August Strategy Newsletter

Hey everyone,

Here is round two of the monthly newsletter. For those of you that are starting up school again, enjoy your time at BYU--it is a great place to be. For those of you that are starting up your jobs, hope the transition is going well. For those of you still looking for a job, please reach out to either LaDon or myself (and I am sure most everyone else in the program) if we can help you in anyway possible to help you achieve your goals.


Book of the Month--"Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi

I gave a review of the book, Never Eat Alone, last month and thought I could follow up with how that book helped me get my current internship. I'm working with Michael Horn, co-author (with Clayton Christensen) of Disrupting Class, on a project. I'll talk more about the project next month when I'm done.

When LEK pushed my start date back, I figured that was an opportunity to learn something new. I had just read Never Eat Alone which gives some terrific ideas about networking. I wrote a Wal-Mart's VP (I met her the day the Tanner Building extension was dedicated.) to ask what she recommended I do. She suggested I work for a nonprofit as it was a unique opportunity for me to do something like that. I thought of every job possibility I could and then started writing people. Here's my list of job possibilities:

1) Work for Innosight
2) Work for the Innosight Institute (nonprofit arm that works on Education and Health-Care Reform)
3) Work with an elementary school principal in my hometown on a few specific problems the school had
4) Work with a Catholic nun and her nonprofit organization in my hometown
5) Work for an NBA team
6) Work as an intern for a Senator or Congressman in DC
7) Work for the Treasury Department

I wrote Clayton Christensen (who didn't respond--I have heard his secretary looks at the emails.) about Innosight. I also worked with Charles a bit (Congrats Charles on the full-time offer!) to see what we could make happen. Nothing happened with them.

I also wrote Michael Christensen (who I met when he visited here back in October) about the Innosight Institute. He connected me with a friend there, and that led to my current internship. He didn't respond for one month, and then I had to write his friend at the Institute twice (about one month apart each time), but it worked out.

My mom set up #3 and #4 for me. I could have done that if I wanted, and it was a good option.

I wrote two people in the NBA. Someone referred me to one of them and the other I just wrote out of the blue, but neither responded.

I never pushed for #6, but I probably could have worked for the local Congressman at least because my parents are friends with him.

I helped a guy who ended up getting a job at a consulting firm prepare for interviews. He interned at the Treasury Department and could have helped me get a job there, but the Innosight Institute opportunity came up.

I share these things to let you know that everyone really can find opportunities. I come from a rural town and a family that never made more than $50,000 while I grew up, but I have been able to find terrific opportunities. Help people and get to know people as often as possible and great opportunities can come your way.

Interesting Articles

1) China: The New Big Oil

China is addressing the oil concern by proactively buying oil. Why haven’t we done something similar? (CNNMoney)

2) Camp Sundown Shines In The Bronx

This is a great article about some kids with a rare disease. I appreciate the willingness to care about some people in a tough spot. Also, I’m not a Yankees fan, but it’s tough for me not to like AJ Burnett after this.(ESPN)
Religious Tidbit

This is another book but LaDon recommended I read a book called The Peacegiver by James Ferrell. The author uses a fictional but very realistic struggling marriage to teach a principle of the Atonement we often don't discuss or think about. If there were a thesis in the book, in my mind, it would be that the Atonement does not only allow us to be forgiven of our own sins but it allows us to forgive others. It is a brilliant and creative book that clearly identifies how we can use the Atonement to forgive others. I listened to it on my long drive out to Chicago and my wife and I have been reading it again together--Thanks LaDon!

Websites of the Month

http://www.google.com/reader/

Most of you probably already know about or use Google Reader. However, for those of you that don't know it or have never used it, it is a very valuable tool to keep up on news, blogs, and any other sort of tidbit on the internet. I follow several blogs (Mark Cuban, Bill Simmons Twitter Feed, friends blogs, etc,) and it is very helpful to have everything at one place.

As a reminder, check out Mint.com if you are looking for a simple way to track your finances--It is GREAT!

Social Networks - remember to follow us on Twitter and join the LinkedIn group

http://twitter.com/byustrategy

http://www.linkedin.com/

In the search box: search "byu strategy" under groups