![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Scott McNealy, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, talked to a group of students and faculty about his entrepreneurial experiences during long lunch today.
McNealy began his talk by praising the school because he believes that it teaches students enough information that they could theoretically start a business without having to attend college.
In his own take on David Letterman’s top 10 lists, McNealy proceeded to comically share 10 signs of potential entrepreneurship.
According to his list, “[having] really rich friends who are willing to lose money, [living] in a three room apartment with 12 recent Stanford graduates,” and “[thinking that] going to the tech fair at Moscone would be a great first date,” are all positive indications for a future company.
Following these remarks, McNealy offered insight into “what you don’t learn in business school,” with advice about starting, funding, and selling a company.
He touched on family matters that can make or break a company in its early stages, such as starting before having kids and finding the right spouse. Primarily, he stressed the importance of beginning with a disputable idea.
“If you’re going to go start a company, make sure you have a controversial strategy,” McNealy said. “If people think your idea is a little wacky, that’s ok. The real trick is you have to be right.”
For the financial side of entrepreneurship, he advised against using one’s own money for the first attempt at creating a successful enterprise due to the large propensity for error.
Another crucial part of McNealy’s success was learning to sell his business. After presenting a product and being turned down, his tactic is simply a repetitive series of asking what needs to be changed, fixing those components, and bringing it back until the buyer eventually gives in.
For students who attended, the majority of whom participate in DECA or take economics class, this session provided useful insight into how to pursue entrepreneurship as a possible career path.
“I really thought it was helpful,” Ryan Pachauri (10) said. “He wasn’t talking about just business; he told us how to have a life.”
Concluding with a question and answer session, McNealy’s talk proved to be both entertaining and educational for many attendees, providing valuable insight into the world of entrepreneurship.
