before I begin raise your hand in the audience if you are an upperclassman all
audience if you are an upperclassman all
audience if you are an upperclassman all right we got quite a few of you I want
right we got quite a few of you I want
right we got quite a few of you I want you to keep your hands up
you to keep your hands up
you to keep your hands up right if the missing answer to this
right if the missing answer to this
right if the missing answer to this question has given you the night sweats
question has given you the night sweats
question has given you the night sweats you see that’s the most terrifying
you see that’s the most terrifying
you see that’s the most terrifying question you could possibly ask in
question you could possibly ask in
question you could possibly ask in upperclassmen and believe me I would
upperclassmen and believe me I would
upperclassmen and believe me I would know because it was asked of me
know because it was asked of me
know because it was asked of me countless times over the past year you
countless times over the past year you
countless times over the past year you know for some the answer is grad school
know for some the answer is grad school
know for some the answer is grad school for others a gap year but for many of us
for others a gap year but for many of us
for others a gap year but for many of us the answer to this demonic question is I
the answer to this demonic question is I
the answer to this demonic question is I want to get a job in blank and not just
want to get a job in blank and not just
want to get a job in blank and not just a job but a great job one that makes the
a job but a great job one that makes the
a job but a great job one that makes the past four years of earning that white
past four years of earning that white
past four years of earning that white piece of paper worth it but how do we
piece of paper worth it but how do we
piece of paper worth it but how do we get such a job well the answer we’re
get such a job well the answer we’re
get such a job well the answer we’re often told is through internships and
often told is through internships and
often told is through internships and this makes sense because speaking most
this makes sense because speaking most
this makes sense because speaking most practically employers are looking for
practically employers are looking for
practically employers are looking for two things from us as recent grads and
two things from us as recent grads and
two things from us as recent grads and that’s skills in character internships
that’s skills in character internships
that’s skills in character internships are proof of both which is why the road
are proof of both which is why the road
are proof of both which is why the road most traveled there the safest bet bar
most traveled there the safest bet bar
most traveled there the safest bet bar they the best bet in all cases you see
they the best bet in all cases you see
they the best bet in all cases you see there’s another approach another way to
there’s another approach another way to
there’s another approach another way to gain valuable skills before you get that
gain valuable skills before you get that
gain valuable skills before you get that first job and I think it’s one to at
first job and I think it’s one to at
first job and I think it’s one to at least consider it’s called
least consider it’s called
least consider it’s called an apprenticeship and if you can get one
an apprenticeship and if you can get one
an apprenticeship and if you can get one it just might be the most rewarding
it just might be the most rewarding
it just might be the most rewarding experience you have in college so what
experience you have in college so what
experience you have in college so what is an apprenticeship an apprenticeship
is an apprenticeship an apprenticeship
is an apprenticeship an apprenticeship is working directly under a current
is working directly under a current
is working directly under a current master in their craft unlike an
master in their craft unlike an
master in their craft unlike an internship where you may work at the
internship where you may work at the
internship where you may work at the bottom of a larger corporate hierarchy
bottom of a larger corporate hierarchy
bottom of a larger corporate hierarchy an apprenticeship is more focused it
an apprenticeship is more focused it
an apprenticeship is more focused it should give you one-on-one time with a
should give you one-on-one time with a
should give you one-on-one time with a mentor in your industry of interest thus
mentor in your industry of interest thus
mentor in your industry of interest thus accelerating your learning and your
accelerating your learning and your
accelerating your learning and your skill building and apprenticeships are a
skill building and apprenticeships are a
skill building and apprenticeships are a time-tested concept as almost all the
time-tested concept as almost all the
time-tested concept as almost all the greatest masters the best of all time
greatest masters the best of all time
greatest masters the best of all time the goats in their respective crafts all
the goats in their respective crafts all
the goats in their respective crafts all served apprenticeships in their
served apprenticeships in their
served apprenticeships in their formative years in his book entitled
formative years in his book entitled
formative years in his book entitled mastery Robert Greene dives deep into
mastery Robert Greene dives deep into
mastery Robert Greene dives deep into the lives of 20 of these so-called
the lives of 20 of these so-called
the lives of 20 of these so-called masters from historical figures such as
masters from historical figures such as
masters from historical figures such as da Vinci and Darwin to contemporary
da Vinci and Darwin to contemporary
da Vinci and Darwin to contemporary greats like Y Combinator’s Paul Graham
greats like Y Combinator’s Paul Graham
greats like Y Combinator’s Paul Graham and boxing
and boxing
and boxing legend Freddie Roach each served an
legend Freddie Roach each served an
legend Freddie Roach each served an apprenticeship in their formative years
apprenticeship in their formative years
apprenticeship in their formative years working directly under a mentor in their
working directly under a mentor in their
working directly under a mentor in their industry of interest and they served
industry of interest and they served
industry of interest and they served these apprenticeships to not only
these apprenticeships to not only
these apprenticeships to not only accelerate their learning but their
accelerate their learning but their
accelerate their learning but their skill building so I finished reading
skill building so I finished reading
skill building so I finished reading that book by the end of my junior year
that book by the end of my junior year
that book by the end of my junior year and I decided I wanted to test it out I
and I decided I wanted to test it out I
and I decided I wanted to test it out I wanted to see if serving an
wanted to see if serving an
wanted to see if serving an apprenticeship still had value for us as
apprenticeship still had value for us as
apprenticeship still had value for us as college students today and that summer I
college students today and that summer I
college students today and that summer I knew I’d be experiencing a classic
knew I’d be experiencing a classic
knew I’d be experiencing a classic internship anyway so I have a great
internship anyway so I have a great
internship anyway so I have a great benchmark to compare my future
benchmark to compare my future
benchmark to compare my future apprenticeship against so how’d it turn
apprenticeship against so how’d it turn
apprenticeship against so how’d it turn out
out
out well for me my apprenticeship had
well for me my apprenticeship had
well for me my apprenticeship had incredible value I served as a
incredible value I served as a
incredible value I served as a copywriter and research assistant for
copywriter and research assistant for
copywriter and research assistant for New York Times bestselling author Lewis
New York Times bestselling author Lewis
New York Times bestselling author Lewis house I worked with Lewis throughout my
house I worked with Lewis throughout my
house I worked with Lewis throughout my senior year conducting research for his
senior year conducting research for his
senior year conducting research for his upcoming book creating pitch decks for
upcoming book creating pitch decks for
upcoming book creating pitch decks for future collaborations and projects and
future collaborations and projects and
future collaborations and projects and also drafting articles that would later
also drafting articles that would later
also drafting articles that would later appear in Success Magazine and Forbes
appear in Success Magazine and Forbes
appear in Success Magazine and Forbes website and I want to share with you all
website and I want to share with you all
website and I want to share with you all how I did it so you can experience it in
how I did it so you can experience it in
how I did it so you can experience it in a similar apprenticeship for yourself if
a similar apprenticeship for yourself if
a similar apprenticeship for yourself if you so choose after some reflection I
you so choose after some reflection I
you so choose after some reflection I realized there were five key steps in
realized there were five key steps in
realized there were five key steps in getting my apprenticeship and I started
getting my apprenticeship and I started
getting my apprenticeship and I started executing on the self-made process at
executing on the self-made process at
executing on the self-made process at the start of my senior year when I had
the start of my senior year when I had
the start of my senior year when I had an academically lighter semester so if
an academically lighter semester so if
an academically lighter semester so if you want to have an apprenticeship for
you want to have an apprenticeship for
you want to have an apprenticeship for yourself then plan ahead and make sure
yourself then plan ahead and make sure
yourself then plan ahead and make sure to do so during an academically light
to do so during an academically light
to do so during an academically light semester preferably twelve hours of
semester preferably twelve hours of
semester preferably twelve hours of coursework or less because an
coursework or less because an
coursework or less because an apprenticeship is going to take time
apprenticeship is going to take time
apprenticeship is going to take time it’s gonna take effort and it will take
it’s gonna take effort and it will take
it’s gonna take effort and it will take patience but believe me I think it
patience but believe me I think it
patience but believe me I think it really can be worth it so step one
really can be worth it so step one
really can be worth it so step one identify your mentor and become part of
identify your mentor and become part of
identify your mentor and become part of their community in nearly every industry
their community in nearly every industry
their community in nearly every industry there are people called influencers
there are people called influencers
there are people called influencers those who are up to big things and who
those who are up to big things and who
those who are up to big things and who have big followings and they’re often
have big followings and they’re often
have big followings and they’re often marketing their work on social media
marketing their work on social media
marketing their work on social media identify a number of these influencers
identify a number of these influencers
identify a number of these influencers within your industry of interest that
within your industry of interest that
within your industry of interest that have sizeable followings but they’re not
have sizeable followings but they’re not
have sizeable followings but they’re not so big that they’re unreachable then
so big that they’re unreachable then
so big that they’re unreachable then become part of their social media
become part of their social media
become part of their social media communities comment on the articles they
communities comment on the articles they
communities comment on the articles they share through Facebook engage in the
share through Facebook engage in the
share through Facebook engage in the conversations that unfold on their
conversations that unfold on their
conversations that unfold on their Twitter and Instagram because many of
Twitter and Instagram because many of
Twitter and Instagram because many of these influencers are looking to build
these influencers are looking to build
these influencers are looking to build their social media communities and by
their social media communities and by
their social media communities and by becoming a part
becoming a part
becoming a part of it yourself you’re adding value it
of it yourself you’re adding value it
of it yourself you’re adding value it shows that you care and it’s also a
shows that you care and it’s also a
shows that you care and it’s also a really great form of research because
really great form of research because
really great form of research because before long you’re gonna have a really
before long you’re gonna have a really
before long you’re gonna have a really good understanding of what projects your
good understanding of what projects your
good understanding of what projects your mentors are working on or will be
mentors are working on or will be
mentors are working on or will be working on in the future and that
working on in the future and that
working on in the future and that knowledge comes in handy when we get to
knowledge comes in handy when we get to
knowledge comes in handy when we get to step 2 which is add value to your mentor
step 2 which is add value to your mentor
step 2 which is add value to your mentor for free before you even ask for an
for free before you even ask for an
for free before you even ask for an apprenticeship and this step begins with
apprenticeship and this step begins with
apprenticeship and this step begins with a Venn diagram exercise so on one half
a Venn diagram exercise so on one half
a Venn diagram exercise so on one half of the Venn diagram take inventory of
of the Venn diagram take inventory of
of the Venn diagram take inventory of your skill sets what are you good at
your skill sets what are you good at
your skill sets what are you good at that is a value to somebody else and on
that is a value to somebody else and on
that is a value to somebody else and on the other half of the Venn diagram take
the other half of the Venn diagram take
the other half of the Venn diagram take inventory of your mentors business what
inventory of your mentors business what
inventory of your mentors business what projects are they currently working on
projects are they currently working on
projects are they currently working on now or will be working on in the near
now or will be working on in the near
now or will be working on in the near future since you’ve already become a
future since you’ve already become a
future since you’ve already become a part of your mentors social media
part of your mentors social media
part of your mentors social media community these projects should already
community these projects should already
community these projects should already be on your radar and then we have the
be on your radar and then we have the
be on your radar and then we have the middle the overlapping points were your
middle the overlapping points were your
middle the overlapping points were your skills meet your mentors current needs
skills meet your mentors current needs
skills meet your mentors current needs once you’ve identified one or two ways
once you’ve identified one or two ways
once you’ve identified one or two ways in which you could add value to your
in which you could add value to your
in which you could add value to your mentor reach out and start doing so for
mentor reach out and start doing so for
mentor reach out and start doing so for free here’s how I did it at the start of
free here’s how I did it at the start of
free here’s how I did it at the start of my senior year over the course of one
my senior year over the course of one
my senior year over the course of one weekend I volunteered a my mentor
weekend I volunteered a my mentor
weekend I volunteered a my mentor Lewis’s live event while at the event we
Lewis’s live event while at the event we
Lewis’s live event while at the event we got to talking and he told me about his
got to talking and he told me about his
got to talking and he told me about his upcoming book project for which I then
upcoming book project for which I then
upcoming book project for which I then volunteered to do research and over the
volunteered to do research and over the
volunteered to do research and over the course of the next two months I would
course of the next two months I would
course of the next two months I would send Luis over 30 pages of academic
send Luis over 30 pages of academic
send Luis over 30 pages of academic research for that book all for free and
research for that book all for free and
research for that book all for free and this sounds like a lot of work for an
this sounds like a lot of work for an
this sounds like a lot of work for an already busy college student but if you
already busy college student but if you
already busy college student but if you space it out effectively it can become
space it out effectively it can become
space it out effectively it can become really manageable for instance
really manageable for instance
really manageable for instance volunteering at that event only took one
volunteering at that event only took one
volunteering at that event only took one weekend and sending him all that
weekend and sending him all that
weekend and sending him all that research took a couple of hours a week
research took a couple of hours a week
research took a couple of hours a week and I would do it while eating lunch
and I would do it while eating lunch
and I would do it while eating lunch plus as we’ve already discussed you
plus as we’ve already discussed you
plus as we’ve already discussed you should be going after this
should be going after this
should be going after this apprenticeship during an academically
apprenticeship during an academically
apprenticeship during an academically light semester the goal in this step the
light semester the goal in this step the
light semester the goal in this step the goal of step two is to build rapport
goal of step two is to build rapport
goal of step two is to build rapport with your mentor giving them reasons to
with your mentor giving them reasons to
with your mentor giving them reasons to hire you in the near future which brings
hire you in the near future which brings
hire you in the near future which brings us to step three making the ask in this
us to step three making the ask in this
us to step three making the ask in this step you asked for an apprenticeship by
step you asked for an apprenticeship by
step you asked for an apprenticeship by proposing a solution to one of your
proposing a solution to one of your
proposing a solution to one of your mentors larger problems one that you
mentors larger problems one that you
mentors larger problems one that you could solve if you were to become a paid
could solve if you were to become a paid
could solve if you were to become a paid member of their team or company the
member of their team or company the
member of their team or company the problem that you solved must be a real
problem that you solved must be a real
problem that you solved must be a real pain point
pain point
pain point for your mentor so make sure to do your
for your mentor so make sure to do your
for your mentor so make sure to do your research and be specific you should be
research and be specific you should be
research and be specific you should be able to draft for them an outline of
able to draft for them an outline of
able to draft for them an outline of what value you’re going to add by
what value you’re going to add by
what value you’re going to add by becoming a part of their team what
becoming a part of their team what
becoming a part of their team what results are you going to be able to
results are you going to be able to
results are you going to be able to contribute right away now one thing that
contribute right away now one thing that
contribute right away now one thing that could hold you back from making the ask
could hold you back from making the ask
could hold you back from making the ask is doubting whether you have enough
is doubting whether you have enough
is doubting whether you have enough expertise or experience to execute on
expertise or experience to execute on
expertise or experience to execute on the solution you’re proposing because if
the solution you’re proposing because if
the solution you’re proposing because if your mentor accepts your proposal you
your mentor accepts your proposal you
your mentor accepts your proposal you may be asked to do work you’ve never
may be asked to do work you’ve never
may be asked to do work you’ve never actually done before but don’t let these
actually done before but don’t let these
actually done before but don’t let these doubts keep you from making the ask
doubts keep you from making the ask
doubts keep you from making the ask because everything we’ve ever done
because everything we’ve ever done
because everything we’ve ever done before everything from riding a bike to
before everything from riding a bike to
before everything from riding a bike to walking we’ve had to do for the first
walking we’ve had to do for the first
walking we’ve had to do for the first time once and the next step in this
time once and the next step in this
time once and the next step in this process will prepare you for the work
process will prepare you for the work
process will prepare you for the work you’re about to do just like it did for
you’re about to do just like it did for
you’re about to do just like it did for me and that’s step four sharpen the axe
me and that’s step four sharpen the axe
me and that’s step four sharpen the axe Abraham Lincoln has a great quote about
Abraham Lincoln has a great quote about
Abraham Lincoln has a great quote about the power of preparation give me six
the power of preparation give me six
the power of preparation give me six hours to chop down a tree and I’ll spend
hours to chop down a tree and I’ll spend
hours to chop down a tree and I’ll spend the first four sharpening the axe so in
the first four sharpening the axe so in
the first four sharpening the axe so in this step you prepare yourself to be an
this step you prepare yourself to be an
this step you prepare yourself to be an excellent apprentice because you need to
excellent apprentice because you need to
excellent apprentice because you need to be proficient in the skills you’re going
be proficient in the skills you’re going
be proficient in the skills you’re going to execute when you become a
to execute when you become a
to execute when you become a full-fledged member of your mentors team
full-fledged member of your mentors team
full-fledged member of your mentors team so ask for three to five weeks of buffer
so ask for three to five weeks of buffer
so ask for three to five weeks of buffer before your official start date and
before your official start date and
before your official start date and during those weeks read the top books on
during those weeks read the top books on
during those weeks read the top books on the role that you’re about to fill this
the role that you’re about to fill this
the role that you’re about to fill this will help you acquire the skills you
will help you acquire the skills you
will help you acquire the skills you need to be successful if you don’t
need to be successful if you don’t
need to be successful if you don’t possess them already
possess them already
possess them already I for example proposed working for Lewis
I for example proposed working for Lewis
I for example proposed working for Lewis as a research assistant and copywriter
as a research assistant and copywriter
as a research assistant and copywriter and while I was confident in my writing
and while I was confident in my writing
and while I was confident in my writing abilities I had never written sales copy
abilities I had never written sales copy
abilities I had never written sales copy before and I knew I would be asked to as
before and I knew I would be asked to as
before and I knew I would be asked to as part of Lewis’s team so in the three
part of Lewis’s team so in the three
part of Lewis’s team so in the three weeks prior to my start date
weeks prior to my start date
weeks prior to my start date I read the top three books on sales
I read the top three books on sales
I read the top three books on sales copywriting and I would practice writing
copywriting and I would practice writing
copywriting and I would practice writing sales copy in Lewis’s voice for all of
sales copy in Lewis’s voice for all of
sales copy in Lewis’s voice for all of his previous products that way when I
his previous products that way when I
his previous products that way when I joined his team we could hit the ground
joined his team we could hit the ground
joined his team we could hit the ground running which brings us finally to step
running which brings us finally to step
running which brings us finally to step 5 work your butt off follow through on
5 work your butt off follow through on
5 work your butt off follow through on your proposal do everything your mentor
your proposal do everything your mentor
your proposal do everything your mentor asks of you and add even more value than
asks of you and add even more value than
asks of you and add even more value than expected and yes this is going to be
expected and yes this is going to be
expected and yes this is going to be difficult to juggle at times because
difficult to juggle at times because
difficult to juggle at times because you’re still a full-time college student
you’re still a full-time college student
you’re still a full-time college student while you’re doing this apprenticeship
while you’re doing this apprenticeship
while you’re doing this apprenticeship but if you manage your time effectively
but if you manage your time effectively
but if you manage your time effectively you can be able to make it work
you can be able to make it work
you can be able to make it work cuz like we’ve said you’re doing this
cuz like we’ve said you’re doing this
cuz like we’ve said you’re doing this during an academically light semester so
during an academically light semester so
during an academically light semester so keep a diligent schedule manage your
keep a diligent schedule manage your
keep a diligent schedule manage your time effectively and above all else just
time effectively and above all else just
time effectively and above all else just do your best when the apprenticeship
do your best when the apprenticeship
do your best when the apprenticeship comes to an end take a step back and
comes to an end take a step back and
comes to an end take a step back and acknowledge just how far you’ve come and
acknowledge just how far you’ve come and
acknowledge just how far you’ve come and how much you’ve accomplished by
how much you’ve accomplished by
how much you’ve accomplished by executing on that five-step process my
executing on that five-step process my
executing on that five-step process my guess is you’ll have learned how to do a
guess is you’ll have learned how to do a
guess is you’ll have learned how to do a lot more than you thought I mean think
lot more than you thought I mean think
lot more than you thought I mean think about it
about it
about it you conducted investigative research and
you conducted investigative research and
you conducted investigative research and did a client analysis you added value to
did a client analysis you added value to
did a client analysis you added value to a mentors business for free then you
a mentors business for free then you
a mentors business for free then you left your comfort zone while drafting a
left your comfort zone while drafting a
left your comfort zone while drafting a job proposal and negotiating your salary
job proposal and negotiating your salary
job proposal and negotiating your salary then you mastered a new skill made an
then you mastered a new skill made an
then you mastered a new skill made an invaluable connection in your industry
invaluable connection in your industry
invaluable connection in your industry of interest and on top of all that now
of interest and on top of all that now
of interest and on top of all that now you’ve got a pretty cool experience to
you’ve got a pretty cool experience to
you’ve got a pretty cool experience to talk about say in a job interview or a
talk about say in a job interview or a
talk about say in a job interview or a TED talk you see an apprenticeship
TED talk you see an apprenticeship
TED talk you see an apprenticeship that’s where the value really is it’s um
that’s where the value really is it’s um
that’s where the value really is it’s um it’s like the karate kid you think
it’s like the karate kid you think
it’s like the karate kid you think you’re learning how to paint a fence but
you’re learning how to paint a fence but
you’re learning how to paint a fence but actually you’re learning karate thank
actually you’re learning karate thank
actually you’re learning karate thank you guys
you guys
you guys [Applause]
”
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