Never Stop Learning

Thinking About Business Problems

" Unfortunately, when academic ideals meet business realities, business realities usually win. Businesses are full of real people, with real strengths and weaknesses and limitations. These people can do only so much with the finite resources available in their organizations. Some things they just cannot do, whether for political reasons, lack of resources or inability.

As a consultant, you bear the responsibility for knowing the limitations of your client; if your client is your own employer—or your own business—that responsibility is doubled. Knowing those limitations, you must make sure that any recommendations you make fit within them. "

-Ethan M Rasiel on Thinking About Business Problems
The McKinsey Way

How to Get the Most of Your College Experience

How to get the most out of your college experience: DON’T GO TO CLASS.

Instead of going to class go to networking events, get involved, start a business, visit office hours if you want to learn something from your professor.  How much can you retain from canned lectures and 100 word power point slides? Textbooks can only teach so much. With textbooks you can be sure of one thing: that what you are reading does not represent the newest thought in your field of study and by the time you get a job it will most likely be irrelevant (unless you’re a history major).  Why learn from a digital marketing textbook  when its outdated by the time its printed?  Drop the textbook for a night and network where the rich people and business owners hang out.  A 19 year old at a 40+, CEO-only event impresses people whether you know what you’re talking about or not. Trust me.

 If you have to go to class make sure to meet and make friends with all of your classmates. Might as well get used to making friends with strangers, because like it or not, that’s what most undergraduates will find a job in: sales.  Hell, everyone works in sales, something you can’t learn in a textbook, in class, or from your professor.

So who are the ones that get the most out of their college experience? We evaluate performance based on GPA, but what did the summa cum laudes spend most of their college life doing? I didn’t tell my parents I skipped class for client meetings or for brainstorming sessions with entrepreneurial friends because they probably would not have understood. For the ones who have already graduated: Which has a higher correlation to success? Your graduating GPA or how many powerful people know you?

Can I get an Amen?

Students in Free Enterprise

Last week a team of students from SDSU competed in the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) U.S. National Competition in Dallas, Texas.  SIFE establishes student teams on university campuses with the goal of creating economic opportunity for other people. 

From my first SIFE experiences, I quickly learned that SIFE is not just another organization on campus.  SIFE is a global non-profit organization with millions of participants that is funded by Fortune 500 companies and partners businesses with universities to create REAL economic opportunity for other people. 

The SDSU SIFE team traveled to Dallas after winning the regional competition in Seattle, Washington.  By the end of their travels, the team brought home 4 trophies, $4500, and experiences to last a lifetime.

CONTINUE READING:  Students in Free Enterprise

 

5 things you should know

If you are interested in Entrepreneurship, Sales, and Influencing People you should watch the video of a presentation given by Johnny Chan, consultant extra-ordinare and CMO of eBoost Marketing, and myself. The presentation was specifically made for a college audience full of motivated, bright business people. Here’s some unedited feedback we got from the presentation:

1. It was fresh and informational.  They were able to tell us things that were practical.   For example the whole part about body language and what to say and not say when pitching to professionals.

2. I do not think there was much to improve upon, they covered a lot in a good amount of time.  They enticed the crowd.  Everyone was loving it.

3.  I would like to see more events that help us develop selling techniques as well as have available internship/job opportunities.  Nick and Johnny were very inspirational and knowing that they are looking to mentor someone is a great opportunity for all of us. 

From the video you won’t be able to see the powerpoint slides(which is kind of a big deal), but I guess you’ll just have to invite us to come speak to your company, business organization, student group, poker game, ice cream social, super bowl party, wherever! Please comment as any type of feedback will be appreciated and acknowledged. Here’s the link on VeoTag. Enjoy!

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