Elizabeth and Kaleb also took advantage of the free rides on the thrilling Thunderbird.
September 2017
The first part was how to network. He shared that people go where they are appreciated not tolerated. Rapport is key.
February 2018
Elizabeth Harla
About Me
I am a senior who attends Althoff Catholic High School. I was interested in the class because of the positive feedback I heard from students. I was also intrigued by a career path in business.
At school, I am involved in many clubs and organizations including Student Council, Student Ambassadors, Crusaders Take Action, Math Team, Film Club, Rotary, Crusader Cru, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I am also the Vice President of National Honors Society, was nominated by teachers and faculty to be an Althoff Catholic Enrichment Leader, and appointed to be a Sacristan. Another leadership position that I have held was Treasurer of the Turkey Hill Busy Bees 4-H Club. I am a four year member of the Women’s Varsity Track and Field and Women’s Cross Country Teams. I was also a part of the Volleyball Team my freshman year. For over a year now, I have held a part time job at The Abbey as a barista and spent many hours babysitting my neighbors.
I am reliable and willing to put in effort to get the job done. I enjoy running, attending school events, spending time with friends and family, and playing the violin. Currently I am looking to pursue a degree in architecture and possibly acquire my masters. I am undecided on a college, but searching for the right fit.
About My Business
My Featured Journal Entries
Not only was The Edge super fun to visit, but they also spoke about many interesting points. They talked a lot about how their business has changed over the years which helped them expand. The laser tag game has developed so much over the past years, and it is still evolving. To gain a wider audience they needed to incorporate other aspects of entertainment to draw in a bigger more diverse crowd.
Meeting with Mr. Mike Dunnigan at Trinity Financial Group was very educational because I had not previously had that much exposure to the investment business before. It baffles me how brokers are able to stay on top of the constantly changing stock market and make good choices for their clients. I think that someone in that field would require a great entrepreneur quality because they are always taking risks, and nothing is ever one hundred percent dependable.
By visiting Copper Fire, I was able to learn a lot about the restaurant business that I never even knew was important. For instance, large walls should be decorated in order to add to the environment of the setting, but it also assists in controlling the acoustics so the sound does not become too over powering. Also, running a kitchen takes lots of cooperation from the staff to be able to produce items in a timely fashion, so it is vital that the they follow precise procedures. That makes it more difficult to have a larger menu, but that is allowed with more time to adjust to it.
I cannot lie and say that I am sad that this is my last of these journals, but I have been able to get a lot out of doing them. They forced me to think deeper than just hearing the words of the speakers we have had, and they made me see the situation in its entirety. Hearing from a wide variety of people gave me the great opportunity to explore many fields and learn a lot I otherwise would not have known about.
05/04/2018
I really enjoyed visiting Chick-Fil-A with Matt Gilreath because he gave us lots of insight about the company’s culture. At Chick-Fil-A, they really prioritize the people above the business, which is why they are so successful. Whether it is their own workers, customers, or community, Chick-Fil-A focuses on the needs of the people. They like to support the people who help build them up. One of the ways they do this is by always furthering their experience and knowledge by passing on information and skills to coworkers so that they are suitable to fulfill their jobs. This is a key concept because they promote unity in their business rather than competition. By doing so, employees are more willing to fill their roles to the best of their ability, instead of just clocking in to clock out. When executives take the time to know their staff, it creates a innovative work environment.
It was also super interesting to hear from Tony Bryan from Midwest Cyber Center because he knows a lot about technology and we have not had anyone in that field speak to us before. He gave us a good reminder to be extremely cautious when using technology and other devices because there are many products that allow hacking so all it takes is someone who know how to use them to access your information. He mentioned that to work in that field, one’s education is constant because it changes and develops so rapidly. I think it would be an interesting career path because of all the advances, but personally I would not like to be stationary on a computer all day.
04/27/2018
For me, the trade show was a neat experience unlike anything I had ever done before. I never would have done anything like that if it were not for this class. To me, that is what CEO is all about. It shows what I can accomplish when I step out of my comfort zone and really apply myself. I feel very relieved having that under my belt now.
04/20/2018
I really enjoyed hearing Ed Horton’s story that he shared with us. His driving point was that if you want something, it does not matter what others think or say of you. You are the only person you can hold accountable for the success or failure of your venture. When owning a business, the amount of devotion that one puts into it has to be one hundred percent. If you get told no or you try something and it does not work, you have to attempt it again until something clicks and you find the solution you are looking for. Another trait of a business owner is that your innovative mind never turns off. A CEO is constantly thinking of new techniques or strategies to run their company. The level where you know you can confidently call yourself successful is not based off the concept of having the most or always wanting more, but rather, knowing the satisfaction that came from hard work and trials that finally paid off. Success can be in any type of form because it depends on the person.
I am excited for the trade show coming up soon. I decided I wanted to wait to open my business until then because I wanted to make sure my inventory would last. If any attendees want to purchase stickers, I would prefer to make the exchange there instead of having to mail the product. After the trade show, though, I will officially open up my business. Depending on how those sales go, I may need to order more inventory from the manufacturer I am going through for my decals. I am still working on coming up with a final plan for how I am going to set up my booth because I hope to stand out. To me, the trade show is a compilation of everything we have learned in the program throughout the year. It is the place to showcase the skills and qualities I have gained and how the CEO program has developed students to be successful young adults with entrepreneurial skills so others can see the impact it has on the community.
04/13/2018
This week, I really enjoyed meeting at Gas Light Vinyl with Greg Bach to learn about his recently started up company. He talked about how he got into the business by receiving help from Jo Ann and others from her department. He and his brother had to learn from experience which included some failures, but they gained lots of knowledge to apply to their next trials. When starting up a business, it is necessary to give it 100% priority because it is like a child that needs taking care of. There are many sacrifices and struggles that come from the process, but it should end up being very rewarding.
In my own personal business, I am finding that setting everything in places takes lots of attention to details, so I don’t run into unforeseen problems after I have opened up my business. I am excited, though, to finally get all of my financials and business plan out together so I can start making sales. I think that part will be more enjoyable because it is the act of actually running the business rather than setting it up. Once I start making sales though I will have to remain very organized to keep track of sales and orders. The aspect of donating to conservation organizations also excites me because I am glad that I can make a difference with the support of others.
As a city, Belleville has to run its operations very much like a business, which I never realized before. When our visitor from the city of Belleville came in it was interesting to hear from someone on the inside about their business. Lots of times I hear people complaining about how it is hard to do business with the city because they don’t seem to want to cooperate. The reason that the city sets limits and regulations on projects is ultimately to make sure the building or project stands the test of time. Keeping buildings and projects up to standards ensures that they are meeting the requirements to solve the bigger picture.
03/23/2018
This week when Mr. Mike Riley visited us I found his point on the importance of communication between employers and employees intriguing. It is important for employees to voice their needs and concerns to their employer because otherwise the company cannot be the correct fit for the employee. Sometimes, though, the employee just cannot fit the values of the company and therefore cannot remain there, but if the employee never speaks up then their boss will never have the opportunity to help them in the way they need.
An environment where the boss and workers communicate clearly is essential to the flow of a business. That is why Mr. Kurt Artinger has built Artigem the way he has. He took an old building and used a lot of creativity to turn it into a space where his employees have everything they need. He included a spacious break room, workout room, and other spaces for the his workers so they stay innovative throughout the day. Staying active throughout the day can improve productivity, so promoting it in a work place is essential for better results and happy workers.
Another one of our guests this week was Mr. Patrick McKeehan. He introduced us to elevator pitches, and gave us each good advice for how to approach our ways of advertising. The most important thing is to know who the customer is going to be so you can really focus in on them. Once you know specifics on who you are going after, it is easier to sell your product or service to those individuals. It is also very necessary to practice the business pitch before you deliver it to a panel or anyone because the more direct you can be, the better it will go. The audience will sense that you know the information better when you present yourself in a more confident manner.
03/16/2018
When we met with Pat Mathis and Kevin Richter, I especially enjoyed the part in our conference where we had a scenario to work through. I like that they engaged us in a real life instance because it forced us to think outside the box. Lots of the areas were relatable because we each have to go through a similar process for our personal businesses. I realized that when working in the business field, one constantly has to consider all the different possible things that could happen. I never really thought about how a law firm is handled like a business, though. My father is a lawyer, and I have been exposed to his job duties, but I guess I never thought about how the rest of the practice is run. It was interesting to hear the ways in which their business had to adapt and the other changes it has made throughout the years.
For my personal business, doing the financials is the hardest part for me because I feel like I am overlooking stuff. Personally, I do not think I have a whole lot of costs involved, so the fact that it seems simple makes me uneasy. I would have liked to meet with Jo Ann Di Maggio May once again this week, but unfortunately our class ran out of time. I feel as though I have a good sense of how I am going to start up my business, but getting it on paper properly is pretty stressful, especially because I have never done this before. I have asked my mentor for guidance, and she has been super helpful in the process so far. I hope we can meet to discuss things further, such as ideas for the trade show. Also, since I am going through a manufacturer for my product, figuring out what to actually order has been more difficult than I imagined. I am not familiar with the different ways things can be done, so articulating what I want stresses me out a little because I want to make sure we are on the same page.
03/09/2018
This past week, I was really interested in the video we watched about Simon Sinek’s Ted Talk. He emphasized that people tend to work harder and with more of a sense of purpose when they feel they are in a safe environment. A leader is someone that shows that s/he is willing to make sacrifices for the well being of the people in the business. This will make people want to follow this authoritative figure, instead of just going through the motions to satisfy the requirements for their salary. If everyone could have the mentality of “I do it for them because they would do it for me,” then people would be more cooperative and would voluntarily take care of each other. Another point that stuck out to me from that talk was how, when placed in a crisis, the CEO of a certain company did not do the normal thing, which would be to lay off many workers. Rather, he was determined to find an alternative way to fit the needs of his employers. His plan was very affective and boosted moral.
03/02/2018
This week when Bob Bunch visited us he emphasized the importance of networking. He was not the first nor will he be the last to inform us of its value, but he shared a very cool story. He was meeting up with someone new, but his network grew tenfold from that one meeting. One thing that stuck out to me from his story was how it ended up being a very successful and beneficial meeting because people were not timid or afraid to introduce themselves. If it had been me, I most likely would not have interrupted some strangers conversation because I would have felt out of place. His story reminds me that I need to get out of my shell in order to be successful. I may be able to be successful on my own, but it could save a lot of time by involving others to help me out. Teamwork is a very good component to have in a business, and it requires others ideas to produce something great.
Another point he brought up that caught my attention was that it is important to continuously be top of mind for customers. Adds are great because a lot of people can see them, but they lose their touch after a while and become ignored. More personalized marketing techniques usually have a higher efficiency rate. Calls and cards can remind a customer that they are more than just an average money source for you.
I also learned a lot from visiting JT McDermott’s remodeling business. Something that stuck out to me was that it is important to pay attention to what a customer does not want. That goes for employees as well because they will not want to work for someone who, for instance, will not do the tasks they are assigning. He also touched on the 4 core focus areas for success, which interested me a lot. Body, being, balance, and business are all very important factors that need to be managed properly in order to live well. I think balance is the most important because if someone is only good at one thing then they are lacking in many other areas, but on the other hand, if someone is spread too thin then they cannot devote enough time and effort to the things that are most important. Personally, I want to improve in these areas because I want to make sure I am reaching my top potential.
02/16/2018
When Kelly Quinn came and spoke to us about how important a diverse workplace was, one of the key points I picked up from her was that people do business with people. I realized that that is a very true statement because everybody wants to personally know the effects they have on their business. She also mentioned that a good way to sell your business is to tell the potential investor to “invest in me.” I found that to be a good driving point for when I was selling tickets. I had approached many of my teachers about buying tickets from me, and about a week later, I followed up with them. They told me they had received other offers from different students about buying tickets as well, mainly via email. One teacher asked me why he should buy a ticket from me instead of the others. I told him that I was not sure if I had really been the first to ask, but I wanted his business, so even though I do not have him for any of my classes I made the effort to keep stopping in to remind him about buying tickets. I wanted his business so I wanted to prove that if he invested in me, then he would know I was a hard worker who would get the job done. Our conversation ended with him telling me he would bring me money for next time, which showed me how far personal interactions go with people.
This week when we visited FKG Oil Company I really enjoyed their visit because they knew how to interact with us to keep us interested. From the slideshow presentation to the jeopardy game to the breakfast, they were able to draw in our interest so we could really focus on the points they were trying to convey to us. Just like they used hospitable tactics to entertain us, they have to use similar tactics on their customers. To move forward in their business, they have to further appeal to the needs of their customers so they are always looking to expand. Customer service and advertising seemed to be their top focus for achieving this. Their goal is to want their customers to enjoy their visit so they are more likely to return. By providing quality products with good deals, customers are more likely to trust in the company and will continue to give them their business.
02/02/2018
I have been thinking about my personal business a lot lately because I have been having trouble with the design part of it. First of all, since it is necessary for me to come up with a creative design that will sell itself, it puts pressure on me, somewhat taking the fun out of the project and stressing me out. I am trying to doodle in my spare time just to start getting some creative juices flowing, then maybe I can compile some into a bigger design for the final project. Before I meet with my mentor again, I want to have some designs to show her and also options for producing them. My idea started out as a tapestry, then evolved into tervis cups and then blankets. I am still not sure which one I want to go with because for a tapestry or blanket I have to create a design that is big enough to cover the entire thing, while a cup would be much smaller and show more detail, which is more of what I currently do. What it will really come down to though is the best manufacturer I can find for one of my three ideas. Meanwhile, I am going to keep drawing as much as possible to come up with something appealing and unique that customers will want to buy.
01/19/2018
This week I really enjoyed going to the St. Clare County Country Club because it was very interesting learning about etiquette. It was something different than what we normally talk about, but just like everything else we learn about, it is very important. Being able to handle and compose yourself while eating in a formal setting has a whole set of requirements, which we went over. Personally, I prefer to not eat around people I am not familiar with. On top of that, I am fairly reserved and making small talk requires a lot of focus and effort for me, so those would be two things I would have to work at. There is a lot one can tell by eating a meal with someone, so it is important to stay observant.
I was also very interested while visiting Memorial Hospital because I never knew much of the business aspect of a hospital. It mainly depends on healthcare, but there are other things such as constantly updating the treatments and care they provide. I did not realize that it such a competitive field. Another major factor for running a hospital is the government. Each year the hospitals have to work on making care more affordable since the government cannot offer them more money. It seems like it would be a very difficult task to manage and balance the yearly budget.
I am very grateful that JoAnne DiMaggio-May came in to help us with our class business plan. Since none of us had made one before, it was very helpful to have her experience with us to guide us through. Her resources will also be very useful in some of the later sections we work on. This project is very good practice for when we have to make our own for our personal businesses. It really is not as hard as I thought it was going to be, you just have to go through it section by section.
01/12/2018
I really enjoyed hearing Renea Eichholz’s backstory. She came a long way in the business world, and it was all because she was so determined. She never let other people hold her back. She had her mind set to do something and followed through because she kept her goal in mind at all times. To me, she really did fit the description of an entrepreneur because whenever she saw a problem with her job or company she fixed it or improved the situation. I want to assume that kind of characteristic because I often just go with the flow, but I have the potential to do so much more than that. I believe that could really help my work ethic. Also, I am also excited for her restaurant to open up so I can try it out.
When we visited the King’s House with the Boyers, I thought it was super interesting hearing from Geri how stress affects the body. It also made me a little worried because I know I stress very often, but I am going to start trying to meditate each morning and control my thoughts more. Meditating has so many health benefits, and my art teacher has taught me a little about it before. I’m hoping that by exercising my mind in this way, that I will be less stressed and able to accomplish what I need to do. Some things are always on my long term to-do list, and they stress me out, but with a clear mind hopefully I can get them done.
Our class business is coming up faster than I realize. Sometimes it seems like we still have a lot of time to figure things out, but in reality we need to have things in order very soon. Sometimes during our class days I feel like we waste time talking about unimportant or unnecessary hypothetical situations. I hope lots of companies get back to us soon about sponsorships because that would be great news. Also, I feel like I need to be more ahead on my personal business, but we never talk about those. I am really going to try and get a lot of work done during break on that so I can have a good start at least.
12/17/2017
This week I really enjoyed hearing from Andrew and Erica Barnell about their new business. The technology that they are developing has so much potential to change the medical field, and it was amazing to hear their new approach on treatment. They are the only company in the field that is attempting a new strategy for treatment, and it should be more effective. Their goal is not to dominate the field and make huge profits from it, but to make an affordable and less evasive alternative to colonoscopies. This way people will be more willing to get tested, which will lead to being able to prevent more gastronomical diseases. Since, their main target project is long term, they are currently working on spreading their new technology to other parts of the field. That way they can start making profits for their business, and it will also improve treatments for other diseases and animals. Their point is a company needs something to focus on, but diversity is also vital to grow the company. I think that is a good lesson to learn especially for myself because for my personal business I should most likely only start with one product, and hopefully it will be successful enough to where I can expand my product list to several other items.
When the leaders from Precision Practice Management visited us on Friday, I enjoyed hearing about the diversity within their executive branch. They all had different backgrounds and qualities that helps them lead their team. I thought it was interesting to hear about their situations where they had to handle with tough employees. Those decisions are very difficult, I’m sure, but somebody has to make them. Being a leader is not about giving orders to people below you, but it is about taking care of your employees. To me, it seems that PPM does a good job of that in their own company.
12/03/2017
My favorite thing that happened in the last two weeks was that I had the opportunity to meet with my mentor. I think we were matched up really well, and I am excited to see how it goes. She gave me some input on the flyers I am working on creating for the class business and gave me a very helpful list of places I could deliver the audition flyers to. We also discussed my idea for a personal business, and she seemed genuinely excited about it, which is a good sign. By doing my own designs, she pointed out that I will not have to be concerned about copyrights of other businesses, but I think I should make sure to protect my designs by getting them copyrighted. If I can make enough progress on my personal business, it would be very beneficial to have it going during the Christmas season because people could purchase my products as gifts. That would require a lot of work and research to get that done, but I am going to try. I am going to meet up with my mentor and her mentee from last year during Christmas break, and we can discuss how they were successful and see if any of their tactics would be applicable to me and my idea.
During Thanksgiving break I am hoping to research information on where I can get the best service and price for producing my product. I also will utilize the downtime to spend time creating different designs and prints. One of the reasons I am so excited for my personal business is because it collaborates with one of my passions—art. I have lots of fun doodling, and I always look forward to art class. Lately I have been using water color for my projects in that class, and that is what I plan to use to create my prints. It has the quality of looseness that will bring out the playfulness and lightness I want my products to be associated with.
I also liked hearing from Jason Eding because his field is constantly changing and being attacked. A lot of effort has to go into protecting the company he works for, and a single error can be catastrophic and costly. Everyday, his workers have to be on top of their game in order to keep their customers information safe. He also gave us helpful tips for when we go to interviews, since he is the one who interviews applicants and hires people.
11/17/2017
Starting off the week with Trep Start was very exciting. It provided us with so many opportunities to focus on important business aspects. The main one that stuck out to me was the positive attitude each entrepreneur had about their business. Since they were all so young, the fact that they had already grown their idea into a company shows how passionate they really are about their business.
For one of my break-out sessions I chose to listen to Ethan Kamat. His product was inspired by his want to help his mother and others with the same problem as her. This core foundation led him to the business world, and even when that idea has run out, he plans to pick something new he is passionate about and follow through with it in same way he did for his first idea. He gave us a good plan on how to turn our ideas into real products, and he gave us suggestions on tools to use to make it happen. Those materials should be very useful for when I start up my own business.
My second break-out session was with Remmi Smith. She was also very passionate about the core of her business which helped her be successful. She explained a lot about how to brand yourself and your product. It is important to advertise your product and service the right way in order for people to understand your business. It turns out it is a lot more complicated than I realize, and it will require a thorough investment of time when I brand my own business. One thing that can help with the process is creating good partners who will give your business credibility, monetary, or promotional value.
The Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce was very apt to helping us with our class business and personal businesses. They extended their services to us, and were very generous hosting us at their site. They gave us lots of resources and good advice for how to get the word out about our products and businesses.
11/03/2017
Lately school has been very overwhelming for me. On top of all the homework I have to do, I have college applications/essays, scholarships, my job, practices for cross country, meetings for clubs and organizations, practice for the ACT, and probably others I am forgetting about. While I am trying to balance all of those, I have been forgetting to make sure to take care of myself. When John Perles came and talked to us, I felt like that was exactly what I needed to be hearing. He gave us a lot of useful advice on how to focus on and accomplish our goals. He had a very engaging personality that made his presentation interesting to listen to and easy to understand.
One of his points that stuck out to me was that with all the energy that we possess, we can spend it either on our frustrations when life does not go as we expected, or we can direct it towards our plans. If we are in a tough situation then the only way to pull out of it is to put positive energy into it in order to obtain a positive output. This is something I can really work on so that I will not be as stressed. Sometimes all it takes to get on the right path is to set your mind straight and make a decision. Just having someplace to start is considered a good start. It is also important to know where you want to be, so you can bridge the gap between your currant stance and your goals, or where you want to be.
Most of the time people do not realize their capability and therefore miss out on achieving their full potential. Creating lists is a good way to free up space in your mind and allow creativity to flourish. I know that if I spend time focusing on a plan for my goals and bettering myself, then it will have a ripple effect on the people around me. It is important to stand your ground, but you do not want to come across as arrogant. Even when others are in the wrong and do not necessarily deserve kindness, it is important to show them compassion. Just because we can justify aggressiveness does not mean we should.
10/27/2017
Starting to put together our class business is difficult because it is hard to figure out where we can start. Every aspect depends on each other, which makes it difficult to decide on one thing when another is not for certain yet. For example, we cannot decide on a venue without knowing which date we are going to hold the event. I think it is very beneficial to have multiple committees working on different areas of the project because it is easier and more efficient to present ideas to the group in this way. Since we have such a high goal, it is going to take everyone’s effort and participation to make this goal come together.
I really enjoyed spending the first quarter at Allsup. They were generous enough to host us, and I think it was a great space for us to work in. It did not seem like a drab office building at all because it was very colorful, and I believe that makes a huge difference. From the outside of the building to the very room we spent our class days in, it was an attractive environment that drew me in and helped foster creative thinking. I hope Precision Practice Management is inspiring, but in own, different way.
When JoAnne DiMaggio-May visited us to discuss how to properly formulate a business plan, I was a little overwhelmed. It felt like another college application because they are both full of technicalities and details, while the purpose is to sell yourself/business proposal to people reviewing it for submission. It is not a circumstance where if you hit all the criteria, you are in. In order to be chosen you have to go above and beyond to impress people. If I just take it bit by bit, it should not be too terrible, though. I realize that this is a serious exercise that can be very beneficial for future references. This is one of my favorite things about CEO. This class lets me practice in the real word, while being guided and learning the process, instead of being thrown into the fire later on in life.
10/20/2017
The little lesson we had about capital gain stuck out to me this week because as beginners we have to build our reputations from scratch. During the meet and greet, Mr. Mentzer said we could not afford to burn bridges when we are just starting up. It’s a really good point because connections are very valuable and if we start losing the few we start out with we will not be able to go anywhere. Also, you should never put somebody else’s reputation on the line for the sake of yourself; it is not your personal capitol to spend.
The meet and greet went well again, I think. I liked that there were more people there this time because it was easier to join groups since they were not as big. There are a lot of people I would be excited to have as my mentor. There is a wide variety of personalities and businesses that the mentors bring to the table, and it makes getting to know them each interesting.
10/06/2017
This week during our first meet and greet, I was talking with Geri Boyer and she was asking about any ideas I had for my own business. I had been stressed about figuring that out ever since I signed up for CEO, and I still was very unsure what I would end up doing. She made a point about who your market is, and I realized college students would probably be the best for me. I tried to think of what college kids want/need so in my mind, I walked through my sisters college house. That’s when my idea for my business came to me. In university housing, the walls are always bare because students are not allowed to paint or change them so a lot of people try to cover them. One of the popular trends is to hang tapestries with designs or artwork on them. I have always enjoyed doodling and drawing, but usually, it is on my hand where it eventually gets washed off. If I could get my designs printed on tapestries or maybe even other items, they would obviously last longer. I will begin working with my art teacher at school to help develop styles and designs with different medias for my products which will be so much fun. I am really excited to begin working on my business now, and I hope that it can carry on past CEO.
Besides coming up with my potential business idea, I really enjoyed the meet and greet with prospective mentors. I was definitely nervous going into it because sometimes I have a hard time coming up with conversations with people I am not too familiar with, but I think I did well mixing in with groups and meeting new people. I am not sure who exactly I would like to be my mentor yet, partly because I have yet to meet half of the other options, but it was interesting hearing from all the different people there and connecting with them. Some of their questions were repetitive but it just gave me more practice for the next time I got asked the same question. The meet and greet was an opportunity that I would have never had if I were not in CEO, and I am very thankful to have had the chance to put myself out there and develop my networking skills already.
09/29/2017
One of the site visits this week was Kaskaskia Engineering Group, and it was really interesting. Personally, I enjoyed hearing the different jobs engineers have because I enjoy math and that field attracts me. Geri Boyer did a really good job of presenting them company’s values and work ethics. After hearing her talk, I was enthusiastic about touring the building and wanted to learn more about it. I think the way that they push each other to always do their best is very important and up lifting technique for business. Surrounding yourself with innovative minds is key to productivity. My favorite part, and the most unique, was the friendly dogs that wander the building. As a dog lover myself, I think that is an amazing way to relieve stress and help build a positive attitude in the company. A business term I had never heard before was DBE. Although “Disadvantaged” does not sound inviting, it is helpful for the business, and Kaskaskia hopes to grow out of it.
CEO Empowerment Day had a lot to offer. From performances to group projects it gave us many opportunities to learn. One quote I that stuck with me was “If it is to be, it is up to me.” It is a simple concept but hard to put into practice. Lots of times it is easy to slack off and expect others to fill in the gaps for you, but if you let that happen it may not turn out as well as it could have. The only way to ensure something is done right is to do it yourself. One of the lessons I picked up from Steve Davis that I think is very underrated is to know your worth. You are talented, and you should not be cheated out of what you deserve. Bob Schultz was able to give us a very good strategy to help with the art of conversation. I know I struggle with making small talk, and I really want to improve my skills in it. Whether at work speaking to customers, or conversing with adults, it is important to be able to hold up a conversation. There is always something you can learn about an individual or find something in common with them to spark a connection.
09/24/2017
This week we had a lot of time to work on our class project, and we made a lot of progress. We reached our goal for platinum donors and surpassed the cost of all expenses. People are beginning to become more comfortable in the position of being an entrepreneur, and it felt awesome to get my first sponsor.
One of our visitors this week were a few attorneys from Greensfelder. The main concept I picked up on is that they are mainly advisors, not just people arguing in court. Since only about one percent of cases actually get tried, that does not mean that the cases are just dropped. The majority of cases get settled by means of arbitration or mediation. It is usually much cheaper and better to work out cases in those ways. Every day is different for lawyers because they are always working on different cases. Sometimes they help each other out with their coworkers cases because they have more expertise in certain scenarios. Lawyers also have vigorous hours because even though they may be working an 8am-6pm day, they most likely will not have more than a six hour billing day. It is vital for them to maintain enough billing hours each year, otherwise their salaries will be deducted. One of the reasons they have such long hours is because technology has revolutionized communication, which is a blessing and a curse. It allows them to respond to their customers reasonably fast to make them satisfied, but it means the lawyers have to work extra time even when they have already had a full day.
Mr. Mentzer was very interesting to listen to. It turns out he owns many businesses in the area that I am familiar with. His big theme was to surround yourself in life and your business with people you know and trust. His partnerships and employees have good relationships, and it helps to make work very efficient. One of the points I was most interested in was the barge companies he works with all share the same profits and expenses. I thought that was a little odd because it does not seem like a usual business practice. Another thing that stuck out to me was his personable attitude. Mr. Mentzer has to collect many payments from his residential rentals by going to the buildings themselves, which is a lot of work to do. He understands his clients and works to please them in each of their own unique ways, and I think that is vital for a successful business.
09/17/2017
As a class, I think we made some real progress on our Badge Project this week. Our finances seem almost finalized so we can have a good estimate of what our goal is. More donors were gained this week thanks to a few of our classmates, which I think is encouraging the rest of the class to get out there and ask people to be investors. Even when it seems like we are making progress, it sometimes feels like we are just going in circles, and it is frustrating when I reflect on that and realize that not much has progressed. I am learning that tasks that seem simple can be more complicated than I originally assumed.
I thought our visit to TFD Supplies was very interesting because I am not very knowledgeable in the ways of online business practice. During the visit, he described his position as kind of the middle-man in his business process. He has to target new and former customers and also supply Amazon warehouses. The sales happen totally online, and he reaps the benefits as they come. His main strategy is testing out the waters, or the trial and error tactic. Before he was selling other products that were not as successful, and in the future, especially since his main product is technology, his market will be changing again.
His main focus is prioritizing his family over his business. He made it clear that while it is vital for his business to be successful, which takes a lot of time and effort, he does not want it to interfere with his family affairs at all. That stuck out to me because it shows his character, and it does not make him any less of an entrepreneur compared to a millionaire. Working from home allows his work to be very compatible, but it can also make it easy to accidentally bleed into family time. Currently, he is having to make cuts out of his personal time to efficiently run his business and help it grow, but he believes that it is worth it in the long run.
During the visit to Althoff, I already knew most of each faculty’s position, but the one I learned the most about was Mr. Crotty. I had no idea what his background was, and honestly, I barely knew what he did around the school besides maintenance. He emphasized that once you give up, you’re done. He had lots of setbacks, but he continued on and did what he enjoyed. His success now compared to what it used to be is on a much different level but still equal because he works hard at his job.
09/08/2017
This week during this class I have realized that a business can be completely different on the inside compared to prior standpoints. More times than not, I drive past many businesses and I do not even know what product or service they sell. After visiting a few local businesses, I understand that there are many innovative businesses that I thought were just slow, old, local companies.
The key concept I picked up from the visit to Holiday World was how important customer service is. The rule of thumb is if you make your employees happy, in return, they will make the customers happy. Creating an environment where employees feel relaxed and well-treated will result in higher productivity because they will be genuinely happy, and that is contagious. Being hospitable is the foundation of Holiday World. One of their polices is L-E-A-P which stands for Listen, Empathize, Apologize, and Perform, performance being the vital step in the process. This stuck out to me because everyone spreads their frustrations into irrational outlets. The problem a customer is upset about may have absolutely nothing to do with the worker they have come upon, yet they take it out on them. The workers at Holiday World have learned not to take it personal, and the best way to please the customer is to improve their situation in whatever way possible. Sometimes it may just be simply answering questions to clear up confusion, but their sole goal is to improve the customers’ situation and experience. Personally, I am going to strive to use this tactic when I am working now, and in the future.
During the visit to District Belleville Office, the concept of the importance of one’s reputation and Internet reputation were reiterated. The difference between the two is that one’s Internet reputation is documented and may never go away, whereas a reputation is just by perception. They are both equally important and require different maintenance and skills. For the Internet, one must remember to keep everything appropriate and try not to be very controversial. For a personal reputation, soft skills are very important, such as good eye contact, a firm handshake, and making small talk. These tips can take you a long way in life.
09/01/2017
At the beginning of the week when we started our first group project, I realized how much I enjoyed working and collaborating with a group. It brought out our group’s personalities, and showed what kind of dynamics people have to offer. Being in a new environment with people we do not know or normally interact with, I think we were able to productively begin to construct a plan for our Badge Project. I am excited to continue to work on it more soon and see how well it will turn out.
When Vertical Performance came and helped us with our team building, they taught us how important working together is. Listening to everyone’s ideas is key, and being open to improvements and suggestions is always useful. I learned that I need to work on being more attentive while listening. During one of the activities, one of the members introduced themselves to me and afterward, I realized I completely did not catch their name, even though we were making eye contact while speaking to each other. By the end of the session, I felt that as a whole, we all felt more comfortable around each other.
I especially enjoyed our visit to Holland because I have been considering a degree in architecture which coincides with construction. Mr. Marchal offered lots of good leadership advice, and one of my favorite points was that if you are presented with an opportunity to rise to the occasion, take it. I know I struggle with doing this now, and I want to push myself to practice this. I am also grateful for his input on the questions I asked him concerning architecture because now I think I have a better understanding of the career path I want to take. Coming into the presentation I did not realize how similar his job is to the one I might be going into, so it was very helpful to hear from him.
08/25/2017