Group Mentoring, Group 5 Session 2

By: Micaela Tremblay, Leadership Class of 2016

The second Group Mentoring session for Leadership sophomore, Zachary Blackwood occurred on October 22, 2012. The meeting began with everyone stating their boldest request they made since the last time we met. Our key takeaways from the activity were:

• Be very specific: set a time and to make it easier for the person to say yes or no
  • Be specific on what you want
• No is better than limbo
  • Then you can move on
• Accountability is key

The next question asked was how does one draw the line between being tenacious and being pushy?

• Telling them, I am following up in 2 weeks, is that ok?
• No timeline
• You know from your gut whether your being too intrusive or not
• Don’t rely on one line of communication
  • Get to know their assistant, ask the assistant what time would be best for that person and what line of communication would be best
• Know your intentions
  • Better to wait when you are ready and focused

Then the group moved on to a reflection of the last meeting’s question: is there anything to be afraid of?

• It is natural to have fear
• We use fear for energy
• Just ask yourself: is fear preventing you from moving forward?
• Whenever we have moments of fear make a note of it
  • Let yourself be vulnerable
  • Show in an interview where you had fear and how you used that energy to overcome it

After, the group started talking about entrepreneurship and suggestions on how to start your own business.

• Asking what is it going to cost, then how is it going to serve me and other people
• Running it by people, such as an advisory board
• Need to have a precise plan
• Be open to feedback
  • Know how corporate America works
  • If you knew you could not fail and money was not an issue, what would you want to be doing with your life?
  • If you have 10 years to live and 20 million dollars, what would you do?
    • You have to be passionate about your career and do what you want to do
    • Balance between being open and being focused by calling and taking your career into your own hands
    • There are no rules
    • Don’t rule out team building aspect, look for someone who compliments you and does the things you don’t like to do

The students then asked the executives how they found their passion.

• There is a higher power with a predestined plan where you can’t put all of your focus into what you think you should do
• Look at your classes and extracurricular activities to see where you feel the most at home and where you feel the passion
• You will know when you are at your peak performance
  • You will know what you don’t want
    • With age comes wisdom, you will learn what is your passion
    • Have an outlet with your passion
    • Success is individual
    • Be Disciplined
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of being an entrepreneur or being in corporate America?
  • Advantages of Corporate: external structure, research available for clients, more administrative support, depth of resources available to solve a problem, more stability in pay, benefits of health insurance, large amount of capitol
  • Need to balance life
  • Advantage of Entrepreneurship: Need an advisory  board (the ability to have change), you are in control,               
    • Disadvantage: have to know when enough is enough and when to stop
  • Where are you going to make your most impact?
  • Have to be passionate about any job that you do

• ← Group Mentoring, Group 4 Session 2
• November Stillman Student of the Month →