8 Pieces of Advice for Current College Students

Look, as a recent graduate, I completely understand how stressful (and fun) college can be. In all that stress, it's easy to lose your sense of direction. If you're reading this and have no idea what the hell you want to be when you grow up, trust me, there's nothing wrong with that. You'll eventually figure it out. In the meantime, however, there are actionable things you should be doing while learning more about the world and discovering what you're passionate about. 

It's imperative you live in the moment and take advantage of your years at school; while at the same time, work to set yourself up for future success. 

Here's how I would suggest doing that: 

1. Have fun: I'm putting this first because I find it most important. While at school, you'll meet some incredible people like I did at St. Bonaventure University & Oxford. Spend as much time with them as possible doing the things you enjoy. Live it up while you can -- you'll thank me on graduation day. 

2. Get involved: In my interview at McWhorter Driscoll, (and at every other interview for that matter) Susan and Dill were very curious to see what kind of extra curricular activities I had gotten involved in. Your grades are certainly important, but they're not worth much if that's all you focus on. Seek out clubs that offer real-world experience and join them quickly. The sooner you get involved, the more likely you are to find yourself in a leadership position (which drastically increases your odds of landing a job).

3. Yearn to learn: Even if you're not completely sure what you want to do post-grad, take the time to soak up knowledge outside of the classroom. YouTube and the Internet are incredible tools and I would highly encourage utilizing them to teach yourself a skill! For example, if you're a marketing major, go get Google AdWords Certified.  Future employers only care about two things: who you are as a person, and how you can contribute to the team. It's why I believe your skills are more important than your GPA. Make sure you leave college with a few of them.

4. Take advantage of office hours: All it takes is 1 professor to change your life. You'll have bad ones and good ones but I'm telling you one thing remains the same -- you must take advantage of their office hours. Prove to them you care about their class and their time. Not only will doing this give you browning points, but you also may also just find yourself a mentor.

Which leads to my next piece of advice..

5. Seek out mentors: A true mentor does't have to be a higher-up at some fortune 500 company. A mentor is simply someone who can give you sincere and objective advice -- they can be priceless. Not only will they help you learn more about the world, they'll help you learn more about yourself. I've found that your professors make the best mentors. However, fellow students can also provide words of wisdom when you need them most. No matter who it is, find that person and heed their advice.

6. Spend some time interning: An internship a great way to discover what you enjoy, it's also a great way to discover what you don't. Before I began my journey in advertising, I was once an aspiring journalist. I sought out an internship at a local TV news station, and man was it awful. Though through that experience, I learned journalism just wasn't for me. I'm extremely thankful I learned this while at school when I still had time to switch my major. 

7.  Learn how to write: I used to think good writing meant using fancy words. Now, I understand it what it really means -- getting your point across clearly and concisely. No matter your profession, writing is inevitable. The best part is, all you have to do make it a strength of yours is practice. 

8. Study abroad: Traveling to a foreign country teaches you invaluable life-lessons and skills you can't learn in the classroom. Studying abroad gives you a global perspective which is becoming more and more important in our global economy. Not to mention it looks great on your resume. 

And there you have it.. The only 8 pieces of advice you'll need to succeed at college. I'm kidding of course, but these bits of knowledge will certainly go a long way to ensuring your making the most of your investment.  

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out -> will@mcwhorterdriscoll.com

Have a Yegative Attitude

Dill was in a meeting last week and someone asked, “how do you stay positive?” It brought a smile to his face as Bryan Brousseau, an early ignitor, popped into his memory. They were in Seoul, South Korea bringing the Olympics to Life working with Coca-Cola on the 2004 Global Olympic Torch Relay. Everything that could go wrong with the stage video screen was going wrong, and we had less than one hour to fix the screen before the big event began. Some of the team was panicking. Small detail that this was Samsung’s Worldwide Headquarters, and Samsung was a major sponsor along with Coca-Cola for this Olympic Torch Relay. The Samsung team was understandably getting quite upset. Dill grabbed Bryan and escorted him around a corner out of sight and said, “We must not panic, We can do this!” Bryan looked at Dill and said, “Let’s make this a Yegative!” 

In life, we all have moments like these. Thank you Bryan for reminding us to just turn those Negatives into “Yegatives”! The Torch arrived a bit late, the video screen got fixed, and the show was one of the best of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. 

We are certain that if you approach everything you do with a “Yegative attitude”, you will always have a great outcome.

Your Destiny is the Consequence of Your Daily Decisions

We have seen this written in many places with no mention of the author. It is a shame, because he or she deserves credit for such a great thought. 

As we prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Blue Planet Run here at the Farm, it is with great respect as we think of those 20 Intrepid Spirits who ran around the 40th parallel in 94 days. We stepped off from the United Nations Plaza at 10h00 on 1 June 2007, and we returned exactly on schedule on 4 September at 10h00. We were told it was impossible; runners could not run 10 miles everyday for 94 days. Well, the doubters did not know our amazing team. This team made daily decisions that affected their destiny on completing the mission. Small decisions such as getting enough rest, eating the right foods, not pushing their limits for no reason, as well as big decisions of do I let someone take my shift since my muscles are about to bend beyond repair and need a day of rest. These men and women attacked each day with passion, purpose and positive expectations. They ran to deliver to the world the message that we can provide safe drinking water to everyone. We are still pursuing that relief of clean water for everyone, and should never stop pursuing the challenge until it is complete. The Rotary accomplished the unbelievable of conquering polio; so why can’t the world conquer safe drinking water? Our daily decisions do impact the result.

What is your passion, purpose, positive expectation for today? Let’s make a great decision that leads to a great destiny.

Stay Low . . . Keep Moving

Four words that ring so true in the month of May.

Stay low…Keep moving…

Dill cannot remember the first time he heard these words…but…Ed Bradley, a friend of Dill’s who did not make it home from Vietnam, for sure spoke these words to him as Ed was heading back to Vietnam after his leave. 

These words are not only true in the military but also in life. Some days we just need to stay low and keep moving to overcome the obstacles and stuff that is thrown our way. And great things will be on the other side of the mud and confusion. Persistence and perseverance are key to success.

As we celebrate our Heroes during Memorial May on Carry The Load, we can only thank those men and women who do that every single day. They protect us whether in the Armed Forces or as our Police, Firemen, or EMT’s. They are the people that help make this country so great. We thank you all for your service and pray that you …Stay Low…Keep Moving.

Thoughts From Dill & Susan

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is who you really are, while your reputation is merely what people think you are.” John Wooden

Susan attended a funeral this weekend of a wonderful lady who lived 85 great years. She and her husband who passed two years earlier were married for 62 years. They lived in a small town, yet he was a successful business man that had been exposed to the world. They both treated every one the same – with respect and love. The gentleman was one of the first and most sincere people that welcomed Dill, the Northerner, to the South and genuinely cared about him and who he is. Funerals enable us to sit down and reflect on this thing called life, and these two people lived life well. I contrasted this funeral with a church full of people who truly cared about this lady with another funeral we attended several years ago (in fact we have been to a few like this unfortunately) where the chapel may be full or not full, but the family thought they were somebody. They had big jobs or big roles and did do some great things in the world, but were they truly loved or was it just their position that focused on their reputation and not their character? You could just tell the genuine love and respect were not there. 

We have quoted that your integrity is all that you have and that is based on your character. Today we encourage you to think about your true character and how do you really want to be remembered. Someone who had a big job and lots of “toys” or someone who was truly loved? You can have the “toys” and the character, but only if you focus on being the best you. You can start today.

To honor those with character, Carry The Load has been on the road over a week now. The east coast team is just south of Charlottesville, VA and the west coast team is just north of Los Angeles. The weather has been nice so far this year, and everyone is doing great. If you have a moment, please check them out and take a moment  to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 

http://carrytheload.org“>Carry The Load

New Adventure

In the past as I have started new adventures, friends have helped me get jump started.  One night after I started Momentum, I was sitting around with Bill Fitzgerald and dreaming about what I would call my next company, and we came up with ignition –  you have to have ignition before you can have Momentum.  Then we decided the next one would be Spark, but believe it or not several years later another marketing company out of St. Louis was named Spark.  Always ahead of the curve or as I tell my students – be thinking five years ahead always.

Several years earlier when I had just started ignition, Tim Brennan and I were sitting around trying to think of a rally cry for the team.  We came up with Poise – An attitude of confidence which comes from complete honesty.  A belief in what you are doing is good for you and the customer.  To have complete trust in the mission.  Poise has lived with all of Susan and my teams since.  Core values are always relevant.
So, with our first blog of our next journey as consultants, I wanted to share a lesson shared with me the other day by Joe Ehlinger, one of the most creative people I know.  Thanks Joe for sharing this with us.

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"The Importance of get ahead, stay ahead"

By Joe Ehlinger

In most sports, you play against two opponents:  the other team.  And the Clock.

Now most of your training week is spent analyzing the other team.  You learn their plays. Their players.  You devise strategies to neutralize their strengths and accentuate your own.

But surprisingly, very little time is spent discussing the other opponent:  the clock.
In a choice between the other team and the clock, you should know this:  Your planning and training may have an effect on the other team.

However, you are absolutely powerless against the clock.

The clock has no emotions.  It doesn’t care.  It is relentless.  It will continue to tick away until you are out of time…and if you are behind when time runs out…you lose.

That is why it is so important at the outset of a project to “Get Ahead and Stay Ahead.”  You need to attack a project right from the start.  The time at the front is the most valuable.  Do not let it slip away.

If you can get out in front of a project, the advantage is yours.  More options are open.  You can clearly think through decisions.  You are in control.  You are steering the process.

If you get behind the clock, you are forced to play catch up.  You are constantly on defense against time.  You will over reach.  Become frustrated.  Then desperate.  And odds are you will either lose or have to accept a result that is far from satisfactory.

Always put the clock on your side.  Get ahead, stay ahead.  Get out in front.  Lead.  Command.  Once you establish traction and momentum, you may find your projects move through to approval and execution more swiftly, because fewer people will want to oppose or obstruct you.

Happy 4th of July

As we celebrate Americas’s independence and freedom, today we give special thanks to all those who have made this possible. With that said attached is a video of Lake Placid’s own Kate Smith singing God Bless America. Enjoy! 

Memorial May Lessons

This is a month to honor those that paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect us on the front lines whether in the military or in our communities. With reflection on these veterans as well as the 7% of American citizens that commit to our military and our country and its values, it is appropriate we have been reading several books about the positives of companies hiring veterans due to their focus on mission and attributes of preparedness, strong work ethic, problem solver, integrity, commitment to values and many more.

One thing that has really stuck out this week is that the US Marine Corps teaches – “do the right thing in the right way for the right reason.”

As we read about the less than exemplary work places of Uber and WeWork, it makes one think where has this generation of business leaders gone astray? Where are the values?

Most of these companies have a mission, and most of those mission statements include a sense of doing good for society in some way, where they miss the mark is the core values that are lived by example every day by the business leaders. We have heard recently from a young start-up company with significant potential to be a positive influence on millions of people’s lives that they “need to get their culture document complete.” This company is over three years old and quite frankly at the senior level has quite a toxic work environment. Why? Because the leadership isn’t living every day the values they truly want the company to have. Is it these young leaders fault? We don’t think entirely, part is the fault of society and the values our youth are learning from their “mentors.” Or maybe they are new values and society hasn’t caught up with the new value system.

But let’s not worry about fault, let’s focus on the future. This is where a seasoned business people can partner with these young leaders in a totally collaborative way where everyone is learning from each other and build a powerful enterprise and positive influence on the world. We both look back at our business careers and know that we learned so much about the human side of business from those before us with some time and many experiences and situations in the past to help frame good business decisions in the present. We believe there is a great world ahead of us where the older generation partners with the newer generation and bring each other’s relevance to building companies that literally in a positive way can change the world. Look for those company’s and support them to show the world it can be done and be successful making a positive impact on all those stakeholders that interact with that Company.