Turning Lemonade Into Helicopters

Tina Seelig, Stanford University

Solving problems is an important aspect of entrepreneurship, but it’s not the entire solution. Aspiring students also need to learn how to make their own good luck, says STVP Executive Director Tina Seelig. Hard work is imperative, but it doesn’t always mean a fortunate outcome. It takes optimism, an open mind, shrewd networking skills, and the ability to find the veiled “million dollars in the room.” Seelig cites a personal anecdote where, through perseverance and curiosity, she turned an encounter with a stranger over frozen lemonade in a grocery store into a long-lasting relationship and a helicopter ride to a private ski resort overseas.