1. TylerKlimek
COM499
ProfessorBrewer
ReflectionPaperTwo
The second week here in NYC has been just as incredible and valuable as the first week. I
have really started to gain more of a sense of what it would be like to live in the city which is one
of the things that I was really looking forward to on this trip. All of our speakers this week
supplied us with insights and tips that were just as valuable as last week and I started to notice
that the tips that they gave us were redundant of what we heard last week. For this reason, I
believe that most of the members of the group started to ask questions that were more specific to
the individual companies than what information they could provide us to be successful in our
careers. Yet again through interacting with the speakers this week, it is clear that they have
gotten to where they are today because they are very personable people with a strong drive to
succeed in life.
During our talk with Susan Leapson from Time Warner Cable, the first piece of advice
that she gave us that I found valuable was that we should work at a firm if we don’t exactly know
what we want to do with our careers. She said that working at a firm with give us the opportunity
to see a variety of different areas of a business that can revolve around numerous industries.
Another great insight that she shared with us was that if there are opportunities in a city you want
to go to, go there. I personally found this important because I would love to stay near my
hometown to be closer to my family but I realize that getting out into different cities and
different markets will make me more valuable to companies in my future career. She also told us
that it is important to be transparent with your employees so they can get onboard with you in
certain situations. I am extremely happy she said this because I have had this same belief for
when I have employees of my own and now she has just reassured my beliefs.

2. TylerKlimek
COM499
ProfessorBrewer
ReflectionPaperTwo
In speaking with Ken Todd at Showtime, the best piece of advice that I gained from him
was to not be above any job if it is in an industry that you want to work in. I found this so vitally
important because I feel that many people want to shoot for the stars right away in an industry
that interests them and are not willing to start at the bottom and then work their way up to the
position they desire. If you want to be successful in an industry that interests you then it is
important that you understand the various positions that make a company so you know how your
decisions can impact those that report to you. With my internship this summer, they only
promote from within because they believe in the philosophy that you can manage individuals
better if you fully understand what they do on a day-to-day basis.
Keith Hoffman from Animal Planet also offered some advice that I believe everyone
should take into account when they are trying to move forward in their career. He said “be
humble, go in with a good attitude, and be nice to everyone in your entry-level/intern positions”
and summed it up as just to be likeable. What we have learned over the last two weeks was that
people do not like individuals who have a sense of entitlement about them and feel that they
should be handed everything. People within a company like the individuals that come into work
with a great attitude and are just grateful to have gained a position in that company. Keith also
told us that it goes a long way if we just ask for things/favors instead of demanding them. Being
from the Midwest and talking to random people we have met in the city, the common thing I
have been told is that people from the Midwest are just generally polite and friendly people who
don’t demand things.
During this week, I can say that my favorite person that we spoke with was Henrik from
Bark Box. It was great to hear from someone who was from another country and had a different

3. TylerKlimek
COM499
ProfessorBrewer
ReflectionPaperTwo
outlook on life. One great piece of advice he provided us with was that when we are trying to
obtain something from someone we should call and offer them something instead of calling and
asking. He told us that if two people called him and one offered something and the other just
asked for something he was more inclined to meet with the person who had something to offer so
he could also benefit from the meeting. Henrik went on to tell us that we should always find nice
people that we want to work with and to “trust our gut on who are good ‘peeps’ because they
will most likely stay that way.” I really found this interesting because I truly do feel that he is
right in saying that nice people will stay nice. When we look at our society people want to fit in
and be accepted by others. Nice people will, for the most part, be accepted by others and not feel
the need to change who they are as a person.
When looking back on my reflection paper from last week, I am glad I said that I was
eager to see what this week would bring us. Yes, some of the advice that we received was a little
repetitive from last week but it just goes to show that what we have heard couldn’t be any truer.
There is a reason that these people have gotten to where they have in their careers so we really
should take the advice they are giving us to heart. I know that I will be saving all of my notes
from these last two weeks and even refining them a little so I can continue to look at them as I
look to pursue my future career.