Sins of omission:

not linking up quickly with allies: School of Business, retired business leaders, German business community, other educational institutions (distance learning?), German student companies, US student companies

not finding a way to expand to other languages

not insisting enough on participation, revision, quality (a general fault of mine)

never could get them to see that they could exploit one of their chief competitors: ME (CosmoLingua, CosmoLexikon, Duke of Plaza Toro Enterprises) - I have a huge database of words in 8 languages

Sins of commission:

lowering standards (see course scoring guide)

still not leaving the teacher-center mode early and often enough

Lessons:

There's no such thing as doing too much too early to make them conscious of the need for a paradigm shift (what the course is, how they will be learning).

Be ready to change everything (the class-hour, the assignment, the quarter) if they start moving in a good direction. The student was not made for the course; the course is made for the student. (Anders gesagt: companies have their own lives and fates.)

Know when to let go: If the company consensus is to do it this way, give in.

If you even just a little think it's getting too abstract, you're right. (Avoid asking them to make complex plans and choices about the structure / management / future of the busienss.)

Great Moments:

16 October 2008: Don't you know that there are student businesses? Do you think I'm just playing with you? - And then the "got it".

Someone moved to the center (took away my ink-pen!)

They outvoted me about the choice of logo.

"Would you please go away and let us discuss this among ourselves?"

"I zink we can 'old ze Ausstellung wissout you."

Seeing their friends and family at the Ausstellung.

Hey! Speaking of the Ausstellung, let's have the Verlosung / drawing for door prizes. (Sorry, no Sachertorte!)