Joanna Eberts

We’ve all been to those events: the meetings or fairs when students ask their questions and look for an answer. Indeed, it is this questioning that I am speaking of, when people rehash the same inquiries, yet don’t seem to understand, much less take action based on the words of wisdom they are given. Following up on advice is an under-emphasized characteristic, something that relates to accomplishing one’s goals.

On Friday, October 9, the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computer and Information Sciences held RIT’s annual Entrepreneurship Conference. Here, successful professionals in the corporate business spoke on various topics that outline the tough path to successful entrepreneurship today. The highlight of the event was keynote speaker Elan Lee, founder and chief designer of Fourth Wall Studios. The conference saw a major turnout with a diversity in ages, lots of questions were asked, and there certainly wasn’t a dull moment.

During the moments of interrogation, I listened to these business successes give their advice. For example, “What can I do to reel in more buyers and create a wider market base?” was a question that was asked numerous times, and each time it was answered. By the time the third or fourth version of this same question was asked, it hit me: Are the people asking these questions really going to do something with the answers they’re given? Chances are, no.

Rarely do you hear of an attendee of one of these conferences capitalizing on their research and making a move for future benefit. It’s always just the process of asking the question, getting the answer, and then stopping. Is petty advice the only reason one would come to an event like this? If students are bold enough to consider starting their own business, they should know that it will take more than a few boiled-down aphorisms to turn them into the next Bill Gates.

The lack of action taking place may be because some people simply don’t know what to do after making their inquiries. From a business perspective, the next step would be to network with the right sources. With some individual’s inability to network, no advancement can be made.

Constant, useless interrogation makes it fair to say that these conferences, fairs and meetings are paradoxical. The Okay-I-Got-My-Answer approach clearly isn’t sufficient, especially at business conferences where the goal is to make money somewhere along the line. Getting the answer to a question is only step one of two in a very simple process of what I like to call, “Chase and Catch.” Through interrogation, one is “chasing” their answers; while through the “catching” portion of this process, in which an individual actually achieves their ultimate goal, people tend to fall through.

We all may have similar questions, but we all certainly have different means of answering them. Perhaps you’re the type that a simple answer is good enough for you?

You never know when you’ve reached the last step until there is nothing more left to do. Acting as if there’s no more chance to advance in a complex situation is not only kidding yourself but also delaying your goals as well. Playing the game of “Chase and Catch” not only assures you that you’re staying on top of your priorities, but it also gives a sense of accomplishment. Thus, don’t stop once you’ve got the answer; run with it until you can’t run any further.