IfInameaplaceassecondhometown,IwoulddefinitelysayAtlanta.IstillrememberwhatGeorgiaTechlookedliketenyearsago,whenIwasstudyingformymasterdegreeinPolymerduring2002~2004.AsSteveJobssaid:Whenyoulookback,alldotsconnected.GeorgiaTechistheplacewhereallmydotsstarted,andIwishtotracemylineofdotsback.
Dot1:Alife-changingpresentationcourse
WhenIwasstudyingatTech,ItookapresentationcourseatbusinessschoolwithMBAstudentsandwastheonlyonefromEngineeringSchool.ThelecturerwasMs.SpringAsher,whowasalwaysniceandpatient.ATurkishstudentinourclassalwaysadded“Errr...”whenhespoke.Allstudentslaughedathim.Ms.Asher,however,alwayscorrectedhimwithanencouragingsmileonherface.Inthefinalpresentation,afterhepresented,Ms.Asherasked:“Doyouknowhowmany‘errrs’yousaid?”Hisfaceturnedred.Ms.Ashersaid:“Eleven!Butdoyourememberhowmanyerrrsyouaddedinthefirstclass?Morethan100!Afteronesemester,youimproved90%!Ifyoupaymoreattentiontothat,youwillgetridofit!Congratulations!”
WhathadMs.Ashermademerealizeisthatweonlyneedtocompetewithourselvesandkeepimproving!
Inthenextyear,whenEngineeringSchoolwasselectingonestudenttoparticipateinanationalcontestofgraduatestudentpresentation,Iraisedmyhand.IworkedextremelyhardandappliedalltheskillsIhadlearnedinclass.Iturnedouttobethe2ndplace!ThisawardalsohelpedmegetmydreamjobinPepsiCo.6yearslater,myfirstbookDon’tTellMeThatYouKnowPowerPointwononeofthetop10bestsellingbooksofAmazonChinain2010,thankstothatpresentationclassfromMs.Asher.
Dot2:Agoodadvisorinearlycareer
MyfirstjobofferwassignedbyCarlosBarroso,ex-VPofPepsiCoandanalumnusofTechfromChemicalEngineering.Hewas10levelshigherthanme,buttalkedtomelikeanelderbrother.WhenIwasjustonboard,hetoldmethreemostimportantthingstosucceed:1.Sharpenskill;2.Shareinformation;3.Bringpeoplewithyou!
Ifollowedhisinstructionandmyperformancewasalwaysonthetop.In2007,IledthemostcomplicatedmultinationalprojectinPepsiCo,andwasrecognizedastheonly“Outstanding”performanceinteam.In2008,IearnedPMPcertificate.In2011,mysecondbook:YouMustKnowProjectManagement,basedonmyexperienceinPepsiCosoonbecamethebestsellingprojectmanagementbookinChina.
DuringtheworkinPepsiCo,IrealizedthatIhaveagoodsenseonmarketing.In2011,IchangedmycareerpathfromR&Dtomarketing.MyteamwontheGoldenEffieAwardforDurexdigitalmarketingwork.Later,IdiddigitalmarketingforSteveJobs:theBiography,whichsoldtwicemorecopiesinChinathaninUS.Recently,Ipublishedmythirdbook:MakeYourProductSexy.WithouttheguidancefromCarlos,aTechalumnus,atmyearlycareerstage,Icouldn'thaveachievedallofthese.
Dot3:Ahappyfamily
WhenIfirstcametoAtlanta,DavidandNancyScottweremyhosts.Theysaid,“ManyinternationalstudentscometoUS,butfewhavechancetoknowlifeofAmericans.Ihopeyouenjoyyourhomehere!”
Yes,Idid!
DavidScott,aTechalumnusandaretiredbusinessman,toldmehowtotreatpeopleequallyandmakewisedecisions.
OnedayInoticedanarticleinnewspaper:Aguywonabiglottery,buthespentallthemoneyveryquicklyandturnedverypooragain.I