Day: February 20, 2020

WHY ATTEND A CAREER FAIR

Career Fairs can be a helpful strategy for looking for internships or jobs. Here’s why you want to consider attending:
** Good way to learn about companies—Think of the career fair as a great way to explore and learn more about companies that will be a fit for you and that you may not have previously heard about.
**Puzzled about what you want to do? —By talking to employers you will get ideas about the type of companies that interest you. For example, if you have thought about working for a non-profit, but are unsure if this is right for you, introduce yourself to a non-profit employer and ask what they like about their work.
**Opportunity to talk with employers—Career fairs are a good way to get more comfortable speaking with employers so that you will be more confident and assured when you get an interview.
 **Give your resume to a person—Tired of submitting your resume online and not getting a response? A career fair is a chance to hand your resume to an employer and ask questions.
**For more ideas attend Prepare for the Fair: Career Fair Prep Workshop, Feb 20 1- 3pm– Anderson Academic Commons 290 and 340, The Hub, Leo Block Alumni House Drop-in on your way to the fair at any of the locations to practice your “elevator pitch” and get additional tips from professionals on how to get the most out of your career fair experience.

Cooking Up Job Satisfaction

As a college student, especially those close to graduation, there is a lot of pressure to get a job. People are always asking, “Have you found a job?”, “What are you doing after graduation?” or “How is the job search?” Due to this pressure, many new graduates will accept the first job offer they receive, but may not be a wise choice. Why you ask? The job may not be the right fit.  You might not enjoy this job, and within 6 months to 1 year you are already trying to search for a new role. I think having an idea of what will keep you happy at a job is just as important as finding a job. Job satisfaction will make you a better employee and allow you to have a better life, and that’s what we all want right?
So today I have created the recipe for job satisfaction.
Ingredient List and Directions
  • 1 or 2 degrees from a top institution in the country
  • Stir in your skills, interests, values – Find a role where your skills will shine, and you are excited to be there.
  • 1 Cup ideal work environment – This can change per person. Think about what will satisfy you every day. Do you want to work individually or with teams? What does the physical office, structure, lab, etc look like? What are your co-workers like? Do you want people who share the same interests and lifestyle, or are you looking to broaden your horizon by engaging in an entirely new culture?
  • A dash of humor – Who doesn’t want to laugh at work?
  • 3 ping-pong tournaments – Are perks like this something you desire? Many companies now have similar incentives. Free snacks, yoga classes, bringing your dog to work, or a coffee bar.
  • 20 DU Alumni – Recently the Career Center staff visited Denver based Four Winds Interactive, this innovative company has 20+ DU alumni who have created an alumni chapter at work. They even hold social events after work. Find a place where you feel like you belong.
  • Add $$$ – What is the right salary for you? Ideally we will all get paid more than we need but accepting the first job that comes along may not allow you to live within your means. Do some research on the city you are living in, how much will you need? $40,000 in San Francisco, CA is not the same as $40,000 in Columbus, OH.
  • Mix in a great leader – What does leadership mean to you? Do you value autonomy and ownership over your work? Do you need to feel like you are making an impact?
  • Sprinkle some desire – Do you believe in this organization? Are you a “company woman/man”? Can you stand behind your work and be excited to share what you do?
  • Cook for 20+ years at 40 hours a week
Enjoy!
I hope this helps you grasp what it means to be satisfied at work, and allows you to begin thinking about what you want out of a career and what will keep you engaged and satisfied every day!

Sustainability Professionals to Visit DU for Networking @ Nite!

Are you registered for Networking @ Nite? If not, you might want to see who’s coming and sign up!
Career & Professional Development has been working closely with our friends in Natural Sciences & Mathematics, and in alumni relations, to bring you a group of awesome, fun, talented people for you to meet at the end of the month! It’s not often that we are able to bring in a group of alumni who are making an impact on the world through sustainability in such diverse ways. We have an amazing group!
Have you heard of the Alliance Center?
It’s a beautiful, sustainable space (1908 Otero Building) that brings together climate, energy, and sustainability professionals to address issues relating to climate change and designing a more sustainable world. It’s a business incubator that brings in local organizations to innovate, collaborate, and make an impact.
Sounds like a pretty neat place to do an internship, doesn’t it?
Not convinced? Well, is water analysis something that interests you? Have you heard of Hach, a company that focuses on producing instruments to provide better, faster, and more informative analysis of our water supply?
We have someone from the Alliance Center AND Hach joining us at Networking @ Nite! Yes, you have the opportunity to learn more about this exciting organization and practice your “talking to really cool strangers” skills on February 28 from 5:00-6:30pm in ECS 510!
(P.S. Trout Unlimited, which aims to conserve our coldwater fisheries, is also joining us…)
Registration for this exciting event is slowly coming to a close, with just a few spots left, and you won’t want to miss this opportunity! We had the chance to extend student registration from 15 to 20 students so be sure to claim your spot today, or be sure to snag a spot on the waitlist in case we are able to bring in a few more students!
Whether you are exploring careers in the sciences, or seeking an internship for this summer, it’s never too late to get out there and start chatting with folks.
This is not a career fair, or an incredibly formal business-like event. It’s simply an opportunity to bring a bunch of fun scientists together, who are stoked to meet you.
Register today at du.edu/pioneercareers under the “Events” tab! (“Networking @ Nite”).

So…You Don’t Want to Go to Medical School?

The dreaded decision for any pre-health student is whether or not to pursue the health professions (particularly medicine) when times get tough. In many cases, pre-health students have always wanted to be a physician, nurse, pharmacist, or PA and help people through healthcare. Before coming to DU, I advised Pre-Nursing majors and had many conversations with students about why they wanted to go into nursing. I heard compelling stories that started from childhood and highlighted an unwavering desire to pursue one particular specialty within the nursing profession. This career goal led students to structure their academic lives around, say, neonatal nursing; that is, until they had the chance to volunteer or shadow in the NICU.
There are many factors, both inside and outside of the classroom, that cause students to question their career goals, but one of the most challenging conversations around career exploration often happens after doing an internship, shadowing, volunteering, or conducting informational interviews. It can be devastating to pursue an experiential learning opportunity in the field that has captured your heart for so long, only to find that it wasn’t what you thought it might be.
Have you ever experienced this? It’s frustrating. It can make us feel lost. “Where do I go from here?” was often a question that students leaving the Pre-Nursing major would ask me. Fortunately, there are many options to help people and make an impact on the world through healthcare that don’t require medical school; some paths don’t involve continuing your education at all. I will be hosting a mini-course this spring, designed around supportive and intentional conversations about career exploration in the world of healthcare. This isn’t a credited course and it’s not like other courses you may have taken – it will be heavily focused on discussion, exploration, and support.
The mini-course will take place in ECS 357 (or outside, but we will always meet in our classroom first!) for the first 4 Tuesdays in May, from 3:00-3:45pm.
In this mini-course, students will:
  1. Get to the heart of why they are interested in medicine (or anything in pre-health) through guided self-reflection;
  2. Learn how to uncover DU alumni in healthcare and ways to connect with them directly;
  3. Support one another in the exploratory process and use this course as a means for challenge, empowerment, and enlightenment.
I hope you will consider joining us! You can RSVP via Pioneer Careers; be sure to register for all four sections

Bloom’s Taxonomy Across Stages of Language Acquisition

Bloom’s Taxonomy Across Stages of Language Acquisition
Levels of thinking and language functions
Level of thinking and academic language move from concrete recall to more complex and more abstract in any undertaking.
Language use across stages of second-language acquisition
Moves from simple to complex in grammatical tenses, forms, vocabulary, etc.
Preproduction:
(Level 1)
Nonverbal response.
Early Production:
(Level 2)
One-word response.
Speech emergence:
(Level 3)
Phrases or short sentences.
Intermediate fluency:
(Level 3)
Longer and more complex sentences.
Advanced fluency:
(Level 3)
Near native-like.
Creating
Appraise, argue, assess, choose, compare, defend, estimate, judge, predict, rate. select, support, value, evaluate
Teacher mismatches animal with its environment and asks: Is this the right environment? Find the right environment.
What are the best materials for the duck to build a nest?
What makes a good home for a bear?  (Examine settings and evaluate: “A cave makes a good home.”)
What would happen if you put a worm in the desert?
Recommend a different environment for a mother duck to raise her ducklings.  Defend your choice.
Evaluating
Arrange, assemble, collect, compose, construct, create, design, develop, formulate, manage, organize, plan, prepare, propose, set up
Point to the animals that live in the soil.
Say the names of the animals that live in the soil.
How could you change a scorpion so it could swim?
What would a camel need to survive in the desert?
How would you protect the wildlife in a forest where hiking was popular?
Analyzing
Analyze, appraise, calculate, categorize, contrast, criticize, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, test
Show me an animal that cannot lie in the forest.
Name the parts of a fish that help it live in the water.
How are raccoons and squirrels the same?  How are they different?
How does a bear use its claws to catch fish?  Gather berries?
Why do you think a bear hibernates in winter?
Applying
Apply, choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, practice, schedule, sketch, solve, use
Show me what would happen I we put the fish in the desert.
Tell me what would happen if we put a fish in the desert.
How could you change the body of a fish to make it fly?
How would you capture and transport scorpions to a zoo?
How would a deer camouflage itself in the forest in winter?  In the desert?
Understanding
Classify, describe, discuss, explain, express, identify, indicate, locate, recognize, report, restate, review, select, translate
Show me where a deer lives.
Tell me which animals eat meat.
Why is a toad the color it is?
Explain how a snake catches its prey.
Why do fish need gills to live in the water?  How do gills work?
Remembering
Arrange, order, define, duplicate, label, list, name, recognize, relate, recall, repeat, reproduce
Where is the raccoon?
What is the name of this animal?
What are the body parts of a turtle?
Give the definition of a mammal.
Tell me everything you know about a clam.
Source: Adapted from Bloom’s Taxonomy, Halliday’s language Functions, and Krashen’s Stages of Language Acquisition.  Contributors: Mike Gaddis and Cynthia Bjork.  As shown on the Journal of the National Staff Development Council, Winter 2008.                    

What Does a Day in the Life of a Paralegal Look Like?

What Does a Day in the Life of a Paralegal Look Like? was originally published on WayUp Guide.
Recent grad phone interview
From drafting correspondence to performing legal research, the life of a paralegal can be quite different from one day to the next. Despite these differences, most paralegals do a combination of the following things.

Conducting legal research

One of the most important tasks in any legal department is to conduct research on specific cases and legal precedents. This includes looking at court decisions that are relevant to an ongoing case and gathering information about those decisions such as what parties were involved and why the court decided to rule a certain way. Because of its importance, research is usually one of the biggest components of a paralegal’s work and tends to account for a large part of their day.

Interviewing clients

Another important component of legal research is to interview clients about their cases. This includes gathering general information about clients and their cases and also discussing more detailed elements of those cases such as the events that took place on a particular day. By conducting these interviews, paralegals are able to identify key facts that they can then pass on to the more senior legal team who can determine the best way to use them during legal proceedings.

Writing reports

In addition to conducting research and interviews, paralegals are responsible for gathering that information together into concise reports which are used by attorneys when preparing cases and developing strategies for arguing those cases. These reports are typically structured to include the facts of a specific case as well as relevant legal precedents and court decisions pertaining to that case.

Drafting correspondence and carrying out administrative tasks

Paralegals are also responsible for drafting letters to clients, judges and other attorneys and carrying out administrative tasks such as scheduling and filing. These tasks combined are part of the general support paralegals offer to the legal team and can be vary greatly from one one day to the next.
An exciting and diverse career, being a paralegal is a great career path for recent grads who are interested in working on a legal team. The best way to find out if being a paralegal is right for you is by interning with a legal department and getting a hands-on feel for the role.
Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 3 Ways to Be More Productive at Work and find answers to common interview questions such as Are You Willing to Travel?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Delegation Vital to a Business’ Growth

By Chemeketa SBDC

One of the harder chores that a business owner faces is delegation. While there may be immediate gratification when someone takes a task off your overwhelmingly full plate, the fact is that once you feel the relief, you may very well begin to question whether it has been done as well as you expected, as fast as you could do it, or even done right.
No one can do everything alone. We know that intellectually. But whether we can accept it personally is another step. Delegation is vital to the growth of a business. It is also important in developing the sills and abilities of your staff. It allows you to groom your staff for higher-level positions and to take increasing important roles in decision-making.
While delegation, the assignment of part of your work, is the reason you add staff, often we don’t fully understand that with delegation also must come authority and accountability. Three steps are generally needed for the delegation process to be successful.
First you must assign responsibility to someone. You must ask someone to do a job or perform a task.
Second, you must give that person the authority, the power, to accomplish the task or job. This may include the power to get specific information, order supplies, authorize expenditure and make some decisions.
Finally, you must create accountability, the obligation to accomplish the task. (Note that while you can create accountability – you cannot delegate it away. You remain accountable to your business. If your staff fails to complete the job – you are accountable.)
Communication, good communication, is the key to successful delegation. First you have to know what you want to accomplish and you need to clearly communicate the task or project. If there are any absolutes you also need to let you staff know what they are and how these absolutes must be accomplished. You need to think of the tools (including information) the person will need and let them know where they can access these tools. You should be very clear about the expected outcomes, deadlines and deliverables.
And then you need to get out of the way. And remember, it is always a learning process. If you cannot afford mistakes, you cannot avoid training. Set your staff up for success, not failure.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Job Offers: 6 Things to Consider

job offersCongratulations!!! You have a job offer.
Now what?
Job offers are exciting. You may have been through a grueling process and dozens of interviews before this offer arrived. But don’t accept it too quickly. Take some time to reflect and to review the offer. You will be spending a large number of hours at this job, so ask for a few days to review the offer. This will give you time to objectively decide if the job is a good fit for you. Here are a few points to consider:
  1. Salary: You will likely have to live with the salary for at least a year, so do your search on the salary range by checking with sites like salary.com, salaryexpert.com and glassdoor.com. If your offer is below an acceptable range, now is the time to negotiate. Attend a Job Offers and Negotiation Workshop on Thursday, April 28 to learn and practice negotiating. 
  2. Day-to-Day Work: Ask yourself if you are proud of the company, product or services provided by the company. Is the job interesting? Does the position fit with your career goals? Will you be challenged?
  3. Hidden Costs: Will you have a long commute? Need to upgrade your wardrobe? Be away from family and friends due to a lot of out-of-town travel?
  4. Benefits: A great benefit package can compensate for a lower salary. What is the health insurance plan and what percentage does the employer pay? Tuition reimbursement? What about employer contributions to a retirement plan? How much paid vacation and sick leave do they give employees? Some companies offer all of these and more, other companies offer very few benefits.  Decide what you or your family needs and consider these options carefully.
  5. Culture: Do you think that you will fit in easily? If not, are you willing to adjust? Is your supervisor interested in your growth and success? Are you comfortable with the management style?
  6. Consider Your Needs: Do you need to leave at a set time to pick-up a child from daycare or school? Do you need relocation assistance? Do you know what working hours are the norm in the office? Would you like to telecommute or do you need any physical accommodations made to your work space?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Clinical Experience: What it is and How to Find it

Stock Photo by Sean Locke
http://www.digitalplanetdesign.com
Gaining clinical experience is not limited to Biological Sciences majors or pre-medicine students. It’s a crucial experiential learning activity for anyone who is interested in learning more about career options in healthcare or may be considering graduate study.
While there is no official, overarching definition for the term “clinical experience,” it generally involves a hospital or healthcare setting and some level of patient contact. For most undergraduate students, this experience falls into three categories: shadowing, volunteering, and completing an internship or research project.
Shadowing is a great way to learn about careers in healthcare, because it provides students with key insights into a “day in the life” of the care team. While one may have a general sense of what a nurse does, the nuances and complexities of a nurse’s role are most easily observed through a shadowing experience. Shadowing generally doesn’t involve direct patient contact, but the observer instead follows a healthcare provider over the course of one day or multiple sessions. If you are still exploring your options, shadowing might serve as an excellent avenue to clarify your career goals. Even if you’re sure of your goals, I still highly recommend shadowing each member of the care team (including physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, and physical therapists, to name a few) to get a sense of how your desired profession typically works with the group.
Are you interested in a more hands-on experience? If that’s the case, you may want to consider volunteering. You may have some direct patient contact, and if you have any certifications or licensure, you may be able to get even more involved. Volunteering can be short-term, project-based, or long-term, and as a volunteer, you may have the opportunity to move between departments depending on your experience. As a volunteer, you will likely interact with healthcare providers more regularly, giving you the opportunity to build rapport with industry professionals and conduct informational interviews as you build your network. While volunteering is another great avenue for exploration, it’s also crucial (and sometimes required) for students who are interested in pursuing a professional program after graduation.
Perhaps the most in-depth experience is an internship or research project. Both serve as an opportunity for students to obtain valuable, applied experience that is often the most directly related to their career goals. An internship or research experience may last for one-quarter, or span across multiple terms. It could be on the DU campus, or beyond – in a healthcare or industry setting. Since they are so hands-on and often are project-driven, these experiences are ideal for students who have some idea of their career goals and are seeking more in-depth professional experience for their resumes. While these experiences are also important to students, if you are a recent alum who is planning to complete a gap year before applying to a professional program, you may want to consider doing additional research or completing an internship.
So, how do students and alumni find these opportunities? Obtaining clinical experience is, in many ways, similar to the internship and job search. I suggest students take a multifaceted approach; for example, a student might apply to a hospital-wide volunteer program (reactive) while reaching out to their network to find a physician to shadow (proactive).
Both Johns Hopkins and RIT maintain lists of summer research and internship opportunities, and hospital websites typically have extensive information about their volunteer initiatives. Professional groups, such as the Colorado BioScience Association (DU is a member!), also host a wealth of resources and programming for students interested in finding clinical experience or connecting with researchers.
If possible, take a certification course to become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), EMT, or pharmacy tech. The skills that you will develop through these programs will allow for you to deepen your volunteer or internship experiences and potentially increase your level of patient contact.
Finally, leverage your status as a member of the DU network! Is there a professor here at DU who is working on research in a field that interests you? Reach out to them. Have you found a physician on Pioneer Connect who lists “job shadowing” as part of their volunteer services? Drop them a line. Many of these shadowing, volunteer, and research experiences aren’t listed in a curated job board, so you will want to think creatively about your search for clinical experience and don’t shy away from using a number of strategies.
Interested in learning more about finding clinical and research experiences? Career & Professional Development will be hosting two workshops coming up on this very topic!
“Navigating your pre-health journey: Finding clinical experiences” is on Tuesday, October 3 at 4 pm in ECS 410. This workshop will be given by Kimberly White and while it is open to any interested students, is tailored toward those in Natural Science & Math.
“Finding research experiences,” in partnership with the Undergraduate Research Center, will be held on Thursday, November 2 at 4 pm in ECS 410. This workshop will be given by both Kyle Inselman and Kimberly White and is intended for all majors.
We hope to see you there!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

A New Grad’s Guide to Job Networking: 6 Simple Tips

Would potential employers spare me time for a brief introduction or even a handshake?
This would probably be a normal thought of any fresh graduate anxious of attending any job networking event. It’s the lack of professional experience that makes them rethink whether to go or not. But hey, there’s no reason not to go! Keep in mind that there’s a lot to gain from attending such events.
From someone who’s been there and done that, here are a few tips to carry you through your job networking experience:
Prepare yourself
There’s nothing that a good preparation cannot solve. Practicing introductions can be a good start. After all, you’re going to meet and reach out to your potential employers.
You have to be able to convey who you are, what you can do, and what areas of the industry you want to explore. Think of an elevator pitch for yourself, so during the networking event itself, you will have ready spiel for introduction while branding yourself at the same time.
Research
Arm yourself with enough knowledge about the industry you want to get into. Study industry trends. Know the top companies in that industry, their respective vision and core values, and assess each company’s strengths and weaknesses. Potential employers would appreciate that you are passionate about the industry and the company’s goals rather than just landing a job.
Say hello
Don’t be too intimidated to talk! Smile and say hello or give out a compliment to break the ice. Strike a conversation, and get engaged in it. Company representatives in a networking event would talk about the company and what they do. Listen to them and show interest by asking follow-up questions.
 Have clear career goals
Once you’re in a conversation, you and the company representative would probably talk about your career goals. Be clear about your short- and long-term career goals. By letting the company representative know your skills and the position you are looking for, he or she can give you insights and pieces of advice on breaking into the industry, getting referred to the right company among others.
Share ideas for possible contribution
While you may get excited about meeting your potential employer, don’t forget that networking should not just work for you, but for them as well. While being informed about the company and the industry is appreciated, showing them how you can contribute to their company is more impressive.
Be brave enough to share insights of your own. If you feel you can offer alternate solutions to their company’s weak spots, speak up. Company representatives and potential employers want strong applicants who can be instrumental to their organization’s growth. Add value to your image by showing that the company will benefit itself for hiring you.
Reconnect and follow up
Just because the networking event may be over doesn’t mean you’ll leave your chances to luck. If you have their business cards, you can send them a thank you note for the good and insightful conversation you had. You can also use this opportunity for them to remember you, and add in that you are open to talking again in the near future.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

EDGE Business Support Accelerator

Leveraging the power of business-to-business service companies

Join a cohort of other business owners in a supportive environment. Incubators are places to help empower the development of business enterprises. You and 9 other businesses owners will be surrounded by resources and expertise. Your business will thank you!

Here’s what we are offering to our 10 participants:

  • 10’x10′ Class A office space
  • Enrollment in business and entrepreneurship courses
  • Unlimited access to the SBDC’s in-house resources
  • Ongoing advising and your own personal board of advisors
  • Access to high-speed internet and copier
  • The support and encouragement of the SBDC staff and your fellow tenants
  • Business specific signage for your office
  • 24/7 card key entry
  • Day offices when you need extra space
  • On-site bistro
  • Networking opportunity with other business owners
All of this and more offered for $210 – $250 per month!

The EDGE Business Accelerator is ideal if you:

  • Currently operate a business-to-business service company
  • Work from home and work alone most of the time
  • Need to increase your bottom line
  • Motivated to learn something new
  • Want to improve yourself and your business

You’re a good fit for this program if:

You recognize that although you can do it all on your own, you’d prefer get support to make your work easier, more profitable, and more fun.

Interested? Here’s your next step:

Contact us by email for more information or complete an application
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCzOJDJZHoBttdHAjJsnN9w?sub_confirmation=1

Will Medical Cannabis Break the Painkiller Epidemic?

The U.S. is in the midst of an unprecedented opioid epidemic, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Prescription opioid overdoses killed more than 165,000 Americans between 1999 and 2014, and the health and social costs of abusing such drugs are estimated to be as much as $55 billion a year.
An article in Scientific American points out that the opioid problem has led experts to search for a less dangerous alternative for pain relief—and some research is pointing to medical marijuana.
Over the past 15 years, physicians started hearing that patients were using cannabis instead of prescription opioids to manage pain.
Researchers examined whether some states’ legalization of medical cannabis had affected the number of opioid overdose deaths. A study published in 2014 noted that between 1999 and 2010, states that permitted medical marijuana had an average of almost 25 percent fewer opioid overdose deaths each year than states where cannabis remained illegal.
Medical cannabis is unlikely to prove a replacement for opioids in all medical situations. For example, prescribing opioids is relatively uncontroversial in end-of-life care and in treatment of acute pain from cancer, major surgery or broken bones. But for pain not caused by cancer, medical cannabis may prove a better candidate in the long run.
On June 8, Ohio joined 24 other states (including Vermont) and the District of Columbia in legalizing medical cannabis. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considered two state governors’ petitions to reconsider marijuana’s Schedule I status, but ultimately denied the petitions in August. However, the agency announced a policy change that could encourage U.S. research by boosting the number of authorized marijuana manufacturers

10 Business Lessons I Learned from Watching Hockey

By John Burton ’76
I have a great appreciation for how difficult hockey can be. I broke my nose one of the first times I ever played the sport. It was just a simple pickup game with neighborhood friends so nobody wore much equipment. When an older boy lifted the puck, it quickly snapped my nose and took me out. I never held it against him as hockey is a rough sport and it’s best not to whimper about your injuries. My father was good friends with the great “Terrible Ted” Lindsay from the Detroit Red Wings, so I had the opportunity to see the many stitches in his face up close. I have always viewed my own injury as a little badge of honor.
Attending college at the University of Vermont in the 1970s turned me into an avid fan of college hockey. I’ve been going to college hockey games for the past 35 years (Go Cats, Go!). Now my young grandson is learning the many lessons that hockey has to teach and even has Catamount stickers on his hockey helmet.
Just like in a hockey game, businesses need to size up the opponent and pick the best strategy for the situation.

Here are 10 lessons I have learned from hockey that also apply to running a business:

1. The great Wayne Gretzky said that the key to success in hockey is knowing where your line-mate is headed so you pass the puck right where they will be. Make sure to leave enough space in your task hand-offs to let others receive them where they really are at the time.
2. Every time you don’t shoot at the goal, it fails to go in. Don’t wait too long before innovating. Often hesitation can be your worst enemy.
3. Winners in hockey move fast. Never stop focusing on the fundamentals, such as skating. Keep training on business basics, like writing and speaking, as you can always get better. Trust in the fundamentals.
4. From high school on, hockey is about being steady on your feet, so others can’t take you out of the play. As your business grows, work on stability so you don’t make an easy target for the competition. Make strong moves and others will tend to stay clear.
5. Sometimes hockey players take out the opponent rather than going for the puck and sometimes the reverse is true. Businesses also need to size up the opponent and pick the best strategy for the situation.
6. In hockey, every position needs to be able to quickly switch from offense to defense. Successful business people are always prepared to promote or defend their work based on the circumstances.
7. Great hockey players learn to trust their teammates by doing their individual role the absolute best way possible. It is critical to not do other players work for them but to hold your position and eventually the puck will come your way. The key to a successful business is to refine and improve your special role and always be ready to quickly respond when the work comes your way.
8. Each shift, period, game and season has a life of its own in hockey. In business, success comes from just focusing on the work at hand and not fretting over past struggles.
9. In the game of hockey, it takes a whole team to succeed, not just a few superstars. Refine your office teamwork and involve the whole team. Teamwork is a thing of beauty that everyone can be proud of.
10. Sometimes a hockey game is all about the final minutes or seconds. Often a business finds that most of the success happens at the end of the day, week, month or year. Work as hard at the very end of every single day and every little project as you do at the beginning to find business success.
-John Burton ’76 is president and co-owner of NPI Technology Management
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