Copyright International Business Times
Laurie L. Hazard has long been fascinated by what enables people to realize their potential. Her work is grounded in a deep curiosity about how motivation, mindset, and self-understanding can translate possibility into practice. That curiosity evolved into a professional mission to help others uncover what drives their success. "Potential shows up as possibility," she says. "The work is learning how to tend it." Hazard's degrees in psychology, counseling, and curriculum and teaching formed a strong foundation for her professional path. Initially drawn to sports psychology, she focused on performance and achievement motivation, examining the psychological traits and thought patterns that separate aspiration from action. Her doctoral work deepened her interest in higher education, prompting a shift in focus from athletic performance to academic success. She began studying how students adapt to academic demands, manage their time and behavior, and cultivate habits that foster achievement. Over time, Hazard translated these insights into practical frameworks that educators, students, and institutions can use to enhance learning and support personal growth. Integral to Hazard's work is the concept of habits of mind, the recurring mental routines and behavioral strategies that help shape achievement. Rather than defining success in abstract terms, she guides individuals in cultivating it. "Changing what you do starts with being curious about why you do it," she says, emphasizing reflection as the foundation for behavior change. Her approach treats behavioral development as a therapeutic process, an extension of her counseling background, where growth is reflective, incremental, and sustainable rather than episodic or prescriptive. This philosophy underpins both her one-on-one work with learners and her broader consulting engagements, helping ensure that strategies for improvement are practical and enduring. Hazard's teaching and writing translate academic research into tools people can use in everyday life. Her book The Habits of Mind for Success in College: Claiming Your Education introduces readers to key thinking patterns that support academic and personal achievement. Designed for students in their early college years, the book encourages ownership of one's education and self-awareness around learning behaviors. Recognizing the importance of family involvement in student transitions, she also authored Your Freshman Is Off to College: A Month-by-Month Guide to the First Year, an accessible guide for families navigating the emotional, social, and practical pivots of early college life. Her works reflect her six areas of adjustment: academic, social, emotional, cultural, intellectual, and financial. These offer a structured way to balance growth across multiple domains and make transitions coherent. Bridging the distance between theory and daily practice, Hazard aims to make academic insights accessible and actionable. Drawing from decades of experience in student success programming, curriculum design, and consulting, she helps institutions design and strengthen programs that align with the lived experiences of their communities. She emphasizes attention to small, testable practices that support organization and meaningful engagement with material, encouraging learners to move steadily toward self-directed growth. Through her organization, Recognize Your Potential, Hazard brings her frameworks to life through consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements. Whether working one-on-one with clients, leading professional development sessions, or addressing large audiences, she fosters reflective dialogue and empowers individuals to identify barriers and adopt sustainable strategies for growth. Her consulting work emphasizes incremental change and self-discovery, helping clients uncover limiting thought patterns and move forward with intention. In her speaking engagements, whether with students, professionals, or organizational teams, she extends these principles to broader audiences, encouraging curiosity and ownership of success. Across all formats, her message remains consistent: meaningful growth is mindful, personalized, and achievable. Across teaching, writing, consulting, and speaking, Laurie Hazard's work remains thoughtful and deeply human. She provides frameworks for students, families, and organizations that are both practical and sustainable, supporting habits of mind that foster self-regulation, confidence, and purpose. Her career reflects a commitment to translating psychological insight into usable strategies for everyday life.
