HoistingToGreatnesswithSuperKellyBy:JacobArnoldPriortomeeting,theself-taughtsuperheroKellyHeekin,IhadlittleknowledgeaboutHoist,andhowmuchworkasmallcompany hastodo.However,duringthesessionwithsuperKelly,Ilearnedalot,notonlyaboutHoist,asaproductandacompany, butabouthowtoyouarealwaysneedingtoadaptasasmallbusiness.PriortomeetingwithsuperKellyIdecidedthatsome researchneededtobedonesothatIcouldhaveabetterunderstandingofthecompany.InordertodothisIusedtheHoistwebsite(www.drinkhoist.com) andtheHoistInstagramfeed(https://www.instagram.com/drinkhoist).IalsousedKellyHeekindirectlytoanswersomeofmyquestions.SowhatisHoist?Hoistisahydrationdrinkthatlaysclaimtorapidrehydration.Therapidrehydrationcomesfrom it’sisotonicsolution,whichallowstheliquidtoenteryourbloodstreamwithoutdelay.How?Well,isotonicsolutions flowthroughyourstomachandisthenabsorbedbyyourbody,nodigestionneededbecause itisthesamedensityofblood andcells.Hoistprovidestheperfectbalanceofwater,carbohydrates,andelectrolytesthatthebodyneeds. ThisiswhatmakesHoistuniquecomparedtootherhydrationproducts.AccordingtoabriefsurveyconductedduringthissessionwithsuperKelly,about40studentsintheroomhadtriedtheproduct,andonlyonestudentusedtheproductonaregularbasis.ThestudentwhousedHoistonaregularbasissaidthatheusesitbecauseithydratesyoureallyfast,itiseasytoget,andit is greatforaworkout.Afterhearingthisduringthesession,itappearsasthoughsuperKellyisdoinghismarketingandbrandingverywell!Buttherehastobesomeunderlyingframework…Ahwait!SuperKellymentionedthat,YodaandhisJedipadawanshadbuiltamarketingstrategyforHoist!SuperKellytoldusatthesessionthatYodaandhispadawanshaveimpactedthebusinessfrommutipleareasincluding:brandingfundamentals, packaging,productdevelopment,buildingtargetcustomerprofiles,andoverallhelpingthebrandgrow.OneofthethingsYodaandhispadawan’srecommendedisthattheyusedoinggoodasabrandpurpose. Tothisday,Hoistuses’doinggood’asabrandpurpose.Thiswasadifficulttransitionatfirst,sincetheywereconsidered ahangoverdrink,butthechangewasnecessary.AfterdoingsomeresearchonHoist’swebsitepriortothesessionwithsuperKelly,IfoundthatmostpeoplethatareempoweredbyHoistarethosethatareathletesandalwaysonthego,alongwiththosewhoaretakingcareofsomeonethatissickortheyaresickthemselves.Whiledoingthisresearchonthewebsite, Idecided tonotehowIfeltabouttheirwebsite.OverallIliketheirwebsite,itdoesseemratherbasiccomparedtootherbeverages(e.g.RedBull,Gatorade,VitaCoco).However,IfeelasthoughthesiteisalignedwiththebrandingfundamentalsthatsuperKellysharedwithus.IfIwasaskedtoimprovethesite,Iwoulddoanauditandmakesureeverythingwasworkingproperly(i.e.InstagramfeedonMediaPage).Aftercheckingouttheirsite,IdecidedtoinvestigagetheirInstagramfeed,andIlikedit.Ibelieveitwasagoodmixofshowingtheircustomers,productsandtheathletesthattheysponsor.Thisisgoodbecausetheyarenotjustpushing andtryingtosellproduct,theyaretakingallangles.TheonlywayIbelievetheirfeedcouldimproveisbyfocusinglessonathletes,andmoreontheactivelifestyle,whichmayappealtoawiderrangeofaudiences.AfterlearningfromsuperKelly,Ifeltempoweredmyself. Ifound itveryinterestingthatagroupoffriendswasabletogettogether,andcreateaproductfromtheproblem thattheywereexperiencing.IhavegrownevenmorerespectforentrepreneursafterlisteningtoKellyHeekin!Ifeel asthoughthebiggesttakeawayforthissessionwithsuperKellywas,adaptationisamustinordertosurviveinthebusinessworld(asacompany andasabusinessperson), ifyoudon’tadaptyouwon’tbeabletosurvive.OverallIfeelasthoughthissessionwasbeneficial tomeandIlearnedafewgreattakeaways.

UnleashingYourPotentialBy:JacobArnoldBefore IhadthechancetomeetthepassionateDanielleMoore,IhadsometimetoreflectontheknowledgethatIgainedfromsuperKelly,andalsowhatIwasabouttolearnfromMs.Moore.Duringmyreflection,IdecidedtonavigatetoLinkedIntofindsome backgroundinformation onDanielle,andherhistory.SowhatdidIexpecttolearnfromDanielle?Well,Iexpectedtogainsome tipsonfindingouthowtofindwhatIlovedoing,andhowtotrulyadvancemyselfaftercollege.Duringthissessionhowever,IlearnedalotmorethanIwasexpecting.LittledidIknow,thatIcouldlearnsomuchfromaseasonedpassionatemanager,thismadethesessiongreatforme.Sowhatdoesittaketotrulydiscoverwhatyouarepassionateabout?Wellaccording tothegreatDanielle,shefoundherpassioninterningincollege.DuringthistimeDaniellewasincollegeinBoulder,CO,andhad aconversationwithoneofherprofessors.Herprofessorrecommended thatshelisthertopfivefavoritecompanies thatshewishtoworkfor,andthenapplyforinternships.Withhergrowingloveforfood,andBoulderbecomingtheplacetobeforinnovationinthebetterfoodmovement,Daniellecouldn’thelpbutlistafewfoodcompanies. Afterdoinganinternshipatanadvertisingagency,shedecideditwastimetotryoneofthesegreatfoodinnovators.ThefirststopforDanielle?Justin’sNutButter!AtJustin’sNutbuttershewasabletotrulyfindherpassionofpublicrelations.DuringhertimeatJustin’sshecreatedapressreleasethatchangedthegame.Thispressreleasecameduringthebigpeanutbutterscare,andwaseducatingthepubliconwhyitwassafetoeatJustin’sNutButter.Afterdoingthisshedidn’twanttostopthere.Shewantedtousethebigimpactthatshehadatasmallercompany,andgenerateatremendousimpactatabiggercompany.Aftercreatingthispressrelease,andinterningatafewcompanies,Daniellewasabletofindwhatshewastrulypassionateabout.Earlyon,Daniellelearnedtheimportanceofnetworkingtoone’scareer.AccordingtoDanielle,networkingisoneoftheonlywaystogetanywhereinanindustry.Withnetworkingyouareabletofosteryourcareer;mentoringisevenanoption,aslongasbothpartiesinthementorshipreceivesomesortofbenefit.ButhowdoesDanielleknowthisnetworkingstuffactuallyworks?WellDanielle’scurrentjob(PR&Communications ManageratChipotleMexicanGrill),isaresultofbothamentorshipandnetworking.DanielleusedhernetworkofprofessorsandLinkedIntomeetChrisArnold,hercurrentbossandmentor.ChrisArnoldwas/isamanageratChipotleandwaslookingtofillarole,heaskedDanielleifsheknewanyonethatwouldfittherole.Shereviewedtherole,andrealizedthatthistypeofrolewouldbeperfectforher!SohetoldChristhatshewasinterested inthepositionandafewyearslatersheisstillwithChipotle!OneofthereasonsthatshechooseChipotlewasbecauseofherloveforthevaluesofthecompany.Danielleis“married”toChipotle,meaningthatshebelievesinthebrandeverysingledaythatshegoesintowork.InhermarriagewithChipotle,Daniellegetstomakemeaningfuldecisions,anddecisionsthataretherightethicaldecisions.Daniellebelievesthatwhenchoosingwhichcompanyyouwanttoworkfor,youhavetoaskyourself,“Would Imarrythisbrand?”AnothertopicthatDanielletalkedaboutwasbreakingoutofyourcomfortzone.Formanyofthestudentsinthesession,itisscarytothingthinkofdoingsomethingthattakesusoutofourcomfortzone,whiletheother sideof thingsismakingmistakes.Daniellegavetwobitsofwisdomtotheroom:(1)mistakesareimportanttoyourcareerand(2)pointswhereyoufeelalittleuncomfortablearewhereyoulearnsomethingnew.Shealsobelievesthatitisimportanttosurround yourselfwithpeoplethatwillletyoufailonceortwice,butwillpickyouupandnotletyoucontinuallyfail.Does thepassionateDaniellemakemistakesandfacechallenges?Yes.Danielle’smostrecentchallengewaswiththee-coliscarethatoccurred nationwide.Thiswentonfor3-4monthsafterHalloween2015.OneofthebiggestchallengesshefacedwiththisincidentisfiguringouthowtobringpeoplebacktoChipotle!Luckily,theteamatChipotleisabletotackletheissue,alongwithsome ofthetopcrisiscommunicationmanagersinthecountry.SohowdoesDaniellegenerateallthepassionshehastowardsherwork?Wellaccordingtoher,shebelievesthatitcomesfromone“outofyourcomfortzone” thing,andthatistravel.ShereallylearnedtostepoutsideofBoulder,COandmeetpeoplewhoshenormallywouldnotmeet.Bydoingsoshewasabletobuildtheultimatesupportsystemfrompeoplethathavenothingbutherbestinterestinmind.Onebravestudentthenasked,”Howshould IgoaboutdiscoveringwhatIampassionateaboutorfindingajobthatdoesnotfeellikeajob?”AccordingtoDanielle,thismighttakeafewopportunities,youneedtoaskyourself,“WhatkindofimpactdoIwanttohave?WhatkindofmanagerdoIwanttohave/be?”Duringtheseopportunitiesyouneedtotrulytakethemaslearningexperiences,andbuildyourselfoff of them.Daniellemademewalkawaywonderingwhatmytruepassionsare,andhowcanIunleashmytruepotential.Thebiggesttakeawayformefromthissessionis,youshouldnotbeafraidtostepoutsideofyourcomfortzone.Bysteppingoutside,youmayfindwhatyouaretrulypassionateaboutandthenyoucanusethistounleashyourtruepotential.

BecomingaSuperheroBy:JacobArnoldBefore havingthehonorofmeetingthecompleteJediCouncil,IhadsometimetothinkaboutwhatIreallywantedtogetoutofthissession. Ihadcometotheconclusion thatIwantedtolearnmoreaboutmembersoftheJediCouncil.Iwasveryinterestedto hearhowprojectssimilartothe#Furious394project,helpedJedi’sintheirvariouscareers.Soforbeginners,whatprojectsdidmembers ofthecouncil workon?Welltonameafew,Piranha,Hoist,Proctor&Gamble,andNKUWellness.Theseprojectsweresoexperientialthattheylandedmostmembers of thecounciltheirfirstjob.Forexample,oneJedigothisfirstjobatORCbecausehewasfamiliarwiththemethodologies usedataresearchcompany.Somejedis saythattheemployerevenreviewedtheprojectonLinkedInandwasreadytodiscuss itattheinterview.Notonlydidsomemembersofthecouncilgetjobs,theyallhavebenefitedgreatlyintheircareerbecauseoftheclientproject(s)theyparticipatedin.Whetheritbegreatpresentationskills,Excelskills,PowerPointskills,timemanagementskills,andpracticalreal-worldexperience.Today,jedis seebenefitfromtheseprojectinacoupleof areas:timemanagement(deadline)skillsandrealworldgroupissues.Someoftheissuesthatareencounteredingroupworkinschool,actuallyfollowintotheworkplace withoffice politics.TheseprojectshavegreatlyallowedallmembersoftheJediCounciltogettowheretheyaretoday,becauseoftheskillsthattheyhavebeenabletodevelopwhiledoingclientbasedprojects.TheJediCouncilhasrecommendedusingourprojectson LinkedInasYodahassuggestedwedo.Asmentioned,mostemployerslookin-depthatLinkedInprofilesbeforeinterviews.Ifyouhaveyour clientbasedprojectonLinkedIn, theywillseeyourworkandthereal-worldexperiencethatyouhavebeenabletogain.Onceyouobtainyourfirstjob,allthankstoyourclientbasedproject,theJediCouncilrecommendsthatyoushouldfocusinontheskillsthatyouneedtodevelop,whetheritbeforyourcurrentjoborforyourdreamjob.Anotherthingthatyoushouldbegintodoisnetworking.Networkingisanimportantpartofpersonalcareergrowth,andaccordingtothecouncil,itisallaboutwhoyouknow.Lastly,oneofthemembersofthecouncil recommends thatyoulearntoadapttotheofficeculture.Itmaybedifficultatfirst,especiallyifyouhavenever workedinsuchanenvironmentbefore,butitisnecessary.Aftergettingyourfirstjobshouldyoucontinuetolookforotherjobs,evenifyou likeyourfirstone?Asonememberof thecouncilstated,youwillgothrougha“honeymoon”withinyourjob.Thefirstyearorsoisgoingto beawesome,butthenyouaregoingtorealizethatitmaynotbethejobforyou.Thishowevermaybenormalwithinthefirstfiveyearsofyourcareer.Youshouldtaketheseopportunitiesaslearningexperiencestofigureoutwhatyoudowanttodo,andwhatyoudon’twanttodo.Othermembersofthecouncil gavesomeadviceregardingthisquestionstatingthatisneveraharmtokeepyourresumecurrent,anditneveraharmtolookaround.TheJedicouncil’slastbitofwisdomforthepadawons wasregardingadviceforsomeonewhoistakingacoursewithanintegratedclient-basedprojectcurrently.Theadvicethattheygavetothepadawons wasveryvaluable,startingwithputtingmostofyourenergyintotheseprojectsastheywillmeanthemostinthelongrun,don’tjustsettleforthestandards,pushforsomething unique,makesureyourstoryistoldinthequickestmostefficientwaypossible,anddon’tusepre-formattedPowerPointtemplates.Thepadawons ofYoda’sclass canusethisadvicetoperfecttheirfinalworkforYodahimselftojudge.ThismeetingwiththeJediCouncilwasverybeneficialtome.IlovedhearinghowtheJedis usedtheirclientprojectstobetterthemselvesintheircareer,andhowitreallyhasimpactedthem.Themembersthemselvesweregreatspeakers,andIdefinetly appreciatethemtakingtheirtimetosharetheirwisdomwithusasIfeelitwillbeverybeneficialtoputtingtogetherthefinal#Furious394project.Thebiggesttakeawayfromthemeetingwiththecouncilwasdefinitelyalltheadvicethattheygavetous,regardingourcareers,andourremainingtimewithYoda.