Corporate Vision September 2017

24 CORPORATE VISION / September 2017 , Exploit the Blockchain - Adopt, Adapt and Thrive When Jamil Hasanwas thirteen years old, he was seated at an awards banquet in Burlington, NJ at an old Knights of Columbus facility. When asked what, he wanted to do when he grewup, his answer was to be senior manager at a large corporation. He now owns his own practice and as such, he shares with us his story and expertise, following his receipt of theM&A Advisory - NewYork accolade. At my oval table was a Revolutionary War Era tablecloth and eleven others eating rubbery meatballs and drinking glasses of warm apple juice. The other children my age and I were all nominated for newspaper carrier of the year and I, like them, wanted to win. During the meal, someone asked the question ‘What do you children want to do when you grow up?’ I vaguely remember one other boy shouting ‘astronaut!’ and the remainder of answers being equally compelling. Mine was to be a senior manager at a large corporation. Everyone appeared dumbfounded by my response. I spent the rest of my studying years earning degrees and credentials that enabled me to be just that. And for twenty years, I was a manager in Fortune 50 companies. That is, until I was laid off this past June. Luckily, my former employer provided me with a few months of lead notice. Because I spent so much time looking at a 20-million- foot macro view of the world and since getting a masters’ degree didn’t prepare me for the entrepreneurship world, starting my own practice has certainly not been an easy task. I admire professionals I meet at network events and professional chapter meetings, who have built successful practices. Building my merger and acquisition practice is different, because I have never brokered a deal or provided financing. My core strengths as a professional are data analysis, technological innovation and operational efficiency. These three do not fit the traditional M&A mould, indeed they are like the Island of Misfit Toys, in the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer story. My personal intellectual property, what entrepreneurs have advised I needed to have spent 10,000 hours doing in my life, I would classify as ‘overcoming adversity’. That means, basically, using all my available resources like therapists, coaches, trainers, self-help gurus, pick-up artists, mentors, educators, speakers, trainers and others who would help me in the plethora of ways I have needed help in my life outside of the office. And in turn, I am taking those lessons and growth opportunities, applying them in my life and becoming a better person. One of my many resources I have taken on, has been hiring a professional coach. This past February, I retained not only a coach and mentor. but someone who is a genuine champion for my life. I initially thought he was going to help me to find a job, but he didn’t. What he did strongly suggest I do, is to find a job without using a resume or applying online, or even using a headhunter who would shop my experience around and lower my economic value. He asked me to use my connections to build outwardly, something that I had never done before. But I started to do it and, at first, it was really challenging. I cried myself to sleep each night for about a month, but then I started to develop a greater propensity for rejection. And next, I developed the context that each person is a big deal. I began treating each person as a big deal. Then it has become easier for me to network and grow 1707CV02 comfortable in my relationship capabilities, which I never knew I had. From my new strengths, I have created a Crypto War Games Event in partnership with Dr. Drew Miller in Colorado. My business’ name is Minerva Data Advisors, LLC. Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom and intelligence. And since fishermen name their boats after women, I felt comfortable naming my business after a goddess. My goal is to someday build a 300-person organisation and offer M&A advisory services, that focus on artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and smart cities. My primary focus is offering Crypto War Games: business strategy group war games that help businesses formulate strategies using the Blockchain. I have been asked by everyone I speak with: ‘what is a war game?’. I have been told by almost everyone, especially my Canadian entrepreneur brethren: ‘you cannot sell a war game, no one is going to buy one! Give it up!’. The only thing however,