Not George Bush, Demetrius Bush.
When it comes down to it, geeks need three essentials: equations, bullet point lists, and flow charts. Whether it is for asking a girl on a date, trying to shoot a basketball, or finding a way to advance in one’s career, geeks need the three essentials. Everyone outside of geeks uses a more lenient system typically avoiding numbers.
Glen and McManus, authors’ of The Geek Leader’s Handbook, laid out two fundamental equations for generating opportunity:
- Probability (Fulfilling Career) = f (Number of Opportunities, Ability to select Wisely)
- Number of Opportunities = f (Luck, Capabilities) + f(Capabilities, Quality of Experience, Top of Mind Awareness)
Following Glen and MacManus’ two fundamental equations there is a bullet point list displaying what capabilities, quality of experience, and top of mind awareness a geek must accumulate:
- Competence
- Trustworthiness
- Good to work with
- Someone they are proud to refer
- And someone that comes to mind as a good fit for the problem they are trying to solve
Using Glen and Macmanus’ two equations and bullet points derives a flow chart in a geek’s head.
Personal Geeky Correlation to Glen and MacManuns’ theories:
I am a double-major in accounting and business management with a Certified Public Accountant track at Greenville College. Why in the world would someone come to a liberal-arts college located in the middle of Illinois to major in accounting? Truth be told, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life but I knew I still wanted to play football. BOOM, EXPOSED.
After declaring my double and doing everything I could at a liberal arts college (such as becoming a tutor and joining GCSA) I became acquainted with Demetrius Bush, a senior double-major, who already had a full-time job offer from EY. He saw potential in me and presented an opportunity. Demetrius told to apply for the Mary T. Washington Wylie Internship Preparation Program.
Yes, I took Demetrius’ advice and applied to MTWW and was scared out of my mind. Turns out someone(s) thought my experience showed my capability to do well at the MTWW program. I was accepted and had three of the best days of my life while attending the MTWW.
One week after the program I had three internship offers on the table and had some decisions to make. Who would I choose? Why would choose one firm over the other? Bottom line, with three offers on the table I could be bold with each firm.
Below is a video describing what the MTWW is:
MTWW derived offers from Crowe Horwath, EY, and Grant Thornton. I chose EY.
My internship with EY occurred because I made the decision to apply for the MTWW Internship Preparation Program. Through my internship with EY I grew more than ever in my discipline of accounting and I ended up with a full-time job offer.
Below is a video of a conference I attended in Orlando, FL at the conclusion of my internship:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWOD7klXzT8
I chose EY because it was the best fit for me. I wanted fast-paced and opportunity, EY gives me both.
I hope to follow the fundamentals presented by Glen and McManus and the video below to be an outline as I begin my career in tax at EY in July of 2017.
My point of this blog is not to brag about myself. Rather, I write this blog to show that it does not matter where someone comes from – opportunity can be created everywhere. Entering into a career, which I studied for in college, one month after college is humbling. Looking back on my journey at Greenville College, I now realize how God used my uncertainty help me discover my calling to business.