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Today Jason had the opportunity to speak to 55 seniors at Penn State who will all be working on the University’s “Idea Pitch” contest. All the students are part of the Information Sciences and Technology school and will be pitching their ideas to the business school.
I really liked this interview it was not your normal TWiST episode. While it had the same sense of humor and casual tone we get to hear Jason tell his story and how he learned and what motivated him. You can even see the passion coming through at one point where I sensed emotional satisfaction in proving the naysayers wrong.
He starts off by asking how many people want to be an entrepreneurs and who wants to be a drone worker bee (about 6%). Throughout the interview he motivates the class and opens many eyes about work life, later in the show he asks the same question to find a very different answer.
Entrepreneur core qualities:
- Entrepreneurial parents
- Recklessness gambling personalities
- Resiliency
- Focused
- Won’t take no for an answer
- You will disproportionately be rewarded if you succeed
- Work harder
- Must believe in yourself
Questions from the class:
- Do you stir the pot on purpose (Twitter)?
- What is your relationship with your employees?
- In the early stages do you worry about intellectual property?
- Can you be someone who is an entrepreneur within a company?
Who wants to be a rice picker and who wants to be a Samari?
Greatest Motivational Speech Ever! Way better than any of the fight scenes
in Gladiator…Back to the entrepreneurial trenches!
Thanks Jason, this was a great talk, especially considering you hadn’t planned the content. I think it really highlights how good entrepreneurs are able to think on their feet. Too bad the prof. couldn’t have been a bit more prepared though.
This was very entertaining!
This was a great speech. Especially given Jason had to think on his feet to give it.
I wish someone had given me this speech 15 years ago.
I agree with Dan. I suspect I got a lot more out of it than the kids in the class but hopefully some of what Jason said will stick with them. Ya gotta be hungry now more than ever. It’s become a must.
Great episode…great talk Jason…amazing speech which was unprepared…Keep up the great podcast going
Jason, you are never boring and always informative and funny. Keep ‘em coming, and I’ll keep watching them and waiting for my turn in the sun.
Congrats, Jason. Delighted to see that Samurai remain on earth.
This was exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks for reminding me of a few things.
I luv how he makes those pussy STUDENTS giddy! It shows his brilliance!
Just about to launch second startup, after learning a lot in the three years doing my first one. This had such a profound effect on me it was crazy. You read entrepreneur stories and they same the same old cliched stuff. However when someone really opens themselves up and their guts, hats off to the guy. I dont need any other motivation when I have doubts etc. I just need to watch that video. Thank You
Jason this beat Gary’s episode. Gary’s episode is lying bleeding on the arena right now.
I think I want to say you crushed it.
I consume loads of entrepreneur talk posts and vids and this one has to be near the top because of the passion and directness and clarity of thought Jason conveys. It is simply awesome and it it going to everyone I know.
[...] Calacanis annoyed me when I first started watching his video podcast This Week In Startups. He seemed too self-absorbed and often spoke over his guests, telling his own story of succerss and [...]
Thanks, Jason! for a great speech. The student loved it for both the delivery and the content.
[...] playing to the crowd’s D&D and sci-fi fetishes in explaining how to start a company, This Week in Startups, 11 February [...]
The thing you communicated well to these students is the conflict, from within as well as from external forces that constantly bombard the entrepreneur. Self-doubt is for everyone else, not for the successful. When that information can be translated into something that becomes personal for a person, they are physically and mentally transformed in the process. Unfortunately, most people will remain unchallenged in their lives and not realize their true potential. Thanks for the motivational guidance.
The problem with this presentation is he degraded his employees – by calling the people that don’t want to be an entrepreneur donkeys. It takes all kinds and he made it clear he does not respect anyone that is not an entrepreneur.
I am SO thankful that brilliant talented people that work for me have no desire to be an entrepreneur but instead decide to work for me. Come on! This video included good Entrepreneur advice execept he is a terrible roll model for a boss.
Entrepreneurship should not be all ego driven. He is not the only one that made his businesses successful. There is too much “I” and not enough “we”. To be a successful entrepreneur you need to be a leader that builds a team. I see no evidence of this here.
Excellent speech Jason; as a college student myself I find it particularly insightful and I am glad I am getting to hear it now (though, a few years ago may have been even better).
Thanks again and I will start practicing swinging my sword.
[...] Calacanis’ own channel, TWiST (This Week in Start Ups), provides further description of the event portrayed in the video. [...]
[...] while in grade school. Angel investor and entrepreneur, Jason Calacanis said as much in his recent talk to Penn State students. And after meeting Wharton students, VC Fred Wilson expressed shock when a [...]
[...] while in grade school. Angel investor and entrepreneur, Jason Calacanis said as much in his recent talk to Penn State students. And after meeting Wharton students, VC Fred Wilson expressed shock when a [...]
[...] while in grade school. Angel investor and entrepreneur, Jason Calacanis said as much in his recent talk to Penn State students. And after meeting Wharton students, VC Fred Wilson expressed shock when a [...]
[...] while in grade school. Angel investor and entrepreneur, Jason Calacanis said as much in his recent talk to Penn State students. And after meeting Wharton students, VC Fred Wilson expressed shock when a [...]
[...] investor and entrepreneur, Jason Calacanis said as much in his recent talk to Penn State students. And after meeting Wharton students, VC Fred Wilson expressed shock when a [...]
[...] and many well respected people including the likes of Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures and Jason Calacanis of Mahalo, are bullish on [...]
[...] while in grade school. Angel investor and entrepreneur, Jason Calacanis said as much in his recent talk to Penn State students. And after meeting Wharton students, VC Fred Wilson expressed shock when a [...]
[...] lemonade while in grade school. Angel investor and entrepreneur, Jason Calacanis said as much in hisrecent talk to Penn State students. And after meeting Wharton students, VC Fred Wilson expressed shock when a [...]
[...] the topic directly. Between them, the vote comes down 2-1 in favor of nature. Fred Wilson and Jason Calacanis, both of whom I respect quite a bit said that it doesn’t feel like entrepreneurship is [...]
Here’s a review/summary of this podcast and my favourite episode: http://blog.stronglikewater.com/?p=149
The guy in the front with the grey sweatshirt on pissed me off… he looks bored. Ass.