Let's go sell the world some neckties!

Jeremy Cogan (MA '10) gave a rousing speech at the School of Public Affairs Commencement ceremony today in which he recounted his experience with a Beijing clothing vendor whose persistence and openness to criticism provide some valuable lessons to those of us who are embarking on our careers. The shopkeeper, after hearing Jeremy's comment about her ugly ties, heeded the complaint, replaced the ties with some that were more to his liking, and ended up convincing him to buy some of them after all. The anecdote is humorous and a bit silly, but Jeremy uses it to make some excellent points...