What Gives? Free Advice and Flashy Titles
So here we are: you are probably up studying strange routing protocols or preparing for some odd Accenture excursion while I am up writing to you. And why, you ask? Easy. Because I want you to know that not only have I been there, but I also still am. But, what does that mean to you? And, more importantly, what are you going to do about it?
I write this from my house tonight, which as of late has been a luxury for me. I’ve been on the road for the last few months performing the duties of my new position in life: consultant. Groomed and readied by all of our favorite mentors.
And, as a consultant, I now impart my self-absorbed consultative powers upon you: It has been great meeting some of you the last few times I’ve made the journey to BSU, but I’ve heard little (read: almost none) from any of you. What gives? I’m not sure you are all buying in to this network the way they are pitching it to you. You got this far—they got you to bite this lure, now reel in the catch. Reap the rewards, if you will. They're not kidding when they say some of us are here to help. Don't make me tell somebody that I am concerned for the class of '08, and their awfully noncommunicative ways (not the best of ways to be for communication professionals).
If I were stuck, or stressed out, or wondering how to finish project X that was kicking my tail in, I’d probably be raising my fists to the sky screaming about what in the world I’d gotten into, and who was supposed to help me now.
Or if I was wanting to talk to someone about a job in Indy, or in the consulting arena period, or just wanting an alumni quote or perspective, I’d be screaming about who was going to get me out of those jams or into those positions.
Or if was wanting resume help or just somebody to throw things against, I'd probably be furious that there was no one there to listen.
And if I was going to lose my mind on this whole Challenge thing and wanted some perspective, I’d probably wonder if I knew anybody who’d been through all of this before.
But that’s just me.
Best of luck on this; it will be a long year and a long night, don’t lose faith.
And go see Tracy if you want to get ahold of me. I don’t sleep much, so no time’s off limits to you guys (ask her for my cell phone, and treat her nice if she gives it to you). Or, get ahold of any other alumni; you'll get the same response. Now go do good work, for the good of the order.
Jared.