#9: the Duke conspiracy

November 13, 2005 By

Buzz Bruggeman looked up here in the Apple store and saw someone with a Duke hat. Now, if you know anything about Buzz, you know he’s a major Duke fan. Anyway, Mark Tager was the guy wearing the hat. Turns out he got a medical degree from Duke and now is VP of marketing for Fraxel. They build medical lasers that do remarkable things, he says. Repairs aging and sun-damaged skin. Business is going nuts as the population here ages, he says.

That little encounter is one reason why kids who go to good schools have a major advantage in business over the rest of us. It’s amazing how conversations happen and relationships build.

Those of us who went to San Jose State University have our own little club going. Scott Mace, for instance, and I always find a way to talk cause we have SJSU common in our backgrounds.

Now the two of them are talking about David Allen, and lots of Duke stories. How does networking get done? Well, I’m studying from the master.

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  • http://www.newsome.org Kent Newsome

    The Duke frenzy has more to do with the hoops program than the academic program. There are a lot of great schools out there, but you don’t see many people running around in Columbia hats.

    Disclaimer: I am a Wake Forest alum and hate the Blue Devils, so I may be talking my position.

  • http://www.newsome.org/ Kent

    The Duke frenzy has more to do with the hoops program than the academic program. There are a lot of great schools out there, but you don’t see many people running around in Columbia hats.

    Disclaimer: I am a Wake Forest alum and hate the Blue Devils, so I may be talking my position.

  • http://www.bladam.com/ Adam

    Right on the money, so to speak, Robert!

    I’m convinced that 10% of one’s MBA is useful for the learning, and 90% is useful for the networking ;) .

    Because, let’s face it, unless you went through a Wharton or Harvard MBA program, nowadays business experience is worth a lot more on a resume than an MBA. In general, it’s all about the name… and about the relationships made when at a “good” school.

    Take me, for an example :) . I did my undergrad at Northwestern, my grad school (JD/MBA) at Indiana University. When I mention IU, most people nod politely without much excitement, because it’s not a “prestige” school… even though I was VERY impressed with my professors, my fellow students, the gorgeous campus, and the vast resources at this state school.

    On the other hand, when I mention Northwestern, people’s eyes light up… and I hear “WOW!”

    With that aside, though, regardless of a school’s rep, the networking thing remains uber-important. I know that — despite the silliness in a way — I’m more apt to respond positively to a fellow NU or IU alum’s request for career advice and such :)

  • http://www.bladam.com/ Adam

    Right on the money, so to speak, Robert!

    I’m convinced that 10% of one’s MBA is useful for the learning, and 90% is useful for the networking ;) .

    Because, let’s face it, unless you went through a Wharton or Harvard MBA program, nowadays business experience is worth a lot more on a resume than an MBA. In general, it’s all about the name… and about the relationships made when at a “good” school.

    Take me, for an example :) . I did my undergrad at Northwestern, my grad school (JD/MBA) at Indiana University. When I mention IU, most people nod politely without much excitement, because it’s not a “prestige” school… even though I was VERY impressed with my professors, my fellow students, the gorgeous campus, and the vast resources at this state school.

    On the other hand, when I mention Northwestern, people’s eyes light up… and I hear “WOW!”

    With that aside, though, regardless of a school’s rep, the networking thing remains uber-important. I know that — despite the silliness in a way — I’m more apt to respond positively to a fellow NU or IU alum’s request for career advice and such :)

  • Orbit

    I Don’t believe in being a employee, I want to run my own company and get successfull enough that either I get a anti trust case against me or get mandated to goto a Senate hearing asking why I have too many profits this quarter..and I would reply.. “Senators, This is a business, we are greedy people. XY Corp isn’t a welfare program”..Walk out in my over priced Rolls Royce and say goodbye

  • Orbit

    I Don’t believe in being a employee, I want to run my own company and get successfull enough that either I get a anti trust case against me or get mandated to goto a Senate hearing asking why I have too many profits this quarter..and I would reply.. “Senators, This is a business, we are greedy people. XY Corp isn’t a welfare program”..Walk out in my over priced Rolls Royce and say goodbye

  • Mujibur

    Wow, this analytics strategy of Google’s is just freaking brilliant!! Its too bad we can get Scoble’s take on it.

    This is why I appreciate Google. New, open business models for the web. I am in awe of what they’re putting out.

    http://news.com.com/Google+gets+analytical/2100-1032_3-5947581.html?tag=nefd.top

  • Mujibur

    Wow, this analytics strategy of Google’s is just freaking brilliant!! Its too bad we can get Scoble’s take on it.

    This is why I appreciate Google. New, open business models for the web. I am in awe of what they’re putting out.

    http://news.com.com/Google+gets+analytical/2100-1032_3-5947581.html?tag=nefd.top

  • http://www.fullcirc.com/weblog/onfacblog.htm Nancy White

    Damn, if I had known Buzz was a Duke fan, I would have made sure to talk with him at MindCamp. I did a terrible job of talking to people. Argh.

    (And yup, I’m a Duke alum ’80)

  • http://www.fullcirc.com/weblog/onfacblog.htm Nancy White

    Damn, if I had known Buzz was a Duke fan, I would have made sure to talk with him at MindCamp. I did a terrible job of talking to people. Argh.

    (And yup, I’m a Duke alum ’80)

  • http://blahgkarma.blogspot.com/ Chris

    Buzz is a networking MANIAC, and a heck of a nice guy to boot. Met him in Orlando when he gave me a personal demo of ActiveWords. Who has time for something like that? Buzz does, ’cause he knows its all about the personal touch, and the network.

    Wish I was out there. South Florida feels like a high tech wasteland these days, not to mention the hurricanes have become a major pain in the ass!

  • http://blahgkarma.blogspot.com Chris

    Buzz is a networking MANIAC, and a heck of a nice guy to boot. Met him in Orlando when he gave me a personal demo of ActiveWords. Who has time for something like that? Buzz does, ’cause he knows its all about the personal touch, and the network.

    Wish I was out there. South Florida feels like a high tech wasteland these days, not to mention the hurricanes have become a major pain in the ass!

  • Matt

    I thought you were talking about Duke, Java’s mascot or whatever.
    http://java.com/en/dukeszone/
    LOL, Worst. Mascot. Ever.

  • Matt

    I thought you were talking about Duke, Java’s mascot or whatever.
    http://java.com/en/dukeszone/
    LOL, Worst. Mascot. Ever.

  • buk

    Robert, tell Buzz that rooting for Duke is like cheering for the house in Blackjack. ;)

  • buk

    Robert, tell Buzz that rooting for Duke is like cheering for the house in Blackjack. ;)

  • Ron Thumann

    Just thought I would let you know that there are some San Jose State alumns that read your blog. I started my programming career there by taking a Basic programming class in 1982. Good software was hard to come by back then, you really needed to be able to write your own.

  • Ron Thumann

    Just thought I would let you know that there are some San Jose State alumns that read your blog. I started my programming career there by taking a Basic programming class in 1982. Good software was hard to come by back then, you really needed to be able to write your own.

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