Escape the Mundane + Experience the Remarkable

How College Ruined My Life and What You Can Learn from My Mistakes

21 Comments
Perspective

Sixty-eight thousand four hundred seventy-two.

Awfully large number… I’ll see if numerically helps:

68,472

Nope. Still large.

68,472… 68,472… 68,472…

Shoot, it doesn’t get smaller after repeating. Ugh!

So what is this number? It’s not my favorite number, that’s for sure. Actually, this number is the amount of student loan debt I accrued over my three years in college. 3 years = $68,472 … whoah! That’s roughly $62 a day, every day for three solid years.

The Debt Snowball

Before getting into it, let’s first travel back to my 18th year of life. I have a thriving business (I started when I was 12) implementing technology in residences & offices, as well as designing websites for businesses. I’m maintaining a 3.9 Advanced Honors GPA without any effort. And I have zero debt. Basically, life is good.

Having grown up as a minority from an Indian reservation along with a superior ACT score, I am besieged by college recruiters. From Ivy leagues to west coast universities, I truly have the pick of any school in the nation. But being a nervous teenager leaving my loving home for the first time, I choose the best private college within a half-day’s driving distance. And I love it. New friends, new town, new everything… College life is for me.

Fast-forward to 4 months later. I find myself in a seemingly endless line waiting to sell back my books from a successful first semester… After an absurd couple of hours in line, I’m up! From a wave of seller’s remorse, I keep my Intro to Psych textbook as well as my Econ book out of sheer interest in the subjects. But I decide to ditch the Middle East History book and an overpriced piece of crap that is my Business Computing book. Or so I thought.

Apparently history changes because the college didn’t renew my history book, which means they wouldn’t buy it back. But that’s understandable, there’s a lot going on over there and times are changing.

But the real kick in the pants?

They would not accept the Business Computing book due to a campus wide Microsoft Office upgrade…

Which means I spent the past semester force-fed outdated information.

My Educational Catharsis

Two days later – heartbroken from the realization in the bookstore – I return home for the winter break. There I reconnect with my older brother, Frank, who knowingly or unknowingly changes my life forever. A simple gesture, yet with powerful effects, he gives me an audiobook. And no, not a fictional book about vampires and elves. He gives me How to Win Friends and Influence People. And a complete paradigm shift ensues.
[Read more...]

10 Rules for Restaurant Success

1 Comment
Business

From what I’ve experienced working with restaurateurs struggling to make it in the restaurant business, becoming successful is not only challenging. Success often comes with back breaking hard work, dedication and years of building a reputation. That is, however, if the restaurant follows the strategies of the majority. Which usually consists of average food and forgettable experiences.

I, on the other hand, believe a restaurant can become an instant success if the following 10 rules are applied correctly:

Rule #1: Remarkable

Creating a restaurant that others talk about and willingly recommend to others is paramount for restaurant success. But yet this is easier said than done. Most places fall into the realm of boring, unattractive eating establishments.

So how does one create a remarkable restaurant? By obeying these following principles:
[Read more...]

5 Feel-Good Benefits of Owning a Business

2 Comments
Digital Nomad

On the fence about starting a business? That’s completely understandable. It can be intimidating. But before you make your decision, read the following. I’ve listed my top 5 favorite benefits of owning a profitable business. Enjoy!

1. Eat What You Wish When Going Out

Never having to worry too much about the price of dishes in a restaurant is an amazing feeling. And since the majority of restaurant tabs are tax-deductible, order away! Add sautéed mushrooms for two bucks more? No problem… Another glass of wine? Sure, why not!

2. Do What You Want During The Week

Besides the occasional meeting, the self-employed choose their hours. There are no too weak, I mean two weeks, vacation time RFP’s. Daughter’s Afternoon Music Recital? Sit in the front row… Case of the Mondays? Go golfing and catch up on work a little later.
[Read more...]

6 Reasons to Start Your Company Without a Business Loan

Comment
Digital Nomad

crazy-money

“I can’t start a business, I don’t have any money!” I’d currently be on Forbes’ Rich List if I got a nickel for every time I’ve heard this limiting belief. My response? “Great, you’re in an excellent position to become extremely successful!”

The misconception that a business needs a loan to start-up is the old way of thinking. Here are 6 reasons why you should structure a bootstrapping business model:

Reason 1 – Because it’s Possible to Start Without a Loan

Some people say you need money to make money. This is 100% false. The era of needing millions of dollars to finance the equipment in a factory are no more. These days a factory can simply be a computer, Internet connection, cell phone and a strong passion.

Do you have a specialty? Start consulting. Are you handy or analytical? Create a repair business. Have a way with words and something to say? Blog it, gain an audience then sell something to them… The business options are literally endless these days.

Reason 2 – Less Stress

Worrying if you’ll make enough money to cover the next installment will keep you awake at night. The bank doesn’t care about you; they care about their bottom line. The same goes for VC’s… unless you think you have the next sensation, stay away from sharing a portion of your business in turn for a quick buck.

Reason 3 – Keep Your Friends and Family, Happy Friends and Family

It may be easy to call your rich uncle for start-up capital. But it will be extremely difficult to re-call him 6 months later to announce that you chose to go another route in life and the business will be closing.
[Read more...]