Northwestern Mutual Interview with Greg Lindsay

What is the Law of Averages?? It is the principle that supposes most future events are likely to balance any past deviation from a presumed average. Put more simply, it’s a particular outcome or event that will occur over certain periods of time at a frequency that is similar to its probability. Okay, this might still be confusing! In this episode, Dan, Matt, and Madeline discuss the Law of Averages and apply it in two ways. One way is with work and becoming successful, meaning the more opportunities you give yourself to succeed, the more times you WILL succeed. The other way we can look at the Law of Averages is through self-auditing. This is basically checking on who you are letting into your life and making changes according to you future goals. This can be done with the following questions: Who do you surround yourself with every day? Are they a good influence on you? What do you want to do with your life? Are they who you want to be or after the same thing? Are they helping you toward your goals?

What will college be like in the fall of 2020? I’m sure, if this applies to you, you have already received tons of emails on the subject. But what does it all mean? Some students are going back to “in-person” class, others are all online, and some have a mix of both. But it’s not just the classes that are online, the entire college experience is now being digitalized. It might be harder to make new friends and keep in touch with old ones, and to have a fun time on campus. In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of online college, tuition rates, and how college can be changed to a more highly focused education. Hot Take from Dan and Matt: If you are an incoming freshman, don’t waste your money on an all online school. Instead go to community college until things are back to normal.

What is the Compound Effect? First of all, it’s an amazing book written by Darren Hardy. He goes through the process of how anyone can be successful by pushing themselves everyday. The Compound Effect is when you reap enormous benefits from small activities over time. This means that if you can complete just one more task towards your goal every day, you will start to see great results! If you continue doing the same thing, it is less likely you will be as successful. Remaining stagnant, you might as well be taking steps backward. The best way to do this is to create a power list. Create goals for your day that will move you one step forward. Ask yourself how you win each day and do it! it could be as simple as make 10 sales calls a day, read 10 pages a day, or apply to 10 jobs a day. The $1000 Resume Challenge Speaking of jobs… in this episode, we have posed a new challenge for our listeners. We have guaranteed a job to anyone who applies to 1000 jobs. Wow! Sounds like a lot doesn’t it. It’s not! All you have to do is apply for 11 jobs per day, for 90 days. This could be sending a resume to an employer directly, applying on LinkedIn, or any other application platform. The catch: apply for jobs you qualify! Take screenshots of the application receipts and keep a folder of them. If you can prove that you applied for 11 jobs a day for 90 days and STILL didn’t get a job, Dan will give the first person $1000.

For everything you do in your life, you should have a good WHY!  The team reviews the 3rd most watched Ted Talk of all time, Start With Why, by Simon Sinek. 

Should I have a cover letter? If it’s not required, you don’t need it! If you have a templated cover letter that you send to everyone, don’t mess with it. “When I got a cover letter sent to me at Nestle Purina, I never looked at it.” - Matt The cover letter usually doesn’t provide the information a recruiter needs to move you along in the hiring process. "The email you send with your resume could be a brief form of the cover letter.” - Dan Should I include extracurricular & volunteer experience on my resume? YES! It’s good to add those industry specific activities, especially as a recent graduate. Some people also like to hire athletes. Showing leadership roles you have been a part of shows initiative, drive, and many other skills a company might be looking for. Can I ask questions in an interview? What kind of questions can I ask? Don’t ask “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” Don’t immediately ask about PTO and benefits. Show interest in the company and position: “What is the top thing that would set me up for success in this role?” “What are the next steps in the hiring process?” Should I connect with the HR representative on LinkedIn before your interview? Do it! You have nothing to lose to connect with those people. It can only help. Plus, it shows initiative. Can I take notes in an interview? Absolutely! It helps give you time to think about the questions being asked. This is a good way to draft a follow-up thank you letter. You should always send your follow-up in at least 24 hours! How can I stand out in the hiring process? Do everything to the best of your ability! Listen to our separate episodes on Interview Prep, LinkedIn, and Resume Writing. If you follow each of these, you will be sure to land the job in any industry! We want to thank Mark and Tano for our new podcast music from Nights Like These

Have you heard of the Dunning-Kruger Effect??  Maybe you have experienced a time where you thought you knew how to do something, but had a reality check and noticed you weren't as good as you thought. This is the Dunning-Kruger Effect! Don't let your confidence get the best of you. Know when to say no to a job position and stop lying to the recruiters. 

Matt and Dan interview financial advisor, Greg Lindsay, from Northwestern Mutual. Greg shares 3 of the best pieces advice he has ever received. People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Listen with the intent to understand instead of listening with the intent to respond. Hard-work beats talent every day. He also talks about the internship at Northwestern Mutual and what it's like working there. If you are looking for a financial advisor or more information about the internship program, you can contact Greg at [email protected] 

This week, Dan, Matt, and Madeline talk about counter offers and taking risks in your 20's. Walking through their experiences, Matt presents a fool proof 4 step counter offer approach and Dan drives listeners to set high goals for themselves. 

We are happy to welcome our first guest on the podcast, Derik Scott. He is an attorney, undefeated professional cage fighter, Guinness World Record Holder, one of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s NBC Titan Games Titans, collegiate Scholar Athlete and All-American, gymnastics national champion. In this podcast we talk about how he has accomplished what he has in his life.  One of his greatest life mantras is “Be Your Own Superhero.” Instagram: @derikaspenscott Twitter handle: @derikaspenscott

We are all working remote now? Will we ever all return to the office? Some people are thriving in this new "work from home" atmosphere, while others are miserable. Dan and Matt invite Podcast Manager, Madeline, back on the podcast to change up the dynamic. They give their thoughts, opinions, and pros and cons of remote life.