Month: November 2018

2018 Fall UNO Speed Mock Interviews

On Wednesday, November 28, 2018 from 1:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. at the Milo Bail student center on the main campus of the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO).  I participated in the Thompson Learning Community Speed Mock Interviews

There was a record 230 students from  Thompson Learning Community (TLC) sophomore students that participated in mock interviews.  The goal of the interviews is for a student to meet a variety of employers and gain valuable interview experience. A good majority of these students where first generation college students.

I was positioned in the far back area of the of the 2nd floor Center room.

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Starting at 1:00 p.m. about 20 some students were brought in the room and staggered at different employers. Each interview was to last for 6 minutes with a two minute feedback.

For each interview I asked 4 questions in some form.

  • Tell me about how someone describes you?.
  • Tell me about a project you have worked on?
  • Tell me about a time where you have mentored someone?
  • So when have you had a setback? How did you handle it?

For each of the students I provided feedback on why I asked the questions. 

I followed up with a email to interviewee. For each of the students I recommend looking student and communities groups. Get a linkedin account.  I also recommended starting a personal blog.

I feel these are type of events where I can make a difference.

2018 YPIA – Nebraska and Southwest Iowa Executive Breakfast Forum

This morning I attended the 2018 Young Professionals in Agriculture – Nebraska and Southwest Iowa Executive Breakfast Forum hosted at the Scoular Ballroom in Downtown Omaha!

At the event, I had the opportunity to network and interact with one another over breakfast. They had a fruit, eggs and sausage. My name badge had a number 7 which was the table I was assigned for the event.  I sat next to another Farm Credit Services of America Employee. There were actually a good number of Farm Credit Services of America employees there.

The opening discussion was about how technology was reshaping Agriculture.  The panel moderated was Dr. Tom Field from the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska. Panelists were Quantified Ag, Tractor Zoom, and myAgData.

I had heard the CEO of Quantified Ag talk before. I knew his company was Fitbit for cattle. He talked that feedlots are savvy. They use data and Analytics to have more information to make better business decisions.  Tractor Zoom talked about simplicity and user experience. MyAgData talked about standards, cloud computing and changing people’s mindset.

If you were starting a business:

  • Niche vs salable.
  • How can you fail cheap?
    • How or what is your proof of concept
  • Is it a solvable problem you are after?
  • Will there be market acceptance?
  • Funding
  • Human Capital
  • Laws & Regulations

The question was asked if they could reset.

  • Realize things take longer than you expect.
  • Have customer validation
    • Don’t invest in ideas that customers do not want
  • Start as a Inc instead of LLC? I need to research the why of that statement.
  • There are experts in fields. Find those people to help you along the way.
  • Understand development cycle of a product.
  • Learn by Failure is not cheap.
  • Look at Outside Influences who are competing in market.
  • When marketing to producers do it digitally. “How to Video’s” on YouTube are big customer influences.
  • Can you produce a future business plan? Is it really a execution plan?
  • Lead, follow or get out of the way mentality
  • Legal: How many lawyers do you need? A lot!!!!

On the way out I talked a few minutes with Vishal Singh of Quantified Ag. Then really walking out of the ballroom I talked to Kyle McMahon about the development stack at TractorZoom.

Overall it was a good event. I will have to look into membership with the YPiA.

Some posts on 11/11

Favorite 11/11 posts:

November 11, 2006 Columbus, Ohio. Exactly one year after my stroke I won my first gold at Blue Belt. A nice accomplishment, but it was a email I received a few days later that changed my outlook on life. Enjoy

 

11/13/06 at 8:53 PM
Anthony,

I watched the match, and you deserve the 1st place as a fighter, as a friend, and as an overall person. The first place is just a symbol of the hard work and dedication you put into your life not just jiujitsu. It represents the personal challenges and hardships that you had to work through. I’m always proud to be able to say that I was there to witness and hopefully be a part of and contribute to your success. It was a long way getting there from the hospital bed to the 1st place medal. The most important part was the journey. Hopefully you will always take the time to pass on the wisdom you have gained to those less experienced, to those more experienced, but in need of your understanding and support and those who just need someone to encourage them to begin the journey.

Stay strong,

Ed

11/11/2009: A word from my human who I love very much: Four years ago I was found on at my kitchen table because I suffered a stroke. Now four years later I am so thankful just to be alive. I sit here with tears in my hotel because I really do live a awesome life. So make sure you tell the people in your life you care for them, that you want to be with them, because one day they may not be there. Urban Legend. 11/11

11/11/2010: Peace, Love, and Happiness! About this time 5 years ago I was on the way to the Hospital. I had suffered a stroke. Yet this past year I am thankful for being alive. I have learned more about myself. I feel I have the faith and desire to become that man I am ment to be. Make sure you tell the people in your life you care for them, that you want to be with them, because on day they may not be there. Urban Legend 11/11

11/11/2011: Today it has been six years from this very date that I suffered a stroke. According the National Stroke Association Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability. I am very thankful I am alive. Every day I wake up next to my beautiful girlfriend Melani Schumacher. I am loved by my wonderful family. I work for the best company Farm Credit Services of America and train at the best martial arts gym in Omaha Mid-America Martial Arts. On this magical date of all elevens that could be just a coincidence or a phenomena of everyday life. Make sure you appreciate the life you are living because you only get one. In the fight I remain. Urban Legend

11/11/2014: Today is the 11:11 where I think about my life. 9 years ago this day I suffered a Ischemic Stroke. My words of advice from this past year is do not allow fears, doubts or concerns hold you back from living. I love all my family & friends. You are all so important in my life. Plus I got a nice little bump on my martial arts journey today.

11/11/2015: On this day of November 11, 2005 I suffered a Ischemic stroke. These last 10 years have taught me a valuable life lesson that I will share, in any bad situation, You can come back. You have no idea your capabilities if you just give up. So to my family, friends and everyone else I have crossed paths with. It was a long way getting from the hospital bed to staying up past midnight today to just celebrate being alive for the past 10 years.

AIM IT Leadership Academy: Leadership & Teams

Friday November 2nd was my first session in the AIM IT Leadership Academy at CSG International.  

When I arrived to the conference room, I had an assigned seat. The Agenda for the day was laid out at my table.  

The class started with Introductions. I told everyone my name Anthony Carlson. I work at Farm Credit Services of America. I shared that I am the person who responds to messages at strange hours.  

The first exercise we did at our table was designing a leader. The hard part of this activity was determining if the traits we talked about should apply to everyone or just a person we wanted to exist.  

After this activity we dived into Emergentics. Emergenetics is a response profile tool that helps you and your team to understand yourself and each other. A folder was handed out that had our group information and personal information.  

There are 4 ways of thinking in my profile. If you think like this you will always be like this is a wrong approach to thinking. Learn to separate different ways of thinking out.  

In looking at the behaviors the questions were asked. How much energy do you put into things? The words your using to talk to others, are they close to your heart? The willingness to accommodate the thoughts and actions of others.  

People will observe behavior before the see the way you are thinking. The social response is to ask what you are thinking and not see your behaviors.  When you read a audience you are in conceptual and analytical mindset which happens more in IT related functions.   

Intent Impact Model:

Is the intention getting the impact. The common theme is the message you send is interrupted in different ways.  

How do you want to be treated over How I treat everyone. If you think only one way you might miss something.  

What motivates you to learn? It is not that you cannot do different aspects of your profile. It is exhausting to do things that do not come naturally.  

Capstone Project

In the middle of the day we were put in groups of 2 to 3 individuals. I was partnered with a employee of Team Software and Werner Enterprises. Our group is to deliver a 10-minute presentation related to Emotional Intelligence on Agile Teams. A one-page document was given with guidelines to follow. The date of the project delivery will be in April.  

Project goals : 

  • Research and data 
  • Proven metrics 
  • Pace and flow of what we think is considered Agile 
  • Try to be visionary: How we think the future of Agile will look.  
  • Include everyone 

Ending Thoughts

The first session was well done. We had a great facilitator and the pace was just right. I look forward to sharing all the information from the session with my accountability buddy and my leader at work.

These were my three actions I took from this course.

  1. Find empathetic ways when working with others I don’t understand.
  2. Practical thinkers are predictable that is ok, make connections.
  3. Try to appreciate how different everyone is.