I cannot wait to see what happens after completing this internship. By remaining focusing on what is needed to accomplish today’s goals, I have a clear vision what will need to happen to achieve the employment desired in the action sports industry. It has been a constant feat to balance my current employment, this internship, and my social life all at once. Having completed this internship will allow me to focus purely on acquiring the employment opportunities I desire and less on balancing the many other requirements others have for me.
One thing will always remain certain in life, if you want something you have to go out and get it for yourself. This internship has taught me that you must be willing to make sacrifices, do whatever it takes to keep moving forward, and push until you reach your goals. It may seem hard at times to keep all this up month after month, week after week, day after day, but this is a proven the recipe for success. By staying driven day in and out, no matter the circumstances I remain in a commitment that many others have not been able to meet. It is a great lesson about running a prosperous business; no matter what the daily circumstances may be, it is important to stay focused on moving towards the goals.
As this journey comes towards an end, I have acquired some very useful information and lessons that will carry on with me in my new employment, new experiences, and new life challenges. Every tribulation that is faced today prepares me for the future, and how situations are handled today dictates how well I can control the outcome of future circumstances.
This constant movement is nothing new to Bamboo Skateboards. Since its conception, this skateboard company has found a way to constantly be “buzzing”. Whether it’s in various social medias, written publications, radio waves, or television this has been a brand that is in constant motion. After thinking about it, it seems as though my busy life has not even held a candle to what this company and its employees have done. Consistent updating is what is needed when running a successful business, and many of these updates come in a very short period of time.
Recently, Bamboo skateboards warehouse was moved to another location in Oceanside. During this move, there were not much more than just a handful of people helping. It is absolutely amazing how in less than 2 weeks there was such a transformation for the company. It was humbling to find with a little bit of help, some great will power, determination and eagerness from a small pool of talented individuals, this transformation was nothing more than a healthy heartbeat for the company. there was not any one moment that I had heard comments of how this may affect the company or even the individuals lives in a negative way, but rather a feeling of fresh air. This change had happened to become something better, something that the company was ready for.
Because of demonstrations like this, it has become apparent to me that no matter how pre-determined or busy my life may seem, it absolutely needs to be open to changes. Just as the company had done with a little bit of help, some great will power, determination and eagerness to become something better, I will become something better. Thanks to Bamboos core capabilities to acclimate I have seen to become something better, you must be enthusiastic to change.
With summer approaching quickly, more and more I find myself near the water and in less clothing. But before days are spent in board shorts and flip flops there are some much needed skateboard trips! Last weekend’s event stirred a new desire to be on the road scouting skate spots and parks. I was fortunate enough to find myself amongst some very inspiring talented skateboarders and enthusiastic spectators. Last Saturday the Carmel Valley skate park hosted the “I ride, I recycle” skateboard contest. Let me begin by stating there was much more to see than just a few power slides and wheelies. I was not only impressed by the caliber of riding, but the diversity of athletes. Not only were competitors of many ability levels, but they were of different sexes, age groups, and skateboarding styles. There was a little bit of everything at this event; it seemed as though even skateboarders that were not in the sanctioned competition were having fun skating in their own competitive contest. At any given time I would look around and see others not only having a great time, but having support from others doing it. It makes me remember weekends when mom would take me to the skate park. Ma didn’t know anything about skateboarding, so I never listened to her tips, you know stupid comments like “keep your head up, or “make sure to keep my feet above the metal thingy’s” it never failed that in less than 10 minutes an older skater would roll up and say “Keep your head up dude”, or “Yo bro, keep your feet over the trucks!”. Somehow it sunk more when he said it; he was a peer and was understanding. this skateboard event reminded me of All the things that I long for…skate trips to rad parks, skateboarding with a diverse group of athletes, the inspiration from complete strangers that know what they are talking about and a little bit of summer to top it off.
So this last weekend I got to represent Bamboo Skateboards at “Greenfest” which was presented by SDSU’s Associated Students and SDSU’s Enviro-Business Society. It was a weeklong schedule of events which encourage, celebrate, and advocate sustainability and diversity. The purpose of GreenFest was to engage the campus community through social and interactive programs in an effort to educate them on the important of living a sustainable lifestyle and to promote sustainable practices.
Engaging with the students and staff alike, it was evident that SDSU is a campus that is at the forefront of living sustainably. Every vendor that was present was making steps towards revealing ways to improve lifestyle while doing a part of preserving the future. It was not only a great event, but a great venue. For anyone that has not been to the SDSU campus I would recommend visiting for the simple fact of viewing great architecture in a stunning setting. Awesome art, design, and scenery coupled along with great weather and many like-minded students, sets the tone for becoming educated in both general studies and sustainability at a SDSU a synch. It is no wonder this is a preferred University amongst many students living in Southern California.
While working this event, I informed others about business practices that will not only generate business for Bamboo skateboards, but healthier consumer decisions on what products leave less of an impact on future generations. Overall, I would say that this was a great success for Bamboo Skateboards and other products/services that promote sustainability!
Just wanted to say huge shout out to my friends that are on tour!
The band is called Minor birds and they are on a 2-3 month tour with another great artist named Kat Jones. Thanks to Mark in the marketing and sales department, they are riding new Bamboo Skateboards in somewhere around 30 states of the United States of good ‘ol America! After the bands tour had a stop in the San Diego area, Bamboo skateboards had the pleasure of hosting them to a few hours at the warehouse, showing them what it’s like to run a great skateboard company while they showed us what it’s like to run some great instruments! Please follow them on their journey across the great states, and make sure to support their valiant effort to support Bamboo skateboards and methods of sustainability through great music and art in any way that you can!
Thanks so much Joel, Chelsea, and Kat Jones for making the stop to see an old friend. Love you guys and your wonderful musical capabilities!!
While it seems it’s been a lifetime, this internship has only been around 9 weeks since the commencement. What is most important for me is to understand I am past the halfway threshold. As we are coming towards the end of the internship, time will begin to slip through my hands and it will all be over before I know it. After taking the midterm, it seems as though all other work seems much simpler. It was not material that I have reviewed often, but it was very important information for anyone looking to understand and advance as a business owner.
Equidistant through the internship marks a good point to begin a new approach. From this point onward, I am dedicated to learn as much as possible from this internship using every aspect of running a action sports business. By asking many questions from all angles, this company will become more and more transparent in how it functions and operates. It is important to keep a focus on exactly what is expected from my position as an intern, but inquiring about other facets of the company can do nothing more than benefit myself, and ultimately the company in a healthier way.
I welcome the second half of this internship with open arms, and cannot wait for the opportunity to show what I have learned thus far about how to make a business thrive in such a saturated and difficult market. By using a very fine tuned set of tools, there is a way to compete with the ever evolving market of progressive brands out there. It is merely figuring out what tool is appropriate for the job at hand. This is my opportunity to show that my sets of tools are ready to be used! ]
Have you even been stuck on rocky embankment, and the only way to get to safety was to climb through thorn bushes? Have you even been caught unexpectedly in a snowstorm without a jacket and had to walk 2 miles to warmth? There are times in life that you just have to sack up and provide results.
For me, this week’s schedule felt like one of those moments. Having only a very limited number of hours in a day makes it difficult to find even time to sleep. While I used to plan out my days in hours, planning now comes in durations of minutes and seconds. Time management is possibly the most important thing that this internship has taught me. By sacking up and waking up every weekday at 5am and moving nonstop until approximately around 11pm.
At times similar to that of being caught in a snowstorm or stranded on a ledge embankment, autopilot takes over and you do what is only absolutely necessary at the time. While this is a skill I have recently acquired, it is one that should have been practiced many times before. One can say that my situation is much like being stuck on a ledge outcropping without a rope or in a snowstorm without a jacket. The morale of the story is to do whatever it takes to get through the situation and make sure to be better prepared next time.
They say time flies when you’re having fun, but I beg to differ. I’d say time flies when you don’t have any time to think about it. The internship is now into week 7 and during this entire internship I’ve been holding down a full time job that requires 45-48 hours of work a week. Add that on top of the average 28-32 hours on the internship workload and that puts me at breaking around 73-80hrs a week of work! How can I do it you ask? Exercise, eating healthy, rest, and the thought of completing a challenging task, but ultimately it’s a craptone of caffeine that gets me through the day.
Unfortunately, at times even while doing these things I feel guilty about not working on some paper or spreadsheet, and think about how quickly and easy it is to fall behind. However, this feeling ultimately motivates me and allows a sense of accomplishment. Can I balance it all? Can I get a raise at work, and be one of the best interns all at the same time?
One phrase that I can most definitely agree upon: you only get out as much as you put in. That’s why I’m going to use my any free time off to study, research, update and repeat. Friends, and fun can wait for a little bit longer and some would be miserable in a similar situation. But I have a very simple quote for those people:
“Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.”
Wayne Dyer
Who doesn’t like great sandwiches, great weather, and free stuff with great people? That’s what last weekend’s Board and Brew grand opening consisted of. This was a great event with an incredible turnout, and if you missed it make sure to make your way down there for a California delight (unbelievable sandwich) People that have been brushing up on their golf putting skills had an opportunity to win free t-shirts care of Mammoth resorts. Arnette optics had enough free schwag to cover any white boy from a sunburn with a hat or beanie for the day. They also threw in some glasses at the end of the day with the raffle in full swing. Bamboo Skateboards hit the cement rollin with a few decks for guests to try out before making a purchase. The crowd also got the chance to dig into some grubbing submarines while wetting there whistles with some of the best suds this side of the Mississippi. Within a window of 5 hours, I personally put down 3 of those amazing sandwiches. This event catered to more than your average beach bum; at any given time there was mommy’s pushin strollers, granny’s pushin walkers and grommy’s pushin skateboards. Its events like this I have come to realize just how easy it is to connect with others. Pleasure can be as simple as sandwiches, music and laughs… Free stuff helps too.
Thanks to all involved for an amazing day, can’t wait for the grand re-opening! Till nexrt time….JEB
What an insainely fun and intense 2 weeks this has been here at Bamboo Skateboards. I will try to recap everything for you but I guarentee I am forgetting something.
First we will start with the Intern assignments and to start that off lets talk about the final! I am so happy to have made it this far in this intense program and I really did NOT want to take that final. I worked all day in the warehouse, got home, got a terrible headache, grabbed some pills, and dove in. This was crazy, all the prep we had done during prior weeks, our midterm, the ibeprophin I took, nothing truly prepaired me for what I had in front of me. None-the-less I stuck my headphones in, turned up some music and destroyed that thing. I know I am 10,000xs happier that it is behind me.
Second up is our new priority, Skate Shop Research, and it has really been going well. We have all been flying through our given regions and have almost gotten (what we think is) every skate/surf shop in the United States. Sean and I have been working hard to make sure our salesforce.com account is setup properly and have been transferring all the interns (past and present findings into it. I think we have all been killing this assignment!
Third big thing is HookIt, we have been working hard as a team to figure out what about HookIt just isn’t working and have come up with some awesome re-structuring to make sure that it works to our full advantage and is really a win-win for all parties involved (BBS, HookIt, our Athletes and of course you future Interns). Big things from team HookIt!!!
Forth big project we worked on the past few weeks is making sure all of the files we use on a weekly/daily are in perfect condition and are optimized so that when new interns start they have an even easier time than we did with the files. Crazy good work being done on that front and I must say, thank you to all previous classes for giving us a great starting block, and futur classes I sure hope you can keep improving these files for futur classes to come!
OK, on to the fun stuff…….
Green Festival and Fashion Show.
Last Friday most of the intern crew jumped into a few cars and drove up to LA for a huge Green Festival in wich our Bamboo boards were going to shown as a part of an Eco Fashion Show put on by Rebecca Mink. The drive up was horrible, traffic, traffic, traffic, and then we got lost. Once we got there however things turned around and they turned around fast. That first night not much was needed since we showed up a bit later then we had originally hoped to so rather than sit around and do nothing we all went out on the town! And by town I mean the Malibu Inn in Malibu since that was where we were staying for the night. A few (several) rounds of drinks, paper bags, awesome live music, and some truly professional level pool playing and we decided to call it a night and prepare for our long day to follow. The team woke up bright and early, showerd (some of us), brushed teeth, got dressed, and jumped out the door and back into the car for yet another drive to DT LA. We arrived and the fair was already going so we headed straight to our booth to check in. Rebecca was busy taking care of some PR so we wandered around and got a glimpse of some of the booths then in a moment of pure bliss we decided that Boo should probably join us on this stroll. We went back to our room (the models changing and prep room) and woke Boo up from his nap so he could say hi to his soon to be fans. Wandering around Boo took loads of pictures, practiced a little yoga, and even voted for some pretty cool city art programs, then it was back to the room for him to nap a bit more. During the down town a few of us dissapeared and we later found out they were busy getting some awesome massages FOR FREE!!! At this point the models were in the room, clothing, hair, and makeup was flying everywhere as the designers prepped their lines, makeup and hair artists prepped the models, and interns made sure there was plenty of water to keep everyone happy. Faster than we knew it was time for the show, we guided a long train of models and garmet racks behind the main stage and got everyone into position. A slight change in music and off they went, one after another they hit that runway. After the runway they jumped back into the backstage area, threw off one set of clothing and magically through on another set and off again to that runway. In what seemed like 5 minutes top the fashion show was over, later we were told that it was almost 30 minutes long and to be honest none of us would have guessed that. We quickly cleared out the backstage area and headed back to our room, a lot of goodbyes to all the amazing models we worked with that day, farewells to the designers and artists, and of course a ton of groups pictures and big thank yous to our awesome host Rebecca. After that it was back in the car for our long drive back to SD and the end of an epic event.
Black Friday!
Well today is that day well known as Black Friday, the friday after thanksgiving, the unholy day of rediculous sales and people waiting in line at midnight the night before to get them deals! We worked hard all week (and by we I mean Mark did some awesome PR work and we just did what he told us to do) prepping our big BF sale as well as got ready to share the awesome clip of us on the Today Show the morning of. In a few short hours after our spot on TV our sale was flying off the shelf and we were all so extremely stoked to be seeing BBS spread to all these new people and fans!
Cyber Monday
In the same fashion as BF the staff over at BBS with the help of us interns setup some amazing deals for next week that should keep people flocking to our online shop and hopefully lead us to land several big skate shops in the near future.
Thanks Giving
Yes I know I am going a little out of order now but I wanted to save this for my parting note. This year (as I have done for many years) I drove up to San Luis Obispo to be with a few of my friends on this wonderful day of glutony. Food was plentiful, drinks were ever flowing, and I feel like I gained a good 10-20 pounds in those 3 or 4 “servings” I injested. The thing I love most about the gathering of friends is that no matter who you are, where you are, wether you are with family or friends there is really nothing better than a group meal to warm you up and get that pep back in your step.
Wait… It’s already week 4? Where did the time go? It just seems surreal that we’re already a quarter way done with our internship! I can tell that this is going to be the time of the internship when things really start to take off. This is the chance of a lifetime and I know I need to take full advantage of it so I can get the most out of it. Also, I got my BambooSK8 deck and it rides as if I’m skating on a cloud with angels singing into my ears. Check it out:
So far, things are getting easier, yet much more challenging at the same time. Processes such as Hookit, Facebook, Twitter, and other weekly requirements are getting much easier to fulfill, and I can tell I’m becoming more efficient. However, the challenges are coming from new responsibilities that are coming from our teams. Since I last spoke to the world (through my blog) our team has become much better at communicating, which has made a tremendous difference in our efficiency! We’re all meeting multiple times a week with different people in order to plan out events, get ideas, and really get the ball rolling on this internship. This is the point that is going to define the leaders! It’s one thing to talk about what you want to do, but it’s a whole different thing to put those plans into action. Seems a bit daunting at times, however, my team is incredibly rad, to say the least! I’m definitely with a good group of people that I’m really looking forward to working with. Since our communication is better and we are all collectively helping each other, I feel we are creating much better synergy by working together to achieve our goals!
My week 4 nugget of wisdom is related to business that comes from an article called “What is Strategy?”:
Find your niche and actively pursue it! Finding your niche is important for numerous reasons. FIrst, it is a way of maintaining a competitive advantage through distinctive competencies. If you focus on this niche, you will create a fit within your company, which is not easily imitated by competitors. Also finding your niche will reduce “straddling”. Straddling occurs when you are in different markets within your industry. If you try to be in 2 different markets at once, it dramatically reduces efficiency, which causes the company to lose money. Finally, by finding your niche, it reduces competition. By finding your niche and trying to expand it within the industry as a whole, your competitors will feel less threatened. Therefore, they are less likely to attack you for “taking away” their customers.
Get ready for an insane summer, skaters! BambooSK8 has some awesome things planned for you!
This is so bittersweet…We are almost done with the internship! Seriously, at times I wanted to pull my hair out because this internship is not for the faint of heart. However, I am thankful for the staff at BambooSK8 for allowing me to be apart of the first out of state intern group. Alissa, David, Gabe, Michelle and I are pioneers…or guinea pigs Either way, this was an experience that has taught me so much about, time management, goal setting, negotiating and how great this company is. I have never been pushed so much in my life but I’m stoked to know how much I can do and that I can handle more.
I have had tons of help with coordinating my events, especially since I have been setting up events in California…. from Illinois!! Crazy right?!! I appreciate all those who got to the events and educated people about BambooSK8 and got phone numbers ( I wont say any names…DAVID!) and for those who kicked butt and got tons on donations for our intern fundraiser event on April 26th. I appreciate you guys!! This week, will be full of finalizing details for events, helping organize literature for the incoming cycle of interns and mock interviews with GK.
Almost done!!Woo!! Bring it on!!! Initiating game face sequence!!
<—– This is her game face
Catcha Later,
~T
T-minus 9 days until in back in Cali and 10 days until the intern event…You’re invited!!!!
One word…Wow!! This has been an amazing experience!! I literally have never worked so hard, and have never had so much fun with work.
I look back at the previous months and think what have I been doing? Attending events contributing to awesome causes, going out skateboarding promoting bamboo, talking to people about bamboo online, brainstorming new marketing campaigns and ways to reach more people, going to shops talking to peeps about bamboo…it has been awesome. I don’t want it to end
I had a blast at the EcoFest at CSU San Bernardino this last week. There was some really cool vendors and music. Got to talk to a lot of people about bamboo skateboards and skateboarding and sustainability in general. Always fun going to a cool event for a cool cause!!
This program really makes you push yourself to the limit. It gives you the chance to prove your abilities and skills and really make some cool stuff happen! It’s all on you, yet you have a ton of support from your team and your mentors.
Can’t think of a better way to have spent my time than skateboarding and representing an awesome company with an awesome mission with awesome people!!
Wow, its the end of week 12. We had a pretty gnarly final this week that I felt good about then realized I was one of the only people to get a different answer :/ I felt very productive this week, our hookit and twitter numbers went up more than any time this internship so far. I’m busting my ass for the remainder of this internship to bring the most results possible.
I’m excited about attending the EcoFest at CSU San Bernardino on April 6th representing BambooSk8 and getting some panda skateboarding footage this next week.
This program has been a fun ride, that I don’t want to end. It has pushed me to get out and skate more and talk more with the skate community. As well as getting me to push myself beyond what I believed I was capable of accomplishing. I got a concrete wave party to attend in the middle of April. Fun stuff. Let the good times roll.
BambooSk8 – where the grass is greener and you skate on it!!!
It’s easy to think “oh yeah I have to be efficient, no problem.” Although, when you are hit with a bunch of tasks to tackle, it’s not always as easy as it seems.
Red peppers in my self sustaining vegetable garden in South Cali
Luckily, we have a sweet system set up to monitor our efficiency and help us manage our workload. The timesheet has been a challenge to stick to and it has been difficult to figure out how to make improvements but it has been a big help.
Super Sweet 100 Cherry Tomatoes
We had an awesome time at Clash at Clairemont 6. Despite the bad weather, a ton of people came out to support Grind For Life.
The Clash
This program has been a blast and a big challenge for me to learn how to bring results and develop professionally. I look forward to every second of the rest of it.
I can’t believe it is already week 9! Time fly’s when your being eco-friendly I guess. So far I have learned great things from my internship here at BambooSk8. The Management Systems that the company has in place really helps with organization. We also are required to fill out weekly time sheets that show everything we do, and how long it takes us to do it. I think it would be quite a feet for there to be a disorganized intern in this program!!! However, all of these tools are essential for entering the work force.
This week we are gearing up for the Clash at Clairemont. This event takes place on St. Patricks day, and I am SO EXCITED for it! Geoff K bought a panda suit for the event, and I can’t wait to see who we get to wear it. Things are pretty busy in the office, there is a lot of planning that goes into these types of events. After all, we want to make it great for everyone!!!
Other than the Clash event, things are running business as usual. I have been working hard with my team to get our Facebook and Analytic numbers where they need to be. I have also been spending a lot of time on Hookit to try and help our numbers there. We have some really great contests running at the moment, and we have another St. Patty’s day one about to be announced as well. Tameka, Mark and myself have also been working very hard at planning the fundraiser for Grind for Life. So far it is lining up to be pretty awesome!! The venue, Hensley’s Flying Elephant, is awesome!!!! We also have some pretty incredible bands lined up to play. The main goal right now is to get donations from other companies. So Jackie created a flyer for us to send out, and let me tell you, that girl is a genius!!!
On top of all of this, Jamie and I are helping some students up at the Oasis Skate Factory in Toronto with their deck designs. I can’t believe how amazingly talented these kids are. Their project is to create a deck design for a Bamboo deck that sends the message of sustainability. These designs are so good, I wouldn’t have thought they came from kids at all! Jamie and I are beyond excited to see what their final designs look like! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK GUYS!!!!
Below is some of the amazing work that the kids at OSF are doing!
We’d like to thank Pepperdine University for having us represent our company to future graduates looking to get an internship with us. We enjoyed speaking to prospective students who asked a lot of great questions. For those who have never seen the Malibu campus – it is absolutely one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world; sitting high above the Pacific Ocean.
Class 10 - internships will start the 1st week of May. Apply now by sending your resume to molson@bamboosk8.com
Either way, this was an experience that has taught me so much about, time management, goal setting, negotiating and how great this company is. I have never been pushed so much in my life but I’m stoked to know how much I can do and that I can handle more.
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