Blog Post 3

My last meeting with Freddy was after he spoke to our New Venture Strategies class. Freddy was asked to lecture on his experience in regards to his starting of his own business, and the process behind it. He talked to us about a lot of things, but my biggest single take away from his never quit attitude. Freddy got to where he is, according to him, from outworking everyone around him, and from having "grit." He expanded on this idea of grit-- this idea that no matter what you are faced with or what you have to fix, you've got to do it, and you've got to continue moving forward. After the lecture, Freddy faced a lot of questions from the group. The best question was about how Freddy views compensation for his employees, and how he views paying himself. He talked about how their is no correlation between the percentage of net income that the chief operating officer takes home. And that the basis for success within a company, especially in the startup phase, is willingness to put your money back into your company. The other big key: you pay your investors back first. The better rate of return that your investors receive, the more likely that they are to invest again and again and again. If you take care of your investors first, your company second, and yourself last, you will be successful.

Then, after he was done fielding questions, Freddy and I talked for awhile after. I was seeking some advice in regards to summer internships and a dilemma within that. I had already accepted an offer to work at a wealth management firm in Grand Rapids, MI, when an investment here in Chicago came in late and decided to offer me an internship. I wanted Freddy's advice, because I knew that I not only wanted to work at the internship here in Chicago, but the internship was much better. Freddy talked me through the point of view of the employer, and that they are always seeking good. Plus being upfront, honest, and straightforward goes so  much further than you would realize. Especially in today's workplace, where morality can be somewhat pushed behind other important values. That this can create so much more value than we realize. It comes back to our faith and our goals to be people of faith within our workplace. We can make this especially evident through what we say and how we treat others.