Be Your Own Consultant
- Originally posted on June 14, 2014 @TrueVenturesTEC
This summer, I have the privilege of working at Streetline. I work closely with Kurt and Kelly, SVP of Business Development and CMO, respectively. Their energy is contagious. Our vision of Connected Living aligns perfectly. Currently I am working with the Sponsorship Team. Laying out a mesh network of parking sensors is capital intensive, and cities seldom have millions of dollars in budget piled up. My goal is to think creatively and come up with different angles to onboard reputable companies as sponsors of our Smart Parking service. I am extremely grateful to True Ventures and Streetline for this learning opportunity.
As a young adult about to turn 21, I think often about what I want out of life, and what kind of person I want to become. My conviction is that the best way for self-growth as a person, friend, and professional is to be the best consultant for myself. Even Lil Wayne gets this when he raps, “Talkin’ to myself because I am my own consultant.” The only person I have full 24x7x365 access to is myself. Friends, family and role models are figures of tremendous influence to me, but I need to understand my past and present self for positive future growth.
Two methods that seem to work for me. I journal daily. Every Sunday evening, I become my consultant. I take an hour to reflect on the writings, thinking about the things I did that I should have done better, and the things I did that I should not have done at all. I read autobiographies of historical leaders. The path to success can hold a lot of misery and pain. Successful leaders are the end products, and I am curious as to how they conquered hardships. Currently I am reading Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was called “a nearly perfect man.” The author mentions:
“Lincoln possessed an uncanny understanding of his shifting moods, a profound self-awareness that enabled him to find constructive ways to alleviate sadness and stress.”
My time in San Francisco is a chance for immense growth in knowledge and mentality. I am surrounded by ambitious peers at TEC. I have the mentoring of the family at True Ventures and Streetline. I am immersed in an environment of unprecedented talent. I plan to make the absolute most out of my experience, and become a better consultant for myself.