There is clear evidence that academic success is not an accurate predictor of career excellence.  Research across industries has found that the correlation between job performance and grade is very low in the first year following college, and is highly insignificant years later.

Academic grades very rarely recognize important qualities such as teamwork, leadership, or creativity. Nor does it measure emotional and social intelligence. Straight A students surely are good at cramming in a ton of information and throwing it up on exams, but real success in a career is very rarely about finding the answer to a solution.  Career success is more about finding the problem that actually needs to be solved.

In order to get straight A’s throughout one’s studies, it requires a great deal of conformity. While having a successful career requires being original. Look at Steve Jobs, who finished high school with a GPA of merely 2.65.  How about J.K Rowling who finished university with a C average?

Those students who are always aiming to get straight A’s are also missing out on social experiences. It means spending more time studying in the library, and in turn having less time for social events and time to invest in important friendships or clubs.

So for all of you overachievers in school. Stop stressing so much. Underachieving in school can help prepare you to overachieve in real life, which at the end of the day is what really matters.  How about a B before you finish school?