10 things I wish I’d learned in college
Recently I spoke to a group of undergrads in the communications school at my alma mater, the University of Central Missouri — something I always imagined doing but wasn’t sure how or when it would happen. As it turns out I was speaking at the Integrated Marketing Summit in Kansas City two days before UCM homecoming. I didn’t know what to expect when I reached out with an offer to share some insights from my career with the students, but the idea was warmly received by Tricial Hansen-Horn, public relations professor in the UCM Dept. of Communication.
My comments centered around things I’ve learned throughout my career that I would have like to have known sooner or felt would be relevant and helpful to these young people who are about to walk out of the halls of UCM and into the “real world” as I did nearly 20 years ago.
Key points of my talk included:
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Learning to cut bait sooner and the art of saying “no” (including a rare public display of my “no card”)
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The art of “pitching,” the perception of public relations and the radical shifts in PR over the past 10 years
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The difference between product and service businesses and the importance of scale
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Partnerships and the value of imbalanced ownership 49/51%
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The importance of salesmanship and how to ask for (and get) what you want
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The importance of relationships and distinctions between friends and contacts
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Knowing what you want and creating a mission statement for your life
- Why knowing yourself and your core values matters most
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The importance of learning to think critically
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Life is short, so thrive
While my talk was in the spirit of “giving back,” I did so knowing the fulfillment I would receive from doing it, something made even more meaningful by the feedback I’ve recived from both students and faculty who have followed up with me since then. The process was also cause for an introspective look at my career accomplishments, not judging good or bad, but rather taking a moment to reflect on several years of hard work and the value of those experiences. In sharing them I hope to have inspired a few of the students who turned out to hear me speak that rainy morning in October and that you too will consider doing the same and seeing what it does for you.
View my photos from UCM homecoming
