Hey everyone,
LaDon Linde, Jr. and I have put together a newsletter and hope to send one out monthly. We hope this will help us stay connected and share a variety of things with one another i.e., experiences from our jobs, books we are reading, cool websites, finance tips, spiritual topics, challenges, and any other tidbit that can help us stay connected and learn from one another. We realize this is the first of hopefully several to come so please send us feedback. We really want this to be a valuable resource to all of us. Please feel free to contact either of us with any ideas or feedback you might have, or to simply tell us how you are doing.
LaDon Linde, Jr.: ladon84@hotmail.com 509.901.1558
Nate Lawler: natelawler@gmail.com 951.526.7840
Below, are three write ups by Charles Barrett (Innosight--Boston, barrett.charles.e@gmail.com), Jeff Brownlow (Bain--Dallas, jcbrownlow@gmail.com), and Neal Watterson (Aon--Chicago, nealw33@yahoo.com ). We asked them to tell us about their experiences and sent them questions that we thought would be interesting to hear about. Thank you guys for taking the time to write these up--we appreciate it!.
Book of the Month--"Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi
Dr. Godfrey suggested that I read Never Eat Alone, a book about networking. It was well worth it and is something I would recommend to everyone. Networking is an overused and misunderstood word. Ferrazzi does a good job explaining what it is, how important it is, and what’s the right way to go about doing it.
The biggest key: give, give, give. Look for ways to reach out to people and help them (because you care about people--not just to get things). For example, as a result of this book I wrote a guy that had wanted to interview me for a job (but I was lucky enough to have one) and asked if he’d filled the position. He said no, so I connected him with another good friend of mine who was looking for a job. My friend told me that if I ever wanted to use his family contacts for anything (his grandpa and two uncles went to Harvard, and his other grandpa is very wealthy) I could. That offer was given because I was looking out for him the best I could.
Ferrazzi explains well that truly caring about people and working to improve their lives is really the key to networking. You will receive as you truly give. It's something very analogous to church service. While some believe that church service leads to blessings, really church service is the main blessing. It brings with it a lot of great things. So it goes with networking--give and you naturally receive. When you read the book you'll understand this better. Thanks Prof. Godfrey for helping me learn this lesson! LaDon
Interesting Articles
1) In Search of the Science Behind the Healing Powers of Art
Interesting article on art having power; I believe the mind has a lot of power to affect attitudes, perception, beauty, etc. These ideas are fascinating. It’s also a reason why being careful and wise with music that we listen to or images that we see are very important.
2) A Reckless Congress
Democrats want to ram through one of the greatest raids on private income and business in American history
Religious Tidbit
LDS Conversations: Elder and Sister Bednar
Very good conversation with the Bednars! Seriously excellent!
They talk about reasons they travel to certain places as GA’s (i.e., even though they go to set apart a new Stake President, usually there’s another reason they are sent to a certain place), bring up mistakes they’ve made, give advice, etc. As candid a discussion as we get with members of the Twelve.
Website of the Month
Mint.com
I am sure several of you have already heard about this site. I heard about it over a year ago and find it to be very useful to organize my finances.
www.addall.com - if you wan to get a cheap copy of Never Eat Alone
Social Networks - remember to follow us on Twitter and join the LinkedIn group
Twitter
LinkedIn
In the search box: search "byu strategy" under groups
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Jeff Brownlow, Neal Watterson, Charles Barrett Updates
Charles Barrett (Class of 2009)—Intern with Innosight—Boston
Hey everyone. I'm out in Boston for the summer interning with Innosight, and Nate asked me to share some thoughts about my experience. I think some of the best advice on how to stand out was given to us by Jeff Dyer. He told us to run a sprint when you first get to a company and are establishing your reputation. Later, you can slow down to a marathon pace and settle in for the long haul. I am definitely sprinting right now, so things are pretty busy.
I think one of the most important things my managers are looking for is the ability to be very detail-oriented but at the same time understand the big picture. Knowing what level of detail to give in your analysis based on your audience and the circumstances is extremely important.
My work is all really interesting. For example, Innosight holds a CEO Conference every year where 20-30 CEOs and major executives get together for a day and participate in discussions led by Clayton Christensen, Mark Johnson (Chairman of Innosight), Scott Anthony (President of Innosight), etc. This year's attendees are really interesting, and I spent some time doing background research for Scott on innovative things these companies have done in past downturns.
What we learned in the Strategy program has been invaluable here. Innosight is really all about helping clients create sustainable growth by aiming at where the target will be, not where it is now. Our program focused a lot on helping us think about how industries and markets will evolve over time. I still remember when we drew all the normal consulting frameworks up on the board and then talked about how these gave snapshot views of industries at one point in time. Only frameworks like Clayton Christensen's (and others based on Shumpeter's work) give an industry perspective over time.
A little background on how I got the internship: I applied to Innosight through their website (no eRecruiting posting). The first interview round was over the phone with an associate, and the second round was over Skype with five very senior people (the President, partners, and a principal). If I could do it all over again, I would definitely still come here. The work is interesting, and I get to interact with all these thought leaders. For example, just about a week ago, Clayton Christensen came in and talked to us. I know it sounds geeky, but I felt like I was meeting a rock star. It was actually way better than meeting a rock star because Clay seems even smarter in person than on paper. How many rock stars sound better in concert than on CD?
Boston is a great city. Having grown up in the south, it feels strange to be somewhere that is only 70-75 degrees in the middle of summer. There are three large singles wards, and we currently meet in an Episcopal Divinity School (with holy water and everything) because our building burned down in May. The stake is actually 58% single, so many of the stake leadership positions (Relief Society presidency, Young Men's presidency, etc.) are filled by singles.
I would love to hear what everyone else is up to, so be sure and contribute to the newsletter. Thanks guys (and gals).
Neal Watterson (Class of 2010)—Intern with Aon Consulting—Chicago
Chicago is a great place to be during the summer. The weather is pleasant and there is always something to do in the city. Some of the highlights have been sailing, beach volleyball, and visiting the Aquarium. Working on the Global Strategy Team for Aon has taught me valuable insights into the business world. I have been working on a variety of projects including: acquisitions, investigating a new service line opportunity, providing strategic insight into the health care reform, as well as building a program in excel that will be used extensively in creating financial reports and graphs for senior executive meetings. I enjoy the variety as well as the analytical problem solving required for the projects I work on. I have found that my classes at BYU have greatly enhanced my experience as I draw from them in tackling each project. I have also identified areas for improvement which has helped shape the classes I will take in the remaining semesters at BYU. More than anything I enjoy the people I work with. They are smart, hard working and fun to be around. Not a day goes by that I am not laughing—usually at Nate Lawler and the pranks that have been played on him. All and all, I have greatly enjoyed my experience and look forward to returning to BYU in the Fall.
Jeff Brownlow (Class of 2010)—Intern with Bain & Company—Dallas
Since joining Bain I have tried to be in early and don't leave too early. Getting to know everyone in the office and being as flexible as possible when plans change etc. My manager seems to appreciate a positive and upbeat attitude everyday. High quality work and no stress. He wants to know that he can call on me 'in the heat of battle' and know that I'll jump right in, do it fast, and do it right. I think looking back I would offer the advice of trying to carry yourself with sense of purpose and gratitude. The fact is, most guys who get an interview (and even some who don't) are capable of doing the job. It's hard to pat yourself on the back if you land a spot or to beat yourself up too much if you don't, simply because of the high level of subjectivity during the process. Humility and gratitude regardless of what end you land on are key to doing well.
Currently, I'm staffed on a team that is working for a CEO of a massive consumer products company who is under a ton of pressure. Getting to work on the issues that keep him up and night is pretty darn interesting. Even though my experience has been great I would have to say that my least favorite thing is the high level of variance. While I like variety, one day you're getting crushed and the next you're looking for things to do.
I have been very surprised at how much relevant class material is in helping me on day to day assignments. If I had respect and appreciation for David Bryce and Jeff Dyer and what they've put together in the strategy classes before coming to Bain, my feelings are now 5X what they were. I definitely feel like the most prepared guy in the room often. I don't mean to say that I'm the smartest or the best, but that the case studies and skills I learned in my strategy classes are extremely useful.
I originally met a couple of Bain guys at a career fair at the Wilk. I was intrigued, so I sought them out afterward and started making friends with other guys from the firm. I did 8 or 10 cases and applied.
The things that I like about Dallas are the cheap housing, the weather is moderate, people think big and are active, and Dallas has a very family centered culture. The LDS population is strong. I've been playing a ton of golf and loving it. I'm reading Great Expectations by Dickens and studying for the GMAT.
Questions
We sent out questions to Charles, Jeff, and Neal that we thought would be interesting to hear about. If you have any others you think would be good, please send them. Here is the current list of questions:
1) What are you trying to do or doing that is helping you stand out?
2) What are some of the key factors that your manager is looking for from you?
3) If there was one thing you could pass along to us that you have learned what would it be?
4) What's the most interesting thing you've done?
5) What do you wish you'd known before hand?
6) What do you least like about the job?
7) Does anything from class apply to what you're doing?
8) How did you get the job?
9) Would you go back if you could do it over again, why?
10) Anything you like about the city (Also, what don't you like about the city and how is the LDS culture there)
11) Any hobbies you're working on--things you like to do, books you've read lately that you'd like to recommend, etc.
12) What questions, if any, do you have for everyone else?
Hey everyone. I'm out in Boston for the summer interning with Innosight, and Nate asked me to share some thoughts about my experience. I think some of the best advice on how to stand out was given to us by Jeff Dyer. He told us to run a sprint when you first get to a company and are establishing your reputation. Later, you can slow down to a marathon pace and settle in for the long haul. I am definitely sprinting right now, so things are pretty busy.
I think one of the most important things my managers are looking for is the ability to be very detail-oriented but at the same time understand the big picture. Knowing what level of detail to give in your analysis based on your audience and the circumstances is extremely important.
My work is all really interesting. For example, Innosight holds a CEO Conference every year where 20-30 CEOs and major executives get together for a day and participate in discussions led by Clayton Christensen, Mark Johnson (Chairman of Innosight), Scott Anthony (President of Innosight), etc. This year's attendees are really interesting, and I spent some time doing background research for Scott on innovative things these companies have done in past downturns.
What we learned in the Strategy program has been invaluable here. Innosight is really all about helping clients create sustainable growth by aiming at where the target will be, not where it is now. Our program focused a lot on helping us think about how industries and markets will evolve over time. I still remember when we drew all the normal consulting frameworks up on the board and then talked about how these gave snapshot views of industries at one point in time. Only frameworks like Clayton Christensen's (and others based on Shumpeter's work) give an industry perspective over time.
A little background on how I got the internship: I applied to Innosight through their website (no eRecruiting posting). The first interview round was over the phone with an associate, and the second round was over Skype with five very senior people (the President, partners, and a principal). If I could do it all over again, I would definitely still come here. The work is interesting, and I get to interact with all these thought leaders. For example, just about a week ago, Clayton Christensen came in and talked to us. I know it sounds geeky, but I felt like I was meeting a rock star. It was actually way better than meeting a rock star because Clay seems even smarter in person than on paper. How many rock stars sound better in concert than on CD?
Boston is a great city. Having grown up in the south, it feels strange to be somewhere that is only 70-75 degrees in the middle of summer. There are three large singles wards, and we currently meet in an Episcopal Divinity School (with holy water and everything) because our building burned down in May. The stake is actually 58% single, so many of the stake leadership positions (Relief Society presidency, Young Men's presidency, etc.) are filled by singles.
I would love to hear what everyone else is up to, so be sure and contribute to the newsletter. Thanks guys (and gals).
Neal Watterson (Class of 2010)—Intern with Aon Consulting—Chicago
Chicago is a great place to be during the summer. The weather is pleasant and there is always something to do in the city. Some of the highlights have been sailing, beach volleyball, and visiting the Aquarium. Working on the Global Strategy Team for Aon has taught me valuable insights into the business world. I have been working on a variety of projects including: acquisitions, investigating a new service line opportunity, providing strategic insight into the health care reform, as well as building a program in excel that will be used extensively in creating financial reports and graphs for senior executive meetings. I enjoy the variety as well as the analytical problem solving required for the projects I work on. I have found that my classes at BYU have greatly enhanced my experience as I draw from them in tackling each project. I have also identified areas for improvement which has helped shape the classes I will take in the remaining semesters at BYU. More than anything I enjoy the people I work with. They are smart, hard working and fun to be around. Not a day goes by that I am not laughing—usually at Nate Lawler and the pranks that have been played on him. All and all, I have greatly enjoyed my experience and look forward to returning to BYU in the Fall.
Jeff Brownlow (Class of 2010)—Intern with Bain & Company—Dallas
Since joining Bain I have tried to be in early and don't leave too early. Getting to know everyone in the office and being as flexible as possible when plans change etc. My manager seems to appreciate a positive and upbeat attitude everyday. High quality work and no stress. He wants to know that he can call on me 'in the heat of battle' and know that I'll jump right in, do it fast, and do it right. I think looking back I would offer the advice of trying to carry yourself with sense of purpose and gratitude. The fact is, most guys who get an interview (and even some who don't) are capable of doing the job. It's hard to pat yourself on the back if you land a spot or to beat yourself up too much if you don't, simply because of the high level of subjectivity during the process. Humility and gratitude regardless of what end you land on are key to doing well.
Currently, I'm staffed on a team that is working for a CEO of a massive consumer products company who is under a ton of pressure. Getting to work on the issues that keep him up and night is pretty darn interesting. Even though my experience has been great I would have to say that my least favorite thing is the high level of variance. While I like variety, one day you're getting crushed and the next you're looking for things to do.
I have been very surprised at how much relevant class material is in helping me on day to day assignments. If I had respect and appreciation for David Bryce and Jeff Dyer and what they've put together in the strategy classes before coming to Bain, my feelings are now 5X what they were. I definitely feel like the most prepared guy in the room often. I don't mean to say that I'm the smartest or the best, but that the case studies and skills I learned in my strategy classes are extremely useful.
I originally met a couple of Bain guys at a career fair at the Wilk. I was intrigued, so I sought them out afterward and started making friends with other guys from the firm. I did 8 or 10 cases and applied.
The things that I like about Dallas are the cheap housing, the weather is moderate, people think big and are active, and Dallas has a very family centered culture. The LDS population is strong. I've been playing a ton of golf and loving it. I'm reading Great Expectations by Dickens and studying for the GMAT.
Questions
We sent out questions to Charles, Jeff, and Neal that we thought would be interesting to hear about. If you have any others you think would be good, please send them. Here is the current list of questions:
1) What are you trying to do or doing that is helping you stand out?
2) What are some of the key factors that your manager is looking for from you?
3) If there was one thing you could pass along to us that you have learned what would it be?
4) What's the most interesting thing you've done?
5) What do you wish you'd known before hand?
6) What do you least like about the job?
7) Does anything from class apply to what you're doing?
8) How did you get the job?
9) Would you go back if you could do it over again, why?
10) Anything you like about the city (Also, what don't you like about the city and how is the LDS culture there)
11) Any hobbies you're working on--things you like to do, books you've read lately that you'd like to recommend, etc.
12) What questions, if any, do you have for everyone else?
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