In business school at Syracuse a lesson I learned long ago was reinforced: mentoring is critical. I have had mentors most of my life—whether they be in the form of guidance counselors when I was younger, people who I aspired to be, or more formal mentors through programs like the American Corporate Partners program, the…
Twice this week I have been called ballsy in negotiations. I’m not sure what to make of it. I don’t think I am ballsy but I do think that attribute is important for people to cultivate. Neale Godfrey author of “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Financially Responsible Children,” said it…
When I attended the Whitman School of Management through Syracuse University, Neale Godfrey, an American author who writes books on financial literacy for children, including most notably “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Financially Responsible Children” talked to my class about sacrifices. She said that once you start a business there…
I may have mentioned this before but I have always longed to go to Harvard. That’s been a huge dream of mine since I was small and time and time again my friends, family and even strangers would tell me it couldn’t be done. I don’t have some prestigious last name or a big bank…
From the time I was small I dreamed of going to an Ivy League. For free. Many would say this sounds crazy, because most spend about a quarter of a million on an Ivy League education but with the digital revolution, it’s no longer impossible. You can get an MBA education from a top tier…
When I was taking classes at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University’s Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities Program, my professor Dr. Mike Haynie challenged my thinking. He had this knack for storytelling and he’s so insightful that he was recently awarded a Ted Talk. But on this day in class he let…
Not a literary buff? Here’s a little tale you ought to familiarize yourself with from the cannon. It’s called Sophie’s Choice, by William Styron. Amazing novel, but that aside, if you haven’t read it, here is the crux of the book and actually, one of the smallest scenes in the entirety of the piece. I…
When I was taking classes at Syracuse, Professor Mike Haynie introduced me to the concept of intrapreneuship. I had no clue such roles existed but I reflected back on the job I was working at the time and realized that I was an intrepreneur. That was revolutionary. I learned an intrepreneur behaves like an entrepreneur…
In business school I took a class on poverty. That might seem like an unlikely area to study considering many entrepreneurs aim for prosperity, however, I might argue it was one of the most important classes I took at Syracuse. The professor talked about how poverty isn’t only for individuals and families if their annual…
Quite a few years ago I took some business classes at a local community annex. They taught the basics of time management and P&L statements and had us craft a mission statement and 30-second elevator pitch. I won’t say that these things aren’t valuable because they are; however, the thing I noticed in class is…