Written By: Cosme Lozano

Yes, yes, its time for your favorite part of the week ladies and gentlemen! Its time for Cosme’s productivity tip of the week, lets get into it!

Tip of the day: WRITE IT DOWN!

Having started my new job, and also being a college student, I cannot stress this tip enough. Writing down information IS valuable. I know you might be one of those people who can see or hear something and be good, but trust me, writing it down doesn’t hurt and it will also ensure you really know what you’re talking about. I say this because when it comes time for you to do the task, you don’t need to ask anyone for help because you already wrote down notes and the instructions. You save time in what you can do, and you save other people time because they don’t have to stop and explain to you the steps again.

I know writing it down may seem like a hassle, but it beats having to keep asking the same questions over and over again!

Written By: Cosme Lozano

Today I want to go over a specific individual. What he has done so far is nothing short of remarkable. He has built an empire here in the US, as well as across the globe. There is a good chance that you indirectly interact with this man on a near daily basis.

Before I tell you who the mystery man is, let’s look at his humble beginning!  

Like all good American origin stories, this one begins in New York. Brooklyn, New York to be exact. Our mystery person was not born into a lavish lifestyle, or born into an already existing business family. They started all the way at the bottom, like you or me. Him and his family were not the richest, and they had to live in a housing estates. Trying to find a way out of this life and to make better for his family and himself, he accepted a football scholarship at Northern Michigan University. College would fly by and it would eventually see him graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication. Like any kid straight out of college, our mystery man got to work trying to find a job. One would stick and it would open the door to his future success.

Out of college and now working for Hammarplast, our mystery man was on his way to success. For those who do not know, Hammarplast was a company that sold European coffee makers to people in the United States. Being the star that he was, he quickly rose through the ranks until he became the director of sales for them at the start of the 80s. In this position, he was able to see more information on who they were selling inventory to. While browsing, he noticed that a small coffee shop in Seattle was buying more and more coffee makers. Amazed by what he saw, he flew over to Seattle to see what was going on for himself. The small coffee shop really resonated with him, and a year later he would meet with their founders and take a job at their company as their new director of retail operations and marketing.

Now it’s at this point in the story where you may start to figure out who the individual is..

Our mystery man’s life would change forever after he went on a trip to Milan, Italy. Seeing the beautiful culture and appreciation for coffee over there, it inspired him. He noticed how many coffee bars were over there and he wanted to try applying that back over in the states. He soon brought the idea back with him, and was able to start applying it into stores. Seeing the success it had, he wanted to expand and grow. The original founders did not see eye to eye though. Naturally, this resulted in him leaving the company. He then set out to start his own coffee business. He collected the funding necessary and opened his doors. From what he had learned in his past, he applied and developed it further with his own stores. Within two years, he was able to go back and purchase the company he had left.

I am sure most of you are aware of who I am talking about by now, but for those who still don’t, I am of course talking about Howard Schultz; former CEO and chairman of Starbucks. Howard Schultz humble beginnings remind all of us that we can truly accomplish anything. Schultz was not born into a super rich family, and he didn’t come from the greatest neighborhood. What his story does tell us though, is that with dedication, time, and a commitment to hard work, we can truly accomplish anything. Furthermore, he shows that we should not be afraid to bet on ourselves if we truly believe in our idea and what we want to do. Howard Schultz did the same, and because of that he ended up with a company that is worth 112.50 billion dollars today. Even though he is not Starbucks CEO anymore, Howard did pretty alright for himself. He is now worth 5.2 billion dollars.

Don’t be afraid to chase your dreams or opportunities! They are waiting for you, not the other way around!

References:

10 most successful entrepreneurs that started with little to nothing

Biography: Howard Schultz

Written by: Cosme Lozano

                Recently I had the privilege to accept a new job opportunity. It all started out as an internship, but after talking with the manager, it surprisingly turned into employment. I got offered a job in my field of interest (audio and video media), all while in the city I want to work in after I graduate; Chicago. For my job, I will be running the board at the station, and working with the on air talent. This all incredibly exciting but also nerve racking.

 In what feels like the wave of a wand, I have entered the workforce all while still as a student, and boy can it be intimidating. In my first week, I worked three days for seven hours each shift. What I learned early on is that everyone is always doing something. If you have downtime or are not doing anything productive, find something productive to do. Additionally, I have also been learning to be more independent and to trust myself. As someone who has never worked in this kind of atmosphere before, I realized early on that people do not have time to always help you out with everything. At first, I was pretty scared to mess up. I am not going to lie. This feeling did not linger long though, as eventually I regained my confidence and trust in myself. The key is to just remind yourself that a lot of the stuff you’re doing, you learned or did in your classes. Remember all the work you did, use it, and apply it to your situation.

One part of the job that I have really enjoyed is the employees. Learning about my fellow co-workers and my bosses, and where they came from has been really fun to hear. These are all people that were in my same position at some point in their lives, and they undoubtedly have a lot of knowledge that I can learn from. I have also enjoyed the experiences and people I have worked with through the job. Whether that be through guests that come on, or through problem solving, it has all been exciting and great new experiences for me.

For people that also want to work in the media, or just find employment in general, I highly advise that you get as much practical experience as you can in college before you go out and apply. If I think about my situation and how I got here, without a doubt doing all the little jobs and tasks in college helped me. They were opportunities for me to expand my knowledge and expertise, and it also provided me something to put on my resume. I know not everyone wants to do it, but find jobs within your major or on campus and do them! You never really know what doors they may open…

For my final thoughts on the matter, I want to say that I am very appreciative. I am appreciative I even have the job in the first place, but I am also appreciative that USF prepared me well for the task. Like I said above, I was nervous at first, but that did not say for long. When looking ahead, I really do not know what the future has in store for me. I am completely ok with this, and in part I enjoy this sense of the unknown. I am at the start of this great adventure and I am eager to see where it will take me! My advice for everyone is to keep working hard and to always believe in yourself. I know that is pretty cliché, but it is true advice. If you know what you want, work for it and go get it. Make the sacrifices and go get yours. It’s your life and you have to decide how you want to spend it. As Red would say in one of my all-time favorite movies, Shawshank Redemption, “Get busy living”. Get busy living and make the future you want for yourself.

Written by: Cosme Lozano

When it comes to being productive, I like to consider myself a master, at least that’s what I tell myself.. Jokes aside, I want to briefly share with you a productivity tip that I use that helps me out. I believe it can also help you guys out as well, so let’s get into it!

Tip: DON’T BE AFRIAD TO TAKE BREAKS

                Sometimes the best way to get ahead is to stop and recollect yourself. It is easy to get overwhelmed and when it happens, it can hinder your decision making. Take a step back, examine what’s going on and collect your thoughts. When you do this, you can make a better decision for your circumstance. Also, taking a break can simply just help you out mentally. Sometimes you need to take a step back and decompress. Recharge and get back out there, and hit your tasks even harder! Remember, taking a break is not always a bad thing. Plan and get ahead!

Written by Cosme Lozano

Career success is an interesting thing. Everyone for the most part is striving to have as much career success as they can. People are brought up in different areas and conditions, so for some, their definition of career success varies. Today I want to take a look at a Forbes article written by Terina Allen. In the article, Allen goes over what she believes is career success, and why so many people fail to experience it.  

We start by looking at the difference between career accomplishments and career success. The two are often mixed up. Career accomplishments are credentials you earn during your career, or it can include a high paying salary. People can have all the titles in the world or can be making a ton of money, and they still feel empty inside. It is a feeling that can’t be filled unless you have true career success. In her article, Terina Allen describes career success as,

                “Career success is a combination of achieving a reasonable level of financial stability while doing work you enjoy and then finding that you are also happy and fulfilled with your life and career choices as well. If you love your job but find that it doesn’t lead to financial self-sufficiency, career success is diminished, and if you get paid very well but lack joy or interest in your chosen career field, career success is diminished. True career success requires that there is alignment between the two.” (Allen, 2020)

I have to agree with Terina Allen on this discussion. Making a lot of money is great but if you don’t enjoy the work you do, eventually, you are going to grow more frustrated and upset. In order for people to be on their A-game, it requires people to be fully committed and locked in. How are you going to perform at a high level if your whole heart isn’t even in the job?

People fail to find career success for a multitude of reasons. Part of it involves the individual failing to outline what career success means to them. For a lot of the youth, the decision to figure out what you want to be or do comes at you fast. In the commotion of going to school and figuring that out, people can sometimes fail to look ahead in the future. It is crucial that we all be mindful of the future and the goals we want to achieve. It is important that the goals you make are YOUR own goals, and not someone else’s; like a parent, friend or a teacher. It is also important to remember that your own happiness should be a priority. You won’t find career success in a job you hate doing the work for. Yeah the money may be good, but you will not be passionate in the work you are doing. It is people who do not have that passion for their jobs or career that end up getting stuck or upset with their job.

For my closing thoughts, I want to advise people to do what makes them truly happy. Be brave and courageous in new endeavors you face. Those situations can open doors and possibly take you where you want to go. As long as you are truly happy in what you are doing, you will find a way to make it work and have success. Your passion for the job will take you to new found heights. I know all of you out there are capable of so much, and I believe in you!

Leave me a comment down below if you want to have a discussion about this topic!

Written by: Cosme Lozano

Be respectful and cultivate a good sense of morals – These are two of the most important skills anyone, of any age can learn and apply into their lives. Having respect and morals are skills that will not only take you far in your profession, but also in life. You should have respect for everyone you work for or with, and you should apply good morals; to improve any situations you are in.

Time management – Time management is a skill college students will need to learn at one point or another. Good time management should provide the individual with a relatively set schedule of what they’ll be doing for that day, week, or month. Set time aside for classes, doing homework, studying, eating, and of course time to recharge and recover!

Be the person who takes INITIATIVE! – People and organizations love it when people step up without having to be told to do so. This is something that will never change. Be the person in your workplace or class that steps up and does the work. Be the person who suggests new ideas that improve the situation. It’s when you do this that people will give you more responsibility. Do a good job with that extra responsibility and move on up! Who knows, a promotion could be in your future…

Don’t be afraid to ask for help – Once students get to college, they often realize they can’t do everything alone. There is going to come a time where you need help, either from the teacher or a fellow student. Do not be afraid to ask for help in those scenarios. Asking for help is not a shameful thing. People and employers like having problem solvers, but if you truly cannot solve the task don’t be afraid to ask. Some people take asking for help as a sign of weakness, when in reality it is a sign for a person who is honest and upfront. Those are strengths.

Be a team player- There are times where we all have to be team players. Sometimes you have to do what’s best for others or the majority. That’s just how it goes sometimes. This is a very important skill to have in the workplace, but also for when you are among family and friends. You are not always going to get what you want and sometimes you just have to do what’s best for the team, rather than the individual.

Sometimes you have to be assertive – Being assertive is not always a bad thing. Speaking up for yourself and creating proper boundaries at the workplace, or with others, is a skill that is needed as you get older. Being assertive is a great way to make sure people do not silence your ambitions. Using this skill effectively can open doors for you, and it will show others that you have bright ideas. Having said that, it is important to not over do this. Being too assertive can make you appear confrontational and people may stray away from that.