So you might be asking yourself, what is this LinkedIn thing and why would I ever want to join another social networking website? The real question is why have you not join LinkedIn?

Linkedin is a professional network unlike sites such as Facebook and MySpace whose sole purpose is to connect friends and acquittance's to share photos and experiences. LinkedIn on the other hand is also designed to bring people together but for a much more meaningful purpose. That purpose, networking. LinkedIn allows you to upload your resume, join groups, contact old associates and current ones, classmates and others for the purpose to building a "professional network". This network can become your holy grail of contacts as you work to build it bigger and bigger over the years.

In addition, one great feature is that you can have former employers, co-workers, friends and professors recommend you. Think about it this way, when you are being considered for a new job, your future employer will turn to google.com to learn a little more then maybe was presented in the interview. What would you like them to see, your Facebook page and the stupid and meaningless rants you have posted and pictures of you doing something dumb or a well polished individual with great recommendations and work experience?

I think you know the answer. There are a million other reason to join LinkedIn if you haven't already. If you have, it is a great time to go and update your page. Use LinkedIn for what it is worth, finding the people who mean the most to you and networking with them. Trust me, this is one site you want to join!

Eric Ries was one of those fresh-faced tech geniuses of the late 1990s who'd spent his adolescence as an expert computer programmer and his years at Yale University developing his own well-funded dot com. If anyone was poised for startup success it was this guy.

But unlike the Sergey Brins of the world, Ries didn't reap millions. His company folded with the crash of 2000, leaving him buffeted by the dispiriting aftermath of the dot com bust. Ries was a fast-learner, though, and after a few years of missteps, he came up with his own startup theory, a strategy that eventually helped him earn his fortune and even more impressive, help launch a new entrepreneurial movement. To Read more Click here.

Yesterday we had the great privilege of having one of the most successful entrepreneurs' and philanthropists in the world visit our campus. Jon M. Huntsman is a man of great ability and integrity. As he spoke to the students that Newel K. Whitney Business Summit, all where touched by his love of the Lord and his passion for life. He spoke mostly about us becoming responsible citizens and students and never relenting on our moral and ethical duties. His talk entitled "Personal values determine our success in Business" was a message of optimism is a time when such an attribute is hard to find. He began his talk by giving this admonition "God did not put us here to fail, have faith in yourself, believe in what you are doing and be a person of integrity. It is up to you how your life evolves." Elder Huntsman also spoke about the inevitability of trails and the ever increasing need for sacrifice. He said "Difficulty is the one excuses that history never forgets" but called for our hard work and sacrifice never loosing hope and faith in the Lord no matter the obstacles that we face. 


Elder Huntsman has also been recognized for his philanthropic work throughout the world. more specifically, he has been revered as one of the most generous individuals in the world. His goal and motivation in life is "cancer". Elder Huntsman is a four time survivor of cancer, he watched his mother die in his arms from cancer and he father also passed away from cancer. He have raised billions of dollars for cancer research. The Huntsman Cancer Foundation is leading the way in the fight to cure cancer. This is his real life's work. 


Elder Huntsman was asked in the Q&A session, he was asked what we can do to show our appreciation to those we admire and his response I believe was profound. He said, although i am paraphrasing, "To live a life of integrity is the highest honor we can give to those we admire." 

Today was a great day for the CEO organization. We held our Tri-annual elevator pitch competition. In all, 11 people competed for the $$ up for grabs. I first thought, entrepreneurship is hard at work at BYU Idaho. There were great ideas ranging from every kind of product and service.

For those of you who might be wondering, what is an elevator pitch competition, I will tell you. The idea behind an elevator pitch is as though you entered an elevator and there just happened to be a successful entrepreneur in the elevator with you. As a result, you take the 10-15 floors, up or down (I hope 'up' for your sake), to explain the ingenious and innovative idea that you have come up with and try, in that 90 second pitch, to have them buy into what you are trying to do, resulting in a huge wad of cash being dumped into your lap! But really, instead of being in a elevator, you are in a room with a number of judges who tend to be finance guys or gals who then rate your presentation and if they like it, they award you money. It is a pretty awesome.

Competing at a school level is less dramatic but still a great learning experience. Additionally, if you do win, it will probably be the easiest $100 you ever earned for 90 sec of work.

So now you are sitting there thinking, well why didn't I participate? Well, really we are wondering the same thing! But you are in luck, each semester these competitions are held and prices are awarded. So, prepare now and come February 2011, you will be prepared!