Blog 2

I am retyping this blog due to the fact that I wrote mine just after the last mentor meeting as I thought that I was supposed to but the questions had not yet been posted. I had assumed that by this point we should be able to write on our own and I apologize for the inconvenience. I have learned from my mentor that you must be assertive yet respectable when talking to members of the business community. In order to communicate effectively one must establish that they know what they want while still being respectful of their peers or bosses. The second thing that we have learned from our mentor about business communication is that first impressions count. On first impression, not only does a professional size you up based on appearance but also on demeanor and diction. I have learned about being involved in a profession in which communication with customers is imparitive. My mentor has not yet mentioned any specific jobs that I would necessarily pursue, though he has told us about his and I know that I can communicate effectively thus I would be successful in any field related to that. Well the next question I have already experienced, and I did not get into any scary situations relating to being robbed or hurt on Mardi Gras. I did get to experience the parades and a crawfish boil, so I can now check those off of my list. I definitely now know why Mardi Gras is important to New Orleans, and that is because it brings the whole city together regardless of ethnicity, social class, or profession. That closeness of the community makes Mardi Gras an extremely important part of New Orleans Katrina recovery effort also. I personally loved the holiday and am counting the days until next year!

Mentor Meeting 2

In our second Mentor Meeting of the semester there was a whole lot to catch up on. The group and I met our mentor, Mr.Neunhaus, at a restaurant called Copeland's to discuss the current business issues at hand in the world today. The dinner consisted of a whole slew of appetizers and some riveting conversation on issues with the economy and what is being done, political standings and their influence on the economic position of the United States, what each of us planned on doing in our future, and some good old catching up of course. Since the last time we met with our mentors a lot had changed and to be able to discuss not only the business issues at hand with the world but also to be able to relate to our mentor about our lives was a much appreciated oppurtunity. This semester has started out wonderfully and I look forward to more meetings and meaningful insight from our mentors in the near future.

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Mentor Networking Event

Hello everyone, glad to be back in action with the new year and spring semester ahead of us! On Thursday January 15 we all attended the Mentor Networking Event where we were basically tested to see if we were socially adept enough to even keep our heads above water in a business setting. Stressing the importance of dressing professionally, each of the students in our class had to attempt to obtain at least five different business cards from the assorted business men and women that were gracious enough to participate in the event. Growing up in the south I already knew the significance of a firm handshake and looking your acquaintances square in the eye while introducing yourself with your full name, though some students did not. I personally met with professors, a financial adviser, and a slew of other professionals from the New Orleans area. I felt that the event was good because it forced us to dive head first into what we are soon to see upon graduating and jumping into a real business setting. All of the men and women who I met seemed extremely happy to be helping in the sculpting of our soon to be business-like states of mind. It was empowering being able to talk to successful members of the community not necessarily as young adults but as men and women following the same path that they were on only years and decades ago. I personally had a wonderful time and appreciated being given the opportunity to attempt and thrive in a real professional environment, and I think that I did a good job at doing holding my own with people clearly far ahead of where I am financially and professionally. All in all it was a good time and I hope everyone else appreciated the event as much as I did.