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Missions

“The mission is what you exist for, and everything is secondary to the mission. The mission is what will take people up the hill. … The mission has to be driven down through every level of the organization so everybody understands what we are trying to accomplish and is committed to its accomplishment. ”  The are the words of former Secretary of State Colin Powell. ”

As Colin Powell said, mission is one of the most important things you can have. It wakes you up at 5am when everyone else is sleeping (this is how I am ever writing this post), it helps you focus intensely on things when focusing seems impossible, and it keeps you optimistic even when everyone else tells you know.

In business school having a mission is critical. Because there are too many distractions and often times too much clutter. And then when you see half your class get swept up in the herd affect it’s hard not to go with them.

The same is true in law school. People all study for the same reason, to get the best grades, to make it to the best firm, to take on that big firm associate title, that half the class doesn’t even like. You see it happen every single year.

And it’s even more true in the startup and nonprofit worlds. When resources are limited. Skeptics are unlimited. And time is running out by the day. And you have to worry about what to do when you run out of funds.

So how do you avoid that? How do you focus on what’s right? How do you stay true to your mission? And how do you focus on it when all your incentives tell you to do something different?

I propose that the best leaders know how to do this and that they are intensely focused on the core mission. The know it. Breathe it. Live it.  Because without it, you just might get swept away.

So what is your mission?

If you don’t know yet, then I propose that you do your best to have a better sense before going back to school. Or before trying to start your next big movement.

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CLICK HERE for my old post on business plans. In short, missions are better than business plans.

Stuck In Between

I’ve been thinking about a number of quotes recently. I’ve even been tweeting them more frequently. Well, one quote that I read this morning is “We’re hoping to succeed; we’re okay with failure. We just don’t want to land in between” by David Chang.  Not only was it interesting but it reminded me of one of my favorite quotes about taking risks of all time by Teddy Roosevelt.

Teddy Roosevelt has one of the best quotes of all time. He said, “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

Teddy is very serious in that quote, just like David Change was.  But were you serious when you agreed. There are a lot of people out there that talk about this, many even say it publicly. But sometimes, not many people are willing to take the risk.  And few are willing to put themselves on the line to be wildly successful.

The problem is that this not only ensure that you won’t wait but more importantly it destroys the likelihood of being wildly successful. And in the end, almost guarantees that you will land somewhere in between.

So I propose that Teddy Roosevelt is right. That the greatest risk in life is not taking one. Perhaps wise words to at least one person on this Valentines Day.

Done Is Better Than Perfect

Imagine you have a choice. You can have something done fast. Or you can have it perfect. But you don’t get both. YOu only get to pick one. In that case, which one would you choose? What would inform your decision? And would it matter if it were in business or law? And would it matter who you were working with? Well, these are precisely some of the questions I think about on a daily basis.

One thing I’ve learned over the past few months, is that someonetimes you have to make this choice. Sometimes you have to get something done. And so DONE becomes more important to you.  But then there are other times you can do something to perfection. That the better the product the better off you are.

Lawyers tend to strive for perfect. They want to write air tight memos. Make arguments with no holes. And give you all the details even when they are not needed.

On the other hand, business people do the exact opposite. They want to get finished and move on. They want to create a MVP (minimum viable product). And they want to take on more activities. That’s what Faebcook believes. In fact, it’s one of Mark Zuckerberg’s main mottos.

So the question is, which one works best?

As for me, I tend to do both depending on the time. At times, I work hard on one thing to make it better than I ever imagined. This is especially true for things a lot of people will see (and judge). But in other cases, I don’t want to spend your time trying to make things perfect. That’s how I feel with my logo today for the new website I am working on. It’s also how I feel on some of the assignments I am working on and interviews (for my website) I am doing. Because perfect would required tradeoffs that might not be worth it.

If I had to choose, I’d pick done.

What about you? What motto do you live by? And what if I said you can’t say both.

A Few Good Developers

Hi everyone, just spreading the word for a couple of JD-MBA friends of mine about an opportunity they have at their firm. They are looking for both front-end web developers and web application developers who might be interested in working with them. It sounds like they are flexible as to whether you start full time, part time, remote, on-site, contract/freelance or employee. But the only thing they aren’t flexible on is that you have to be good.

See below for the job descriptions.

Front-End Web Developer
Digital Intent is looking for a full-time front-end web developer. We are a digital product strategy and development team in the West Loop of Chicago working with funded startup teams to build web and mobile applications.

Our developer should have solid skills in HTML5/CSS3/JS-mainly jQuery, and WordPress as a plus.  We are a cross functional team so your interest in design and UI/UX are also welcomed.

Salary is competitive. We are flexible as to whether you start full time, part time, remote, on-site, contract/freelance or employee. Please submit your resume, portfolio and code samples (github account is ideal) to kate [at] digintent.com

Web Application Developer
Digital Intent is looking for a full-time web application developer. We are a digital product strategy and development team in the West Loop of Chicago working with funded startup teams to build web and mobile applications.

Our developer should have solid skills in Ruby/PHP/Python and HTML5/CSS3/JS and be familiar with MVC frameworks, version control, and deploying to Linux environments, with core competencies in engineering and application development.  Our developers employ multiple languages on any given project and should be comfortable with each. We are a cross-functional team so your interest in mobile app development is also welcome.  You will work on a team of junior and senior developers that will provide you the opportunity to both learn and manage.

Salary and title commensurate with experience.  Please submit your resume, portfolio and code samples (github account is ideal) to kate [at] digintent.com

Storytelling: Jessica Jackley, Kiva and Ted

After weeks thinking about the storytelling platform I’m working on, I’ve recently started looking around online at other platforms that exist. They span across industries, geographies, business models and schools. Additionally, some platforms don’t resemble typical storytelling platforms today. Instead they do things that are much broader and much more multidimensional than they originally envisioned. I propose the idea that this is proof of the power of good stories not only to inspire people but also to help them take action and create change in the world.

One video about storytelling that I really like is the TED video by Jessica Jackley, Poverty, Money and Love. Watch the video below to see the power that both young people and MBAs can have by following their passion and believing in great stories. In this case, Jessica explains “that Kiva is really about stories. It’s about retelling the stories of the poor.” (see 9:30 for this part).  The core values that mattered to Jessica were struggle, progress, hope, respect, and optimism. Jessica called for us all not only to listen to the stories of others but also to take part in them.

And she ends with an enormously compelling two minutes, including a statement where she comes to tears at the end:

“For me, the best way to be inspired to try is to stop and to listen to someone else’s story. And I’m grateful that I’ve gotten to do that here at TED. And I’m grateful that whenever I do that, guaranteed, I am inspired — I am inspired by the person I am listening to. And I believe more and more every time I listen in that that person’s potential to do great things in the world and in my own potential to maybe help. And that — forget the tools, forget the moving around of resources — that stuff’s easy. Believing in each other, really being sure when push comes to shove that each one of us can do amazing things in the world, that is what can make our stories into love stories and our collective story into one that continually perpetuates hope and good things for all of us. So that, this belief in each other, knowing that without a doubt and practicing that every day in whatever you do, that’s what I believe will change the world and make tomorrow better than today. Thank you.”

Storytelling is not only my interest but also my passion. This was also the main theme of Jessica’s talk. I hope you’ll consider watching.

What’s Your Story?

The stories that we tell each other are of the utmost importance. They matter not only in business but also in law.  The stories we tell in our MBA applications and law school applications. The stories we tell in our interviews. And the stories we tell about our careers. We can inspire people behind us and inform others how they can succeed themselves. As such, I propose that one of the best things we can do is learn how to become better storytellers.

This quarter I am taking a class on public speaking. In short, we spend the entire time giving short talks and speeches in front of a group of about 15 other students. And then we spend the rest of the time helping evaluate classmates who give their talks and speeches. As you might imagine, this is one of the hardest skills to perfect. Not just because it’s tough but also because it’s something every one of us fears. At least at first.

The first thing we learn in the class is that public speaking is the thing people fear most.  In fact, we learn that the order goes: (1). Fear of public speaking (2.) Fear of death and (3). Fear of spiders (Arachnophobia). But this doesn’t come as a surprise. After all, nearly everyone I know got a bit nervous about speaking in front of crowds.  And the same is true for most of the people in the class. And these are some of the smartest, and most accomplished people across the US.

My goal today is to become a better public speaker and more importantly a better storyteller. Imagine how you feel when you go to an inspiring talk. Imagine how you left inspired and with more insight than before you heard it.  And then imagine how you feel when somebody shares the details in a compelling way. Maybe they’re smiling. And maybe they discuss the nuances of the story and keep you on the edge of your seat. And in the end, you feel like you took part in their story, not just listed.

I propose that the ability to do this is one of the most important things we can learn. In the business world, we can tell great stories about our companies to investors to get more funding. And we can tell stories to recruit top employees to work with us. In the public sector, we can tell stories about our visions to inspire people to work on our campaigns. And we can tell stories about the future, not only to get more funding but also to build our constituent base. And in law, we can tell stories about our clients. And we can compel the judges and juries to see the merits of our side.

The ability to do this is what we’re all working toward in the class.  And its also the ability that differentiates great leaders from good ones.

So what’s your story?

Tipping Point

The concept of the tipping point is more important than ever before. Internet companies need it to spread the word about their new ideas. App builders need it to get people download their applications from the Apple store and Android Market. Political campaigns need it to get people thinking more about what they are working on. And REALLY big ideas need it. Not only to catch on but so the world can hear exactly what the founders have in mind.  So what does it take to create a tipping point?

That is the million dollar question that every one us wants to know. What does it take to hit the tipping point and create a world class movement?  How do we convince millions of people to look at what we’re doing. And once they look, how do we compel them to take an interest.

A number of things come to mind. Getting started early. Laying the ground work. Being organized. Dealing with roadblocks. And perhaps most important, passion for what you’re trying to do.

In a blog post I read by Seth Godin, he says, “Good ideas didn’t spread because ‘important’ people endorsed and promoted it. It spread because passionate people did.” And Malcolm Gladwell said the same thing in his book. That you should not obsess about the A list media people. Worry instead about people with passion and people with lots of friends. You need both for ideas to spread.

The idea of the tipping point that at some point along the way, after a lot of hard work and struggle you can finally achieve a critical mass of people involved and the threshold number before it finally takes off.  The point where everybody cares and wants to participate. The point where “ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread like viruses” according to Gladwell.

And the interesting thing about viruses, is that people don’t even want them and they still spread; and quickly. The same is true for some ideas in the world today. People don’t always want to hear about things, but sometimes they need to. Sometimes they near to hear about a revolutionary product or service. Sometimes they need to hear the truth about an up and coming political candidate. And they usually need to hear about the importance of education. That Education Matters. Especially in disadvantaged communities.

But other times, they are things that people want to hear about, you just have to figure out how to spread the word. How to leverage the media. How to create buzz at precisely the right time.  And how to convince the right people e.g. the “connectors, mavens and salesmen”.  That’s what we’re thinking about now with our Education campaign.

What are you thinking about as you try to hit your tipping point?

My Interview with MBA Crystal Ball

Have you ever considered applying to a JD-MBA program but weren’t quite sure because you didn’t know what it entailed? Have you ever wondered what the differences were between the joint programs and MBA programs? I bet some of you have. I certainly did when I was applying to graduate school. Well if you’re pondering the differences today, or simply want to know a bit more about the joint program, then check out my recent interview with MBA Crystal Ball.

See below for a snapshot of the article and a peak at two of the questions, And CLICK HERE to read the article in its entirety.st last week, I had an interview with MBA Crystal Ball. In the interview I discuss some of the nuances of the joint JD-MBA program.  While we couldn’t cover every possible question we did get some of the basic questions: why did you choose the program, how is the program different from MBA programs, do you “need” both degrees, and what I plan to do with the joint program.

http://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2012/01/25/jd-mba-program-kellogg-school-of-management/

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What are the pre-requisites to get into a joint-degree program (and specifically Kellogg)?

There aren’t generally any pre-requisites to get into the joint program. Just like MBA programs look for a diverse class, the JD-MBA program also looks for a diverse set of students from different walks of life to fill the class. Likewise, just like MBA applicants have to take the GMAT, JD-MBA applicants must also take the GMAT. However, one thing that differs at Northwestern is that you don’t have to take the LSAT. While some JD-MBAs do take the LSAT exam, others tend to have very high GMAT scores, which would alleviate any concerns on ability to score well on both exams. And finally, while not a pre-requisite, it is helpful to your application if you have a good reason why you want both degrees. In fact, the JD-MBA program recently added a specific question to ensure students address this.

What are your career plans after completing the program?

In the short run, I’m interested in both business and law, and see myself working at a law firm and in the startup world. In fact, I’m currently working on launching an Internet-based nonprofit in the education sector. So keep an eye out for our Education Matters Project over the next few weeks. Over time, I plan to do more blogging, speaking and writing, which is something that I’m already working on. And in the long run, I’m interested in the public sector. I not only want to work in business, but I also want to give back to my community and help improve the country.

I live by the motto, the greatest risk in life is not taking one. So I hope to take some pretty big risks early in my career after graduating and see what comes of it.

State of the Union 2012: Barack Obama (video)

Just an hour ago, much of the world tuned in to the 2012 State of the Union address delivered by Barack Obama. No matter which side you relate to most, it’s likely you still considered tuning in. Not only was it a chance to hear one of the great orators of our time speak but it was also a chance to hear his view on what the state of the country is. And this is especially important now, as the economy is a topic of debate, the Republican primaries are heating up, and the education conversation is more heated than it’s ever been before. In this talk, Barack not only discussed these topics but he also honored Gabby Giffords for her service to the community.

Just an hour ago, Barack delivered the State of the Union address here in the US. His talk was long but many consider it to be good. As usual, there are a lot of Fact Checks as well as videos and text transcripts online. In fact, many were out there before the speech was even over (according to TV time).Below is one part of the state of the Union where Barack made a good quote. He said, “”Higher education can’t be a luxury, it’s an economic imperative that every family should be able to afford” as he told the world that Education Matters.

Below is a great video of the President honoring Gabby Giffords at the State of the Union Address. This was a great moment to watch tonight no matter which side of the isle you belong to. Especially because tonight is the eve of Gabby’s last day in office. But don’t take it from me, take it from Congress who gave Giffords a standing ovation as she entered the House chamber.

And finally, below is a list of Tweets provided by the White House during the actual talk. And see just what Barack was discussing during his 2012 address as well as a few of the hashtags and URLs with the underlying sources.

• The White House  President Obama’s State of the Union just concluded. Watch a live panel with WH officials now: wh.gov/sotu Ask Qs with #WHChat
• Obama: As long as we’re joined in common purpose…our future is hopeful & the state of our union will always be strong #SOTU
• Obama: This nation is great because we built it together. This nation is great because we worked as a team. #SOTU
• Obama: When you’re in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind. #SOTU
• Obama: Michelle & Jill Biden have worked with American businesses to secure a pledge of 135,000 #jobs for #veterans & their families. #SOTU
• Obama: Above all, our freedom endures because of the men and women in uniform who defend it. #SOTU
• Obama: America remains the one indispensable nation in world affairs & as long as I’m President, I intend to keep it that way. #SOTU
• Obama: The renewal of American leadership can be felt across the globe. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/nMwX3v5S
• Obama: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon & I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal #SOTU
• Obama: We will stand against violence & intimidation. We will stand for the rights & dignity of all human beings #SOTU
• Obama: I can do a whole lot more with your help. Because when we act together, there is nothing the USA can’t achieve. #SOTU
• Obama: With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions that help the economy grow. #SOTU
• Obama: I believe what Repub…Lincoln believed…gov’t should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves & no more #SOTU
• Obama: I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right now…nothing will get done …because Washington is broken. #SOTU
• Obama: if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98% of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up…You’re the ones who need relief #SOTU
• Obama: we need to change our tax code so that people like me & an awful lot of Members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes #SOTU
• Obama: Do we want to keep these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans? Or do we want to keep our investments in everything else #SOTU
• Obama: People cannot afford losing #40dollars out of each paycheck this year…Pass the payroll tax cut without delay #SOTU
• Obama: Our most immediate priority is stopping a tax hike on 160 million working Americans while the recovery is still fragile #SOTU
• Obama: A return to the American #values of fair play & shared responsibility will help protect our people & our economy. #sotu
• Obama: Today, American consumers finally have a watchdog in Richard Cordray with one job: to look out for them. #sotu
• Obama: I will not go back to the days when health insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage #sotu
• “Worth crying over spilled milk” -Obama on outdated regulation that classified milk as oil & cost farmers 10k/yr #SOTUpic.twitter.com/FGWgjlO1
• Obama: Millions of Americans who work hard & play by the rules every day deserve a government & a financial system that does the same #SOTU
• Obama: @deptofdefense, the world’s largest consumer of #energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history #SOTU
• Obama at #sotu: I will not walk away from the promise of clean #energy.
• Obama: This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American #energy. #SOTU
• Obama: we should support…every risk-taker & entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve Jobs. #SOTUpic.twitter.com/D0GkbJdz
• Obama: You see, an economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent & ingenuity of every person in this country#SOTU
• Obama: We should be working on comprehensive #immigrationreform right now. #SOTU
• Obama: It’s time to turn our unemployment system into a reemployment system that puts people to work #SOTU
• Obama: Our workers are the most productive on Earth & if the playing field is level, I promise you – America will always win #SOTU
• Obama: Tonight, I’m announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged w/ investigating unfair trade practices #SOTU
• Obama: Tonight, my message to business leaders is simple: ask yourselves what you can do to bring #jobs back to your country #SOTU
• Obama: We bet on American workers. We bet on American ingenuity & tonight, the American auto industry is back #SOTU
• Obama: Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward & lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last #sotu
• Obama “American manufacturers are hiring again” -President Obama #sotu
• Obama: In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than three million #jobs. #SOTU
• Obama: What’s at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them #SOTU
• Obama: Think about the America within our reach…An economy built to last, where hard work pays off & responsibility is rewarded #SOTU
• Obama: For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/wD1abq1H
• Obama: We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer & more respected around the world. #SOTU

Northwestern/Kellogg Business Law Conference

Today the business and legal worlds are more intertwined than ever before. As a senior executive, it’s absolutely impossible to escape high-stakes complex legal issues. Similarly, if you’re a leading corporate lawyer, you consistently run into business issues, not only at your firm but also at the firms of your clients. That’s why in 2009, two school joined Northwestern by creating a formally integrated JD-MBA program and in 2010, two more schools joined the cohort. Well, Northwestern is taking the lead once again and in February we’re launching the first Business Law Conference at a business school in the US.

The Kellogg School of Management is proud to host its inaugural Business-Law Conference. Whether forming a business, raising money, restructuring, or even making apparently simple business decisions, today’s manager faces many legal challenges. In recognition of this growing intersection of law and business, the conference will explore critical business issues which have substantial legal implications. Attendees will learn how to make improved business decisions with a clearer understanding of the legal implications of their decisions.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Legal Challenges in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Ownership” and will focus on issues particularly relevant to entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to supplement their business acumen with a legal perspective. The conference will be keynoted by Lawrence Eppley, partner at K&L Gates and former general counsel for Potbelly Sandwich Shop.

The first panel, “Working with Lawyers,” will address the inevitable situation when business leaders work with attorneys.  Topics will range from billing to using time efficiently to communication.

Panelists include:

• Roger Stelle, Partner, Meltzer, Purtill & Stelle
• Henry Krasnow, Partner, Krasnow, Saunders & Cornblath; Author, Your Lawyer: An Owner’s Manual

The second panel, “Selling and Marketing in Cyberspace,” will discuss the most pressing issues these companies face when doing business on the internet, including privacy and data collection policies, copyright and trademarking and legal regulations with email marketing and spam.  Panelists include:

• Gina Durham, Partner, DLA Piper
• Gregg Kirchhoefer, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
• Desiree Vargas Wrigley, CEO and Co-Founder of GiveForward.com
• Ross Kimbarovsky, Co-Founder of crowdSPRING
• Moderated by Professor Esther Barron, Northwestern Law & Co-Founder of Elezar Handbags

The conference will take place from 1:00pm to 5:30pm with a networking reception to follow.  If you have any questions please contact us.

Talker’s Block

As you might imagine, not many people at Kellogg suffer from talker’s block.  Ask anyone a question. Seriously, ask them one. Ask them about a class. Or ask them about recruiting. I bet they can probably talk to you about it for hours. But I bet if you asked them to write about it, you’d get a slightly different response. That’s because just about every person I know experiences writers block. So I’m curious. What’s the actual difference between the two?

Some psychological theory suggests that we get writers block because we’re unorganized and overloaded with information, and because we can’t get our creative juices flowing. As a result, when we have to write answers on an exam or come up with novel paper for class, we don’t have words and often times we can’t even pick a topic.

On the other hand, no one at Kellogg walks into a class but discovers they don’t anything to say. They don’t sit in meetings with groups and meet with admits and get tongue tied.

Perhaps one reason is because MBA (and most people) are in the habit of talking. A lot. In fact, probably too much.  We talk to each other every day. We speak with prospective applicants. And we make our opinions known in class. Sometimes with substance, but often times we make things up and pull stuff out of thin air. Sometimes it depends on how prepared we are.

But over time, we get better. We start get some things right. We become insightful. And eventually we sound profound.

Maybe writing can work the same way. That at first, writing is hard. But if we practice writing, over and over (and over and over), we’ll get better. Soon we’ll get some things right. And eventually, we’ll start to sound profound.

I propose the idea that just like talking, we should get in the habit of writing. Write more frequently. Work on becoming better. And do it publicly where people can judge us. Because it will force us to improve.

One way to do that is by starting a blog. Another way to do that is by writing articles. We can also take more classes that require writing. Especially in grad school.

In sum, most people talk too much but don’t write enough.

Out on the Ledge

Today, most of my classmates are spending a lot of time thinking about recruiting. What industry they want to work in. What roles they want to have. And how much money they need to make after graduation. So they pursue roles at consulting firms, banks and companies who market products well.  And I get why they do it. These jobs not only pay well, but they also set you up to have a pretty great career afterward. But in today’s age I don’t think that’s the right mindset for everyone. Instead, I propose the idea that in 2012, for some it’s time to go out on the ledge.

Today more than ever before, it’s the time to walk out on the ledge.  No, not there. Go further. Take one more step.

It’s time to go where it’s risky and where the big falls are. Because where there’s more risk, there’s more reward. That’s why the entrepreneurs go there. They go as far out as possible, even when there’s limited space. And they suppress their fear falling.

I propose that 2012 is the year of the ledge, not just for entrepreneurs but for more of us.  You could see it shaping for the past year. The Occupy Movements. Viral Internet campaigns like It Gets Better Project. And now policy movements like SOPA. You can see people taking a stand about what’s important and going to the edge to make something happen.

Today, more than ever before, the world needs you to go further out. To take a stand. And to risk falling to do something great.

Today, very few people do it, but tomorrow I guarantee you it will catch on. And soon the edge will no longer be the edge because a lot of us will be out there. So it will be common ground again.  When that happens, we’ll all have to go out further to the new edge.  And soon, we’ll all pause and glance back together, and we’ll see how far we’ve come.

So what are you waiting for? Go.

Transition Time

Have you ever had a meeting only to find that you could have contributed a lot more if you had a few more minutes to prepare? Or that with a few more minutes of prep you could have cut your meeting time in half?  I’ve had both experiences, and I’m sure you have as well. I propose the idea that one way that we can figue out how to avoid these experiences by thinking more about transition time.

I think the concept of transition time is critical, especially for people that lead busy lives. In business school, our schedules booked with events, filled with meetings, and packed nonstop with classes and recruiting events. In law school, it’s similar, except there’s a lot more reading and work to get done for class. So in hopes to get everything done, most people work up until the last possible minute before hurrying over to their next scheduled meeting.

But there are two problems with this. First is that we continually leave ourselves too little time to prepare. And second, it would then suggest that we’re always making schedules that are impossible to keep. After all, how can we end a meeting at 3pm and start the next one at 3pm? Even if they’re just phone meetings, there’s no way you can dial that fast. And if you throw in a bathroom break in the middle, you’re basically admitting that impossibility beforehand.

Take one second and think about it:

• How many meetings have you been in where where you begin to wonder, what’s the point?
• How often have you thought: this 2 hour meeting should have been 1 hour?
• How many times have you been on a phone call and found yourself surfing the web?

Chances are you were right.  Your meeting probably could have been 30 minutes if you had done the right planning. And surfing the web was probably more productive.

So I propose that scheduling more transition time would be helpful. In business school, it would gives us time to come up with more questions, think about the bigger picture, and formulate our plans. In law school, it would allow us to think about more issues, come up with better arguments, and think about ways to approach problems.

And in the end, not only will it make everyone else in the room happier, but it’ll also create a more of an efficient outcome, which was your original goal in setting back to back meetings anyhow.

In short, think more about transition time. Schedule it. And then use it to maximize your outcome. Because in the end, everyone will be better off.

It Can All Change In An Instant

The dynamic of our society is increasingly becoming defined by speed. In today’s Internet-driven economy, things happen faster than ever before. Business deals are negotiated online. CEOs get feedback real time with new media. And you can connect with people all over the globe in just seconds. As such, fortune could come and go in the blink of an eye. So it’s important to know what your goals and values are. Well, I wanted to share one Ted video that agrees with my philosophy.

I spend a fair amount of my time watching great talks on TED.  As you probably know, the premise of TED is Ideas Worth Spreading.  Well I wanted to share an idea from one of my favorite Ted videos.

The talk is given by Ric Elias, who had the interesting experience of having a front row seat on the plane that crashed into the Hudson River. He gives a short narrative of the series of events that took places before sharing the powerful words of his first lesson: It all changes in an Instant.

These words are insightful. They describe how your fortune can change. In the video, Ric Elias woke up to what matters because the possibility death. But I propose that the same concept holds true for the good things as well. And that’s what I’ll focus on here.

In the legal world, that means that your facts can often hinge on a small detail. And even when there isn’t sufficient evidence at the onset, finding one key fact can change the stakes. So in most cases, you have to work relentlessly and incessantly search for game changing facts. Ones that not only change the argument but also the outcome. Because when you do, things could all change.

Similarly in business, sometimes all you need is that one key customer or one big name funder to change the stakes. For someone to take notice and to do something big. But often, it takes a lot of time and energy to get that customer. So you have to stay focused, be optimistic, and be ready for when that day happens.

And this is also the case in politics. That you don’t know when the best time is to run or if running is even the best decision. So you have to stay involved, have the right instincts and be ready to move when the time comes. And even if it doesn’t come, you have to figure out how to serve in other ways.

The idea is that none of us knows exactly what’s next. So you have to put yourself in place to succeed by doing the right things, having the right instincts, doing the groundwork, and knowing how to seize opportunities. Because sometimes it takes a lot of little things to go right to make it, but then one day it can all change quickly.

See the short video below for the talk.

Write Your Name On It

I have a few friends that are in the process starting a blog. They have a unique concept. They gave it an interesting domain name. And they’ve two very smart guys working on it. Sound like the recipe for success right? Perhaps. In fact, I’ve seen blogs like this make it big before. Blogs like Above The Law where having anonymous writers allows them to have more useful stories.  On the other hand, there’s also a lot of value to writing your name on the things.

The best way to think about it is in terms of school. When you put your name on your assignment, the pressure is on to create a better product. Because the professor will know that you turned it in, and he or she will judge your performance based on its quality. So you’re more likely to hand in a quality paper, show the professor you did the research and prove you thought about your response.

Unfortunately, today it’s easier than ever before to NOT put your name on things. We work in groups a large part of the time, so your name doesn’t always have to be attached. We work for companies whose names outshadow ours, so we don’t have to put our names on the line to do business. And on the Internet, people can say and do things without telling the world who they are, so they don’t have to be fully accountable.

The benefit of not putting your name on a blog is that if fail or people don’t like it, then no big deal, because nobody will know it was you. Likewise you can also get away with more controversial content, which can be useful for others to hear. So in some ways, this can be useful.

On the other hand, putting your name on something can be even more useful. It makes you accountable. Puts you on the hook. And gives you incentive to do better work. Because when people see your name they analyze your content and do Google searches on you. So you spend more time making it good and more efforts producing a quality products.

That’s precisely why putting your name on something works.

That’s also why I put my name on my own blog.

Showing Up

There is an old saying that “80% of life is showing up.” As it turns out, there are a number of similar quotes quoting numbers ranging between 75% and 90%, depending on who says it.  But either way, the idea is that showing up is one of the best things you can do to be successful in life. I propose that it’s also important in business school and in law school.

Today, showing up matters more than ever before. In the age of the Internet many people think they sending emails, writing wall posts and liking comments suffices. That it keeps them connected with friends and serves as a proxy for doing things in person.  But in my view, that’s not good enough. Particularly if you told someone that you would be there.

This is particularly important in business school, where being there really counts. In business school we have lots of events, way too many team meetings, and lots of classes that are not only in the form of lectures but also case-based sessions. Sessions that require participation. Necessitate being engaged. And need active discussion to be at their best.

You can also show up in other ways. At Kellogg specially, showing up means getting involved in clubs. Going to events. Raising your hand during a case, and not only responding but making a  point and taking a stand. Likewise it means meeting speakers after class, and getting business cards. It means sitting with new people in the public areas and meeting the person next to you in class. All things that are easy to do but that many people don’t take the effort to do.

The thing is, it’s easy not to do them. You get busy with other things. You get in the habit of not doing them. And you don’t make them priorities. But on the other hand, if you do those things, you’ll usually be pleasantly surprised. People will reciprocate. Other students will engage. You’ll learn more. And in the end, you’ll have momentum and accomplish more than you ever thought possible.

That’s what I mean by Showing Up. 

Do you plan to “Show up” on Monday? I bet your competition will.

What is an Entrepreneur?

As a student in business school surrounded by people that want to be entrepreneurs, I can’t help but think about what it takes to become the next great entrepreneur and what traits they have. I see some people doing everything they can to get in the startup game. And I see others thinking that if they can only work at a tech company, or in Silicon Valley, then that makes them an entrepreneur. But the more I think about it, I know people just as entrepreneurial but in other industries and other locations.

In addition to the traditional entrepreneurs we often think of, I meet lots of people who are very entrepreneurial but who are working in various industries. They are often working in lage companies, law firms, consulting firms, and nonprofits, all places not traditionally seen as entrepreneurial. But despite the difference in the name of their employer, these people are just as adept at playing the political game, understand how to find new ways to create value and figure out how to mobilize resources in order to create it.

Many times, these people are tasked to come up with new ventures or new products/services for their companies. And they are charged to look into the future and can see a better day at the company, even in the midst of uncertain times. As I think about it even more, a lot of them are even visionaries, just like startup founders I’ve met.

The perfect example is my old manager who currently lives and works in Boston. Aubrey was a senior executive at a Fortune company and led a practice area of the entire firm. So he was not only charged with P&L of that practice area but also with hiring and developing people, coming up with new analytical techniques, and developing the brand in the US.  He’d worked in startups before, and in Silicon Valley, but this was his new role.

And so as I reflect on the best entrepreneurs, there was no doubt that Aubrey had all the skills to be in the running – managing a good team, strong vision, and appetite for risk. He also has the ability to make things happen out of nowhere. And it occurred to me that Aubrey is an entrepreneur just like anyone else that goes to Silicon Valley. He leverages principles of entrepreneurship and does things that people in the startup ecosystem do everyday. Except he works at a big company.

Unfair or not, one bad thing about being at a big company is that it doesn’t sound as cool as being in the startup world and it usually doesn’t have the same upside in pay. On the other hand, some of the best entrepreneurs I know, actually work in big companies. Funny how that works.

More Questions?

I’m often surprised by the lack of questions that people ask. It’s particularly evident at networking events when I notice that people didn’t know who to expect to show up, when they didn’t do their research on the host, and they didn’t really have an agenda. I also notice it in business school, where most people lead with answers, but not with questions. But often times I wonder if it would be a lot more beneficial to lead with questions and listen more?

I admire the approach that kids take. If you put them in a grade school class, and they start firing off questions non stop. They’re curious to learn more. They want to figure out how the world works. And they’re more than willing to admit there’s a lot they don’t know. .

Lawyers are trained to do the same thing. They are trained to have a list of questions prepared at any given moment. They are charged to investigate the facts. To get more details. And figure out the rule of law.

The same is true for journalists, who need accurate details to get to the heart of the story. Because that’s the only way they can articulate a fact based account of what happened and tell a compelling story to the audience. So they ask what happened, who was involved, and how things played out.

But this isn’t always the case in business. In business, people spend more time relying on assumptions. It’s not always a bad thing. Because sometimes time is limited and you have to take action. Leverage probability. Use your intuition. And play on the odds.

One the other hand, there are often times that questions are extremely valuable. They give you more context. They let you clarify what’s really being asked. They allow for creativity and give you access to some potentially powerful ideas.

And perhaps more importantly, they also help to give others a feeling of power. Because by asking questions, you show that it’s not just your opinion but theirs that matters. So when a manager asks for his/her employee’s ideas, the managers sends the message that the employee is valuable and has good ideas. Then the employee gains confidence and works better, and they become a stronger team.

So in the new year, we should all work on getting better at questions.  We should think more like lawyers and journalists. We should do more research, write questions down, and ask others what they think. Because more often than not, everyone is better off.

Applicant Question: Negotiations Class at Kellogg?

Negotiations are a very important part of business.  Not only do you negotiate deals with clients and vendors but you also spend time negotiating on your own behalf. For example, we all have to negotiate our own salaries and employment terms. So many students take the core negotiations class in business school, and at Kellogg, it’s definitely one of the more popular classes. Well, recently I received a question from one of my readers asking me if there is a difference in the classes at Kellogg versus other schools.

Hi All. I recently a question from one of my readers asking me if there is a difference in the classes at Kellogg versus other schools. It’s a tough question since I haven’t taken Negotiations at any schools other than Northwestern. But I did provide as objective a response as possible. See below for the question and below that for my response.

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APPLICANT QUEESTION

Subject: Kellogg

Message Body:
Hi Jeremy,

I didn’t know Kellogg had such a strong negotiations coursework – don’t other b-schools have this as well?

Thanks!

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MY RESPONSE

Hi (Name),

Thanks for your question. And thanks for taking time to read my blog. Below is a short answer to your question.

All established MBA programs should have a negotiations curriculum and will have a couple of Negotiations classes that you can take. No matter which school you ultimately decide to go to, much of the curriculum taught in the classroom will probably be the same. You’ll learn about concepts such as BATNA, zones of interests, mutual gain, concessions, and reservation points. And you’ll learn much of them from the same sources. The terms and tools you learn will feel like common knowledge in some ways but it’s good to talk through them a bit more and then to actually put them in practice during live negotiations with classmates.

But that’s not what makes the various MBA programs different. What makes the schools and classes different will be the other students in the classroom, the professors teaching the class, and the research the schools have done.  Sometimes these things can create a pretty big difference. And other times the differences can be marginal.

In terms of the professors and research, Kellogg fares quite well. At Kellogg, the Negotiations professors/research are part of the Management and Organizations (MORS), which is a really strong department here. Not only have they done  lot of great research but they’ve done much of it in negotiations. In part, that’s because Kellogg spends a lot of time focusing it’s curriculum on the soft skills, perhaps more than many of the other top schools. After all, keep in mind that Kellogg did pioneer the idea of incorporating teamwork in the business school curriculum, and the school is also on the cutting edge of leadership and social networks today.  In fact, even our current Dean, Dean Sally Blount, earned here PhD from Kellogg in the MORS department, and she did a lot of her research work in Negotiations.

That said, a number of other schools probably have pretty respected people in their departments as well. And you can find out about the various faculty members by looking online.

In terms of the student body, at Kellogg, the student population here is well suited for the class, on average. Not only are the students here accomplished but on average they’ve also slightly older than the students at other school. So as a result, you get a number of people that have done some negotiating in their prior careers, whether in private equity firms, banks, law firms (former lawyers), sales jobs, or in other roles. One important thing to remember is that these types of practical classes can sometimes change in quality depending on the actual students in the class.  So the better the quality of students in the class, the better off the class will be.

That said, a number of other top schools also have highly accomplished students who enroll. And in the end, it’s hard to predict where applicants get admitted, where they decide to go, and how the breakdown of ages will turn out. And even if you could predict those unpredictable tings,  you still couldn’t predict which students would decide to take a negotiations class, since that would be an elective and not a required course. And even if you could predict who might want to take the class, you couldn’t predict who would bid the right number of points to get it. So in the end, the composition of the class is nearly impossible to predict.

In the end, Kellogg’s negotiations class usually gets good reviews. It goes for a lot of points, has a couple of high profile professors, and teaches you the basics, alongside really smart classmates.  And while I haven’t taken the class elsewhere, I suspect there are at least a few other schools that would offer a similarly rewarding experience.

Good luck in your MBA pursuits!

Jeremy

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FOLLOW-UP QUESTION

Hi Jeremy,

I have one more question – in your post regarding JD-MBA, you had mentioned Kellogg even has a minor in Negotiations? I thought B-schools dont have minors?

Do they have such minors for the 2-year program as well?

Thanks and Regards,
(Name)

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FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE

HI (Name)

Thanks for your question. Kellogg is one of the only schools that does have majors, so students can opt to get a major in Finance, Accounting, Marketing and Management and Organizations, among other things. http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Faculty/Academics/Majors.aspx

At Kellogg, every student is expected to get at least one major to graduate. The majority of students finish Kellogg with at least two or three majors, and some students get as many as five and six.

IKellogg does not offer quite as many minors but one that is has historically offered in the Management and Organizations Department is Negotiations. http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Departments/mors.aspx Any student can get this minor as well as any major regardless of what program they are part of. It’s simply a function of completing the appropriate classes.

Hope that helps.
Jeremy

Forget the Resolutions. What’s Your Wildly Important Goal?

Everywhere you look today, people are talking about New Year’s resolutions. Ones they made last week and some they’re adding this week. They’re talking about how much weight they want to lose. What activities to get involved in. And how this year is going to be different from last year. But for most, New Year’s resolutions are usually a steep uphill climb. Things that most people don’t finish. Given that, I propose that it’s better to have Wildly Important Goals than resolutions.

What is a Wildy Important Goal you ask? In a recent blog post about WIGs I said I use the term WIG to describe those things that I’m most interested in pursuing.  The game changing ideas that you want to relentlessly work toward for as long as necessary. The ones that not only keep you up randomly until 3am when everyone else is sleeping but that also wake you up at 5am when the sun hasn’t risen yet. In business school, they’re the ones you skip the best party of the year to work on when everyone else is out.

In part, it’s because there’s only so much time we can bring to each commitment and that having too many resolutions will dilute” your effort. Further, having too many goals also means you’re not able to focus as well.

In a recent post by fellow blogger Erica Hawan, Erica talked about how great leaders of our time know how tofocus on what matters most. She gave the example of Jim Collins. who rejected what seemed like great career moves to go back to his hometown Boulder, Colorado and work on the sole question of ‘what makes great companies tick’ and on his books. In the end, he came up with a few masterpieces that we’ve all heard of:  Good to Great, Great By Choice, How the Mighty Fall and Why Some Companies Never Give In.

In the same spirit, I propose that it’s more important to identify game changing goals than to set resolutions where there aren’t any real consequences for not achieving them. Where there’s no real skin in the game. So find those game changing goals and pursue those relentlessly. Move the other things to the side and put a stake in the ground. Whether it’s admissions to your top school. Finding a new job. Winning a competitive fellowship. Starting a new company. Or getting involved in that game changing nonprofit.

And so that’s my challenge for you for 2012 — Clear the clutter of resolutions. Think about what matters most. Write down your Wildly Important Goals. Draw out your plan and figure out how to make it happen!

Because in the end, the best leaders know that it’s important to not only make goals … but also to make goals that are achievable and that you’re wildly passionate about.

Good luck!