So Much to Do and So Little Time

This week is really going to test our ability to work efficiently.  With no school on Monday and a shortened class Friday, we will really have to make the most of every minute.  Here’s a quick look at what we have to do:

·      Complete interviews

·      Create database of actual businesses we can contact for partnerships – we need to find a real-world business with whom we’ll have a year-long partnership (more about this in class)

·      Determine business we will run and business model

·      Secure real-world business to partner with us for the year

In order to do all this, you’ll likely have to complete some of these tasks outside of class.  These tasks can easily get done if we work together and delegate assignments to the right people.  I’m confident this will get done, especially since we won’t have to worry about running concessions on Friday afternoon.  Here’s our daily breakdown of tasks:

Monday – LABOR DAY – NO SCHOOL

Tueaday & Wednesday

Objectives: Analyze and Critique interviews, Provide feedback on interviews
Clear Target: We can analyze and critique a job interview

This is relatively straightforward.  You will need to complete a critique sheet for each interview and explain whether or not you’d hire each applicant.  Superficial explanations such as “he didn’t answer the questions really well,” or “he seemed quite prepared,” are not sufficient. 

Thursday

Objectives: Create company database, Brainstorm economic wants/needs of a target demographic, Discuss ways to satisfy economic wants/needs of a target demographic, Create business model for a virtual organization

Clear Target: We can create a business model

First, we need to create our company directory, which should include columns for name, title, location in the office, email, department, etc.).  If we pass around a sheet of paper and each employee includes as much information as he/she can (I know you won’t have your position yet, so just leave that out for now), one person can enter the information into either a Google Doc, Excel spreadsheet, or Access Table, which can be loaded to Google Drive and shared with the company.  This can be done while our business discussion takes place.

If you’re wondering why we need to have another discussion about which business to operate, I’ll take this opportunity to tell you.  After bouncing our original “Grade Check” idea off our VE Coordinator, I was met with some pushback.  That said, we must go back to the drawing board for a new idea.  I’m confident this group will find a new business model that will ultimately send us to NYC for the National Competition.  I’m not just typing this to pump you guys up.  I’m putting this in writing because I believe this group will do something special in the next couple years.   Remember this blog entry.

Friday

Objectives: Utilize contacts made this summer to create a list of businesses to contact for a year-long partnership, Assign representatives within the company to contact each business, Create script for correspondence with each business

Clear Target: We can apply networking skills to enhance our educational experience

I won’t be in class Friday, but I’ll notify the sub that you will be conducting a staff meeting.  Our CEO will need to oversee the meeting and ensure we remain on task.   We will also need someone to keep minutes (take notes on each idea, who said it, and when it was said). Given that we have little time, I’ll frame the goals of the meeting for you:

1.     Compile list of contacts we made from our CYP visit this summer – I’ll email these to the CEO on Monday and the CEO will assign someone to create a spreadsheet with specific information for each

2.     Determine which contacts would be most helpful and those that would be most willing to help us – this means we’ll have TWO lists

3.     Formulate a script for contacting aforementioned contacts (you might want a different script for different contacts)

4.     Assign representatives to reach out to each contact

5.     PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT ANYONE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN ON MONDAY, 9/8

It is imperative that you are on your best behavior for the sub and remain on task.  Please allow the CEO to run a smooth meeting by respecting one another, speaking only when you have the floor, not carrying on any side conversations, and taking notes on all our ideas.  It’s one thing to say a lot of good things during a meeting, but it’s a completely different thing to actually log all our ideas and create a plan to implement them. 

That’s it for the short week.  While there are no videos and only 1 link to an external form, there still is a lot of work that needs to get done.  I’m confident we’ll make it happen.