Words of Wisdom by Josh Kim

For many and most college students, the holiday season is upon us, the part of the year where we have almost a month off from school and most of the students in the nation go off on vacation somewhere and drink and live it up even more, or they spend time with the family. Both of which are fine, and believe it or not, I feel they are essential to developing into a healthy and normal human being. I am currently on break from school for Thanksgiving from Washington State University and this is the first time I had actually done something worthy for my future career. I am not talking about going back to the job I had every summer, or picking up a seasonal job at the local mall shops. Through SIFE, an international organization that is a business club on most campuses, I have been given the opportunity to work with Cintas. The first two days of the internship required me to get up at 6 am, usually closer to the time I go to bed when school is in session, get dressed all nice and professional and then drive an hour to the plant location in Puyallup. Not sounding like the typical go out and party with old and new friends type of break huh? Not by any means was this what 12 other students from my school and I had planned for this break. Cintas is an awesome corporation, at least this location gave that impression. The executives were awesome, down to earth, and most of all human and treated us all as humans, which was honestly a relief  because many of us were nervous and did not know how intense this was going to be. If you do not know what Cintas is, google them and do your research, after all, part of being a professional is to be educated. Anyways, it seems as if the normal, young college break experiences are slipping away from my maturing mind, and career oriented life. This is not a bad thing but rather a really good thing that I wish more students and peers I know would try to accomplish with their lives. To give up hours of your day that usually are uneventful and a waste of your time, to be apart of a company, apart of a team, and add to your personal stock value, shows great virtue and qualities that many companies will find very valuable and separate yourself from your friends in college that slacked and did nothing.

So the next time you are debating between a huge party with lots of free booze and hot girls/guys, depending on your sexual orientation, or something that will benefit you in the future, make the right decision and choose the party….hahaha jk, sacrifice a night of unknown fun, scrambled memories, and bad decisions for something that will allow you to grow professionally. Ignore your friend’s statements like “that is boring” and by boring, you can replace that word with an array of negative connotating words that they use to try to persuade you into making the bad decision.

So the next time you see that particular person/friend at an interview or at your reunion, and you get the job and they are struggling, be sure to become an advocate of karma and return the favor of the negative statements they made to you earlier….haha im just joking about that as well but they will obviously know it in their heads when you are successful and they are not.

Once again, my busy week has given me time to write. But what to write about today? As I sit in my suit, waiting for the delta sigma pi chapter here at WSU to let me do a product demo for my internship at Livescribe Inc, I find myself at a crossroads on life decisions. I left my marketing club meeting to come to this demo I was supposed to do but she gave me the wrong time so I have an hour til I do it. This crossroads in mind that I have right now, is about MBA vs Law School, GMAT vs. Bar Exam. I was always told as a youngster that I would make a good lawyer and back then I always thought that it was because I was never scared to speak my mind and get into arguments about things I didnt feel was correct. Today, I am still that way, however, I am beginning to pay attention to detail and reasoning, and law has always interested me. However, I am nowhere near prepared for this type of a exam without any preparation. I am still 20 years young with a lot of life in front of me and law and business are both things that I am passionate and interested in.

I guess the point of this post is that no matter what you think you intend on doing in life, something can always change that outcome. There are always going to be times in your life where you are given a choice, even if one choice is not as evident and clear as one choice. What determines your future is yourself. If it is something very important to you, or an important life decisions, do not just think of immediate benefits or immediate consequences, but look towards the future and really get a feel for what you are striving for. Set goals, develop a plan, and learn to adjust!

So we all know what the difference between these two words, planning and doing. But if we are so educated on the differences on planning and doing, why is it that so many people just never get around to DOING things. I would say that the difference between the two words is that DOING is the implementation of the plan. Do you agree???? Well I do not really care if you do or do not, lol jk. I really wanted to talk about this because it is such a big problem for many people in Generation Y, us people as college students and even younger. So many people I know in school, I guess I would call them my colleagues, know what they need to do and make plans but never actually do it.

As a full time college student with two internships, a full course load, and having another job, I have found that many of the people that have the time to do more, and that want to do more, usually end up not doing a thing. It really is something that just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense does it?

What I have found, is that the difference between the Doers and Thinkers, is the fact that doers are future oriented, dedicated, and unafraid of failure. By unafraid of failure, I am talking about failure from an entrepreneurial standpoint as entrepreneurs are doers, and always have a risk of failure. From the perspective of a college student that is very goal oriented and hoping to find a great career after graduating, I have really found the importance of being a doer.

By being a doer and being involved in various extra activities, I have seen just how ahead of my colleagues I am. The interview process becomes so easy when you are a doer because of the fact that when you are a doer, you have obviously done things that can be put on a resume that they can then ask you about. It is a fairly simple process and concept that many college students just do not understand.

So for all of you “thinkers” out there, take the next step and do yourself a favor. Get involved and become a doer because lets face it, we are not getting any younger and it is time for us all to become leaders in our fields and plan for the rest of our futures. By being a doer, you will gain experience, set yourself apart from the others, and to be honest, you will have a higher chance of getting paid big bills out of college. So if using your time to do something productive instead of say playing beer pong or using illegal narcotics, is something that you are not ready to do, then I would say good luck in your future.

Remember, change is something that is inevitable and you need to be prepared for that change.

Lately in the NFL offseason world there has been many DUI incidents being reported. From such stars as Lofa Tatupu of the Seahawks, Cedric Benson of the Bears, Jeavon Kearse of the Titans, etc have all been recently caught driving intoxicated. I really do not understand the stupidity of these players. I partially blame society and the way that several athletes are put above the law in certain situations. We all know what I am talking about, especially if you go or went to a college that was/is a football powerhouse such as USC, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, etc. The players that come from these school that have a huge buzz around there names only gain a bigger ego and therefore become more naive of the law. When you sign multi million dollar contracts and your sole responsibility in the NFL is to play your position and do it well, and be an outstanding citizen for the millions of fans, how do you fail to do that? I really don’t get it. Sure I understand going out, having a good time and partying, but when you compromise your personal reputation and that of your organization, that is unforgivable. I love football, I would love to be even a bench player, practice squad dummy, whatever possible to get me on the gridiron again. Maybe somewhere along the way, these players have forgotten there passion and responsibility to the game of football. All I know is that with this staggering increase in DUI’s in this past summer/offseason, I hope that none of the NFL athletes or anyone for that matter makes a fatal mistake. As someone that once had a DUI, I have felt the impact it has on your life and in the lives of others. Maybe since they have so much money, they may not feel the impact I have had in my life. At the same time, if they have so much money, why can’t they just spring money together for a cab, or shit, even a limo? This is a touchy subject, and I just really cannot understand some of the actions that these stars take. Maybe its because I care more for the game of football than I do for other celebrities and feel that these athletes have a greater impact on young minds than do movie stars. All I know is that there needs to be an immediate change in the NFL for these types of mistakes and a punishment that will be seen across the NFL as a zero tolerance policy for acting recklessly.

With the end of this past NFL season, there have been many saddening moments and many historic moments. One great thing that happened this past season is Shaun Alexander being cut from the Seahawks since he truly is the biggest ninny of all running backs in the NFL. The greatest moment is the Giants beating the New England Patriots to hand them there first loss of the season in the Superbowl, which is my favorite moment of the 2007-2008 season. However this season, we witnessed the loss of Shaun Taylor, the meanest, hardest hitting, most versatile safety to play the game, slain and murdered in his own home. We also saw Tom Brady and Randy Moss break several offensive NFL records this season which I would respect if they were not cheaters!!! Possibly the greatest moment of this past season took place in Green Bay. Yes Green Bay, home of the Packers, aka the cheesehead country. Brett Favre, the man, the legend, the star QB went on to break the NFL record for most touchdown passes. A most inspiring and touching moment, Brett showed his humility and humbleness when interviewed about that game. Although not a die-hard Packers fan, nobody can argue that Brett Favre is a quality person, and the greatest Packer of all time. Well, maybe a tie with Vince Lombardi. At the end of the season though, we have to bid adieu to this great first ballot hall of famer. However, Favre is not the only great to leave the game after this season. As a former Offensive and Defensive Lineman in High School, I am sad to see these two men, Jonathan Ogden and Michael Strahan, say goodbye to the game. Jonathan Ogden, a 12 year veteran that went to the Pro-Bowl 11 times in his career, known as the best Offensive Tackle in the game is leaving the Ravens organization and the NFL for good. Michael Strahan aka “The Gap” is also leaving. It is saddening to say that. He was always the guy I thought of first when I think of Defensive Ends. Well him and Reggie White but thats not the point. Not only did he help anchor the Giants’ Defensive Line during the Superbowl but he added another legacy to his organization. He was a leader on and off the field for his teammates, always helping his teammates out with words of inspiration and his presence on the field. Oddly enough, the last defensive great that played for the Giants was the “original” LT, Lawrence Taylor, and his last season was Strahans first. Just as LT left his legacy with the Giants, so did Strahan. Strahan is a likely first ballot hall of famer regardless of the questioned sack record that he won against Favre and the Packers. So as the 2007-2008 NFL season ends and as the 2008-2009 season is about to start, remember to pay homage to these three greats that have left the game; Brett Favre, Michael Strahan, and Jonathan Ogden.

Random thought of the day….I am broke! Checking my online bank account and seeing that I have 70 dollars total to my name, and then looking at my student account it says I have to pay an extra 1000 for summer school does not make me happy. You know what I am talking about, especially if you have ever been a college student. This is not good, especially when I like to live a healthy lifestyle. I like to eat vegetables, fruit, meats, and carbs. The total meal right? Well with how crappy the economy is lately and the rising price of food and the diminishing numbers in my account, I am getting pissed off. Thank you President Bush!!! Anyways it looks as if life is going to be ran off of top ramen and other nasty cheap foods….yippee! It sucks to say this but school needs to start back up so I can get my hands back on some money from scholarship money and financial aid checks! I hate having to check my statements before I can go to do something that requires money. I hate just always having that thought in the back of my mind. Can I spend this money? How much money is left? What expenses are going to come up? How can I get money fast? I am already working my life away at the gym and it sucks. I am thinking I will be paying many visits to the plasma center and sell that away like enron stock. All I have to do is get rid of my huge fear of needles! This summer is going to suck!

Alright everyone, this is an untouched subject that has finally been hit, and hit well. The infamous walks of shame! As a college student and for those reading, we all know what they are or have experienced it. However, actually think about this commercial from an advertising strategy point of view. What is the AMP Energy Drink company trying to do? Does not seem that they are advertising this product as an energy drink to be used pre-walk of shame, but instead as a drink for the aftermath of the previous night. So I am guessing Red Bull, Monster, or Rockstar rule the alcoholic beverage mixer for the night and AMP is now officially trying to help alleviate the embarrassment of that blurry drunk night. They want there drink to be seen as a cure for your mistakes and to help give you energy to get you through your work day. As a college student, and not just any ordinary college, but the party college of WSU, I am sure that many a people here could really use that reinforcement after a wild party where many mistakes are made (B streeters this is you)….haha jk guys. But seriously this is the funniest commercial I have seen in a while so check it out for yourself. Here it is!

Recently Kobe Bryant has been not only killing it on the court, taking his team to the NBA finals, but he has also been getting even more buzz off court. As you all may have already seen, his online viral promoting of his shoe has been creating a huge buzz around the internet and sports world. In his first of probably many more videos, he jumps over a speeding aston martin…..not the smartest thing in the world to be doing before the playoffs right???? But then again, people forget that Kobe is the man!!!! He probably has a 50′ vertical leap and is made of steel right? All I know is that he is lucky that everything went right for him on that video, because then Kobe would have been roadkill and the only positive thing that would have come out of that video is that he could say that he was hit by a $100,000+ car instead of a beat down pinto. In Kobe’s second video, he is with members of Jackass…yes jackass, which normally means not the brightest of stunts that are hilariously funny to watch and not be actually apart of. However, in this case, the stunt is not as risky for Kobe. He “supposedly” leaps over a pool with snakes in it. If you have seen this video, you know exactly what I mean. The leap kind of looks as if he was assisted, but Kobe during an interview at halftime says the help was from his shoes. The video hilariously ends with wee-man inhaling the inside of Kobe’s shoe, “The Hyperdunks” and then he has the voice of someone that just inhaled helium gas. My point to this blog is that there is a moving trend and increasing usefulness for viral videos when you are someone with a big a name as Kobe Bryant. These videos draw huge attention and massive amounts of speculation and skepticism but overall do the job of promoting the product in a unique way that travels from person to person at an amazingly fast rate. Overall, I would say that the videos were cool to watch and worth a good laugh but all I can say is that in this case, Kobe really got the good side of these stunts he has pulled. I wonder if Nike is paying him for these videos….

To watch the two videos and see for yourself, visit these websites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBJZXyfLrpU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hWJkdUMiMw&feature=related

My week spending time in California has come to an end and I am now back in Pullman. Day after day of meeting with a variety of companies one thing became evident, college is a flawed system. By flawed system, I do not mean that college is a waste of time or that the information you gain is invaluable. By saying that the system is flawed, I mean that the the application and actuality of how colleges educate a student does not always apply to real life. In other words, what your degree is in does not equal a job in that field. Now this may not apply to all majors or areas of study or for other areas of business. During my time in the Bay Area, I have met many people working for established companies and startups and I was dumbfounded and nervous about my future once I found out there backgrounds. The patriarch of my host family Joe Eschbach had the most relevant background for being such a big name in the game. He studied Economics and I think it was Mechanical Engineering (or some other form of Engineering) at WSU, Stanford, and Cambridge. Yeah thats an impressive list isn’t it? Yeah don’t worry, his list of companies that he worked for is even crazier (Adobe, Apple, Microsoft) just to name a few. Anyways, all other people holding positions like CMO, VP, Director, or whatever you want to call it of Marketing had degrees in other academic areas. Maybe it was just the technologically rich area that causes a high demand of people with technological backgrounds opposed to business backgrounds, but I could not help to feel a sense of fear and failure. Not failure in myself because I know I am awesome (such a joke) but a failure in the system. Maybe I was just naive to think so straight-lined, that a person with a marketing degree can only get a marketing job, or an engineer can only get an engineering job. All I know is that I need to up my skills and knowledge of technology to make myself an even greater commodity coming out of college. I advise all of you out there to do the same if you want to increase your own personable marketability and get the job that you desire.

I am watching television with my host family paying close attention to the advertisements that are playing on the tv. Then, the Nike Sparq Training commercial comes on. I feel that this is one of the most unique advertisements that have come out lately. This advertisement focuses on the exact purpose of sports, to be the best! This ad opens up with the reining king of Running Backs and my personal favorite, Ladainian Tomlinson, saying “My better is better than your better.” It is a good thing that Nike did not pursue Shaun Alexander when he won MVP and has since been a stain on the Seahawks roster, but thats just how I and the rest of the Seattle fans feel. Anyways, that statement is similar to the old Nike ad for Basketball, where Michael Jordan and someone else are playing one on one to the “Annie” Musical Soundtrack of “Anything you can do, I can do better, I can do anything better than you!” The growing competition of sports and the more that society puts professional athletes on a pedestal, the number one athletic apparel company will continue to strive. The commercial is so unique in the music playing the whole minute long ad. It made me feel like I needed to get my cleats back on, strap on some pads and get in the game. Maybe it is just because of how much I miss the training and feeling of playing football and laying the smack down on people that makes me drawn to this commercial and line of athletic training products. This commercial is so dynamic!!!! They never really tell you what the product they are selling is, but you know immediately by the colors being worn by the people in the commercial, what they are doing/using, and how they portray the star athletes of each sport training. It is awesome because the ad starts slow, building interest and curiosity, and then it speeds up and really draws you in form there. Meanwhile they flash messages like “My Reaction is better than your Reaction,” or some other word like agility in the same format. The use of color in this ad is astounding. I just can’t explain the emotion, desire, and want/need that is built up by this commercial, so I am not going to say anything and I will “Just Do It!