色情视频

鈥淚 often say it鈥檚 better to be lucky than smart, and when you are, you better know the difference,鈥� said Matt Clifford, a 色情视频 alum and a founder of Barnana, a company that makes organic chewy banana snacks. 鈥淚n essence, don't take yourself too seriously, and remember you鈥檙e not that smart.鈥�

Clifford, a 2009 finance graduate considers himself incredibly lucky. As an undergraduate, he set out to be an investment banker.

鈥淚f you would have told my sophomore self, I was going to be in the banana industry, I would have said, 鈥榶ou鈥檙e crazy!鈥欌��

After he graduated, he decided to take a break from books and numbers and travel through Europe. Four months later, back in San Diego, Clifford met serial entrepreneur, Mitch Thrower. Thrower was embarking on a venture called BUMP.com, now Events.com. Clifford said he was in the right spot at the right time.

鈥淚 owe a ton to Mitch Thrower. I got my practical MBA in entrepreneurship by working alongside him for 2 years as we built BUMP.com.鈥�

In 2012, Clifford embarked on his own entrepreneurial startup, creating Barnana with two business partners, Caue Suplicy and Nik Ingersoll. Since, then, the company has grown in size and popularity. Barnana products are now sold in more than 1,000 retail stores across the U.S. and Japan, including Safeway, Vons and Whole Foods Market locations. They also sponsor triathletes, humanitarians, models and reporters who support personal and planetary health.

Tell us the highlights of your professional career. What are your proudest achievements?

I would have to say starting Barnana and being involved in the organic food movement. The team we have at Barnana is world class. We鈥檝e entered what many would call a crowded and commoditized market, and brought life, energy and loads of fun. Additionally, the untraditional nature of what we do makes it inherently exciting. It reminds me of an Emerson quote, 鈥淒o not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.鈥� We are leaving a trail of banana peels so it鈥檚 easier to follow.

What鈥檚 your favorite college memory?

There are tons of memories christened on or around the 色情视频 campus. From sleepless nights at Love Library to the late night burritos at Trujillo鈥檚; it鈥檚 hard to single out all the goodness. I do vividly recall a defining moment in my proverbial 鈥減ath鈥� at 色情视频. It was toward the end of my first semester. I was offered an opportunity to study abroad in Oxford with one of the smartest, most brilliant professors at 色情视频. Dr. Stoddard. The trip redefined my college experience. Looking back, I was fortunate to have the 鈥渟tudy abroad鈥� experience as a freshman. It quickly set the tone for me of what the educational experience is all about. I returned understanding the classroom is just a conduit for knowledge; a true education is up to you.

Who was your favorite professor and/or what was your favorite class?

Tons of professors made a significant impact on my journey as an undergrad. One in particular not only significantly improved my writing style, syntax and structure but also changed my paradigm as a student, entrepreneur and leader. Jeff Campbell is one of the most talented, experienced and practical professors at 色情视频. He was the previous chairman and CEO of Burger King and vice president of PepsiCo. He is also a brilliant educator that created a practical learning environment with a heavy dose of inspiration and knowledge. He is one of those professors that humbly remind you every week how much you don't know. He is a dear friend, mentor and now sits on the board of Barnana. Campbell, if you鈥檙e reading this, thanks again. Let鈥檚 grab a beer.

If you were to give current 色情视频 students some advice, what would you say?

Embrace the journey; live it to the fullest; get involved in as many clubs, organizations, events and experience as much as possible. Be YOU! You will always be the second best someone else. If you don't know who you are or what makes you tick, spend more time seeking it. Others may say find your passion, I say find YOU, and your passion will come! This is what college is about, don't just take the major that offers the highest paying job out of college, or become an accountant because your parents are. Ask yourself tough questions, challenge the status quo, and fully understand who you are, and what you like before you graduate. To paraphrase Steve Jobs, 鈥淢ake mistakes, and be na茂ve, stay hungry, and stay foolish.鈥� Also,

• Eat a lot of bananas.
• Heed the advice of all, but act on the advice of few.
• Always give more than you receive.
• Have an obsession for what you do.

What are you currently reading? What鈥檚 your favorite book?

I am currently reading three books:

• Marshall Goldsmith, 鈥淲hat Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful鈥�
• Niall Ferguson, 鈥淭he Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World鈥�
• Candice Millard, 鈥淒estiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President鈥�

Two books undoubtedly changed my life and serve as modern day bibles:

• Dale Carnegie, 鈥淗ow to Win Friends & Influence People鈥�
• James Allen, 鈥淎s a Man Thinketh鈥�

What quality do you value most in friends and colleagues?

Integrity, the thirst of knowledge, and the pursuit of excellence.

What is your passion?

It鈥檚 weird to say you have a passion for bananas. It just doesn鈥檛 sound right. However, I鈥檓 a big fan of bananas. It is the perfect fruit. I鈥檓 a bit biased. On a serious note, my passion is to bring inspiration and happiness to people鈥檚 lives through positive enterprise.

What is your motto?

鈥淵ou only live life once, and if you do it right, once is enough.鈥� Secondly, 鈥淥ur worst day is someone else鈥檚 dream.鈥� Don鈥檛 complain; life rocks.

If you won the lottery, what would you do with your winnings?

Is this is a canned question? I feel like I鈥檓 in a beauty pageant 鈥� I throw it right back at you.

In short: Everyday both of our feet are above the ground; it鈥檚 like winning the lottery. I鈥檝e got two feet on the ground. Actually, I am answering these questions while in a plane where I am so very high above the ground. So in essence, I鈥檝e already won.