2008 Woodie Awards
Pinkett shares business strategies
Eric Zimmerling
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Randal Pinkett was the winner of NBC's "The Apprentice" and he has five academic degrees and has started five businesses from scratch, but he says he has never had a job.
Pinkett made a pit stop in the Bay Area promoting his book "Campus CEO: The Student Entrepreneur's Guide to Launching a Multimillion Dollar Business" and spoke to nearly 100 staff and faculty of San Jose State University Tuesday evening in the Barrett Ballroom of the Student Union.
Peter Le, a senior majoring in computer engineering, said he attended the lecture because he could learn a lot about making money.
"The dude is rich and I'm not," Le said. "He must be doing something right if he won 'The Apprentice' and is talking with students about creating businesses. I watched the show quite a bit and he seemed like a really intelligent person. I knew I could learn a lot from him."
Pinkett said that his entrepreneurial endeavors have been difficult because four of the five businesses he created no longer exist, but he would not change a thing.
"Oprah has a quote that couldn't be more true," Pinkett said. "She said when you love what you do, you'll never work another day in your life. I created a lemonade stand when I was a young kid and then created a compact disc store in college and from that it was one venture after another."
"If I'm passionate about something then I'll work hard at it. I have never had a job in my life. I work and take care myself through work, but I have not had a job."
The 45-minute lecture sponsored by the Entrepreneurial Society, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions and Kaplan Publishing was followed by a meet-and-greet session with Pinkett where he signed copies of book for audience members.
One student asked, "What did you learn most from Donald Trump?"
Pinkett responded by jokingly saying, "Well, I learned that Trump's hair is indeed real."
Pinkett, a former track star at Rutgers University, outlined several chapters in his book which included how to start a business, how to deal with time constraints and other obligations while starting your business and ways to help your business grow.
"The reason I wrote this book is because I was in that chair you're sitting in right now, figuratively speaking of course, when I was in college," Pinkett said. "I needed something to help guide me and this book will do that for you but this book is different from others because it encourages you to start a business while still in school and give you ways to balance the two."
Joanne Tsan, a senior majoring in history, said Pinkett's story was inspirational.
"Pinkett grew up in less than favorable conditions and look where he is now," Tsan said. "His story really is inspirational. I think I'm going to buy his book."
Pinkett said he enjoyed coming to SJSU because it is a school full of potential in the business world.
"I'm glad to be here at San Jose State," Pinkett said. "There are so many bright minds in the area and you guys were a great audience that seem enthusiastic about making their mark in the business world."
Pinkett made a pit stop in the Bay Area promoting his book "Campus CEO: The Student Entrepreneur's Guide to Launching a Multimillion Dollar Business" and spoke to nearly 100 staff and faculty of San Jose State University Tuesday evening in the Barrett Ballroom of the Student Union.
Peter Le, a senior majoring in computer engineering, said he attended the lecture because he could learn a lot about making money.
"The dude is rich and I'm not," Le said. "He must be doing something right if he won 'The Apprentice' and is talking with students about creating businesses. I watched the show quite a bit and he seemed like a really intelligent person. I knew I could learn a lot from him."
Pinkett said that his entrepreneurial endeavors have been difficult because four of the five businesses he created no longer exist, but he would not change a thing.
"Oprah has a quote that couldn't be more true," Pinkett said. "She said when you love what you do, you'll never work another day in your life. I created a lemonade stand when I was a young kid and then created a compact disc store in college and from that it was one venture after another."
"If I'm passionate about something then I'll work hard at it. I have never had a job in my life. I work and take care myself through work, but I have not had a job."
The 45-minute lecture sponsored by the Entrepreneurial Society, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions and Kaplan Publishing was followed by a meet-and-greet session with Pinkett where he signed copies of book for audience members.
One student asked, "What did you learn most from Donald Trump?"
Pinkett responded by jokingly saying, "Well, I learned that Trump's hair is indeed real."
Pinkett, a former track star at Rutgers University, outlined several chapters in his book which included how to start a business, how to deal with time constraints and other obligations while starting your business and ways to help your business grow.
"The reason I wrote this book is because I was in that chair you're sitting in right now, figuratively speaking of course, when I was in college," Pinkett said. "I needed something to help guide me and this book will do that for you but this book is different from others because it encourages you to start a business while still in school and give you ways to balance the two."
Joanne Tsan, a senior majoring in history, said Pinkett's story was inspirational.
"Pinkett grew up in less than favorable conditions and look where he is now," Tsan said. "His story really is inspirational. I think I'm going to buy his book."
Pinkett said he enjoyed coming to SJSU because it is a school full of potential in the business world.
"I'm glad to be here at San Jose State," Pinkett said. "There are so many bright minds in the area and you guys were a great audience that seem enthusiastic about making their mark in the business world."
Be the first to comment on this story