Yes that’s right, don’t read this if you’re looking for anything other than free advice from a master networker, inspiring entrepreneur, and someone who always seems to be on the cutting edge of new trends and technology.
Scott Westerman is an Area Vice President at Comcast, Founder of The Emergency Email Network, and along with his wife, Colleen, established the Scott & Colleen Westerman Technology Endowment at Michigan State University. More than that he pursues his goals with an instensity that is electric and makes you want to go accomplish all your dreams too. Whenever I ask Scott for advice he is happy to share his thoughts, and when he does, I shut up and listen.
Here’s Scott’s advice for the out of college crew:
I always tell new grads to dream big dreams, assume that anything is possible and work backwards from there. Envision as clearly as possible what your world will look like five years from now, all the way down to the car you’ll drive, the house you’ll own, the vacations you’ll take, what your office will be like and the equipment at the gym where you’ll be working out. Somehow, that visualization exercise seems to make dreams come true.Whatever scares you, feel the fear and do it anyway. Seek feedback, even when it hurts. Embrace failure as the learning experience it is, and don’t be afraid to take a 180 degree career turn if your heart tells you to. In the end, life is really about finding your Joy and pursuing it with reckless abandon. Keep Keith Ferrazzi’s book by your side. Read Jim Collins “Good to Great” and memorize the “Level 5″ and the “Stockdale Paradox” chapters. Avoid the energy suckers and invest your time with unselfish people. Like Keith says, give generously without expecting anything in return, build the network before you need it and reach out to those “aspirational contacts”, people at the top of the game who you admire. You’ll be surprised how many of them will welcome you. That’s how I met Rob Curley (the best and brightest newspaper new media guy in the world), sang with the Spinners (my favorite Motown group), became friends with nearly all of my WKNR idols, got the chance to interview Keith, and spent an evening hanging out with Barak Obama (when he was first running for Senate).
Thanks Scott!
For more ‘Westerman-isms’, visit him online here.
