It s a shame I've been sitting on this book for about two years now. A friend of mine gave me Never Eat Alone , by Keith Ferrazzi a couple years ago (thanks Rey), and it s been on my bookcase ever since. It was resting there not because I didn't want to read it, but because I already had so many others in the pipeline. I finally got around to reading it last month and I definitely recommend it. In very simple terms, Ferrazzi explains why networking is important and how to do it. From how to make call lists to planning dinners to personal branding to goal setting, it s all here. He also maintains a valuable blog .
Inevitably there will be times when you have setbacks or things don t go your way. Maybe you didn't get a job you thought you were sure to get. Maybe you lost a job unexpectedly, didn't win a contract, or lost a major client. Your car always seems to break down right after you've had some other unexpected expense. These kinds of situations immediately place us in crisis. They don t feel good, but sometimes they re what we need in order to grow. The beautiful thing about crises is that they force us to take a step back and reevaluate what s going on in our lives and rediscover what we truly want and need. When we get over that initial shock and feeling of disappointment, we might realize that maybe that job wasn't really the best for us anyway. Maybe, just maybe, that wasn't what you really wanted to spend your life doing. Maybe that friend was holding you back instead of pushing you forward. The way I deal with crises of these sorts is simple: If something doesn't go my way professionally, I try to create a situation that would be more rewarding than the situation originally planned. A while ago, I was offered a job that looked very promising. After I accepted the offer, they pushed the start date back three times, later informing me (via e-mail) that they wanted to bring me on in the near future but I should feel free to explore other options. I was extremely disappointed. I felt disrespected and angry, but decided to make the best of the situation and follow my dream of working internationally. I then flew to Santiago, Chile and had great professional and personal experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. Later, reflecting back on the original opportunity, I realized that working for a company that avoids a start date three times and then can t pick up the phone to explain the situation is probably not where I need to spend my time. Use setbacks as an opportunity to put your goals in order and act on them. In the moment, it s difficult to look at a setback as temporary, but they are. They happen to everybody. It s how you respond to them that will determine how they affect you.
Thank you to everyone who supported and encouraged my decision to attend graduate school. I am very grateful to all of you.
After a few years of searching, I finally found the graduate program best suited for me. Last Thursday, Bainbridge Graduate Institute (BGI) accepted me into their 2011 MBA in Sustainability class. Their mission is to change business for good. Although relatively new, BGI is already making positive changes in the business world. While some graduates are recruited by major companies seeking forward-thinking individuals, such as Boeing and Microsoft, many others pursue entrepreneurial endeavors and start or join social enterprises.
I chose BGI because their mission to change business for the better aligns with my mission to use business as a tool of education and empowerment that promotes social consciousness and positive change.
As some of you are aware, I work with area non-profits and socially-responsible businesses to help them do what they do better. I believe BGI will provide me with additional tools and a network of like-minded individuals, making me exponentially more effective at creating sustainable change.
Now that I’ve been accepted, the next challenge is paying for it. I have set up a ChipIn widget to raise funds to help send me to school. I appreciate any and all donations. If this is successful, I plan on starting a scholarship fund to help others who want to attend programs focused on leadership, innovation, social responsibility, and sustainability.
To learn more about BGI and their programs, please visit their website here. To donate to the college fund, click here.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
