How to Think Like a CEO

One of the books I’ve been reading is How to Think Like a CEO. This is by D.A. Benton. It gives the reader a great amount of advice, talking about how to move up in your company quickly and efficiently, using little-known techniques that can really make a difference. Right now, you’re probably thinking, “isn’t this kid like 14 or 15?” True, I haven’t really started a job yet. But when I start my career after I’m finished college, I want to make sure I do a good job. And when it’s hard for young people without experience to get a job, you can see why it’s extra important.

The book is divided into 11 chapters, and they touch on everything in order for the reader to try and become more successful.  They cover anything from when to go outside your boundaries to the many obstacles you will have in order to become highly ranked. Along with a lot of great advice from the author, there are many top CEO’s that give their input to this book. These can include Rick Holley, Alex Mandl, and many more. I learned that being a CEO isn’t really what I thought it was. Obviously, I knew there would be work involved but I didn’t think that there would be THIS much. I didn’t know that some CEO’s were the lowest paid employees of their entire company.

Either way, this book showed me a lot. I recommend it to anyone that would want to go into the business industry like me, or just someone that has been having trouble being recognized in their company.

My Greatest Obstacle Yet

If you know me, you know that I really like to play sports. Whatever it may be, from skiing to football, I’m your guy. I try hard at sports (sometimes harder than I do in school). I get extremely competitive… even in P.E. My motto- if you aren’t first, you’re last. I have a hard time getting over losses, whether it is with people, sports, or anything of that matter. The one sport that I am most competitive at and love the most is basketball. This is where the story begins…

It has been my life goal to get a scholarship to a Division I college and play NCAA basketball. I can picture myself playing for UCLA and doing great on and off the court. Back in California, I loved playing on multiple teams. My day: School, practice, game, sleep. Life seemed good. I put in the work because I enjoyed it. As I got older, I enjoyed it much more, playing in all-state tournaments and more. Then, I found out that I was moving to Caracas, Venezuela. What bugs me? Read on.

California State Games, one of the tournaments I played in.

I hoped to come to my school playing with guys a lot better than me, maybe some 6 foot 5 guys who could teach me a thing or two. Or a top coach who could whip me into top shape. Coming from a league called AAU, I knew it would possibly be a step down in abilities. I didn’t know it would be this big of a drop!

 I was expecting a tryout of 50-60 kids. I then found out there weren’t even 50 kids in my GRADE (to show you how much of a surprise this was for me, let me put it this way- if I was in my HS in Cal, there would have been 2,000 freshmen). Instead, I am playing on a 10 person squad. 11 tried out. I was being coached by my Social Studies teacher, and instead of playing in a tournament each weekend like I did in California, we play in one tournament the entire season. I was, and still am, angry about the lack of intensity sports are at my school. I know a lot of people that would give up on basketball if they were in the same position as me: A player who goes from an all-out intensive league to a little play team with no competition. But I try not to let these things stop me, or even slow me down. I still work out a lot by myself, watch tape, and practice year-round. I know my former teammates back in California are getting supreme coaching (one coached by a former NBA head coach) and opportunity in comparison to me.

I call these things obstacles. Sure, I don’t have the greatest opportunity of making it to the collegiate level, which as mentioned, was my goal. Sure, I wish I was back home. But hey, isn’t life all about overcoming obstacles? Isn’t there achievement in that itself? Well, ladies and gentlemen, I won’t give up. That is my next obstacle for me to get around. Don’t forget. Because as I say, if you aren’t first, you’re LAST.

Squallywood Anyone?

Throughout the world, people ski. Some do it more than others, some do it as a Christmas activity while others do it for a living. If you have ever touched a pair of skis, THE place to take those bad boys is Squaw Valley USA in Lake Tahoe, California. Squaw, as many call it, is the hotspot for extreme skiing. If you want 100 foot cliffs or intense powder skiing, Squallywood is the place for you.

                                                                Overlooking Lake Tahoe

Johnny Mosely, Olympian medalist, hails from here. Many other professional skiers call Squaw Valley home. There is a wooden bear in the village that has engraved on it the 47 Olympians that are from here.  In fact, many members of the youth ski team go on to get ski scholarships and some make it professional. After being a former member of the freestyle team, I can tell you that this is not a surprise. Many of the 16-17 year olds seem like they are destined for the Olympics, with their run of 360 arials to backflips off cliffs. KT-22, one of the peaks in Squaw Valley, has been called the best run in the western hemisphere. With the only funitel (large gondola) in North America, 4,000 acres of shredding material, and more than 30 chairlifts, you can see why Squallywood is an A-List ski destination. Take that Colorado. Does Aspen or Vail have a hot tub area 2,000 feet above the base? A run that’s almost 4 miles? I didn’t think so, but Squaw sure does.

                                                                KT-22. This looks delicious...                                                                                

It wasn’t always like this. More than 60 years ago, a man named Alex Cushing started this ski resort with just 1 pull chairlift. It quickly progressed into a popular skiing area for the competitive skiers, and by 1960 it held the Winter Olympics. Ever since, the staff at Squaw makes sure to improve each year. With a mix of anything from intense terrain parks to narrow chutes, Squaw Valley makes itself much more than just another ski area.

                                             Don't be surprised to see this after a "good" day of skiing

Although you probably think of Squaw as some death toll area right now, don’t worry. You probably won’t die like  X-Games gold medalist C.R. Johnson did in the cliffs of Squaw  a few months ago. Ok, that was a bad idea saying that. You won’t die here, as there is plenty of beginner and intermediate terrain. There is an Ice Rink on top of the mountain, and surrounding that is a good amount of Green and Blue runs. So bring the family and have a great time, no matter if you are renting a pair of skis for the weekend or trying to make it to the big show.

                                      Squaw and it's night skiing. Have you bought your tickets yet?