Execution & Strategy

I've been thinking about what I've learned from my internship and classes. I've gained a lot of technical skills over the last few years, and this has not helped me to start an internet company--- so what will?

I think it boils down to execution & direction. One needs to have a direction to go. Just after college, I worked for 2 different small companies whose owners were just winging it day to day--it was easy to see they were not going to stay in business long.

I've been pretty good at planning out the internet product, but then have had very loose plans for how I was going to advertise it. The internship this summer definitely taught me a lot about executing a go-to-market strategy.

Courses I've had this year like entrepreneurial strategy and entrepreneurial marketing (FYI, this professor is going to release a pretty good book on startup marketing so watch for it) have shown what to base a strategy on.

So now I can create a much more robust and useful strategy. Anything left? Oh yea, execution! Tom Hopkins used to say that the salesman with enough desire will succeed, but he now says he has changed his mind and its the salesman with the most discipline.

And I really think that discipline is one of my greatest weaknesses. Its fun to dream of the future-I love that part! But working for it? I get bored pretty easily. I'd rather just hangout with friends.

Of course seeing that I've got a good strategy and knowing how to define one should help me to trust it better and be more willing to give it my time.

Moab Rafting trip - put on by BYU's MBAMA

Well the MBA Student Rafting trip Moab is finished and all I can say is, "Wow!"

We had a great time and the association MBAMA put on a great trip (we got back yesterday). We did a lot of fun things and I definitely feel comfortable with Orientation Beginning tomorrow. I now suggest to anyone that sometime in their life they need to take a hummer tour in Moab, UT.

The real benefit (besides the Stress Relieving Fun) was (as I always seem to say) the Networking. A few Alumni attended and we got the chance to meet them and hear about the companies they work for. Also, they gave us their contact information and if anyone wants to apply to their companies, we already know where to send the resume.

I can't think of a better introduction to BYU's MBA Program than attending this trip. I hope everyone signs up for it next year. I think my attendance will pay great dividends with the Alumni, Recruiters, Classmates, and Faculty that I was able to meet on this trip.

Establish Network before Beginning your MBA

I can't stress enough how many times I read that 1 of the main benefits to getting an MBA is establishing a network with current and future leaders (& professionals) (business, public or otherwise). As things begin to wind down at my current position, I've been concentrating on using the tool Linked In .

I want to suggest to everyone as you quit your old job that you use this tool. Linked in is great because its specific for professional networking, not teenage flirting (See Here). I'm looking forward to having this because it can serve as a directory for me as my colleagues and I change contact information over the years. I also plan on calling upon many of the people in my network for help and hopefully I'll be able to help them as well.

Your network is great and powerful. It can help you find people to sell to. It can help you find professionals you need services of. It can help you find potential employers or employees. It can help you gather information.

Use this tool. There are so many books that talk about the power of networks and I'm not going to list them all, but " Love is the Killer App" is one that I have really enjoyed.

Power of MBA - Networking

As I prepare to begin BYU's MBA Program in about a month, one thing I am making sure I brush-up on is my Networking and Social Skills. A huge power to getting an MBA is the networking opportunities.

To prepare for all this networking, I am re-reading "How to win Friends and Influence People". I'm doing this because of all the important principles in here.

Reading this is already helping me out at my current job. I've established a few contatcs that should help me out come internship time next summer. I definitely recommend reading this book to anyone, but especially those who are taking off 2 years of work to learn how to become more effective leaders.

BYU MBA - Rafting Trip

One thing to watch for when your starting the program is the various trips that happen before the Semester Starts. This trip allows you to meet some second year students and (more importantly?) alumni/recruiters of the program. I see a lot of benefit to this because 1 of the main values in a Full-Time MBA Program is all the Networking Opportunities.

We're going to Moab, UT the 23-25 of August. Mostly I think this will be fun, but I'm hoping it really pays off in other areas as well.