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Tracking Success Paths

Posted by Chris Knudsen on March 8th, 2007

I have always found it interesting that you can track back your success to a single event, thought, decision or introduction in your life. Let me give you some examples from my own life.

  1. I made the decision to go to MBA school.
  2. I graduated in 2004 and was invited back to teach entrepreneurship at Westminster.
  3. I applied to Provo Labs for a job.
  4. I get an interview with Paul Allen who later remarks that he was impressed that I was teaching and that was one thing that made me stand out from other people.
  5. Paul hires me.
  6. I take over 10speed.

Not only did I get the 10Speed job but I met many of you who have had a great influence on my life.  A lot of people bag on school but in tracking back my success paths I have found numerous successes that came from attending MBA School. It was not about the education. If you go to MBA School and magnify the benefits outside of the education (networking, etc.) - it will be worth every penny you spend on tuition.

Here’s another example:

  1. I decide to serve a LDS mission. 
  2. Six months into my mission I move into an apartment with another companionship.
  3. One of the missionaries in that companionship is Jeremy Hanks from Burly, Idaho who likes to talk about blowing things up and calls everybody a “Nazi”.
  4. Jeremy and I become good friends and later he becomes my last companion in the mission field.
  5. We stay in touch and later start GearTrade, which launches us both to where we are now.  

Here’s a funny related story. One day we were sitting in a Ford dealership getting our car fixed. I picked up a Newsweek magazine and began reading an article about “The Information Super Highway”. I’m astonished by what I’m reading. I look over at Jer and ask, “Have you ever heard of this information super highway?” Jeremy responds, “Does that have something to do with computers?”

And finally…

  1. In college I reluctantly moved in with a roommate I went to high school with who I didn’t like very much.
  2. Although I am reluctant to move in something feels right about it.
  3. After living there for two months I meet this cute girl from Montana.
  4. 11 years and three kids later we are happily married.

If you track back your success paths you will find that it was the little things, like an introduction, that sent you down unexpected roads. Now, whenever I meet a person I always wonder to myself if they will bring some kind of dramatic change to my life.

Or maybe I am the one who will be influencing the success of another’s life?

Think about it. 

Posted under Business, Life |

4 Responses to “Tracking Success Paths”

  1. This is one of the most inspiring posts I have read in a long time.

    Left by Russell Page on 03/08/2007

  2. Here’s a significant “track back” that I can’t wait to finish:

    1. I feel compelled to apply for a position in an industry completely foreign to me.
    2. Chris Knudsen hires me at 10Speed Media.
    3. We both move over to Podango.com.
    4. ….
    5. ….

    Left by Ron Hartley on 03/09/2007

  3. Good one, Ron! :)

    Left by Chris Knudsen on 03/09/2007

  4. Internet Super What? I actually remember that. And I don’t blow things up anymore. ;)

    Left by Jeremy on 03/14/2007

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