I still remember my favorite k-12 teachers and university professors. They’ve all made an impact in certain ways in my life. Some were forgiving, some were unique, some were just straight tough teachers. I also learned a lot from the shit teachers I came across too.
I draw similar parallels to the corporate world where I still remember my best bosses and I certainly also remember the shittiest bosses.
What’s the main takeaway? If I didn’t get to experience the good and the bad I’d have a skewed perspective of what good or bad actually is.
I thought it would be fun to let you read my draft syllabus to get an idea of what these students are walking into next semester as they work with me for 16 weeks.
Mutual Expectations
You are all adults stepping into the real world. I’m going to give you the same respect and courtesy I’d give to a co-founder or colleague. We focus on effort first and outcomes second. If you show a genuine effort, you’ll do fine. Consider this class to be a dress rehearsal for your first full-time job. Whether it be working for yourself or within a larger organization these are skills you’ll take with you. I also do not believe in micromanaging your time. If you don’t get something or don’t agree, speak up. It’s a safe space and there are no bad questions.
You’ll be given a lot of autonomy in the class but that freedom means you need to hold yourself and your partners accountable. There will be no busywork. Everything we do builds up to your final presentation.
Attendance Policy:
2 excused absences without question from me. Life happens, and if you’re sick, or having a bad day, or need a mental health day, I’m all for it. Get your body and mind right. Outside of the presentation days, the other days are meant to be additive but not mission-critical if you miss one.
My expectation is that someone from the class will help get you up to speed. We go further together. All I require is that you shoot me an email stating who helped you get caught up.
Grading:
Just like in the professional world, accountability starts with you and your peers. Students are evaluated based on a variety of activities. Scoring will be a collection of feedback from your co-founders, your classmates, yourself, and me. See below for weighting.
Expectations Regarding Work Outside of Class:
This is a 4-credit course. It is expected that students will spend a minimum of 8 hours of time outside of class per week working on your startup. It should also be noted that students may need to spend more time than this minimum requirement. The course is designed to not make you do busywork, but it does mean that you have full autonomy in terms of how much effort you choose to take in the class. Remember your grade depends on how your teammates view you as well, not just me. Mailing it in is easy to spot.
Experiential Learning
You will be spending a significant amount of time in between each of the class periods outside of class talking to potential customers. Each week your team will conduct a minimum number of customer interviews focused on different parts of the business model canvas. This class is a partial simulation of what startups and entrepreneurship are like in the real world: ambiguity, uncertainty, short deadlines, perceptions of insufficient time, conflicting input, etc.
One of the most powerful tools you have as a student is your .edu email address. It gives you unrivaled access to people’s time in the professional world. Cold reachouts as a student go a long way, so use this time to dive deep into networking as it pertains to your capstone.
Peer-to-Peer Comments
While other teams are presenting the rest of the class is expected to attentively listen, engage, and react to what they see and hear. Sharing insights, experiences, and contacts with each other is a key way that this unique interactive class achieves results.
Class Culture
We operate with mutual respect across the board. We help one another. We grow together.
Your biggest challenge will be pushing yourself further at the end of your undergrad career.
Startups communicate in a dramatically different style from a university or the large company culture you may be familiar with. Being direct and challenging assumptions/decisions is the reality; individuals in a start-up need to be focused and action-oriented in the atmosphere of urgency because it is often a cash-constrained environment. To that end, the classroom will be modeled as a start-up environment - we (the instructors and the class) will push, challenge, and question you in the hope you will quickly learn. We will be direct, open, and tough – just like the real world. This approach may seem harsh or abrupt, but it is all part of our wanting you to learn to challenge yourselves, act quickly and objectively, and to appreciate that as entrepreneurs you need to learn and evolve fast, maybe even faster than you ever imagined possible.
OPTIONAL: Books to read if you’re interested in learning more. No one should be forced to learn if they aren’t interested in learning more. The course itself will push you to learn on its own. Here is the water, do you want to drink? Information is for you to absorb, analyze and take what is helpful to you.
Play Bigger - Authors: Dave Peterson, Al Ramadan, Christopher Lochhead, Kevin Maney
The Messy Middle - Author: Scott Belsky
Startup Nation - Authors: Saul Singer, Dan Senor
The Mom Test - Author: Rob Fitzpatrick
Thinking in Bets - Author: Annie Duke
Never Lose a Customer Again - Author: Joseph John Coleman
Hooked - Author: Nir Eyal
To Sell is Human - Author: Daniel Pink
Lost and Founder - Author: Rand Fishkin
Delivering Happiness - Author: Tony Hsieh
So, what do you think? Would you hate my class based on what you’ve read? Excited? Terrified?
If you have any feedback let me know, this is my first go, so I’m like a sponge when it comes to suggestions.
Same time next week?
You’ve made it this far on my word vomit newsletter? I appreciate you! I’ll be back next week with the next edition of the most random newsletter on the internet.
If you like the content, share it with someone else you think might enjoy it and if you haven’t subscribed yet, would really appreciate that as well!
Much love to you all,
~Adam