Creating a Life, Career & Passion for Entrepreneurship
Your life and
career are not a
ladder….
They are the sum
of your knowledge,
passions, skills and
networks.
John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
New Life and Career Model
Pyramid Foundation = Stability
Ladders are Unstable
What do you want your
life to represent, your
greatest values
What do you know?
What have you learned –
this year, in total
Who do your
purpose and
passion connect you
to = your network
What are your enduring
passions?
What do you know how
to do? What have you
added this year?
John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
As it Applies to Me Entrepreneur
 Previous ASU Student Leader / Search
Committee for ASU President
 Member of Parliament Intern in UK –
student loan reform
 Law School = No / student teaching =
No /
 Volunteered & hired by ASU Alumni
Association
 Move to Boston for Wife’s Career – No
Business School Acceptance (problem of
not sharing my goals)
 Sold myself as an expert to Affinity
Credit Card companies – MBNA / First
USA
 Accepted and Enrolled at Harvard
Business School –
 Started first business 1999 (age 31)
 Business acquired by JP Morgan / Chase
in 2006
 Business acquired by MTV in 2006
 Started 3rd
business in 2007 – closed
quickly
 Started 4th
business in 2009
College / Early Career
Knowledge Skills
Purpose Driven
John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
– Who are you
around?
– What are they
doing to you?
– Is that OK?
– Questions from
Jim Rohn.
Who are You Becoming
Your friends make you – so choose them wisely
- John McCallion (My Grandfather)
John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
Entrepreneurs Change the World
“If I’d asked
my customers
what they
wanted, they’d
have said a
faster horse.”
-Henry Ford
EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship
Everyone can be entrepreneurial – but not everyone should start a business
John T. Fees - @johntfees / 2016
Largest Problems Are the Largest OpportunitiesLargest Problems Are the Largest Opportunities
John T. Fees - @johntfees / 2016
Mission Driven Ventures What Problems Interest You
• Iwalk (limb replacement /
disability)
• The Kahn Academy (math)
• Nova Cure (Cancer)
• Iora Health (new primary
care)
• Zappos (shoes)
• Warby Parker (eye glasses)
• TerraPower (nuclear energy)
• Availability of Energy
• Affordable Health Care
• Availability of Clean Water
• Affordable food / Hunger
• Infectious Disease
• Climate Change
Entrepreneur action is essential to
addressing the worlds problems
– Read books
– Try new things
– Volunteer for
growth
– Internships
– Clubs
– Start-something
– Improve-something
– Take chances
Finding Your PassionFinding Your Passion
John T. Fees - @johntfees / 2016
Careers & Coaches
“There are always those who know how working for those who know why -
through history you understand why?
– Success comes from knowing why
– Failure often comes from not knowing how”
• Sam Fees (DAD)
John T. Fees - @johntfees / 2016
New Life and Career Model
Build your Pyramid
What do you want your
life to represent, your
greatest values, your
purpose?
What do you know?
What have you learned –
this year, in total
Who do your
purpose and
passion connect you
to = your network
What are your enduring
passions?
What do you know how
to do? What have you
added this year?
Knowledge Skills
John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
• You are more than your “day”
job.
• Don’t let your identity become
just your job.
• Find a mentor or 3!
• Look for opportunities
– Volunteer for growth
– Moonlight, start-up, explore
– Attend conferences
– Take chances
Tips to Finding Your Passion & PurposeTips to Finding Your Passion & Purpose
Not just a job, but a passion portfolio
John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
• Prioritize your passion(s)
• Network to find your passion(s)
• Follow your curiosities—
informational interviews,
volunteering
• Seek mentors
• Network with your passion(s)
• Easy to do through LinkedIn
• Volunteer – try things
• Integrate your passions into your
life/career
• Develop skills, experiences,
resume deliverables
EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship
• Mindset
• Everyone can be entrepreneurial – but not everyone
should start a business
• Moral compass required
• Do what you love, the money will follow
• Ideas alone are not sufficient, the ability to attract
and lead talented people to execute on your vision is
vital to being a successful entrepreneur
• Small businesses are great / but high potential
ventures are best
• Choose growth markets
John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
Must Reads
• First Discover Your Strengths – Buckingham
• What I wish I knew when I was 20 - Selig
• The Purple Cow – Seth Godin
• Discover your Career in Business - T. Butler
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Covey
• Ship of Gold – Binder a story of passion /
entrepreneurship
Also – Twitter Topics / Individuals
- @johntfees
John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
New Life and Career Model
Build your Pyramid
What do you want your
life to represent, your
greatest values, your
purpose?
What do you know?
What have you learned –
this year, in total
Who do your
purpose and
passion connect you
to = your network
What are your enduring
passions?
What do you know how
to do? What have you
added this year?
Knowledge Skills
John T. Fees - @johntfees / 2016
It’s Your Life – Live it - & Remember: No Whining
John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
Study History
PASSION MISSION
PROFESSION VOCATION
PURPOSE

Life, careers and entrepreneurship by John Fees

  • 2.
    Creating a Life,Career & Passion for Entrepreneurship Your life and career are not a ladder…. They are the sum of your knowledge, passions, skills and networks. John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
  • 3.
    New Life andCareer Model Pyramid Foundation = Stability Ladders are Unstable What do you want your life to represent, your greatest values What do you know? What have you learned – this year, in total Who do your purpose and passion connect you to = your network What are your enduring passions? What do you know how to do? What have you added this year? John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
  • 4.
    As it Appliesto Me Entrepreneur  Previous ASU Student Leader / Search Committee for ASU President  Member of Parliament Intern in UK – student loan reform  Law School = No / student teaching = No /  Volunteered & hired by ASU Alumni Association  Move to Boston for Wife’s Career – No Business School Acceptance (problem of not sharing my goals)  Sold myself as an expert to Affinity Credit Card companies – MBNA / First USA  Accepted and Enrolled at Harvard Business School –  Started first business 1999 (age 31)  Business acquired by JP Morgan / Chase in 2006  Business acquired by MTV in 2006  Started 3rd business in 2007 – closed quickly  Started 4th business in 2009 College / Early Career Knowledge Skills Purpose Driven John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
  • 5.
    – Who areyou around? – What are they doing to you? – Is that OK? – Questions from Jim Rohn. Who are You Becoming Your friends make you – so choose them wisely - John McCallion (My Grandfather) John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016 You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
  • 6.
    John T. Fees- @johntfees / - 2016 Entrepreneurs Change the World “If I’d asked my customers what they wanted, they’d have said a faster horse.” -Henry Ford
  • 7.
    EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship Everyone can beentrepreneurial – but not everyone should start a business John T. Fees - @johntfees / 2016
  • 8.
    Largest Problems Arethe Largest OpportunitiesLargest Problems Are the Largest Opportunities John T. Fees - @johntfees / 2016 Mission Driven Ventures What Problems Interest You • Iwalk (limb replacement / disability) • The Kahn Academy (math) • Nova Cure (Cancer) • Iora Health (new primary care) • Zappos (shoes) • Warby Parker (eye glasses) • TerraPower (nuclear energy) • Availability of Energy • Affordable Health Care • Availability of Clean Water • Affordable food / Hunger • Infectious Disease • Climate Change Entrepreneur action is essential to addressing the worlds problems
  • 9.
    – Read books –Try new things – Volunteer for growth – Internships – Clubs – Start-something – Improve-something – Take chances Finding Your PassionFinding Your Passion John T. Fees - @johntfees / 2016
  • 10.
    Careers & Coaches “Thereare always those who know how working for those who know why - through history you understand why? – Success comes from knowing why – Failure often comes from not knowing how” • Sam Fees (DAD) John T. Fees - @johntfees / 2016
  • 11.
    New Life andCareer Model Build your Pyramid What do you want your life to represent, your greatest values, your purpose? What do you know? What have you learned – this year, in total Who do your purpose and passion connect you to = your network What are your enduring passions? What do you know how to do? What have you added this year? Knowledge Skills John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
  • 12.
    • You aremore than your “day” job. • Don’t let your identity become just your job. • Find a mentor or 3! • Look for opportunities – Volunteer for growth – Moonlight, start-up, explore – Attend conferences – Take chances Tips to Finding Your Passion & PurposeTips to Finding Your Passion & Purpose Not just a job, but a passion portfolio John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016 • Prioritize your passion(s) • Network to find your passion(s) • Follow your curiosities— informational interviews, volunteering • Seek mentors • Network with your passion(s) • Easy to do through LinkedIn • Volunteer – try things • Integrate your passions into your life/career • Develop skills, experiences, resume deliverables
  • 13.
    EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship • Mindset • Everyonecan be entrepreneurial – but not everyone should start a business • Moral compass required • Do what you love, the money will follow • Ideas alone are not sufficient, the ability to attract and lead talented people to execute on your vision is vital to being a successful entrepreneur • Small businesses are great / but high potential ventures are best • Choose growth markets John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
  • 14.
    Must Reads • FirstDiscover Your Strengths – Buckingham • What I wish I knew when I was 20 - Selig • The Purple Cow – Seth Godin • Discover your Career in Business - T. Butler • 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Covey • Ship of Gold – Binder a story of passion / entrepreneurship Also – Twitter Topics / Individuals - @johntfees John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
  • 15.
    New Life andCareer Model Build your Pyramid What do you want your life to represent, your greatest values, your purpose? What do you know? What have you learned – this year, in total Who do your purpose and passion connect you to = your network What are your enduring passions? What do you know how to do? What have you added this year? Knowledge Skills John T. Fees - @johntfees / 2016
  • 16.
    It’s Your Life– Live it - & Remember: No Whining John T. Fees - @johntfees / - 2016
  • 17.
  • 18.

Editor's Notes

  • #11 XXX - one of the great minds in marketing and the archetect of American Express’s Membership Has its Rewards - told me that all great marketing is about telling a story. I am not a particularly good story teller - but I think our careers are not our lives, but they do fill many chapters of our life’s story