Welcome back to another enlightening episode of the Lead with Levity Podcast, where we explore how to build 12 superpowers to live and lead a life full of joy, success, and authenticity. Hosted by Dr. Heather Walker, today’s episode delves into the journey and wisdom of Dr. Shaan Patel, the founder and CEO of Prep Expert. If you’ve ever wondered how to transform an average performance into something truly extraordinary, this episode encapsulates the highlights of Dr. Patel’s in-depth discussion about leadership, education, and human potential.
From Average to Perfection
Dr. Patel began by sharing his journey of taking the SAT in high school and raising his score from average to perfect. According to Dr. Patel, key strategies include solving official practice tests and meticulously reviewing why questions were answered correctly or incorrectly. He emphasized the importance of internal motivation and goal setting, crucial for both academic success and business leadership.
The Power of Delayed Gratification and Discipline
He attributes his success to developing skills such as delayed gratification, self-control, hard work, and effective time management, which were crucial not only for his academic achievements but also for his entrepreneurial success. The ability to set internal goals rather than being driven by external pressures, like parental expectations, was crucial for his sustained motivation.
Transforming Education and Business Leadership
Dr. Patel revealed his methodology of turning disappointment into motivation. When his SAT prep book was turned down by publishers, he used the same material to offer SAT courses, leading to the founding of Prep Expert, which has now helped thousands achieve higher test scores and win over $100 million in college scholarships.
Balancing Productivity with Well-being
One issue Dr. Walker and Dr. Patel discuss is the challenge of maintaining peak productivity without burning out, especially in remote work settings. Dr. Patel stresses the importance of delineating work from personal time and offers tangible tips like starting your day with a “morning power hour” dedicated to tackling your most challenging tasks. He shares that achieving the hardest task first makes the rest of the day more manageable and productive.
How Fun and Levity Play a Role
Dr. Patel explains the significance of integrating fun and levity into the work culture. Remote work does not organically offer the same opportunities for camaraderie, so his team makes a conscious effort to log into meetings early to chat or even schedule in-person gatherings when possible. Regular breaks and creating a friendly work environment contribute to a more productive and happier team.
Real-life Applications: Evaluating Team Capabilities
Dr. Walker poses an insightful scenario about a new manager trying to evaluate his team. Dr. Patel recommends assigning small, manageable projects to team members to gauge their skills, work ethics, and how they handle deadlines. This approach reveals much about each individual’s strengths and areas for improvement.
The Future of Prep Expert
Looking ahead, Dr. Patel shares that Prep Expert is expanding its services to go beyond test prep, focusing on life skills, college admissions, and scholarship consultations aimed at holistic student development. With test requirements for college admissions fluctuating since the pandemic, Prep Expert is adaptable, and ready to meet the evolving needs of students and parents alike.
Conclusion
Dr. Shaan Patel’s insights offer valuable lessons on perseverance, internal motivation, and the balance between productivity and well-being. Whether you’re a student, parent, or business leader, his advice is both practical and inspiring, offering strategies to unlock your own potential and lead a more successful, fulfilled life.
For more episodes of the Lead with Levity Podcast, be sure to subscribe and stay tuned for conversations that empower you to lead with joy and authenticity. Thank you, Dr. Patel, for sharing your wisdom, and thank you, Dr. Walker, for guiding us through another thought-provoking episode.
In high school, Shaan Patel was like many of the students. He was a good student who got As and Bs. However, he was a poor standardized test-taker. Shaan had a lot of test anxiety, had no idea how to prepare for standardized exams, and received only an average score on his first SAT.
After spending hundreds of hours studying for the SAT in high school, Shaan raised his SAT score by 640 points from average to perfect. Only 0.02% of all high school students achieve a perfect SAT score. Shaan’s perfect SAT score completely changed his life! He was admitted to universities and received over $500,000 in scholarships and awards.
Now, Dr. Shaan Patel has created Prep Expert to help high school students achieve their own dreams. Prep Expert is an education company that has helped more than 100,000 students improve their SAT and ACT scores, get into top colleges, and win over $100 million in scholarships. Prep Expert offers online SAT and ACT courses, academic tutoring, and college admissions consulting.
Dr. Shaan Patel completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree at the University of Southern California, Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Yale University, Medical Degree (MD) at the University of Southern California, and dermatology residency at Temple University Hospital. Dr. Patel is a board-certified dermatologist who practices teledermatology.
Dr. Shaan Patel is the Founder and CEO of Prep Expert. On ABC’s Shark Tank, Dr. Patel closed a deal with Mark Cuban for an investment in Prep Expert.
