Work for you, not the paycheck - Outside the Class

In this economic reality, the knowledge economy, the value of a work is on what they know and can do, rather than themselves. Way back in the day in the industrial revolution, what determined success was whether or not one could assemble the factors of production like labour, land & capital. After this period, one could become very wealthy by working hard in factories or in almost any field. Nowadays, we’re stuck in the same mindset that work or effort equals money. The truth is as I said, the new economy rewards what we know and what we can do!

The mass thinking is to find a way to argue for higher wages in jobs where they can exert the least possible effort. However, look around at all the greats of the new business age… Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, any Hedge Fund Manager, Mark Zuckerberg, etc. They don’t try to minimize their effort or maximize what wage they’ll be paid. All on the list were willing to work crazy hours, to sacrifice sleep, to bet the bank on their ideas and they don’t report to a boss begging for a wage. What strings all these wealthy people is not their desire for money, it’s their desire to make an impact.

Too many people focus on making money without trying to make an impact where they go. They don’t realise that by making an impact, the money will follow. Facebook has made Zuckerberg billions because it had a worldwide impact, likewise how Steve Jobs & Bill Gates changed the world with personal computers. Moral of this story is, when you get your job, look at it from this perspective:  "I’m hiring your company to teach me and in return I’ll pay you in my services".  The paycheck becomes secondary and your self-improvement becomes the primary focus. Don’t focus on trying to make your boss happy, rather ask: what need can I meet? What service can I provide? Work for you, not the paycheck.

f you want to do more than your peers...

If you want to be more than your peers

If you want to meet people your peers will never meet

If you want to accomplish was your peers never will

Then check out My Career City. The experts on staff help students and recent graduates find jobs in the fast-paced and rewarding world of start-up companies. Join today and see the great job opportunities they have available for someone just like you!

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Don't start your first Business until you try this! - Outside the Class

I had the pleasure of interviewing an upper student who was on his way to starting his 3^rd business venture. We had a long discussion about motivation, future goals and then entrepreneurial landscape. Of course we came to the obvious questions:

“What advice would you give to anyone who wants to try entrepreneurship but hasn’t started?”

“Just do it. The upside is there is no roadmap or template like how there is one for a resume or something. So you aren't really wrong, it just may not work.”

“Ok so then is it this freedom that holds everyone back?”

“Probably, but if you can’t deal with uncertainty then you probably shouldn't be an entrepreneur.”

Get your feet wet

The startup life is in no way easy. Late nights and early morning are a given. Sacrifices will be made. So wouldn't it be smart to experience the trials and tribulations first in a low risk situation? This way if you find out it’s not for you, you won’t have disappointed investors, employees or customers. Take a job at a startup to just dip your toes in, you get to experience the life without the risk of absolute failure looming overhead.

You don’t have the resources

Working for a startup is a great platform to help build your networks and meet people much higher up the food chain. Often, we have ideas but not the means to make them a reality. By working for a startup you’ll experience the pleasure of seeing your plans become a reality, while building the resources you need. Some startups are internships only while some offer equity, some offer pay based on performance and in some rare cases you may even get a salary. More than that, you’ll build up the mentorship, connections and friends in high places you may need in the future.

You don’t have an idea or the business sense to execute it yet

In this case, it might be rewarding to work for a startup in the industry you’re interested in so that you can gain experience, expertise contact and have time to incubate your idea.

You’ll learn more on the front lines than you’ll ever learn in a classroom or a book.

There’s no shame in working for a bigger fish

I’ll sell this point with an anecdote. I had an idea to start a social venture and after my partner and I spent 8 months developing the idea, writing the business plan and entering competitions. We found TWO startups doing exactly what we planned to do… word for word. If you’re entrepreneurial minded it would be wiser to go to these startups and offer your ideas, expertise, research and performance than try to scrap resources together and compete. 

If you want to do more than your peers...

If you want to be more than your peers

If you want to meet people your peers will never meet

If you want to accomplish was your peers never will

Then check out My Career City. The experts on staff help students and recent graduates find jobs in the fast-paced and rewarding world of start-up companies. Join today and see the great job opportunities they have available for someone just like you!

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Talent search vs. Passion search - Outside the Class

What do you want to do is more important than what you can do!

Far too many students believe that the key to success requires knowing more than the next person. We are reminded that it’s not always the strongest or the smartest but the person who wants it the most. Burning desire is often more valuable than a brilliant mind, solid networks or experience.  Those things may get you the job but they don’t suggest that you’ll be a success once you’ve been given the opportunity. This is exactly why I advise you begin with a passion search not a talent search.

Let’s say you don’t know a thing about an industry, or you have no technical skills in that field, but you have an indescribable passion for the work. I am certain you would be far more willing to run up the learning curve. More importantly, no matter how steep the curve is, you would be happier as you progress.  In any field of work you choose; Innovation is rewarded. Execution is worshiped! If you work with passion, you’re far more likely to feel compelled to make an idea a reality and follow through on the execution of your ideas.

I invite you to search within yourself first:

What work do you do best?

What kind of environments do you enjoy working in?

Are your goals in-line with your principles?

And do you even have core principles from which you go out into the world?

What are you passionate about? … Take time to answer that question with integrity.

Finally, are you making the necessary investment in yourself to be able to thrive in whatever environment you find yourself in and to make your passion a reality?

Invite you to read more about this here. Hopefully, at the end of this process, you may find that you were already on the path to a profession that you’re passionate about.  However, some may find that the corporate world isn’t where their passions lie. Maybe entrepreneurship is where your heart is. Whatever they case may be, I invite to consider the exciting world of startups. The jobs on offer in the startup community are so diverse it’s likely you’ll find a role you’re not only capable of filling but also passionate about. So check out My Career City. The experts on staff help students and recent graduates find jobs in the fast-paced and rewarding world of start-up companies. Join today and see the great job opportunities they have available for someone just like you!

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What your Professor won't tell you - Outside the Class

I had the opportunity to speak with a founder of a startup that connects students and recent graduates with job opportunities at startup companies. I asked him about the kinds of applications he sees and he had a very interesting answer. He explained to me that students assume that the things fortune 500 looks for are exactly the same as what a startup looks for. In the world of startups progress and growth is the key focus. We need to grow into a sustainable business. We need to progress to our goals. So why should I care about how much your GPA is? Why should I care what clubs you were the president  of? I’m not saying there’s something wrong these things, it’s that startups look at this completely different. 

If you want to get more out of your student years. 

If you want to grow professionally and gain vital character strength. 

If you're bored with classes. 

Then check out My Career City. The experts on staff help students and recent graduates find jobs in the fast-paced and rewarding world of start-up companies. Join today and see the great job opportunities they have available for someone just like you!

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