• The learner must be willing to be actively involved in the experience;
• The learner must be able to reflect on the experience;
• The learner must possess and use analytical skills to conceptualize the experience; and
• The learner must possess decision making and problem solving skills in order to use the new ideas gained from the experience.”

Thus, experiential learning requires self-initiative, an intention to learn and an active phase of learning.

The SBI student consulting projects provide a great canvas for experiential learning for the following reasons:

1. It gets the students “out of the building” (per Lean Startup). Many students don’t understand what a real work environment looks or feels like. This can almost shocking to some students.
2. It makes them uncomfortable. While the classroom is predictable and safe, the client’s location is foreign and unpredictable for the student. The students must put theory into practice; this makes them learn all the challenges associated with applying the theory. Doing is where the action is.
3. The incentives and consequences are high; this includes grades, financial awards, client expectations, and peer pressure. The students get a grade for the project; this is the norm. Beyond that the students also may receive recognition for their efforts and possible cash awards in the form of scholarships (at CSUF). They also will receive direct feedback from the client about the quality and accuracy of the project. Our end of project student evaluation provides peer to peer feedback all students involved.
4. It is fun. Starting with the first client visit, students generally discover that being a student consultant is very enjoyable. This includes the team dynamics but also the relationship with the client.
5. It is real. Unlike a case study or class discussion which is only a hypothetical discourse, the SBI project team’s research and recommendations can make a tangible and positive impact at the client.
6. It challenges the student team to present recommendations in a F2F presentation to the client. This includes answering questions on the fly and defending their recommendations.
7. Additionally, the students must summarize their findings in a comprehensive written report; this aspect of the project has become increasingly challenging because of a continued erosion of student writing skills (at least from my perspective at CSUF after 13 years).
8. The project creates great additions to the student resumes and usually includes a client reference.
9. On numerous occasions students have been hired by the clients as a direct result of the project. One client at CSUF has hired 9 of our students.
10. The university gets bragging rights for the successful projects. This makes for great PR and can create donations by the former clients.

John Bradley Jackson

How will your company recover and rebound from the impact of COVID-19?

What must be done now to maximize your company’s performance in the months ahead?

Our CSUF student teams are ready to help assess the opportunity for your firm.

Beginning the second week of September, our Entrepreneurship students will be ready to develop comprehensive strategies for you to move on from the pandemic and figure out ways to maximize profits as the marketplace recovers.

This could include marketing, finance, operations and human capital.

Each consulting engagement comes with a team of four to six students.

They work with their clients over the course of the semester, which will focus on the development of a comprehensive strategic plan.

Each of these engagements comes with a fee that is used to support the CSUF Entrepreneurship program at Cal State Fullerton.

We will get through this crisis and it will be business leaders like you who will help our country recover.

If you are interested in finding out how your business can benefit from working with one of our CSUF Consulting student teams, please respond to this now.

JJ

The phone rang unexpectedly earlier today.

I was home in my personal bubble hiding from the Coronavirus and was safe with my family and my loyal golden retriever, Augie, by my side. Mandated by CSUF, I have been teaching my Entrepreneurship classes remotely and coaching startups in our Incubator by video conference. The caller, a local public official bluntly asked, “Given the impact of COVID-19, what can policy makers in Orange County do reignite economic growth.”

Now, that was a heavy question.

I quickly replied that Orange County is just like the rest of the country. We are gridlocked in an economic stall like none of us have ever seen. Small businesses are teetering on bankruptcy. Unemployment is soaring. Fear is morphing into anger. People are isolated in their personal bunkers waiting for the all clear signal.

He said that he already knew new that.

Undeterred, I continued. I said that economic growth is defined as an increase in GDP (i.e. Gross Domestic Product) over time. Oh, the good old days I thought to myself. Has it been that long?

Economists will tell you that there are three major things that drive economic growth:

1. Access to capital, which is the crude oil of a healthy economy.
2. Increases in labor participation, such as the entrance of new skilled workers. Note that past economic booms have been buoyed by open borders and welcomed immigrants.
3. And, technological advancement. In our new COVID-19 economy, this factor may be the biggest driver.

As for capital and labor, these factors are difficult boulders to move out of the way. Our state and federal representatives will need to duke that out. More comments on these factors in a minute.

But technological advancement is alive and well in OC. From my perspective, the opportunity resides with entrepreneurship and innovation, which are related but describe different activities by different people and organizations.

Entrepreneurship is all about invention. Creativity. Doing new things. This is the domain of startups which can disrupt or reinvent. Uber is a good example. The taxi industry was ripe for disruption and a simple software app is all that it took.

Innovation is about doing things differently and better. Usually this is the domain of existing companies. Innovation focuses on improving existing processes, methods or products. Starbucks is an example. Brewing coffee? No big deal you say? Yet, placing coffee shops on every major intersection around the globe with WIFI, elevator music, and overpriced scones did create a nearly $27Billion company. I call that innovative.

So, what can Orange County policy makers do to stimulate economic growth?

First, embrace entrepreneurship.

This includes supporting the local incubators like CSUF’s Startup Incubator. Think of an incubator as a support group for highly creative and incredibly obsessed inventors. Starting a business takes a village and smart startup founders quickly learn that they cannot do it alone.

Startup founders need capital: seed, Angel and VC money along credit lines and low interest loans. Orange County does have a great network of Angel money, but we are sadly lacking a VC community. We need to create a “herd mentality” amongst VC’s and attract them to OC instead of startups having to fly to Silicon Valley. Our banks are omnipresent but need to lend more freely to the early stage startups.

While a long-term solution, we need to support early childhood education in Entrepreneurship and STEM. We need to help our children retain their innate creativity rather than stifling it with boring educational aerobics; our youth need to be encouraged to experiment and to learn by doing. This includes failing, which is another way to define learning from an Entrepreneurship professor’s perspective.

Our downtown communities need to cluster like-minded entrepreneurial people in online groups; startup founders must share their ideas and meet new people. Also, budding entrepreneurs need access to bricks & mortar facilities. Think of it like subsidized housing for the startup wannabees. You want your downtown to grow new businesses? Then give the startups a place to get started.

And, we need to help get entrepreneurs’ stories told. Our media needs to tell the world about the startup Mecca that thrives in Orange County. Think about how the Hollywood sign declares LA as the entertainment capital of the world. We need a meme for Orange County startups.

Second, embrace innovation.

We need to offer low cost loans for small innovative companies; small businesses (SBA defines them as having up to 500 employees) create approximately 30% of our nation’s patents. This is why successful startups get acquired by the bigger firms.

Also, we should offer tax incentives for research and development at local firms regardless of firm size. Give our local companies a reason to form and stay in OC.

My conservative friends may cringe at this one, but we need to welcome the immigration of skilled workers. I don’t mean just hello. I mean recruit the foreign talent that we need to drive innovation: software developers, design engineers, digital marketing gurus, financial analysts, data scientists, and visionary leaders.

Long term economic growth will come back, but let’s accelerate it with our thoughts and actions now. Let’s embrace entrepreneurship and innovation.

The local public official on the phone said, “Got it” and then hung up. As for me, it’s time to jump on yet another video conference with a startup from my coronavirus free sanctuary.

John Bradley Jackson

P.S. The goofy photo is my latest mask for Covid-19. This one is a cloaking device, which allows the wearer to hide from the virus. Patent pending.

John Bradley Jackson is a Silicon Valley and Wall Street sales and marketing veteran who teaches Entrepreneurship at CSUF, directs the CSUF Startup Incubator and the CSUF Center for Entrepreneurship. He is the founder of Titan Angels LLC, a seed investment fund. He also advises numerous startups and is also the author of five books on Marketing and New Venture Creation. In his spare time, he hosts the podcast “Startup Talk.” He lives in Norco, California with wife and children on a small horse ranch.

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The gig economy, side hustle or moonlighting. Regardless of what you call it, recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data suggests it is actually shrinking rather than growing. Meanwhile, the business press is in love with the “phenomenon.”  Go figure.

What if we just said no to the useless things and did what really mattered? I guess this presumes that we know what really matters. The daily grind pushes and pulls us in many directions—some or most of which may not be of our own choosing. Sometimes we go in the wrong direction or we lose our way entirely.

Determining what really matters requires a conscious investment on your part. Here is one way to figure out what really matters:

1. Close the door. Go to the park. Run away. Go to a place that allows you to think.
2. Think about the things that bring you pleasure—things that make your heart sing and things that give you intense satisfaction. It might be time with family, painting a landscape, or walking your dog. It could be helping or teaching others. It could be work. Or, it could be spiritual reflection.
3. Write these things down.
4. Visualize yourself doing these meaningful things. Ask yourself which are most important? Prioritize the list. Discard the unimportant things.
5. Keep the list on the desktop of your pc, in your wallet or purse, or posted on the wall of your office.
6. Spend your free time with others who share and support your dreams. Avoid those who don’t support you or your dreams.
7. Seek advice from people who you respect. Ask these people to be your mentors. These mentors might be more experienced, elderly, or just plain wise. Listen to them. Learn from them.
8. Tell others about your quest.
9. Read your list everyday. Update it when necessary.
10. Do what is meaningful everyday.

Live and work in a meaningful way.

John Bradley Jackson
Author, Entrepreneur, Professor
© Copyright 2015
All rights reserved

My new book “Socially Close” is now available at www.johnbradleyjackson.com!

For many startups, the mystery of the unpredictable work environment can be a reward by itself. This may explain why some founders become serial entrepreneurs with life at a startup as the the work of choice.

A new study called “EurkeAlert” published in the Journal of Consumer Research, suggests that this mystery about outcomes boosts adrenaline and can be motivating. The authors suggest, “When comparing the time, money, and effort people invest in order to qualify for either a certain or an uncertain reward, we find that the uncertain reward is more motivating than the certain reward, an effect we dubbed the motivating-uncertainty effect.”

Academics have long argued about the personality profiles of entrepreneurs. Some argue that the best entrepreneurs easily tolerate risk and have a sixth sense that allows them to see opportunity when others cannot. Whether innate or learned, coping with daily ambiguity and uncertain outcomes is a handy skill to have at the startup.

Think of uncertainty as the excitement that comes when opening a gift. At a startup, the gift might be considerable financial reward, a dramatic change in strategy, or even failure.

John Bradley Jackson
Author, Entrepreneur, Professor
© Copyright 2015
All rights reserved

My new book “Socially Close” is now available at www.johnbradleyjackson.com!

This is the thinking of Stephanie Chick of the “DeliverThePackage.” She feels that most corporate executives believe that only the top 10% can truly perform at a high level, which means the rest are wallowing in mediocrity. She goes on to say, “What you achieve is a direct result of what you believe. If every leader and manager could embrace the fact that every employee, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or educational background, is capable of greatness and possesses personal genius, can you imagine how that might change employee attitudes and actions on the job?”

I believe that large organizations actually sanction mediocrity, which is why innovation is so hard at large firms. Genius-style thinking typically does not fit with most large company cultures. For some this means that they must leave the safety of the corporation and become an entrepreneur.

So the question becomes what is your genius and how can you exploit it? I think to find that genius within you must first reject the culture. You must quit. Only then will you find your genius. Failure will be part of the process along with disapproval from friends, family, and colleagues—rejecting the status quo will be hard and lonely path.

What is your genius? Maybe it is to stop doing the mundane and reinvent it. It is hard to say what your genius might be, but go ahead and let it be free.

Ready, set, quit.

John Bradley Jackson
Author, Entrepreneur, Professor
© Copyright 2015
All rights reserved

My new book “Socially Close” is now available! Please buy my book at www.johnbradleyjackson.com!

We all feel lonely from time to time. For some people, especially the elderly, this is a real problem with serious health consequences. Increasingly, our society isolates people or people are just choosing to be alone.

Older people often have had spouses and friends die or move away. Illness, disability, loss of mobility, lack of reliable transportation, and financial issues can contribute to seniors being alone. And it’s not just the elderly that suffer. Some people feel lonely due to geographical isolation. If someone relocates to another country for a job, for example, they usually don’t bring their family and friends along. Bullied children, or anyone who doesn’t fit in with the dominant society where they live, can experience social isolation which results in painful loneliness.

Even the most introverted among us need to feel connected to others. It is at the core of what makes us human. When we feel connected to others, we are more confident, happier, and productive members of society.

Without that critical social connection, many suffer from health problems. According to research summarized in the Huffington Post UK, loneliness can shorten your lifespan and increase your risk of death from heart disease. Lonely people can easily become depressed or feel anxious.

How can we combat loneliness in ourselves and in others? It may be simpler than you realize. Getting a pet can immediately lower your risk of depression and instantly provide a companion. Volunteer. Join a club. Call up old friends. Make new friends.

The internet is also a great tool to increase connection with others. While the internet causes some people to isolate themselves further from society, it can help many people overcome debilitating loneliness. Finding an online community of like-minded people can be incredibly empowering, especially if you are currently living someplace where you don’t identify with the dominant values or lifestyle. It has never been easier to stay in contact with friends and family with the ubiquity of web-based tools like video chat and email.

If you currently feel happy and connected to others, that’s wonderful. You are in a great position to reach out to those who are not so fortunate. Do what you can to connect with others, especially the elderly. Volunteer at an old folks’ home, your local veterans’ hospital, or a nonprofit that delivers meals to the elderly. Call that crotchety, estranged relative, even if you don’t like them very much. Stay in touch, take the time to visit old friends and relatives, and be kind to strangers – it’s good for their health and yours.

Finally, helping people deal with loneliness is a mega-marketing opportunity for the new millennium. Study after study confirms that relationships are a key ingredient for lasting happiness. Focus your new energy on creating products and services that reduce loneliness, build relationships, and help others to be happy. The rewards will be both philanthropic and monetary.

John Bradley Jackson
Author, Entrepreneur, Professor
© Copyright 2015
All rights reserved

My new book “Socially Close” is now available! Please buy my book at www.johnbradleyjackson.com!

While just three simple words, many people won’t or can’t say them. How could that be?

For some people saying “I am sorry” is almost impossible to do. For these people apologizing is frightening and may be based on their own insecurities and self-doubt. Rather than confronting their own fears, they consciously protect themselves while injuring their relationships with friends, family and co-workers.

The reasons to avoid offering an apology are many, but fear is the common culprit. One fear is that by apologizing to another, you will open up your personal “Pandora’s Box” which will expose your other failings and mistakes. It seems that this self-disclosure will only increase the anxiety and fear that you are trying to avoid in the first place. Thus, it is better to not say that you are sorry, even if you are wrong. Sound familiar?

Shame is another emotion to be avoided by some. By owning up to a mistake, the aftermath is shame and that hurts a lot. It hurts because admitting that you made a mistake and apologizing seems to mean that you are a bad person. In truth, good people will make bad choices. These bad choices won’t define your character unless the poor choices are habitual such as lying or have extraordinary consequences such as physical abuse. The fear of shame is deep seated and can come from early childhood experiences.

Thus, by avoiding the responsibility for your poor choices and not apologizing for them, you can stay in control and regulate your emotions. The flaw in this thinking is that apologizing will lead to bad feelings. In fact, the opposite is typically true. It may take some bravery to step up and take responsibility for your actions; yet, it can be very therapeutic to say that you are sorry. The follow on wave of emotion after an apology can include an incredible sense of relief and provide the platform for better decisions and healthier relationships in the future.

Made a poor choice? How about you say that you are sorry? You will feel better for it.

John Bradley Jackson
Author, Entrepreneur, Professor
© Copyright 2015
All rights reserved

My new book “Socially Close” is now available! Please buy my book at www.johnbradleyjackson.com!

Mindful entrepreneurs welcome changes to their business concepts. At a startup, change happens and may have little or no connection to the past business idea. You may feel the urge to resist change. Resisting change is futile since change is a natural startup process. Personal growth and success at a startup are always based on accepting change. This change is called the “Pivot.”

Your startup may pivot many times before your business concept truly works. Pivoting may be very stressful, but know that pivots and mindfulness make great partners. Pivots are almost always accompanied with a sigh of relief or an exhale once the change is made. You may have been anxious or stressed about the change, but once you pivot you realize there was no reason to be anxious or stressed.

Being mindful requires us to stop, breathe, observe, and connect with our thoughts and actions. Making a pivot, although stressful, can be both exhilarating and calming. Research indicates that being mindful may lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, reduce anxiety, and make you feel better. Why not choose to be healthier and happier?

You can introduce mindfulness into your life and your startup by enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning, practicing yoga, taking short breaks from work, or taking your dog for a walk. You can start by saying to yourself, “I am mindful.” If you repeat this simple phrase a few times every day, you are on the path to mindfulness. If you are on the path to mindfulness, you are mindful. When you are mindful your startup has a quicker journey to success.

Be mindful.

John Bradley Jackson
Author, Entrepreneur, Professor
© Copyright 2015
All rights reserved

My new book “Socially Close” is now available! Please buy my book at www.johnbradleyjackson.com!