WORK (Cont.)
ORLANDO UPDATE Meet the Member
Isabella Johnston founder of Intern Pursuit
The 5th Floor, an international co-working space at the Avalon Innovation Center is scheduled for Spring 2021. With it, an influx of entrepreneurs is coming on the scene in Downtown Avalon Park. The Intern Pursuit Software Platform, one of the finalists in the Avalon Innovation Awards 2020 competition, is among the 28+ companies that will occupy this state-of-the-art pro-working office space. Isabella Johnston, CEO and founder of Intern Pursuit’s software platform, identified an opportunity in the market to make intern recruitment and management fast, affordable, and a positive experience for employers and students alike. Intern Pursuit’s proprietary algorithm matches employers and students based on job preferences, top 6 trending PowerSkills and culture fit. Additional platform features include 2 types of assessments, individual development plans and an employer learning academy. The software is designed to provide interns and
employers with the best resources necessary for a productive and measurable internship. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the need to innovate and improve intern management that included remote opportunities for employers both nationally and internationally. President and CEO of the Avalon Park Group, Beat Kahli, shares the same vision to expand internship opportunities globally. Kahli stated, “As an international entrepreneur, I appreciate Intern Pursuit’s efforts to provide more international internships in the United States, while supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs as they grow.” Kahli and a group of international judges selected 28 finalists from over 150 applicants to fund through
cash, space and services. Intern Pursuit Software Platform was one of the 28 companies chosen as the ground-breaking leaders in this APG cohort. One of the key standouts to the international jury was Johnston’s innovative marketing approach to take the product to market. In order to provide a well-packaged educational experience for employers and students alike, Johnston also created The Intern Whisperer Podcast. Affiliated with the Intern Pursuit platform, The Intern Whisperer Podcast allows employers to share their company’s origin story, predictions for both industry and job opportunities five years from now, and share mentoring advice to the student listening audience.
Intern Pursuit gamified their marketing approach to reach the game industry by launching the Intern Pursuit Game on Steam. The game is a third-person tower defense game where players must use critical thinking, problem solving, and other key trending PowerSkills to save the world and while earning talent. For more information on Intern Pursuit, visit https://www.internpursuit.tech/ or reach out to Isabella Johnston at email: info@internpursuit.tech or office number: 321-4222166.
15 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Do to Start Every Day—and Year!—On the Right Foot As a new year approaches, hope is high, and expectations are even higher. It is easy to buy into the promise of New Year’s resolutions and then quickly become disappointed in yourself for not sticking to them. If you, like I, find yourself in this position year after year, let’s try something new: creating and engaging in small practices and habits to improve our quality of life, all without the feelings of failure that come from not sticking to huge resolutions. Here is a list of 15 things successful entrepreneurs do every day to start on the right foot—and you don’t even have to be an entrepreneur to do them!
Year’s resolutions or expecting to amass a million dollars within the next ten years (although these are great goals to have!). Rather, I mean setting small, attainable, short-term goals, such as not procrastinating on a work project or exercising 5 times a week. When you begin by placing huge expectations, you will more often than not feel disappointed in yourself; creating shorter-term, easier goals, however, will fill you with a deep sense of pride and accomplishment upon reaching them. Start small and you will surprise yourself, which, in turn, builds the self-confidence that will eventually allow you to create and achieve larger, long-term goals.
1. Reading: Reading daily is proven to benefit all people, regardless of who you are and what you do. Reading has positive effects on memory and other cognitive functions, among which include teaching empathy and life experience, improving vocabulary and communication skills, keeping your mind active and fostering creativity. Setting aside 30 minutes a day to read—whether it be a novel, biography, or newspaper—is a peaceful act that relaxes you while also benefiting your brain’s many functions and abilities.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail: The truth is, nothing grows inside of your comfort zone—so how can you unless you take risks? Few people become successful by playing it safe; if you’re sinking all your shots, you’re probably not aiming high enough. Sure, you’ll start out by hearing one “yes” for every ten “no’s,” but that’s more than growth—it’s vulnerability. If being vulnerable doesn’t come easily to you, watch Brené Brown’s “The Power of Vulnerability” TED Talk. She says it best: “vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.” And courage is key to success.
2. Sleeping Well: It is not uncommon to hear that a trait shared by many strong and lucrative people is that they wake up early, because it is for good reason: sleeping well and on a good schedule is thought to be one of the most underestimated yet important aspects of being successful. Creating and sticking to a sleep schedule can affect every aspect of one’s life, from appearances to decision making. Sleep is a pause button, allowing you to recharge while your subconscious examines and analyzes current situations and challenges, which is helpful especially to a successful entrepreneur. 3. Exercise: We live in a society that places the most value on looks resulting from exercise, which is why it is necessary that we, ourselves, autonomously choose to place greater value on the mental and physical health benefits that come from exercising. If you’re unsure where to start, you can refer to my article “10 Exercises To Do At Home—No Equipment Necessary!” for some ideas. Just one hour of exercise and time outdoors per day is a habit that produces lifelong results. 4. Setting Goals: When I say “setting goals,” I’m not talking about New
6. Building Connections: Tying into the notion of vulnerability is the idea of building and maintaining meaningful relationships. Above all else is the human need for connection—the longing to belong—and this is achieved through vulnerability and emotional intelligence. Rather than investing only money, invest in relationships, too: creating a network of people you understand and who understand you pays off big time in the world of business. 7. Journaling: Journaling daily is a habit that incorporates and improves multiple facets of your life. Writing down your goals is journaling; filling out a calendar with deadlines and meetings is journaling; writing down dreams, things about your day, and feelings is journaling. It all boils down to the mindful acts of reflecting, thinking, and planning for the future, which can help to increase motivation as well as staying in touch with your mental and emotional well-being. Continued on next page...
