if your current studies reflect that drive.

Ask a peer to observe when you seem most energized—what moments make you “light up”?

Discuss with a peer what motivates you both—what’s different, what overlaps, what does it unlock?

Ask a classmate when they’ve seen you most alive in your studies—what were you doing and why?

Reflect with a peer or mentor on when you worked hardest without needing recognition.

Shift “I have to study” to “I choose to study because…” and finish the sentence with your why.

Recast frustration as a signal: “What value feels violated, and how can I realign?”

Replace “I must finish this” with “I want to grow through this”—link tasks to deeper purpose.

When motivation dips, ask: “What deeper reason brought me into this program?”

Change “This is boring” to “What part of this could I make engaging or creative?”

Reframe ambition as alignment: “What am I building that reflects who I want to become?”

Track which study activities energize or drain you—does the pattern match what you truly care about?

Observe your energy across different courses—where does attention naturally sharpen and flow?

Notice when praise or incentives sway choices—are you staying close to your internal compass?

Notice how you feel after helping a peer unprompted—what inner driver fueled that effort?

Watch yourself under pressure—do you cling to purpose or drift into autopilot habits?

Track the “why” behind your yeses this week—values, guilt, curiosity, or obligation?

Extrinsic Motivation

List one type of recognition that excites you—remind yourself of it before tackling a tough academic task.

Share a small academic win with your professor—notice how acknowledgment builds focus and motivation.

Create a simple reward system for finishing study tasks—tie completion to a break or something enjoyable.

Add a visible progress tracker for a semester project—watching progress builds commitment and drive.

Share one current academic goal with a peer—let accountability help strengthen your commitment.

Choose one task to finish before lunch and reward yourself with a short walk or refreshing break.

Reflect on how course recognition affects you—what motivates more: grades, praise, or visibility?

Write about a time external motivation (grades, awards) helped you persist—what sustained you then?

Explore when you depended too much on external praise—how did that influence your academic choices?

Journal about how financial rewards (scholarships, prizes) affect your choices—do they align with your values?

Think back to when you last received recognition in class—what impact did it have on your focus?

Reflect on your current performance metrics (grades, rankings)—are they motivating or distracting?

Share progress on a tough project with a professor—let visibility fuel your follow-through.

Compete with yourself using a measurable study target—hit one number or milestone today.

Set a small reward for hitting a weekly project target—make it tangible and enjoyable.

Publicly commit to a deliverable in class—use accountability to push consistency.

Try a gamified study tool with streaks—notice how it shapes your consistency.

Ask your professor for feedback on one thing done well—notice how it affects your focus.

Ask classmates what kind of recognition motivates them—compare it to what drives you.

Invite peers to share how they like acknowledgment—adjust your praise style accordingly.

Ask a classmate when they’ve seen you most motivated—was it linked to reward, praise, or visibility?

Reflect with a peer on what incentives keep you engaged—what patterns sustain your focus?

Share how external rewards helped you achieve something—ask what success means for them.

Ask for feedback on how you chase rewards—do peers see healthy drive or over-reliance?

Reframe grades or awards as signals of value, not ego—“This shows what others see as impactful.”

Shift “I just want recognition” to “I want to be seen for contribution”—clarify feedback that helps.

Change “This isn’t worth it” to “What external driver would make this meaningful for me?”

Recast scholarship or prize goals as freedom to grow—link numbers to outcomes that matter.

Reframe visibility in class as influence, not vanity—ask: “What do I want to be known for?”

See deadlines as tools for urgency—clarity for action, not just pressure.

Track when external rewards help or hurt effort—where’s the threshold where motivation flips?

Notice what types of praise land best—public, private, outcome-based, or effort-based recognition?

Notice how competition affects your behavior—does it energize effort or distract you from purpose?

Watch your response to being overlooked in class—what beliefs and habits kick in immediately?

Observe when you push hardest—what external factor is usually present at those times?

Track motivation on days with versus without feedback—how strong is the recognition effect?

No Fear

Name one small risk you’ve avoided in class—take the first tiny step toward doing it today.

Name one uncertain assignment you’ve put off—note what you can control and take one step toward it.

Message a peer with constructive feedback or encouragement—expect nothing back and treat the act as a win.

Say out loud: “Failure is feedback, not identity”—repeat whenever hesitation shows up before a new task.

Say aloud: “Uncertainty is possibility”—repeat when you feel tempted to delay starting an unfamiliar task.

Say aloud: “A no is not the end”—repeat it before pitching ideas, asking for help, or seeking resources.

Share one past academic failure and reflect on how it helped your growth as a future entrepreneur.

Schedule ten minutes to explore a topic you don’t understand—lean into curiosity instead of avoidance.

Share your opinion once in a seminar—even if risky, practice speaking with clarity and composure.

Reframe a current course task as an experiment—success means learning, not perfection.

Ask one curious question during your next lecture—even if unsure, practice engaging with curiosity.

Make one simple request you’ve delayed—ask for guidance, time, or visibility for your idea.

Post a sticky note with: “What if I try—and learn?” near your desk as a reminder when hesitation comes.

Identify a small unclear decision today—make it quickly and treat it as a test, not a dangerous trap.

Write down your toughest rejection so far—note what happened next and what growth it triggered.

Lower the stakes: complete a task badly on purpose—use it as practice to overcome perfectionism.

Change your desktop background to a quote about exploring uncertainty—keep discomfort visible.

Add a sticky note that says: “Rejection is redirection”—place it where hesitation often shows up.

Journal about a time you failed on an assignment—what story did you tell yourself, and how could you rewrite it?

Journal about a time you acted despite not knowing—what happened, and how did it shape your learning?

Reflect on your earliest memory of rejection—how has it shaped how you now approach pitching or asking?

Reflect on where your fear of failure comes from—whose voice or past experience shaped that belief?

Reflect on what the unknown triggers in you—loss of control, embarrassment, or curiosity?

Journal about a time you were rejected for a role or project—how did you frame it afterward?

Identify how fear of failure shows in your body—what cues appear before you stall or hesitate?

Write about a time when not knowing a topic led to growth—how did the experience unfold?

Explore what you fear most about rejection—loss of respect, disconnection, or embarrassment?

Think of a founder who embraces failure—how do they frame it differently than you usually do?

Explore your decision-making style—do you delay until certain, or test ideas with partial clarity?

Think of a peer who handles rejection well—what do they believe that steadies them?

Write about a success that came only after a mistake—what did that failure unlock for you?

Reflect on the cost of waiting for certainty—what opportunities did hesitation block?

Reflect on when you rejected yourself by not trying—what might have changed if you had acted?

List three chances you missed because you feared failing—what would you do differently now?

List three areas in your studies where ambiguity is present—how are you managing each one?

List three things you avoided recently fearing rejection—what if you did just one of them now?

Volunteer for something uncertain this week—speak, pitch, or present without knowing the outcome.

Make one decision in class without full info—trust instincts and note the outcome.

Pitch a startup idea even if it may not land—observe how it’s received and how you respond.

Share a past failure publicly in class or online—frame it as a growth moment, not weakness.

Join a project outside your expertise—embrace the discomfort of learning in real time.

Ask for something you want but usually fear—resources, mentoring, or project exposure.

Submit something before it feels perfect—value contribution over flawless polish.

Start an idea without knowing the full path—begin now and adjust along the way.

Apply for a student role or competition you doubt—focus on courage to try, not certainty.

Ask a challenging question during lecture—even if it feels risky, speak up once.

Try solving a problem without full research—use small iterations to build clarity.

Message someone you admire in the field—acknowledge their impact, even if no reply comes.

Choose to act even when only 80% ready—observe what happens when you move before clarity.

Share publicly that you’re testing a new idea—own the uncertainty and model courage.

Volunteer to go first in a class activity—step into visibility before you feel ready.

Share early work with a mentor—show progress, not perfection, and invite feedback.

Ask a peer to give you a stretch task—accept it without overpreparing.

Share a personal insight in class—model vulnerability and observe the reaction.

Ask a peer to share a time they failed and learned—what changed in their mindset afterward?

Ask a peer how they navigate uncertainty in projects—what do they tell themselves when clarity is missing?

Ask a classmate: “How do you experience me when I hesitate to speak up in discussions?”

Invite feedback on something you hesitate to share—notice how reactions differ from your fear.

Share an uncertain decision you’re facing in class—ask a peer how they’d approach it.

Discuss with a peer how rejection has shaped your growth—compare stories and lessons.

Share a failure story in class—ask how others might have handled it differently.

Reflect with a peer on how uncertainty feels—compare emotional and behavioral responses.

Ask a founder you admire how they handle rejection—what mindset keeps them moving?

Ask someone how fear of failure shaped their path—what advice would they give their younger self?

Invite feedback on how you show up in ambiguity—do others see confidence or avoidance?

Ask for feedback after making a bold request—did they notice any hesitation in you?

Ask a peer how they know fear of failure is holding them back—compare to your own cues.

Ask someone to share when uncertainty grew into success—what did they learn?

Share a rejection story with peers—normalize it and invite others to contribute.

Ask a peer how they think you handle risk—do they notice fear you don’t see?

Share how you react when plans change—ask a peer if they’ve spotted that pattern in you.

Ask a peer: “What’s something you wish I did more often?”—listen fully without defending.

Reframe “I’ll fail this pitch” as “I’m practicing courage”—focus on effort, not outcome.

Reframe “I don’t know” as “I’m learning”—lean into discovery instead of fearing the gap.

Reframe “They’ll say no” as “This is practice in courage”—treat the ask itself as the win.

Replace “What if I fail?” with “What might I learn if I try?”—focus on discovery.

Change “This is unclear” to “This is open space for discovery”—explore with curiosity.

Replace “I might look foolish” with “Trying is how I learn”—shift attention to growth.

View failure as iteration, not endpoint—what would a founder test differently here?

Turn “There’s no roadmap” into “This is a chance to design my own path.”

View rejection not as failure but as filtering—each no brings you closer to the right fit.

Instead of “This must go right,” say: “I’ll adjust based on what happens”—focus on flexibility.

Recast confusion as curiosity—what’s one question you could ask instead of staying silent?

Instead of “What if they don’t like it?” say: “What if this helps one person grow?”

Recast fear as readiness training—each try makes you more resilient.

View unpredictability as agility training—each unknown builds flexibility.

Recast rejection as feedback, not identity—what can you learn to adjust next time?

Reframe high standards as motivation to improve—learning over proving.

Instead of “What if I’m wrong?” ask: “What might I learn if I am?”

Shift “They’ll think less of me” to “I’ll respect myself more for trying.”

Track when hesitation appears before submitting—what fear-thoughts show up, and how do they shape action?

Notice when you delay starting a task—are you unsure, or afraid of being wrong or unprepared?

Watch how you behave when unsure of acceptance—do you withdraw, over-explain, or go silent in class?

Observe a student who takes bold steps—what mindset shows up when plans don’t go as expected?

Track emotions when briefings are unclear—do you freeze, rush, or ask clarifying questions first?

Notice how peers handle rejection emails—what can you learn from their tone, posture, or persistence?

Watch how you recover from mistakes on projects—shut down, excuse, or reflect and adapt quickly?

Observe a lecturer navigating ambiguity—what language do they use to instill calm and direction?

Track your inner dialogue after hearing “no”—does it spiral or stay constructive and forward-looking?

Notice your reaction when others fail—judgment, empathy, or curiosity about learning?

Track your self-talk with new tools—does it invite action or push you back toward retreat?

Observe when you pre-reject yourself—what do you avoid just to avoid possibly hearing “no”?

Notice how your body feels when you take a risk—tight, light, or heavy—use that awareness to stay present.

Catch moments when you crave guarantees—what would acting with partial clarity look like instead?

Catch micro-signals of approval-seeking—do you adjust too quickly to avoid possible disapproval?

Catch yourself avoiding a pitch due to fear—what outcome are you imagining, and how likely is it?

Watch how beginners approach unknown tools—what can you learn from their open mindset?

Notice how people react to your vulnerability in class—do they reject it or lean in with empathy?

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