JEREMYCWILSON.COM

What’s Your Story?

The stories that we tell each other are of the utmost importance. They matter not only in business but also in law.  The stories we tell in our MBA applications and law school applications. The stories we tell in our interviews. And the stories we tell about our careers. We can inspire people behind us and inform others how they can succeed themselves. As such, I propose that one of the best things we can do is learn how to become better storytellers.

This quarter I am taking a class on public speaking. In short, we spend the entire time giving short talks and speeches in front of a group of about 15 other students. And then we spend the rest of the time helping evaluate classmates who give their talks and speeches. As you might imagine, this is one of the hardest skills to perfect. Not just because it’s tough but also because it’s something every one of us fears. At least at first.

The first thing we learn in the class is that public speaking is the thing people fear most.  In fact, we learn that the order goes: (1). Fear of public speaking (2.) Fear of death and (3). Fear of spiders (Arachnophobia). But this doesn’t come as a surprise. After all, nearly everyone I know got a bit nervous about speaking in front of crowds.  And the same is true for most of the people in the class. And these are some of the smartest, and most accomplished people across the US.

My goal today is to become a better public speaker and more importantly a better storyteller. Imagine how you feel when you go to an inspiring talk. Imagine how you left inspired and with more insight than before you heard it.  And then imagine how you feel when somebody shares the details in a compelling way. Maybe they’re smiling. And maybe they discuss the nuances of the story and keep you on the edge of your seat. And in the end, you feel like you took part in their story, not just listed.

I propose that the ability to do this is one of the most important things we can learn. In the business world, we can tell great stories about our companies to investors to get more funding. And we can tell stories to recruit top employees to work with us. In the public sector, we can tell stories about our visions to inspire people to work on our campaigns. And we can tell stories about the future, not only to get more funding but also to build our constituent base. And in law, we can tell stories about our clients. And we can compel the judges and juries to see the merits of our side.

The ability to do this is what we’re all working toward in the class.  And its also the ability that differentiates great leaders from good ones.

So what’s your story?

Tipping Point

The concept of the tipping point is more important than ever before. Internet companies need it to spread the word about their new ideas. App builders need it to get people download their applications from the Apple store and Android Market. Political campaigns need it to get people thinking more about what they are working on. And REALLY big ideas need it. Not only to catch on but so the world can hear exactly what the founders have in mind.  So what does it take to create a tipping point?

That is the million dollar question that every one us wants to know. What does it take to hit the tipping point and create a world class movement?  How do we convince millions of people to look at what we’re doing. And once they look, how do we compel them to take an interest.

A number of things come to mind. Getting started early. Laying the ground work. Being organized. Dealing with roadblocks. And perhaps most important, passion for what you’re trying to do.

In a blog post I read by Seth Godin, he says, “Good ideas didn’t spread because ‘important’ people endorsed and promoted it. It spread because passionate people did.” And Malcolm Gladwell said the same thing in his book. That you should not obsess about the A list media people. Worry instead about people with passion and people with lots of friends. You need both for ideas to spread.

The idea of the tipping point that at some point along the way, after a lot of hard work and struggle you can finally achieve a critical mass of people involved and the threshold number before it finally takes off.  The point where everybody cares and wants to participate. The point where “ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread like viruses” according to Gladwell.

And the interesting thing about viruses, is that people don’t even want them and they still spread; and quickly. The same is true for some ideas in the world today. People don’t always want to hear about things, but sometimes they need to. Sometimes they near to hear about a revolutionary product or service. Sometimes they need to hear the truth about an up and coming political candidate. And they usually need to hear about the importance of education. That Education Matters. Especially in disadvantaged communities.

But other times, they are things that people want to hear about, you just have to figure out how to spread the word. How to leverage the media. How to create buzz at precisely the right time.  And how to convince the right people e.g. the “connectors, mavens and salesmen”.  That’s what we’re thinking about now with our Education campaign.

What are you thinking about as you try to hit your tipping point?

My Interview with MBA Crystal Ball

Have you ever considered applying to a JD-MBA program but weren’t quite sure because you didn’t know what it entailed? Have you ever wondered what the differences were between the joint programs and MBA programs? I bet some of you have. I certainly did when I was applying to graduate school. Well if you’re pondering the differences today, or simply want to know a bit more about the joint program, then check out my recent interview with MBA Crystal Ball.

See below for a snapshot of the article and a peak at two of the questions, And CLICK HERE to read the article in its entirety.st last week, I had an interview with MBA Crystal Ball. In the interview I discuss some of the nuances of the joint JD-MBA program.  While we couldn’t cover every possible question we did get some of the basic questions: why did you choose the program, how is the program different from MBA programs, do you “need” both degrees, and what I plan to do with the joint program.

http://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2012/01/25/jd-mba-program-kellogg-school-of-management/

—

What are the pre-requisites to get into a joint-degree program (and specifically Kellogg)?

There aren’t generally any pre-requisites to get into the joint program. Just like MBA programs look for a diverse class, the JD-MBA program also looks for a diverse set of students from different walks of life to fill the class. Likewise, just like MBA applicants have to take the GMAT, JD-MBA applicants must also take the GMAT. However, one thing that differs at Northwestern is that you don’t have to take the LSAT. While some JD-MBAs do take the LSAT exam, others tend to have very high GMAT scores, which would alleviate any concerns on ability to score well on both exams. And finally, while not a pre-requisite, it is helpful to your application if you have a good reason why you want both degrees. In fact, the JD-MBA program recently added a specific question to ensure students address this.

What are your career plans after completing the program?

In the short run, I’m interested in both business and law, and see myself working at a law firm and in the startup world. In fact, I’m currently working on launching an Internet-based nonprofit in the education sector. So keep an eye out for our Education Matters Project over the next few weeks. Over time, I plan to do more blogging, speaking and writing, which is something that I’m already working on. And in the long run, I’m interested in the public sector. I not only want to work in business, but I also want to give back to my community and help improve the country.

I live by the motto, the greatest risk in life is not taking one. So I hope to take some pretty big risks early in my career after graduating and see what comes of it.

Did You Write Happy Birthday …

… on Facebook today. I did. In fact, I wrote it for eight people. I wrote slightly different messages for each person, and especially customized my messages for those I know the best. On the other hand, for those I didn’t know as well, my message was less customized. I didn’t have anything funny or exciting to write. And finally, there was one person whose wall I didn’t write on yet. The million dollar question is: what does this all really mean?

Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about happy birthday message on Facebook. This is especially true now that I am in business school, where the number of Facebook friends is higher than ever before. Not only do you get “Friends” from classes but you also find alumni, classmates’ significant others, professors, and friends of classmates who become friends. And then you mix in the fact that I’m in both the JD and the MBA program.

But how can you write happy birthday to all of them?

Today it’s still “fairly” easy with my current set of “friends” but it’s not seamless. And at some point, it will get difficult. One day, maybe impossible. And if I want to ensure that it’s not impossible then I’ll have to become more standard and less creative. It’s the only way you handle 25 birthday messages in a day, let alone 40 or 50.

On the other hand, what if you don’t write on their Wall at all. Does it matter? Will they notice that you didn’t write and secretly hold it against you? Will they decide not to write on your wall if they see you on your birthday? And even worse, will it be one step toward the person de-friending you on Facebook?

I don’t know the answer to these questions. In fact, I hadn’t thought of any of them until today, while I was writing happy birthday, which led to this post.

But what I do know is that Facebook is becoming busier than ever before. The average number of “Friends” is increasing more than ever. And the number of people that share birthdays is also more common.

At some point, we’ll all have to decide how to handle it. How busy we want to become with our message. When we should stop writing “happy birthday”? Should we just cap our number of friends? Or perhaps even pull the plug on Facebook entirely?

No matter which option you decide, you wouldn’t be the first person I know who chose it.

Good News for 18 Students in Chicago

Hours ago, 18 high school students in Chicago were honored for their academic excellence. All were high school seniors, most were accepted to great schools, and some had quite lofty professional ambitions; probably loftier than ours when we were that age. Likewise, most of them had pretty great backgrounds, not just academically but also community service and extracurricular activities. It was an honor to see them get the good news yesterday and to serve a profession resource for them after school as a member of the Hispanic Heritage Fondation advisor network.

Just hours ago, my colleagues at the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and LOFT Institute awarded 18 students scholarships after a tough application process. They Applied with nearly 10,000 other applications, and yesterday we celebrated their achievements. There’s still a long road ahead and a lot of hard work to be done, but for just one day they were able to celebrate.

One question come to mind during the event: Will they remember the event weeks from now? And will they remember me one year from now? After all I did give them a business card and congratulate them all individually as the advisor at the event. I even met many of their parents.

My guess is that many of them won’t. After all, I didn’t remember everyone when I was their age. In fact, I didn’t even realize that it was important to remember anyone.

I propose the idea, that more important then getting remembered, is that we are all there to support them along the way. To clap when they do well. help them make informed decisions about school and their careers. And most importantly, to pick them up when they fall.  That’s why I was happy when I found connections with many of them – I saw one Cristo Rey student (I sit on the board of Cristo Rey), one student going to Stanford (I am an alum), one student that wants to go to law school (I am in law school), and another who LOVES storytelling (I am building a storytelling website). Finding connections, so that if one of them has a question, they are more likely to call and ask for help.

Thank you sponsors for making this happen. Thank you HHF for putting on a great event. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, thank you to those that sat in the audience a decade ago when I was got my award …. even if I didn’t call you back. Without you, last night would not have been possibl.

State of the Union 2012: Barack Obama (video)

Just an hour ago, much of the world tuned in to the 2012 State of the Union address delivered by Barack Obama. No matter which side you relate to most, it’s likely you still considered tuning in. Not only was it a chance to hear one of the great orators of our time speak but it was also a chance to hear his view on what the state of the country is. And this is especially important now, as the economy is a topic of debate, the Republican primaries are heating up, and the education conversation is more heated than it’s ever been before. In this talk, Barack not only discussed these topics but he also honored Gabby Giffords for her service to the community.

Just an hour ago, Barack delivered the State of the Union address here in the US. His talk was long but many consider it to be good. As usual, there are a lot of Fact Checks as well as videos and text transcripts online. In fact, many were out there before the speech was even over (according to TV time).Below is one part of the state of the Union where Barack made a good quote. He said, “”Higher education can’t be a luxury, it’s an economic imperative that every family should be able to afford” as he told the world that Education Matters.

Below is a great video of the President honoring Gabby Giffords at the State of the Union Address. This was a great moment to watch tonight no matter which side of the isle you belong to. Especially because tonight is the eve of Gabby’s last day in office. But don’t take it from me, take it from Congress who gave Giffords a standing ovation as she entered the House chamber.

And finally, below is a list of Tweets provided by the White House during the actual talk. And see just what Barack was discussing during his 2012 address as well as a few of the hashtags and URLs with the underlying sources.

• The White House  President Obama’s State of the Union just concluded. Watch a live panel with WH officials now: wh.gov/sotu Ask Qs with #WHChat
• Obama: As long as we’re joined in common purpose…our future is hopeful & the state of our union will always be strong #SOTU
• Obama: This nation is great because we built it together. This nation is great because we worked as a team. #SOTU
• Obama: When you’re in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind. #SOTU
• Obama: Michelle & Jill Biden have worked with American businesses to secure a pledge of 135,000 #jobs for #veterans & their families. #SOTU
• Obama: Above all, our freedom endures because of the men and women in uniform who defend it. #SOTU
• Obama: America remains the one indispensable nation in world affairs & as long as I’m President, I intend to keep it that way. #SOTU
• Obama: The renewal of American leadership can be felt across the globe. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/nMwX3v5S
• Obama: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon & I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal #SOTU
• Obama: We will stand against violence & intimidation. We will stand for the rights & dignity of all human beings #SOTU
• Obama: I can do a whole lot more with your help. Because when we act together, there is nothing the USA can’t achieve. #SOTU
• Obama: With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions that help the economy grow. #SOTU
• Obama: I believe what Repub…Lincoln believed…gov’t should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves & no more #SOTU
• Obama: I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right now…nothing will get done …because Washington is broken. #SOTU
• Obama: if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98% of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up…You’re the ones who need relief #SOTU
• Obama: we need to change our tax code so that people like me & an awful lot of Members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes #SOTU
• Obama: Do we want to keep these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans? Or do we want to keep our investments in everything else #SOTU
• Obama: People cannot afford losing #40dollars out of each paycheck this year…Pass the payroll tax cut without delay #SOTU
• Obama: Our most immediate priority is stopping a tax hike on 160 million working Americans while the recovery is still fragile #SOTU
• Obama: A return to the American #values of fair play & shared responsibility will help protect our people & our economy. #sotu
• Obama: Today, American consumers finally have a watchdog in Richard Cordray with one job: to look out for them. #sotu
• Obama: I will not go back to the days when health insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage #sotu
• “Worth crying over spilled milk” -Obama on outdated regulation that classified milk as oil & cost farmers 10k/yr #SOTUpic.twitter.com/FGWgjlO1
• Obama: Millions of Americans who work hard & play by the rules every day deserve a government & a financial system that does the same #SOTU
• Obama: @deptofdefense, the world’s largest consumer of #energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history #SOTU
• Obama at #sotu: I will not walk away from the promise of clean #energy.
• Obama: This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American #energy. #SOTU
• Obama: we should support…every risk-taker & entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve Jobs. #SOTUpic.twitter.com/D0GkbJdz
• Obama: You see, an economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent & ingenuity of every person in this country#SOTU
• Obama: We should be working on comprehensive #immigrationreform right now. #SOTU
• Obama: It’s time to turn our unemployment system into a reemployment system that puts people to work #SOTU
• Obama: Our workers are the most productive on Earth & if the playing field is level, I promise you – America will always win #SOTU
• Obama: Tonight, I’m announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged w/ investigating unfair trade practices #SOTU
• Obama: Tonight, my message to business leaders is simple: ask yourselves what you can do to bring #jobs back to your country #SOTU
• Obama: We bet on American workers. We bet on American ingenuity & tonight, the American auto industry is back #SOTU
• Obama: Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward & lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last #sotu
• Obama “American manufacturers are hiring again” -President Obama #sotu
• Obama: In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than three million #jobs. #SOTU
• Obama: What’s at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them #SOTU
• Obama: Think about the America within our reach…An economy built to last, where hard work pays off & responsibility is rewarded #SOTU
• Obama: For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/wD1abq1H
• Obama: We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer & more respected around the world. #SOTU

Congresswoman Gabby Giffords Steps Down and Inspires Us All (Video)

Every now and then we are fortunate to hear some really inspiring stories. On my site you often find some of these stories from the business and legal worlds. But often times, I like to share great stories from other industries. Well there’s a recent story that comes from the political arena. Just yesterday Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords made an announcement to the US and served as a great inspiration for those who watched.

Just yesterday, Congresswoman Giffords announced Sunday that she intends to resign from Congress this week. Gabby announced that she plans to spend her time concentrating on recovering from the assassination attempt last January.  More important than her actual resignation is her story of struggle, courage, and bravery.  Representative Giffords uses the video to show how far she’s come since last year and that she’s still working hard to get better. Hopefully her story will continue to inspire people to work together.

See below to watch this inspiring video.

• “We can do so much more by working together.” – Gabby Giffords

Northwestern/Kellogg Business Law Conference

Today the business and legal worlds are more intertwined than ever before. As a senior executive, it’s absolutely impossible to escape high-stakes complex legal issues. Similarly, if you’re a leading corporate lawyer, you consistently run into business issues, not only at your firm but also at the firms of your clients. That’s why in 2009, two school joined Northwestern by creating a formally integrated JD-MBA program and in 2010, two more schools joined the cohort. Well, Northwestern is taking the lead once again and in February we’re launching the first Business Law Conference at a business school in the US.

The Kellogg School of Management is proud to host its inaugural Business-Law Conference. Whether forming a business, raising money, restructuring, or even making apparently simple business decisions, today’s manager faces many legal challenges. In recognition of this growing intersection of law and business, the conference will explore critical business issues which have substantial legal implications. Attendees will learn how to make improved business decisions with a clearer understanding of the legal implications of their decisions.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Legal Challenges in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Ownership” and will focus on issues particularly relevant to entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to supplement their business acumen with a legal perspective. The conference will be keynoted by Lawrence Eppley, partner at K&L Gates and former general counsel for Potbelly Sandwich Shop.

The first panel, “Working with Lawyers,” will address the inevitable situation when business leaders work with attorneys.  Topics will range from billing to using time efficiently to communication.

Panelists include:

• Roger Stelle, Partner, Meltzer, Purtill & Stelle
• Henry Krasnow, Partner, Krasnow, Saunders & Cornblath; Author, Your Lawyer: An Owner’s Manual

The second panel, “Selling and Marketing in Cyberspace,” will discuss the most pressing issues these companies face when doing business on the internet, including privacy and data collection policies, copyright and trademarking and legal regulations with email marketing and spam.  Panelists include:

• Gina Durham, Partner, DLA Piper
• Gregg Kirchhoefer, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
• Desiree Vargas Wrigley, CEO and Co-Founder of GiveForward.com
• Ross Kimbarovsky, Co-Founder of crowdSPRING
• Moderated by Professor Esther Barron, Northwestern Law & Co-Founder of Elezar Handbags

The conference will take place from 1:00pm to 5:30pm with a networking reception to follow.  If you have any questions please contact us.

Talker’s Block

As you might imagine, not many people at Kellogg suffer from talker’s block.  Ask anyone a question. Seriously, ask them one. Ask them about a class. Or ask them about recruiting. I bet they can probably talk to you about it for hours. But I bet if you asked them to write about it, you’d get a slightly different response. That’s because just about every person I know experiences writers block. So I’m curious. What’s the actual difference between the two?

Some psychological theory suggests that we get writers block because we’re unorganized and overloaded with information, and because we can’t get our creative juices flowing. As a result, when we have to write answers on an exam or come up with novel paper for class, we don’t have words and often times we can’t even pick a topic.

On the other hand, no one at Kellogg walks into a class but discovers they don’t anything to say. They don’t sit in meetings with groups and meet with admits and get tongue tied.

Perhaps one reason is because MBA (and most people) are in the habit of talking. A lot. In fact, probably too much.  We talk to each other every day. We speak with prospective applicants. And we make our opinions known in class. Sometimes with substance, but often times we make things up and pull stuff out of thin air. Sometimes it depends on how prepared we are.

But over time, we get better. We start get some things right. We become insightful. And eventually we sound profound.

Maybe writing can work the same way. That at first, writing is hard. But if we practice writing, over and over (and over and over), we’ll get better. Soon we’ll get some things right. And eventually, we’ll start to sound profound.

I propose the idea that just like talking, we should get in the habit of writing. Write more frequently. Work on becoming better. And do it publicly where people can judge us. Because it will force us to improve.

One way to do that is by starting a blog. Another way to do that is by writing articles. We can also take more classes that require writing. Especially in grad school.

In sum, most people talk too much but don’t write enough.

Out on the Ledge

Today, most of my classmates are spending a lot of time thinking about recruiting. What industry they want to work in. What roles they want to have. And how much money they need to make after graduation. So they pursue roles at consulting firms, banks and companies who market products well.  And I get why they do it. These jobs not only pay well, but they also set you up to have a pretty great career afterward. But in today’s age I don’t think that’s the right mindset for everyone. Instead, I propose the idea that in 2012, for some it’s time to go out on the ledge.

Today more than ever before, it’s the time to walk out on the ledge.  No, not there. Go further. Take one more step.

It’s time to go where it’s risky and where the big falls are. Because where there’s more risk, there’s more reward. That’s why the entrepreneurs go there. They go as far out as possible, even when there’s limited space. And they suppress their fear falling.

I propose that 2012 is the year of the ledge, not just for entrepreneurs but for more of us.  You could see it shaping for the past year. The Occupy Movements. Viral Internet campaigns like It Gets Better Project. And now policy movements like SOPA. You can see people taking a stand about what’s important and going to the edge to make something happen.

Today, more than ever before, the world needs you to go further out. To take a stand. And to risk falling to do something great.

Today, very few people do it, but tomorrow I guarantee you it will catch on. And soon the edge will no longer be the edge because a lot of us will be out there. So it will be common ground again.  When that happens, we’ll all have to go out further to the new edge.  And soon, we’ll all pause and glance back together, and we’ll see how far we’ve come.

So what are you waiting for? Go.

Law School Dean Blogs About the JD-MBA Program

Hi Everyone, just passing along a recent blog post from new Law School Dean Dan Rodriguez. Recently the Dean wrote a post about the collaborations of the law school and business school here at Northwestern. He specifically mentions the alignment of the business and legal world and discusses the JD-MBA program and how it’s at the forefront of the business world today.  The article is short, but given it’s relevance to the JD-MBA and MBA world, I wanted to repost it here.

See below for the blog post:

Kellogg School of Management: kudos and collaborations

Transition Time

Have you ever had a meeting only to find that you could have contributed a lot more if you had a few more minutes to prepare? Or that with a few more minutes of prep you could have cut your meeting time in half?  I’ve had both experiences, and I’m sure you have as well. I propose the idea that one way that we can figue out how to avoid these experiences by thinking more about transition time.

I think the concept of transition time is critical, especially for people that lead busy lives. In business school, our schedules booked with events, filled with meetings, and packed nonstop with classes and recruiting events. In law school, it’s similar, except there’s a lot more reading and work to get done for class. So in hopes to get everything done, most people work up until the last possible minute before hurrying over to their next scheduled meeting.

But there are two problems with this. First is that we continually leave ourselves too little time to prepare. And second, it would then suggest that we’re always making schedules that are impossible to keep. After all, how can we end a meeting at 3pm and start the next one at 3pm? Even if they’re just phone meetings, there’s no way you can dial that fast. And if you throw in a bathroom break in the middle, you’re basically admitting that impossibility beforehand.

Take one second and think about it:

• How many meetings have you been in where where you begin to wonder, what’s the point?
• How often have you thought: this 2 hour meeting should have been 1 hour?
• How many times have you been on a phone call and found yourself surfing the web?

Chances are you were right.  Your meeting probably could have been 30 minutes if you had done the right planning. And surfing the web was probably more productive.

So I propose that scheduling more transition time would be helpful. In business school, it would gives us time to come up with more questions, think about the bigger picture, and formulate our plans. In law school, it would allow us to think about more issues, come up with better arguments, and think about ways to approach problems.

And in the end, not only will it make everyone else in the room happier, but it’ll also create a more of an efficient outcome, which was your original goal in setting back to back meetings anyhow.

In short, think more about transition time. Schedule it. And then use it to maximize your outcome. Because in the end, everyone will be better off.

Applicant Question: Should I Take a GMAT Class?

In some professions, such as banking and consulting, taking a GMAT prep course is a given for prospective M.B.A. students. For those students, the question is never “should I take the GMAT but instead, which one should I use. With so many companies and tutors competing for your attention, it can be difficult to choose which to use. But for others, the decision to take a GMAT class can be tough. Not only because the cost is high but also because you don’t know how much to actually study. Well, in a recent question on BeatTheGMAT I received a question about just that.

In a recent question on BeatTheGMAT I received a question about taking a GMAT class. Because the person had gotten bad feedback on an LSAT class, they were uncertain if they should consider taking a GMAT one.

See below for the question, and below that for an adaptation of my response.

—-

APPLICANT QUESTION

Hi Jeremy,

In preparing for the GMAT, would you recommend prep class or private tutor? I heard one experience from an LSAT prep class that classmates slowed things down since everyone was from different levels/backgrounds. Wondering if it’s similar or different for the GMAT.

(Name)

—-

MY RESPONSE

Hi (Name)

Thanks for your question. I think the answer is different for everyone. Some students have different priorities when applying to MBA programs so may decide to spend more or less time on the GMAT.  And others can sometimes thrive in different environments, where in some cases that environment is a tutor and self study, and other cases it is a formal GMAT class. That said, it is true that far more people take a GMAT class than use a private tutor.  And for those who use a private tutor, many of them have already taken the class and are using a tutor to sharpen up their skills in the weeks leading up to the exam date.

Because in general, the GMAT class should help you get through all the basics you need to do well. The curriculum for “good” classes is up to date, the instructors are top notch (though probably better at some places than others) and the pace of the class is appropriately spaced to get you through everything in the 10 week period (length may vary depending on class).  Further, the class will help give you a structured schedule with a consistent routine to help learn the information and will give you more resources than you would have on your own.

Of course there are always possible downsides to everything. If you are traveling to a classroom the time investment is more than it would be with a private tutor. Likewise, the cost is greater and you don’t always have a chance to choose your teacher.

Personally, I took a GMAT class and saw a lot of others do the same. I had no problem with pace and ended up with a great instructor and would recommend Manhattan GMAT to a lot of other applicants. While I can’t promise the same experience, and don’t have any knowledge about the makeup of the classes you might consider joining, I suspect many of them would not have problems with classmates and won’t end up going to slow. Especially if you have a strong instructor.

Good luck.

Applicant Question: How Did MLT Help with Career Goals?

I talk a lot about MLT here on my blog. Not only because I went through the program a few years ago, but also because I think very highly of the organization. They help you think about graduate school. Force you to think not just about business school but also post business school. And perhaps most importantly they also encourage you to think a lot about future career goals. Well, in a recent question during my BeatTheGmat chat series I recently got a question about MLT from one of the attendees.

In a recent chat on BeatTheGmat, I got a question about MLT. I sure was glad to see it when it came through. I only wish I had more time to talk about it during the chat, as sometimes things can feel rushed. Anyhow, see below for the question. And below that for my response.

—-
APPLICANT QUESTION
In reviewing your blog I noticed that you are an MLT alum. Can you explain how MLT helped you determine that Kellog and the JD-MBA program was the right? Furthermore, did MLT help you hone in on your career goals based on your experiences and interests?
Thanks for your insight and time!
—
MY RESPONSE

That’s correct! I am a very proud MLT alum and can’t say enough positive things about the organization. One great thing about MLT is that it ensures you spent a lot of time reflecting and thinking about fit schools and industries. Even its application questions are centered around those things. They ask, what are your post-MBA short and long term career goals? How will an MBA help you achieve those goals? And what research have you done to determine that the MBA makes sense?The great thing about the MBA application process and MLT is that it forces you to think a lot about who you are, what you’re good at, and what you want to do in your career. Outside of these experiences, it’s hard to carve out a lot of time (e.g. months) to think about these things. So in the end, I’d say that the MBA application process… and even moreso MLT are extremely valuable experiences.

For me, those experiences were valuable as they helped me determine that the JD-MBA program was the right program for me.

—-
To learn more about MLT CLICK HERE
To learn more about their MBA Prep Program CLICK HERE
To see my posts on MLT, click on the links below:

• MLT Kickoff Conference at Darden HERE
• MLT on CNN HERE 
• Management Leadership for Tomorrow in 2011 HERE
• MLT MBA Prep Application HERE
• MLT Kickoff Seminar in Houston HERE

Good luck!

MLK – Martin Luther King Day of Service 2012

Many of you will enjoy the three day weekend coming up. For some it’s time off from work. For others, time off from school. And for some, time to go home and visit friends and family. But for all of us, it’s also a day where we have the chance to recognize one of the most important days in the last half century. Because on Monday it is Martin Luther King day. And in the spirit of MLK, it’s a great weekend to give back here in Chicago.

Hi Everyone, just a quick message about Martin Luther King Day (MLK Day) and the opportunity to volunteer near campus this upcoming weekend.  This year you can combine your efforts with the larger Northwestern community and volunteer at service projects in Evanston and in Chicago.

A number of my Kellogg classmates will be there, including me. Further, a number of Northwestern Law students and students from the general student body will be there. In fact, I know a few alumni who will also be there.

So what about you  … Are you coming?

See below for information on how to sign up.

HOW TO REGISTER

STEP 1: Register after you read this email! It takes less than 1 minute www.norris.northwestern.edu/community.

STEP 2:  You can join Kellogg by entering the code: “Kellogg BMA” under Group/Student Organization.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service 2012

Date: Saturday, January 14, 2012

Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Place: Meet promptly at 10:00 am in the Norris University Center.

Breakfast will be provided at this time, lunch will be provided at the sites. Buses will leave for sites from Norris Arts Circle and drop off students at the same location after the event.

Note that: students must register by TOMORROW Friday, January 13th. 

Too Much Work? or Tough Work?

Too Much Work is what we have as 1Ls in law school. We have to read 500 pages for our classes. Be prepared to get cold called. And outline for each class. We also have a lot of this work at times in business school. Tough Work is what we have in some of our third year law school (3L) classes. Just this week, we had to read an empirical paper about Renegotiating Debt Contracts, synthesize a short yet complete list of disparate ideas and create a 30 page presentation that only presented the study to the class but also kept them interested and pointed out potential flaws in the paper. And we have to do that in just two days time.

Manhattan GMAT Social Venture Scholars Program

Considering taking a GMAT class? Concerned about funds because you’re saving the world as a social entrepreneur? Well, if that’s you, then here is a program you should apply to.  A GMAT class that’s not only free but also from one of the best instructors at the best programs I’ve seen.  Then you should take just a minute to check out Manhattan GMAT’s new offering.

Hi Everyone, just a quick note that Manhattan GMAT is has a great new program. It is offering special full tuition scholarships for up to 25 individuals who will be selected as part of Manhattan GMAT’s Social Venture Scholars program. This program provides the selected scholars with free admission into one of Manhattan GMAT’s 9-session Live Online GMAT preparation courses (a $1090 value).

The application process is simple. Please be sure to follow these instructions carefully. CLICK HERE to read more about it. Also note that the application deadline is Wednesday, February 1, 2012 and all applicants will be notified of award decisions on February 10, 2012 about one week later.

AND FINALLY —> let me also note that the instructor, Eric Caballero, is the same instructor that I took. I can’t say enough about how good of an instructor he is.  Not only smart but also good management of the materials and the classroom. He’s also a fun guy that’s easy to work with, which can be really important if you’re working really hard for a long time on the GMAT.

See below for more info on the program. And below that for another link to the website.

Good luck.

——

How Do I Apply?

The application process is simple. Please be sure to follow these instructions carefully.

(1)   Write an essay explaining how you meet the 3 scholarship criteria stated above. There is no minimum or maximum length required. Keep in mind, however, that this is a competitive process and scholars will be selected based largely on essay quality and content. Be sure to demonstrate that you meet ALL THREE scholarship criteria in your essay.

(2)   Submit your materials by the application deadline, Wednesday, February 1, 2012:

Send the following in ONE EMAIL to svs@manhattangmat.com:

• Your completed essay – be sure to include your name!
• An updated resume that includes your name, email, phone number, & mailing address.
• Names of 3 references, including full contact information and a brief description of their relationship to you.
• How you heard about this scholarship opportunity. Note: This can be included in the text of your email.
• A copy of your most recent paystub (December 2011 or January 2012). Note: This can be scanned and attached to your email or faxed separately to 1-800-894-6580

Additional Details

All applicants will be notified of award decisions on February 10, 2012. Manhattan GMAT’s Social Venture Scholars 9-session course will take place according to the schedule below:

Monday nights, 8:00 – 11:00pm EST/5:00 – 8:00pm PST
February 20, 2012 – April 16, 2012
Instructors: Dan Gonzalez & Eric Caballero
Live Online in Virtual Classroom
Learn more about our Live Online courses and view a sample of the online classroom here. 

This is the ONLY course for which Social Venture Scholarships are awarded. Please apply only if you can attend this course.

It Can All Change In An Instant

The dynamic of our society is increasingly becoming defined by speed. In today’s Internet-driven economy, things happen faster than ever before. Business deals are negotiated online. CEOs get feedback real time with new media. And you can connect with people all over the globe in just seconds. As such, fortune could come and go in the blink of an eye. So it’s important to know what your goals and values are. Well, I wanted to share one Ted video that agrees with my philosophy.

I spend a fair amount of my time watching great talks on TED.  As you probably know, the premise of TED is Ideas Worth Spreading.  Well I wanted to share an idea from one of my favorite Ted videos.

The talk is given by Ric Elias, who had the interesting experience of having a front row seat on the plane that crashed into the Hudson River. He gives a short narrative of the series of events that took places before sharing the powerful words of his first lesson: It all changes in an Instant.

These words are insightful. They describe how your fortune can change. In the video, Ric Elias woke up to what matters because the possibility death. But I propose that the same concept holds true for the good things as well. And that’s what I’ll focus on here.

In the legal world, that means that your facts can often hinge on a small detail. And even when there isn’t sufficient evidence at the onset, finding one key fact can change the stakes. So in most cases, you have to work relentlessly and incessantly search for game changing facts. Ones that not only change the argument but also the outcome. Because when you do, things could all change.

Similarly in business, sometimes all you need is that one key customer or one big name funder to change the stakes. For someone to take notice and to do something big. But often, it takes a lot of time and energy to get that customer. So you have to stay focused, be optimistic, and be ready for when that day happens.

And this is also the case in politics. That you don’t know when the best time is to run or if running is even the best decision. So you have to stay involved, have the right instincts and be ready to move when the time comes. And even if it doesn’t come, you have to figure out how to serve in other ways.

The idea is that none of us knows exactly what’s next. So you have to put yourself in place to succeed by doing the right things, having the right instincts, doing the groundwork, and knowing how to seize opportunities. Because sometimes it takes a lot of little things to go right to make it, but then one day it can all change quickly.

See the short video below for the talk.

Write Your Name On It

I have a few friends that are in the process starting a blog. They have a unique concept. They gave it an interesting domain name. And they’ve two very smart guys working on it. Sound like the recipe for success right? Perhaps. In fact, I’ve seen blogs like this make it big before. Blogs like Above The Law where having anonymous writers allows them to have more useful stories.  On the other hand, there’s also a lot of value to writing your name on the things.

The best way to think about it is in terms of school. When you put your name on your assignment, the pressure is on to create a better product. Because the professor will know that you turned it in, and he or she will judge your performance based on its quality. So you’re more likely to hand in a quality paper, show the professor you did the research and prove you thought about your response.

Unfortunately, today it’s easier than ever before to NOT put your name on things. We work in groups a large part of the time, so your name doesn’t always have to be attached. We work for companies whose names outshadow ours, so we don’t have to put our names on the line to do business. And on the Internet, people can say and do things without telling the world who they are, so they don’t have to be fully accountable.

The benefit of not putting your name on a blog is that if fail or people don’t like it, then no big deal, because nobody will know it was you. Likewise you can also get away with more controversial content, which can be useful for others to hear. So in some ways, this can be useful.

On the other hand, putting your name on something can be even more useful. It makes you accountable. Puts you on the hook. And gives you incentive to do better work. Because when people see your name they analyze your content and do Google searches on you. So you spend more time making it good and more efforts producing a quality products.

That’s precisely why putting your name on something works.

That’s also why I put my name on my own blog.

Showing Up

There is an old saying that “80% of life is showing up.” As it turns out, there are a number of similar quotes quoting numbers ranging between 75% and 90%, depending on who says it.  But either way, the idea is that showing up is one of the best things you can do to be successful in life. I propose that it’s also important in business school and in law school.

Today, showing up matters more than ever before. In the age of the Internet many people think they sending emails, writing wall posts and liking comments suffices. That it keeps them connected with friends and serves as a proxy for doing things in person.  But in my view, that’s not good enough. Particularly if you told someone that you would be there.

This is particularly important in business school, where being there really counts. In business school we have lots of events, way too many team meetings, and lots of classes that are not only in the form of lectures but also case-based sessions. Sessions that require participation. Necessitate being engaged. And need active discussion to be at their best.

You can also show up in other ways. At Kellogg specially, showing up means getting involved in clubs. Going to events. Raising your hand during a case, and not only responding but making a  point and taking a stand. Likewise it means meeting speakers after class, and getting business cards. It means sitting with new people in the public areas and meeting the person next to you in class. All things that are easy to do but that many people don’t take the effort to do.

The thing is, it’s easy not to do them. You get busy with other things. You get in the habit of not doing them. And you don’t make them priorities. But on the other hand, if you do those things, you’ll usually be pleasantly surprised. People will reciprocate. Other students will engage. You’ll learn more. And in the end, you’ll have momentum and accomplish more than you ever thought possible.

That’s what I mean by Showing Up. 

Do you plan to “Show up” on Monday? I bet your competition will.