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How to Succeed in the Program

 

The single most reliable predictor of success in the entrepreneurship program is to get advising early and often. Entrepreneurship program advisors prefer to meet with each student individually at least once per semester, before choosing your next set of courses but more frequent meetings make it easier to stay on track.

 

Graduates and current students offer the following advice:

 

“Constantly remind yourself that the course is a tool to help YOU realize YOUR dreams. . . you can either hold onto, examine and use how to use the tool, or discard it and continue as you were before you had it. It is always YOUR choice, but sometimes won’t learn to use or value a new tool unless we force ourselves into a situation in which we need it. The entrepreneurship course will do that!”

 

“First ask yourself if starting a business is what you really want to do with your life. Then after what I’m sure will be a yes from almost everyone, I would ask them if they are willing to give the time and dedication it takes to do this while sacrificing some other things. If so, I would then continue by challenging them to take what they learn in the class and use it outside the class in their daily life. . . . entrepreneurship is a lifestyle, not something you can practice for an hour and 15 minutes twice a week. . .

 

“Join the Entrepreneurship Association!” “. . . and go to every meeting”

 

“You can get through it and you will have learned more useful information than in any other class you’ve taken.

 

“Scan the environment. Because it may not apply to them directly but it could affect a classmate and in turn another classmate may find information that affects someone else.”

 

“You know when you go grocery shopping and there’s always someone who has their cart in the middle of the aisle and won’t move it when you are trying to pass because they are so absorbed in what they are looking at? That’s not an entrepreneur. We see the person rounding the corner, anticipate them coming down the aisle and adjust ourselves to help them pass while still focusing on what we are looking for.”

 

“Consistently challenge your own ideas and those of the instructor.”

 

“Take every opportunity you can to network and expand your contacts.”

 

“Go to office hours and ask questions.” “. . . make sure you get there at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time because there will be a line.”

 

“Get to know your fellow students in your class and in the 432 class.”

 

“Start your assignments in advance.” “Start contacting industry experts as soon as you have been researching your industry for two weeks (and start researching as soon as you get into a group). And then stay in contact with them, send them thank yous and continue to practice network maintenance.”

 

“Do outside reading. It’s part of being alert anyway and you will be better able to use the readings and teachings if you know what’s going on (so pick up the SF Chronicle, Business Week, Inc., Fast Company, WSJ, NY Times, The SJ Merc, SF Biz Times, etc.)”

 

“Read every assigned reading twice and think about what it means in relation to entrepreneurial alertness, your business and the class.”

 

“When you pick your industry, pick a concept you love because you will use it in the next two courses. If you really like the idea, it’s a lot of fun.”

 

“Do not try to rush through the program, appreciate that the classes were designed to be taken consecutively for a reason.”