Lily Brown

When I entered the second semester of my senior year, I felt quite lost. I was on the heels of over 50 job rejection letters while watching everyone around me score great jobs. Reading Visualize Strategize Execute helped me to get on track with my job search and score the position of my dreams. I have also taken several lessons from VSE and utilized them in my daily life. One of the most important things that I learned was the importance of visualization. Prior to this class I was applying to all kinds of jobs.

Once I started this class I was forced to step back and consider what position I would be happy doing and really visualizing what I wanted. This helped me to develop a more targeted approach to the job hunt. This task also helped me to develop a clear personal brand that I was able to convey to employers. The strategize section of the book helped me to strategize how I would get the job, including brushing up on my interview skills and improving my resume. Once I got to the execute step, I felt extremely prepared thanks to the work that I had done in the previous two steps. There are other smaller sections of the book that I have been utilizing including networking, the practicality of a business plan, and tips on building a great team. I have no doubt that I will continue to utilize all of the lessons presented in VSE as I move forward and begin my career.

John Rounds

Visualize, Strategize, Execute; the most valuable resource that I have seen and used in my academic career. Before using the system, I honestly thought “What is it going to teach me?” However, after using the system, reading the student testimonials, and seeing it in action with US Navy SEALs, I was convinced it would work for me. After implementing the three simple words of visualize, strategize, execute into my daily routine I have experienced a drastic improvement in my productivity and willingness to learn. Before using this system, I would procrastinate as much as possible. I would do homework for a class an hour before entering class or begin doing my homework at nine to ten o’clock at night. In turn, doing this, my grades were subpar at best, my comprehension of the material pitiful.

Using the system, I have learned not to procrastinate. I have developed a process to complete my homework. I begin by gathering all the due dates of the of assignments and put them in my planner to visualize the workload. Then I begin to picture myself in the library writing a paper, doing homework, or studying for an upcoming exam. For example, before writing this essay, I visualized myself writing each paragraph, my fingers moving along the keyboard, and my outline sitting next to me that I am using as a reference. Next, in the process, I strategically plan when I will begin, work on, and finish the assignment.

The rough guidelines that I use include; begin the planning process about two weeks before the assignment is due, a week before the due date the assignment should be started and about a third to halfway complete, and then two days before the due date it should be complete. The two remaining days are used to reflect and make necessary corrections.

The final aspect of VSE, execute, is the most valuable aspect of the system. Executing is the most important of completing a task; without it, it just becomes a dream. When beginning to execute a task, I close all browser tabs and all distractions in the computer background. Thus, eliminating all distractions, and forcing myself to focus on the task at hand solely. I have implemented this into my everyday life, it has led to improved scored on homework, retention of the knowledge, and the reduced amount of time I spend doing tasks. I am forever grateful for having the opportunity to learn about VSE and have the ability to use it in my everday life. I plan on using this system for anything I choose to do, and I want to spread this wisdom to others around me to help them reach their full potential.

Natasha Brown-Joel

Here at The University of Iowa, I think it’s easy to fall into the typical party lifestyle. I personally don’t feel that life after college is talked about enough, and this class gave me more tools on life outside of school than any others I have taken. Hearing from past students that took this class and the paths they have taken to get there, was insightful to see that it’s not as straightforward as getting a degree and a desk job and that’s about it, but rather that a college degree is a key into options. I don’t even want to stay in the States after I graduate, but having the option to work in a field that I am interested in, isn’t a task, but a privilege.

There are billions of people on the earth and the fact that I am privileged enough to be able to attain an education is something I want to keep reminding myself for the rest of my life. I want to work on business projects with people that motivate and inspire me to do my best, driving in my eco-friendly Mercedes, windows down, music blasting. But it’s not the money anymore that I want, that’s just a plus.

If you asked me now about my dream life, I would tell you I want happiness and success, not a set amount of money. You can have all the money in the world and not be happy, and I want to be able to look back on my life with contentment that I did my best to make my dreams come true, treated people right, looked out for the earth, and spent it with the people I love the most. The tangible things are really just an added bonus.

Tycho Falk

Switching gears, I have really found preparing my mind with silence to be helpful to me. As someone who struggles with anxiety, all of the stress and sounds from a day can take a toll mentally. To help with this, taking inspiration from the Way of the Seal, I have begun to meditate and practice deep breathing.

At the end of every day, I take at least 10 minutes to sit upright in complete darkness before bed and concentrate on my breathing. When I do this, it gives me a sensation of that I am flushing or pushing all of the negativity and stress out of my system. It has really allowed me to sleep better, wake up with less anxiety, and be able to get more done during the day.

Rebecca Schwartzenburg

A few weeks after the interview with the company, I received an offer for a summer internship with a probability of full-time employment after graduation. I credit 15% to my engineering education, 40% to my leadership certificate, and 45% of this success to Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

Without this class, I would not have had a clear personal brand to identify myself, nor made the effort to step out of my comfort zone at IDEAstorm, nor a plan to publish an app showing my active ambitions. Because over half the time in each of my interviews was spent discussing what I have learned from this class, I can confidently say I landed my dream position working as a liaison between the technical and business departments with AIG thanks to Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

Nick Dolphin

I was a little pessimistic when first starting the semester and was overall unsure about how this class was going to go. Now, at the end of the semester I’m wondering why I thought those things at all. During this course I have learned things that interested me that I had no clue about. It sparked a drive I wasn’t even looking for. Looking back at everything this class has taught me I wonder how my future would look so different if I didn’t take this class.

From everything like the SEALs determination and focus, to how to develop a business plan has opened a great deal of knowledge for the future that I am so optimistic about. I firmly believe the information I was taught in this class will benefit me in my future endeavors and also my future line of work. I have started putting myself in uncomfortable situations and being more open which I can already say has helped me grow as a person.

Mackenzie Simonsen

I am getting better at doing well in my classes. I show up more, I do more of the coursework, and I prepare more for quizzes, exams, and presentations. A big part of this revelation came from the first week. The teacher explained if you want an A, you come to class, do the readings, and do the work. I sat there thinking, “it’s that simple.” I had always imagined A’s in college to be unattainable, college is supposed to be too hard to get an A, so I never tried for one. Joe made me realize I want A’s, and it is a pretty simple process to go get them. Make the effort. Because of this mindset, I go to more of my classes, I try harder, and my GPA is going up!

Shay Shafer

This class more than anything helped me build confidence in my own skills. It helped me take a dream I never actually entertained as a realistic possibility and turned it into a plan I could reasonable pursue.

In this class, I made connections and did more than I would have thought possible before enrolling. It helped me truly think about who I am, who I want to become, and how to get there, which I think is one of the most valuable lessons any person can learn. I’m so excited to continue learning.