Life Lessons from Hult How to be the Richest Person in America

One of the best things about the Boston campus is that it’s so close to New York City. However, this can also be frustrating – the long hours of the MBA program often leave little time to visit. I had my first chance last December. Flashback to December 2013†¦ I’m riding the first bus I found available, and feel very grateful that I’ll be able spend the four days off before finals in New York City. I spent all of last night preparing a final presentation, so I’ve been asleep for most of the trip. When I wake up we are already in the city, but at least half an hour away from the terminal, thanks to traffic. This means I’m half an hour away from setting foot in the Big Apple. It’s no secret that some of the greatest success stories are linked to this city. I find one of them especially inspiring, and I know it thanks to one of my first lessons at Hult. The story comes back to me as we edge our way in the city: It was the second lesson of our Individual Skills Course, in September. Professor Sheen Levine was conducting the session. He is a graduate from The Wharton School, a world-class academic and an expert in management theory. I felt very good that Hult would offer us a teacher of this caliber. I expected to get valuable insights from him that day. But I confess I did not expect the lesson I was about to receive to be so powerful, influential and inspiring. Professor Levine introduced us to Mr. John Jacob Astor. He was an American businessman, originally from Germany. The son of a butcher, he arrived in the U.S. in 1784, not long after it became an independent country. After establishing a small fur goods shop in New York City, expanding his business to China and bringing the profits back to New York to buy real estate, he became the first multi-millionaire in the United States. His fortune, expressed in today’s dollars, was more than a hundred billion dollars. After reading a business case and writing an essay about Astor, it was time for the class to analyze the root causes of his success. Participation was being graded, so hands were flying up the air all the time. Here is some of what was discussed: â€Å"Astor was successful because he started a business in New York when the markets were still developing – said one student.† Professor Levine, with a smile: â€Å"So this case is not relevant today then? It only applies to the 1800s?† â€Å"I think a big part of it was that Astor knew the President of the United States and that helped his business† – said another classmate. Professor Levine: â€Å"But why was he important enough to be acquainted with the President? I’d love to be friends with the President. â€Å"I call him all the time. He never calls me back, so what should I do?† My classmates laughed. We continued suggesting explanations: his relations, his business skill, his wise decision to withdraw from China just before the fur business in that country collapsed, and many others. No one seemed to get to the conclusions he was looking for. Yet, our professor still encouraged us. â€Å"Come on, we could have the formula of success right here. Do you think there is one?† – he asked. After hearing no answers he said: â€Å"Actually, there is. Otherwise, you should ask for you tuition back.† Finally, he gave us what he considered the keys of success, all derived from the case. It was a set of few but very powerful guidelines, easy to remember and perfectly applicable today. The most important one: be constantly on the lookout for new opportunities. I won’t reveal the rest here, because I don’t want to ruin the experience for you. But his last words about the case impressed me deeply: â€Å"There are many fascinating things about the Astor case. He was an immigrant. He didn’t have high education. He was the son of a butcher, no connections. His English was not even that good. Still, it proves that following these guidelines you’ll increase your odds of becoming the richest man (or woman) in America.† Talk about a motivational speech. Back to my bus ride†¦ After the bus arrives, I exit the 42nd Street Terminal. New York is in full Christmas attire, the nearby stores are bustling with shoppers, and the bright lights of Times Square greet me from above. This city is truly a place of beauty, dreams and opportunity. I have an appointment with a friend in 30 minutes. I take the subway and ride down the Lexington Avenue Line. Next, I get off at the Astor Place station. Before leaving, I see plaques of beavers located on the walls. I also see a beautiful young lady staring at them. I smile and wonder if I can use a tip Professor Levine gave us that day. â€Å"They say it’s hard to impress a New Yorker. But I’ll tell you something about those plaques. There aren’t any beavers in the original NYC area. They only exist in the plaques that honor Astor, who made his fortune in the beaver-pelt trade. If you tell this to a New Yorker, you’ll certainly impress her.† What I learned at Hult that day, my future fellow alumni, is a story that made history. And it might sound pretentious, but I think most Hult students can relate to the Astor case in many ways. Most of us are also immigrants, and many of us didn’t have spectacular connections or graduate education before starting our programs. But thanks to Hult, apart from the graduate education, we are getting very valuable lessons in life and business that can help us overcome those initial disadvantages and, maybe, make history someday. John Jacob Astor succeeded. Why can’t we? After all, unlike him, we have a head start: the advantage of being students at Hult International Business School. Any of our campuses are perfect places to find and seize the opportunities that can make us successful. Edgardo Macias is a Hult Global Ambassador. He is an MBA student at Hult Boston, a finance professional, and an amateur musician with a great passion for math, teaching and intellectual discussion. Image courtesy of Tony Fischer. Make the most of what your career has to offer with a Masters in International Business from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Experiential learning at Hult: bringing lessons to life, or give your employability a huge boost with an MBA in international business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to explore everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .