Durkin's Top Ten List

Durkin’s Top Ten List

of things to do in college to prepareyourself for a life of entrepreneurship.

1. Read These Five Books

Question: What does every long lasting house or skyscraper need?

Answer: A foundation.

What’s yours?

2. Craft a Leadership Resume

TOP DOWN VISION1. Convey LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND LEADERSHIP

DETAILS2. Double major. Because you can.3. GPA. There is no “minimum” number. It’s all pride.4. Scholarships. Include them. It shows someone

believes in you.5. Athletics. Include them. It shows you are

competitive.6. High school jobs. Include them. It shows work ethic.7. INTERESTS ***

*** What I believe is one of the most IMPORTANT and most OVERLOOKED parts of the entire resume.

3. Take Independent Studies

Whenever possible… do an independent study over “class.” Get a faculty sponsor, read books that interest you, and apply those books to real life.

My senior year in college I did two of these.It replaced two classes and earned me six credits.

I only wish I had done it sooner.

4. Don’t join clubs to join clubs

Do one of two things instead:

1. START a new club that you’re passionate about.OR

2. LEAD a club that already exists.

Get better at LEADING. Not following.Leadership takes practice.

5. Pay for School on THEM

WIN SCHOLARHIPS

It’s a numbers game.

It’s. All. About. The. Numbers.

Most schools offer hundreds. If you don't have to pay for school, why would you?

6. Shadow. Don’t “Intern.”

My suggestion: SHADOW. DON’T INTERN.

Pick 10 people to shadow each summer, not one.

Your goal at internships should be to learn whatyou want to do post graduation.

How can you do that unless you experience aton of different things?

7. Follow the Leader

Follow advice from leaders you admire.Then lead yourself. God damnit!

1. Donald Trump (for his ability to think BIG)2. Gary Player (for his strong moral fiber and competitive spirit)3. Keith Ferrazzi (for his ability to make friends)4. Denzel Washington (because he is just so god damn smooth)

Whom do you admire? And how can you follow their lead whileat the same time mold your own leadership style?

8. Pick a Focus

If you want to work at a startup, you need to hone a skillset.

There are six job types at our startup:

1. Web Development (writing code)2. Web Design (Photoshop / Illustrator)3. Sales (selling)4. Marketing Analytics (acquiring users)5. * Product (analyzing users and improving

experience)6. * Finance & Ops & HR (running the books)

* These jobs are rarely available for recent graduates. If you are most interested in this, you should speak to me about the best plan of attack.

Assemble your cofounding team of three:One developerOne designerOne business

9. Assemble Cofounders

And surround yourself with people you like.

10. Understand “Co-Flow”

Build a company / product / feature / service for you and your employees first. Something YOU will use. Once that’s done, then you can think about everyone else.

Read about Bill Warner and this method of building a business from the heart.

http://www.ryandurkin.com/blog/2011/10/one-of-my-favorite-bill-warner-talks/

Bonus

Become a Renaissance Man / Woman

Convey to people you are EXTREMELY well rounded.1.Academics

2.Athletics3.Entrepreneurship4.Music

The End

Thank Youfor having me in today!