“Do more than is required. What is the distance between someone who achieves their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following? The extra mile.”-Gary Ryan Blair.
Throughout my Real Business Experience, there are so many things that I have learned – about myself, working with others, and about starting a business. This may seem a bit cliché, I learned that hard work truly pays off. After a selling period of six days, our business, Campus Casual, profited a little under $1,000. That alone was remarkable for being just a sophomore in college; with such a short selling period we were able to accomplish such a high profit.
What could we possibly accomplish in a whole semester selling period? Let your mind wander and think of the possibilities and the opportunities that we have in our futures. Consider how something so small can amount into something grand and open opportunities.
An important lesson that I learned while working with a group is that if you have a problem, approach it, and do not just brush it off. Communication is a key component when working with a group; everyone has their own ideas and perspectives to bring to the table.
Another lesson learned was that change is good and not something to be afraid of. As individuals, we are always learning from mistakes and developing into something greater. Especially in this time in society, there are always plans for the next best thing. Also, it is best to set goals and make outlines. Planning ahead and preparing for the unexpected is extremely vital – you must always be thinking on your feet and planning for the unknown.
Take risks; risk taking is something that will differentiate you from the plain Mr. Joe Shmo, and don’t be surprised when you will be the one to get the job over him.
Let others invest into your success. Ask questions, even if you already know the answer to it. By letting others in, they begin to believe in and gain an emotional attachment to your business.
Calm and care-free are two admirable qualities; however in the workplace they must be combined with a pro-active attitude. Obstacles will hinder progress, but it is necessary to find a solution just in time for the next problem to arise. This continuous cycle is the nature of starting a business, and I learned this through my experience in RBE and start-up of Campus Casual. Another lesson that I learned and can be applied to more than just starting a business is that if one decides to apply himself to an idea or project then he should “go all in”. I would much rather put a great amount of effort into something that turns out spectacular than put a little bit of effort into something that turns out to be mediocre. Effort determines the outcome and through this semester-long journey I discovered I want that spectacular result. -Sara Logel
It’s not easy summing up a semester when the Real Business Experience continues to help me uncover more lessons about the business world, myself, and working with team members. Starting up Campus Casual included hard work, dedication, and patience. Hard work went into the paperwork and approval of our products in order to adequately sell and deliver them. This success required full effort and dedication throughout the entire process. Relentless effort turned into patience when problems arose along the way because it was communication that positively helped solve issues. Whether or not everyone equally participated, the business world waits for no one. This experience allows those who want stay prepared, succeed. -Lina Goens
Despite not knowing what was to be expected for RBE I felt some sense of momentum coming in. I was elected vice president of my fraternity which involved me taking leadership role similar to a business, I worked in a corporate setting all summer, and I came in knowing I was full of unique ideas, a utmost desire to create something that no one had done before… and I got shirts and pants. Leave your expectations at the door because this is real life, real business experience.
This class makes you think, it’s a broad statement but an accurate one nonetheless. From the beginning when we sat for a few minutes brainstorming on the multiple uses for a garbage can, to the end when we worked in the basement of the library for hours putting the finishing touches on for the business plan for our incredible business we created. It’s really hard to believe how we began Campus Casual. We had about 9000 ideas for products and wanted them all done and we eventually settled on two different crewneck designs and the blockbuster yoga pants. Speaking of yoga pants, while writing this entry, a member of my fraternity walked up to us and told us a story about how he saw girls today in the Butler Bookstore searching for yoga pants. Those are the types of experiences no other class can offer.
This class teaches you the fundamentals of business that cannot be taught through a book. You get to experience the joy of success and the devastation of a loss. It teaches you that not all businesses succeed even with hard work and dedication. We now know the importance of innovation and taking a leap of faith. Campus Casual began on a whim, a desire to fill the unmet need of yoga pants and comfortable unique apparel and the rest is history. -Tony Rinehart
Through the RBE course here at Butler University you learn how to work with a team to reach a common goal of creating a successful business. When Campus Casual first started up there were hundreds of ideas floating around about what the group should do. But as a group three final products were created that earned well over what was projected in the sales forecast. But away from the money side of things the group also learned how to work together, create financial documents, and market the product. Through the process there were ups and downs as there is with any business, which is where the learning truly happens. Sometimes when you hit bumps in the road you have to make changes and that is what this course will really teach you. In the Book “Reality Check” by Guy Kawasaki there is a section that states “Good employees take responsibility. Great employees seek responsibility. Lousy employees avoid responsibility.” This is a quote that really taught me how to go forth with my responsibilities with Campus Casual and could help anyone in any situation. The RBE course overall teaches things that you just can’t get in the classroom. – Joshua Kagenski
Through the RBE process I learned a lot about myself and a lot about the business community. I would venture to say that RBE is the first chance for most, if not all, of the students to be in a pivotal role within a company. Many students have had outside work experience, but very few have ever had a chance to run a business and make decisions that will truly impact the business. I have had a lot of outside work experience and even some management positions, but I have never had an opportunity to run a business. This process can tell you a lot about yourself. For me it confirmed that running a business is something that I am very interested in. I like making those big decisions and having a say over the course that a business will run. For some this process may tell you that you better suited sticking to one certain field or even that you are not interested in the inner workings of a business at all. The RBE process is a great opportunity to try your hand at several different areas and see what it is that you are interested in. It could save you a lot of time narrowing it down in the future. – Nick Green