Don't chase shiny objects

"HOLD THE LINE!"  I can't even tell you how many times my dad has said that to me.  Usually, it is said while we are biking and he wants to draft me.  Almost as frequently, it is said while I am driving as I have a tendency to "wander" (the lines are for the other guys, right?).  Ironically, he and I share similar driving habits; we wander.

I also sometimes wander in my goals.  I have set for myself some pretty specific and lofty goals, but sometimes I get distracted by other things.  This week, I got pretty distracted by a really cool idea one of my buddies had.  Like, it is a really cool idea.  And I convinced myself that it was somehow part of my goals.  So, I called my old man to tell him about the idea and he repeated his advice, "Hold the line."  He also warned against "chasing shiny objects." (ADD....what?) At first I was ticked and thought he should go fly a kite.  Then, I went to class on Thursday.

Admittedly, I was pretty bored during the class.  There was nothing "shiny" or exciting.  I caught myself thinking multiple times, "I already know all this.  Tell me something new!"  But then I had this realization that it was these "boring" principles that would keep me on track to the goals I have set.  

I guess that is my "now what" for this week.  Hold the line.  Stick to the basics.  Even if they are boring.  And don't chase shiny objects.  

Rock on.

Nyal

"I'm starting with the man in the mirror..."

Do any of y'all ever have those experiences where you realize that you are "that guy" that bugs you?  Like, the pedestrian that just walks in front of a car, or the driver that just buzzes the pedestrians out of spite?  I had a hard realization that I am "that guy"...or "those guys".  Paradoxically, I am both that driver and that pedestrian.

More on point, I realized while watching the GoReact video, I am the presenter that bugs me!  I feel like a walking contradiction.  It bugs me when guys wave their arms a lot.  Some is good and helpful, but I looked like a "deranged mental patient" (to quote the prolific George Costanza).  This reality was compounded by the fact that our video did not have sound, but I realized that I have got to do something about the arm waving.  

Now what?  A straitjacket.  In all seriousness, I think there is something healthy about recognizing our weaknesses and committing to make changes.  So, consider this blog post my commitment.  

Sewell, out!  

Rock on.

Nyal

It is a terrible quality video, but I felt a little like this guy, waving my arms about.

Everything always works in Theory

My dad always tells me, "Everything always works in theory."  The takeaway for me being that nothing really is fact until it is applied in a situation with gravity.

This week, it was great to learn about the principles of presentations, regardless of the medium of communication.  For the most part, I was mentally present and did what I could to apply the principles to our assignments.  To be totally honest, though, I just filed the information away.  That was until Wednesday.

For the past six months, I have been working with a company I co-founded.  We have launched six websites (BYU, U of U, ASU, U of A, Auburn, and Alabama) that aggregate college sports news from all relevant sources.  For example, our BYU site pulls articles from KSL, Desert News, SBNation blogs, Rivals.com, LoyalCougars.com, and many others.  We then sell ads on the pages to make some money.  Our success has been about what we expected, and now we are working our tails off to launch all the FBS schools (130+) by June 1, 2014.  One of the projects my team and I worked on this week is putting together an investor presentation.  Then, on Wednesday, I was told I will be required to raise some capital from some contacts I have in order for us to meet our June 1 launch date.  All this presentation stuff just got very real.

So, all this presentation theory just became immensely relevant to me.  I realized that I have to apply these principles of presentation in order to help raise the capital we need to realize the goals my team and I have for our company.

Rock on.

Nyal





I really like music, and I this song is applicable right now.  And, you can never really go wrong with some AWOLNATION.

Red Bull: Can you make it?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I could probably guess that you're thinking that the ubiquitous, wing-sprouting energy drink has NOTHING to do with what we learned this week in class.  And I guess you would probably be right.  However, I think I have a valid angle here.  Tell me what you think.

So, Red Bull frequently does these competitions where they recruit average Joes and Janes who think they can compete.  Right now, Red Bull is recruiting 100 teams of 3 to leave from one of 4 cities in Europe (London, Paris, Milan, or Vienna).  The teams are given a phone, some maps, an emergency fund of cash (use of which disqualifies the team), and a case of Red Bull. The team is given one week to get to the finish line in Berlin.

Here is my angle.  We have been working hard on presentation skills and such this week, and I realized that they are directly applicable to the application my team and I need to send in to the good folks at Red Bull.  A stellar presentation here exponentially increases our chances at an adventure of a lifetime.

Right now, my brother and I (we're the only members of the three person team so far.  We might have another girl to do it with us, but she has her capstone project due that week.  Lame.) are working hard to apply these presentation principles to our application.  We think we have a fighting chance.

Rock on.

False Securities and Alternate Realities

Right before I took the test this weekend, I called my saintly mother and explained to her that all of these grammar rules are made up.  First red flag.  Then, I felt strangely confident-euphoric might be the correct word, actually-going into the test.  Second red flag.  Lastly, I was highly distracted the entire time I was studying for the test.  Third, and final, red flag.

What I learned, and what I am continuing to learn, is that I need to identify these "false security" red flags before  I take tests, make commitments, or otherwise engage in activities of weight.  I understand that this will be at least a life long pursuit, but I can start now.

The first thing I have identified that is a sure sign I am falsely secure is living in an alternate reality.  Let me show you what I mean.  When I called my mom to tell her all the grammar rules are made up, part of me genuinely believed that.  Granted, it was a mostly lame attempt at hilarity, but there was an element of truth in my statement. 

Summed up, my takeaway from MCOM 320 this week is simple: I need to identify when I am in a false security mindset by identifying beforehand alternate realities.

I feel like I have a "ways to go" before I can identify false security before it is too late.  Enjoy the video, the band, the music.

Rock on.