Trying Is Overrated: Doing Is All That Matters!

Bazaar magazine published my article about "trying". It was inspired by GUST students my first semester at the university. You can read the article at Bazaar online.

Good For Mohammad Al Saleh: He's The First Student To Invite Me To His Blog!

My email says: You have been invited to contribute to Kuwait Cars
The invitation was sent by MCM 201 student, Mohammad N H M Al Saleh. I am impressed! He's the first student to set up his blog and send me an invitation to contribute . . . impressed because this is a guy who, between tanning and the gym, and taking care of family members, doesn't have any extra time. How he manages to fit in school work, I don't know! But I'm very pleased to see that he's working on his Final Assessment and that I've been invited to his new Blogger site.



Obviously Mohammad has completed Part I 3.5 . . . have you?

The Best Question EVER!

I am proud to tell you that Sager asked the best question ever when he asked Mark, "Do you want that iPhone?"

There were many good questions today (thank you to the students who asked the questions and who participated in Mark's presentation) . . . but Sager's question captured the essence of a journalism or mass media student. It shows you're paying attention, it shows you're thinking, and it shows you are "hungry." Employers like to see those qualities. They want to see that you know what you want and you're willing to ask for it.

I'm bringing this to your attention because stepping out, or stepping up, and asking a question like that (you can't be timid and ask that kind of question) is exactly how people can get ahead. Or how they get unexpected news. Or a surprise. Or a gift.

Imagine if Mark had said, "No, and here it is; it's yours just for asking." I've seen that happen. In fact, I've given away products from the stage in very similar scenarios. I explained that a book "unlocked" secrets to "marketing" and when an audience member said, "Can I have that book?" I couldn't resist rewarding him just for asking, and I gave it to him.

Similarly, asking questions like that -- bold questions -- is how you get people to tell you information that they weren't planning to share with you or anyone else. A bold question will catch them off guard. No one expects someone to ask, "Can I have that?" or "Will you tell me the secret?" -- which is what a bold question does.

So good for you, Sager! Stepping up, stepping out, and being bold will help you get a job (and other good things in life).

Planning: It's An Important Part Of Your Job As A Student. Especially As We Near Finals!

"Have a plan. Follow the plan, and you'll be surprised how successful you can be."
-- Paul "Bear" Bryant, American Football Coach

"You should plan and work for your life aas if you're going to live forever, and you should plan and work for the Hereafter as if you're going to die tomorrow."
-- Famous Arab Message

"Always plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark."
-- (Boston Cardinal) Richard Cushing

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
-- Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of the USA