College Pro sat down with one of College Pro rising entrepreneurs Dylan Downie to find out what has made him shine into a great entrepreneur.

Name: Dylan Downie
Current Position: General Manager
Location: British Columbia


When did you start working for College Pro and in what role?
I started with College Pro in 2007 as a franchisee.

What were your prior job experiences?
Prior to College Pro, I worked on a farm, at a farm dealership and in construction.

1. Entrepreneur Gift Guide

Not sure what to get that special entrepreneur in your life? Check out this gift guide from Inc.com for some great ideas!

2. Twitter Crushes Facebook for Marketing

Social Media Marketing is everywhere these days. Trying to figure out a strategy for your business can be tricky, but Entrepreneur Magazine suggests that Twitter is a better resource than Facebook. In fact, they say Twitter crushes Facebook!

3. Best Movies for Entrepreneurs

The Wall Street Journal picks the best scenes from films to inspire entrepreneurial startups; from Jerry Maguire to Dead Poet’s Society.

Social Media is everywhere. It seems like every business out there is on Twitter, and asking you to join their Facebook page. It’s become a valuable tool to reach, and interact with, your customers. Check out this video for some mind blowing social media numbers.

There are new articles every day about how to make the most of this medium, but many of them boil down to the same few things.

In a very real sense, entrepreneurship has changed everything. There is truly no part of my life it hasn’t touched. Still, I feel that it has been less about change and more about simply allowing me to be myself.

While growing up I would often spend hours upon hours learning something new. When I was young I loved building things with Lego’s. In 6^th grade I made my first web sites, and I started making online computer games just a few years later. I’d ask for books on graphics programming and AI for Christmas. I was, and will always be, a total nerd.

Here is the College Pro week in review including the top stories we enjoyed this week.

1. Beyond Viral: How Successful Marketers Are Embracing the Social Web

“Marketers who take advantage of the Internet’s unique capabilities have the potential to build increasingly engaged customer communities. Here’s a look at three major trends.”

2. Develop a Customer Service Manifesto
- Seven tips to turn your customer service into a memorable experience.

3. 6 Ways to Stand Out in a Crowded Market

“Many small businesses struggle to compete against bigger, more visible, and better-resourced companies, but it’s even tougher to survive when what you sell is basically a commodity.  That’s why I’m so impressed with the scrappy independent booksellers who have wholeheartedly embraced the philosophy that it’s not the “what” of business that really matters but the “how.”

You know what’s nice about learning about math for the first time? Getting an opportunity to practice solving hundreds of problems before its time to take the big test. Unfortunately, when its your first time starting a company, you don’t have the luxury of practicing beforehand. You also don’t have a teacher to correct your mistakes, and you will inevitably make mistakes. But if you’re lucky, none of them will bankrupt your company.  When I started Enovative Kontrol Systems I definitely made mistakes. So far, none of them have been lethal to the company, but there were some close calls.