Feedback on the Nano program

Ranked #212 in How-To, #2,029 overall

12 people and five days

Is that enough time to change the way you think about your path, your problems and your opportunities?

I ran a free program to see how condensed and interpersonal this sort of experience could be for a select group of people. More than 1,000 people applied, and the folks who came were terrific.

We discovered that Fatos Nano, former prime minister of Albania would be the perfect mascot. Well, maybe not perfect, but he has a great last name.

Feedback 

I asked students to write down what they'd tell people who might be considering a similar project

I recently saw an advertisement for a technical school that promised to teach its students "in-demand real-world skills" and provide them with a set of tools and instructions on how to use them. It struck me that Seth's NanoMBA program captures the essence of what this program was trying to achieve an amazingly profound and relevant way. The NanoMBA program was both highly enjoyable and highly challenging; I regularly exceeded my comfort level and pushed through "the resistance". While I didn't leave Seth's office after a week with shiny wire cutters or a new claw hammer I did leave with a fresh perspective, more creativity, and a group of amazing peers as well as a remarkable sense of inspiration and purpose. I offer my sincerest thanks to Seth for the time and incredible generosity he put into making the NanoMBA a reality.

--Jon Kameen

Three books that we focused on 

See You at the Top: 25th Anniversary Edition

Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 07/24/2010) Buy Now

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

Amazon Price: $17.13 (as of 07/24/2010) Buy Now

Winning Decisions: Getting It Right the First Time

Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 07/24/2010) Buy Now

What I learned 

Here's my short list of what I took away from last week, should it help you decide to do this again (and I hope you do):

I came into the week focused on my organization alone, and left with the desire to start additional initiatives to make a larger impact
the important distinction between what I thought my fears were, and what my fears truly are

a forced realization of the change I want to see in the world, and why I haven't yet done more to advance that change

practical business concepts and cases to instruct my personal and professional goals

understanding that "why?" needs to be asked before "how?" or "what?"

a re-evaluation of how I currently work, which immediately changed how I organize both myself and my tasks

lifelong friends, collaborators, and likely future business partners

the pictionary example: just talk/do/create. just ship it.

As I mentioned in my interview with you, I'd been considering business school. Not anymore; I have all the tools I need and far too much to do.

Until we meet again,

Alan McGee

Fearless 

For those who have decided you want to make a difference in at least your small corner of the world, Seth's Nano MBA gives your ideas, insights, networks, and passion leverage through specific, actionable goals, coaching from other smart people like you, and a new set of friends who will count on you to deliver on your promises. Bring your ideas, goals, and determination, and Seth will push you to become more clear, believable, and help you architect a plan so that you know what success and failure look like to you. You will also understand through Seth's example that extreme generosity toward others, giving way more than you expect to get in return, is the way to grow your positive change empire. You will leave with the burden of responsibility to make something happen, an endless list of tactics that work, plus the scary benefit of fearlessness.

Roxy Allen

Be prepared 

Be prepared for the honor it is to have Seth believe in you.

Be prepared to come in without expectations.

Be prepared to put what you learn into action.

Don't come if you don't want to "ship."

Be prepared to be humbled by the other human beings you'll spend the week with.

Be prepared to have Seth tear you down before he builds you up.

Be prepared to be scared. Criticized. Loose the popularity contest.

Be prepared to feel the enormousness of your calling on this planet.

Be prepared to shed your skin.

--Jess Kizorek

Ten points 

Here are some thoughts that may help you get more out of the experience.

1. Know your goals before coming in, think about them, write them down. Rewrite them, present them to a friend. Despite doing this you will still need to redefine them completely during the week - but at least you may be closer.
2. Identify all of the tribes you are currently a part of and think about your relation to them as a participant and possible leader. It will help you apply the topics you discuss.
4. Ask questions when you aren't sure how a case study or concept works. If you're afraid of asking a dumb question that is a sure fire indicator that you should ask it.
5. Your questions guide the entire experience and it is amazing the riffs that Seth comes up with. There is no map or curriculum. Consider where you would like the conversation to go, make a note and then help steer it there when the time makes sense.
8. The selection process is intense - consider the caliber of people you are around right now, do your homework on them because they are seriously amazing.
9. Be prepared to be inspired, challenged, deflated, and then inspired again.
10. When you're done - ship it.
--George Weiner

Homework 

Before you come, do your homework. Ask yourself what you're doing right now, and then ask yourself what you really want to be doing. That middle part - the wall between those two answers - is what you're going to learn to knock down. If spending a week with Seth Godin sounds slightly terrifying to you, then you are the person who should be there. In the week I spent with Seth and eleven other inspiring people, I learned (or woke up to) what I'm capable of. And now I'm redirected - I'm going to do the work I want to do and be the person I want to be. Because I promised I would.

--Karsten Vagner

Who, etc. 

Who You Are

You are untapped potential and you know it, but you might be too scared to say it out loud. You have done something amazing, but probably under someone else's name. You do amazing work for an amazing human being(s)/organization that you wish you could take more credit for. You know you are remarkable - but you need to take the leap. You need to remove the stories, create some goals, and remove your faux barriers to living a life beyond your wildest dreams. You look up to those who make stuff happen. You crave the cutting edge and you will leave New York on the brink of possibility!

What You Are in For

You will be pushed to a place of perhaps discomfort, maybe fear or perhaps pure elation of all that is possible. You will enter the room with wide eyes and a very bushy brow and most likely leave at the end of the day with a racing mind, an eager spirit and without a doubt, fatigue. You will walk away from a week with Seth and have more tangible take aways, life lessons and modus operandi examples of what REMARKABLE really is - in fact, it just might make you re-evaluate what you ever did learn in 20+years of schooling. You will also meet remarkable human beings who posses the same desire for greatness.

Why You Should Do It Now

Beause you will leave NY a better version of yourself, with life time friends. Because it will serve as fuel for a lifetime of creating, shipping, failing, succeeding and then doing it all over again. Because a week really can change your life.
Do it Now, Ship your Self for a week with Seth! It was the best week of my life.

In many ways the experience reminded me of summer camp, with traditions, camaraderie in the company of very smart driven people. Prepare to have a lot of fun and really good food.

--Stephanie Corker Irwin

The graduating class 

on a sunny day in Hastings

Graduates, 2010, all hail Fatos Nano! (click the picture to see the original application)

Not sure when I'll do it again, but I will. (Click the picture to see the original application)

Feel free to chime in 

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by sethgodin

Seth Godin is the bestselling author of ten books. He writes about marketing, the spread of ideas and managing both customers and employees with respe... (more)

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