One of my newest addictions includes watching the show Shark Tank, which has taken ABC by storm. The premise of the show is basically that there are five "sharks" or venture capitalists that look to contribute their financial backing and business know-how to young entrepreneurs. The show features big names such as Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec, Kevin O'Leary, Kevin Harrington, and Lori Greiner. Each shark has made it in the business world, bringing a diverse range of specialized knowledge and a big pocketbook to match.
As Mark Cuban has said on the show, "It's good to see that the American Dream is alive and well." What I think he means is that people getting up the courage to start their own businesses is essential to our country's success. I am a big fan of Cuban not only because of his demonstrated business acumen, but because of his quirky personality and desire to have a little fun while making money. I think that it is refreshing to see people just "keep it real" when it comes to a business situation. This personality is best exhibited by the picture of Mark Cuban with a cigar in his mouth and the NBA championship trophy in his hand while relaxing on his private jet...(I am a little jealous, just a little).
The eccentric Dallas Mavericks owner is my favorite shark by far, so go check him out. If anything, you will be entertained by his quick wit.
The reason I am writing this post is to encourage you to watch the show!
I was a business major at the University of Oregon, specializing in the field of sports marketing. I must say, the show has cultivated an interest in the entrepreneurial spirit. The ability to pitch an idea or "sell" is becoming more and more critical to success in the business world. As I search for a career that better matches my educational background, I have come to find that marketing and the ability to sell are highly intertwined. While sales can be a daunting career for the faint-hearted, it does offer skills than can be transferred to my field of interest.
As I work on my ability to pitch myself, I have come to find that people are quick to be skeptical in today's world. With the job market on the rebound, more and more people are highly qualified for the open positions available. Does one take a job doing something that is uninteresting simply to be employed? I would say it depends on your individual situation. What I do know, is that I want to work in a position where I can apply what I learned in college to a real world situation. That's every college student's goal thought right?
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