My name is Jacob Smith I was the newest temporary addition to the Tech Ranch team, official title: Marketing Intern, unofficial title: supporter of all who need help. I am a senior (who luckily already got to walk!) at Long Island University Brooklyn, studying Marketing & Entrepreneurship. I am also the team captain of the Men’s Soccer team. I knew when deciding to play a division I sport in an environment like New York City my life would be very different. I felt confident being a collegiate athlete would prepare me for any career path I decided to pursue after college. The Early morning workouts partnered with a desperate sprint to class followed by a sluggish walk to training finished off with evening classes. The busy schedule, the constant rushing, the urge to always do your best, these things all become routine though sounding overwhelming one is able to find the motivation to adapt. The exhaustion was almost always physical, my summer internships were never going to challenge my physical capabilities but push my mental capacity and challenge my ability to produce creative and thoughtful work.
My time at Tech Ranch® was the single most beneficial educational experience I have ever had. Spending time in the co-working space three days a week I was able to witness things I would have never found through an internship at a large corporation. For example, conflict resolution techniques utilized by a co-founder and his developer during a heated exchange of ideas, the sheer selflessness of others willing to put aside their own projects to help another entrepreneur in a time of need, and the idea of bringing people together to enhance their experience is the most powerful tool one can offer to business owners. Tech Ranch® has a unique sense of community that has been established deep within its culture and spreads to those working in the offices and co-working spaces.
When I was presented with the opportunity to spend my summer working at Tech Ranch there was no second thought, I ran to the opportunity. From the first day the staff set me up for success. They gave me guidance on prioritizing projects by degrees of importance and help setting realistic goals both short and long term. The foundation they helped me establish propelled me in a direction I couldn’t wait to explore. Over the summer I was given exposure into many different areas of business, some of my projects involved social responsibility re-certification, social media research and campaign implementation, outreach efforts to industry experts, event creation and management, face to face marketing at industry events, in office operation duties, and much more.
Personally, I was challenged to develop networking skills at our Campfire events, to be confident and learn to sell myself like a seasoned 
professional, and to be resourceful when completing tasks I was unsure about. Working alongside entrepreneurs in our co-working space has provided me the insight into how rewarding yet challenging the life as an entrepreneur can be. A path I’ll look to venture down one day. Until that moment, I’ll continue to take advantage of the opportunities to learn from those around me and never skip out on the chance to help someone in need. Tech Ranch® has not only helped open up my mind to career opportunities but it has helped develop a professional skill set I can apply to any career path I follow.
As the summer comes to a close I would like to leave a bit of advice for future interns and new entrepreneurs joining the co-working space. Take advantage and participate in the services Tech Ranch® offers, there are free or discounted programs weekly that not enough co-workers take advantage of. Get involved in Chuckwagon on Thursday, sit and listen to the others talk and always be prepared to pick Kevin’s brain when you run into a problem. Jaime is a marketing expert and business owners fight over her office hours and her time for general business advice. The entire staff at Tech Ranch® are experts in their respective fields, they also do an exceptional job bringing in local and international experts for programs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and introduce yourself to the regulars working in the co-working space. The connection you need is usually one or two introductions away, put yourself out there and you’ll be surprised what happens.