TEMBA Gazette, Running Commentary, September 17, 2010

This fall marks the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the TEMBA program. During that time, we have witnessed graduates achieve significant success in both business and society. To celebrate these accomplishments, I will profile one graduate a month for a series we are calling TEMBA at Ten.


Some of these graduates have enjoyed notable entrepreneurial success. Others have taken on substantial roles in some of the world’s top corporations. Still others have made significant contributions to the community at large. All share a common trait: passion for what they do.

TEMBA Alum Kirk Coburn (far right)

Our first featured alumnus is Kirk Coburn. Kirk, a 2006 TEMBA graduate, had this harebrained idea to put golf on the radio. Well, guess what? It worked. Kirk founded the PGA TOUR Network on SiriusXM in 2005, successfully built the company and has since gone on to launch other successful ventures. If that’s not enough, Kirk recently completed the grueling Leadville Trail 100, a 100-mile high-elevation trail run in Colorado.

Kirk was kind enough to be the guinea pig for our TEMBA at Ten series. I asked him about his idea for the PGA TOUR Network, his other ventures, running, and, of course, his memories of TEMBA. I hope you enjoy.

First of all, thanks for taking the time to do this, Kirk. Tell me how you came up with the idea for the PGA TOUR Network?

The idea for the PGA TOUR Network, Channel 209 on SiriusXM, was created when my 1985 Land Cruiser FJ60 was traveling back and forth from Lake Travis to Round Rock to the University of Texas. I decided to upgrade to XM Satellite Radio to listen to better radio since I was in the car so long every day. During the most important golf tournament in the world, The Masters, I was unable to find one of the six-plus sports stations talking about it. The idea was born right then and there.

Who did you first share the idea with?

I first shared the idea with a neighbor who was also a long-time golfer. Before I figured out the business model, I first dreamed what a 24/7 golf channel would sound like. I became the listener first.

You were in the TEMBA program at the time, tell us about the advice and guidance you received from McCombs faculty.

At the time, I was working for Dell creating business cases for new products. I was a finance and accounting major at the University of Texas as an undergrad. My father was a very successful entrepreneur. I had a lot of business and financial acumen. Despite all of this, I knew almost nothing about being an entrepreneur.

The McCombs faculty taught me what every first-time entrepreneur lacks - the playbook for taking an idea, putting it down on paper and then taking it live. The training for HOW was bar none. My MBA paid for itself with the playbook alone – not a stale playbook, but an interactive experience whereby the world's best start-up and business experts critique my ideas, my research, and my next steps. But, this was not what truly made the PGA TOUR Network successful. The McCombs faculty and staff, especially the amazing Dr. Gary Cadenhead, actually connected me to business leaders who were critical for the network to launch. Dr. Cadenhead personally connected me to the CFO of Clear Channel, the world's largest radio conglomerate of the time, who had an equity stake in XM. THANK YOU Gary!

At the time, the PGA TOUR Network was the most successful launch in XM Satellite history. Were you surprised by this?

I was not surprised at all since I was telling everyone else that the research told us so, and that the advertising support was so strong. But in truth, I am sure that I was more relieved than surprised. You can't play that chip very often.

When did you quit your job at Dell to focus full-time on this venture?

This was a truly funny scenario. I decided to inform my bosses that I was working on a start-up idea. Given that I was also getting my MBA at night, my bosses most likely understood where my future was headed anyway. Before I told them about my idea and progress, I wanted a security blanket. I called in my chips and met with one of the C-Level executives who was known to make investments. The C-Level executive - whose name will remain anonymous - agreed that once I raised money from someone besides himself or herself, I should come back.

The good news is that a few weeks later, I raised over $600,000 so quickly from strategic investors that I no longer needed his or her money. When I did inform my bosses about the plan, I also let them know that their boss was considering an investment. I think that this kept me from being fired – at least that’s my story. I already had the funds, but I did not actually resign from Dell until I had the long-term legal distribution commitment signed by XM. So, I basically had a nice six months of hard work, but with an income during that period. THANK YOU DELL!

Sounds like you got the most out of the Art & Science of Negotiations course. O.K., so you had a successful launch, grew the company and then ultimately sold it. Was it tough to leave something you had been so intimately involved with from the beginning?

I cried like a baby for months. I was not in it for the money - seriously, people challenge me on this. I believe - and always will believe- that money is a result of following your passions. In the book, The Millionaire Mind, Thomas Stanley reviews the characteristics and distinguishing traits of the wealthiest people. It doesn’t turn out to be intelligence…whew!, business category, education, family’s opportunity or even major. All of the wealthiest people were all doing something that they absolutely loved! My entrepreneurial mission has always been to find an opportunity that connects my skills, passions and gifts.

You have been involved in a number of other ventures since the PGA TOUR Network. Can you tell us a little about those?

Sure. After starting the PGA TOUR Network, I became more confident and opportunistic. I started a sports marketing agency, Blush Marketing, that still is the best in the world at connecting consumers with technology at major events. We created XM's direct sales channel at major events, promoting and selling radios at NASCAR, MLB, NFL, PGA TOUR and NHL events. Due to our success generating bottom line results for XM, we were hired by other technology companies, big brands and sports properties interested in running programs at major events.

I took a passive role to pursue my other creative endeavors, including the financing and co-executive producing of a TV pilot that became optioned, and then a film project that closely followed. I then took an opportunity to start Chief Outsiders. Chief Outsiders outsources Chief Marketing Officers to growth and mid-market companies. It continues to grow and thrive. I just left the company a few months ago to focus exclusively on The Octane Group. I realized how much I missed the start-up phase and characters that enjoy playing in that world. At Chief Outsiders, we work for larger companies that need and can afford a CMO.

You’re President of Octane Group. Tell us more about Octane.

The Octane Group is a management consulting and investment company. We are made up of three entrepreneurs who have built and created companies, enjoy investing, but also want to get our hands dirty. In essence, we have been consulting - doing our own market research and getting paid to do it - to find our next big opportunity while investing in a few start-ups that fit into our target profile. We are currently working on a roll-up strategy that will entail raising a lot more money, buying a few critical assets and becoming the management team of a new entity.

O.K., as a fellow runner, I’ve got to ask you about Leadville. What’s it like to run 100 miles?

The Leadville Trail 100 is the highest 100-mile run in the world and goes over two major mountain passes. Trust me, I am an ordinary athlete. I finished the race and, in fact, did it with over 2 hours to spare. I am very proud of myself, but it was not the finish that makes me glow. It was a promise that I made prior to the race. I promised that no matter what happened, I would be joyful every step of the run. After 27 hours, 50 minutes and 35 seconds, I can say that I kept my commitment. I want to win, but I want to win while enjoying the journey. Running 100 miles is not an event, it’s a journey that started one year before the race.

Congratulations. That’s quite an accomplishment. O.K., final question…any advice for entrepreneurial-minded TEMBA students?

My advice to any TEMBA student: enjoy every step of the journey of TEMBA. There was not one day that I regretted it - despite having a new born baby…despite working 60+ hours per week…despite studying for the rest of the time. TEMBA taught me that I can do a lot more than I thought I could do. Without TEMBA, there would be no PGA TOUR Network and possibly no Leadville 100. And after reaching some crazy life goals - inspiring and empowering millions of people, building multiple multi-million dollar companies and accomplishing an athletic feat that is nearly impossible - TEMBA was the beginning of teaching me that these goals are only the beginning. I am accelerating. So my advice is really a question: Dear TEMBA student, DO YOU WANT TO ACCELERATE?

Awesome advice. Thanks Kirk. As always, it’s been a pleasure.

NOTE: To learn more about Kirk and to read his full race report, visit his blog at http://chiefoutsider.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/the-ordinary-athlete-leadville-trail-2010-race-report

TEMBA Gazette, Running Commentary, September 10, 2010

Unretouched photo of my car's floorboard on 9/8/10

Some attribute it to Francis Bacon. Others credit John Wesley. Whatever the origin, I’m quite certain of one thing – whoever coined the term cleanliness is next to godliness didn’t own a car.


I bring this up because of the current sad state of my own vehicle. Sure, the almost-vintage Infiniti G20 has served me well over the last ten years, dutifully starting nearly every morning while churning out more than 128,000 miles.

Sadly, in the last year or two, it has started to show its age. There’s the high-pitched whistling sound it emits every time you engage the ignition; and while I’ve found that turning off the AC eventually corrects the problem, who wants to do that during the hot Austin summer? I would rather endure the stares and momentary embarrassment than turn off the refreshing blast of cold air that greets me every time I turn the key.

There’s also the issue of fading paint. What the factory eloquently described as champagne gold back in 1999 is now closer to…well, let’s just say a friend fittingly describes it as more of a dung brown now, though she usually uses more colorful language. Add the cracked windshield, inoperable sunroof, cloudy headlamps, dented spoiler and minor scratches and you get a pretty clear picture of what I’m talking about.

Unfortunately, my car’s aging condition has led to neglect and indifference on my part. I rarely wash it and the interior space has become a personal landfill of discarded items. Just the other day, as heavy rains fell on campus, I offered a colleague a ride to her car, all the while secretly hoping she would decline so that I wouldn’t have to apologize for its unkempt appearance.

Turns out I’m not alone. In a 2008 survey conducted by Milliken & Company, nearly 2 out of 5 drivers admitted that they would be embarrassed to “drive around someone they wanted to impress.” The same survey found that nearly half of all drivers have apologized “for the state of their car’s interior before letting a passenger get in.”

Last night, after a plastic bottle wedged between the brake pedal and floorboard temporarily prevented me from slowing or stopping, I knew it was time to do something – time to show my car the respect it deserves for 10 + years of dependable service.

So, with trash bag in hand, I began the arduous task of clearing the debris from my car’s seats, floorboard, glove compartment and trays. The exercise only took 15 minutes and left me wondering why I let it get that way in the first place. I vowed, then and there, to not let it happen again…and that’s where you come in.

My theory is that if I tear down the façade and let you guys in on what was previously a closely-held secret – the fact that, in some aspects of my life, I am indeed a slob - then hopefully I will be less likely to repeat the messy behavior going forward.

What could be more embarrassing, I theorized, than sharing an unedited inventory list from last night’s clean-up? What deep, dark secrets would my worthless rubbish reveal about me? For the sake of a cleaner car, I decided that this was a risk I was willing to take. So, with some trepidation and embarrassment, I give you the list:


• 9 Disposable Coffee Cups

• 16 Disposable Coffee Cup Sleeves

• 8 Plastic Water Bottles

• 14 Plastic Water Bottle Caps

• 1 Unopened Water Bottle

• 5 Clif Bar Wrappers

• 1 Unopened Clif Bar (Peanut Toffee Buzz, no less)

• 4 Keys (no clue to where)

• 17 Napkins

• 4 Mints from the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center

• 3 Eight-Ounce Vanilla Milk Cartons

• 5 City of Austin Parking Stickers

• 2 Austin Fit Magazines

• 7 Mechanical Pencils

• 11 Texas Evening MBA Program Brochures (oops!)

• 2 Texas Executive MBA Program Brochures

• 2 Pinpoint Oxford Shirts (presumably to take to the cleaners)

• 3 New York Times Newspapers

• 21 Receipts (one dating back to 2008)

• 5 Business Cards

• 1 Blank CD

• 14 Paper Clips

• 2 Umbrellas

• 1 Stubb’s Wristband

• $1.39 in change (3 quarters, 2 dimes, 1 nickel and 39 pennies)

• 4 Pens

• 1 Built To Spill CD

• 2 Austin Chronicles

• 3 Dead Bugs

• 1 Austin Intensive Schedule

• 1 Banana Nut Muffin (now stale)

• 1 One-Half Yuan Chinese Coin

• 1 Banana Peel (yeah, I know)

• 1 CharlieCard from the T in Boston

• 1 $10 off Oil Change Coupon at Firestone (expired in March)

• 1 Sock (for the puppet show, perhaps?)

• 1 Matchbook from Liberty Bar in San Antonio

• 1 Sample Bottle of Aveda Men Pure Performance Shampoo

• 1 Apple Core (see Banana Peel above)

• 1 Cracker Jack Bag

• 1 Q-tip

• 1 Ticket Stub to the Rider vs. Texas NCAA Regional Baseball Game

• 1 Pavel Podkolzin Rookie Card

• 1 Plastic Spider

A long overdue wash following the clean-up

Sad, isn't it? Would you believe 228? Yep, 228 total items, most of it completely worthless. I have let my car become the mobile version of the Cathedral of Junk.

But that changes today. The way I see it, my car only has another year or two before it’s sent to the junk heap. The least I can do is try to keep it as clean as possible during its twilight years. Who knows, with a little TLC and elbow grease, perhaps my sons could inherit this classic automobile when they turn 16 in two short years.

After all, there’s nothing quite like a screeching, dung brown four-door to impress the ladies, eh? Good luck, boys.

TEMBA Gazette, Running Commentary, September 3, 2010

Much has happened since the last installment of Running Commentary. TEMBA admitted a sensational new class (welcome guys!); vuvuzela joined roughly 2,000 new words in the Oxford Dictionary of English; BP lost virtually all of its brand value as a result of the oil spill; and I drove 4,462.68 miles on back-to-back family road trips…not that I was counting or anything.

You can do a lot of thinking when you drive for more than 70 hours. I spent most of it thinking about what I must have been drinking when I agreed to drive nearly 4,500 miles across eleven states with teenagers aboard. The balance of my time behind the wheel was considerably more productive, except for that momentary lapse in focus that resulted in a speeding ticket near Clines Corner, New Mexico.




I thought a lot about the TEMBA program – things we are doing right and things we can do better. Not to toot my own vuvuzela or anything, but I believe we’ve done some great things in the last few years and I’m excited about where the program stands as it enters its 10th year of existence. Much of this success is due to student involvement and I sincerely appreciate all of you helping make the program the best it can possibly be.

I think it was somewhere near Bucksnort, Tennessee during the third leg of our journey when I completed – in my head at least – my list of goals for the program for the current academic year. Some were related to admissions and ensuring that we continue to attract and enroll exceptional students. Others involved initiatives that better integrate TEMBA students with our other MBA programs. Still others focused on enhancing the experience beyond the classroom.




You will hear about a number of these initiatives through me or the GBC in the coming weeks. I do, however, want to highlight one particular project that I sincerely believe will become a hallmark of the TEMBA program, and that’s the TEMBA Enrichment Series.

A few years ago, Lorelei Supapo from the Class of 2011 pitched the enrichment series idea to me. I liked her ideas a great deal, but felt we had some basic blocking and tackling to perfect before launching any new initiatives.

Since that time, a lot has happened. For one, we have merged our portfolio of MBA programs under one umbrella. One thing that came out of this realignment was the opportunity to look at a broader range of opportunities for all of our MBA students, particularly through our MBA + program.

MBA + had previously focused almost exclusively on the full-time student population. With the integration of all of our programs, MBA + can now offer expanded opportunities to all students. I know that taking on these additional responsibilities has been challenging, so I want to commend and thank the MBA + team for making things like the TEMBA Enrichment Series a reality.

So what is this new series and what does it mean for you? As the name implies, the goal of the program is to enrich your overall experience through a series of workshops, speakers, seminars and trainings. While the entire series is optional, the content will be very topical, practical and relevant to your career goals and interests.

Topics will include entrepreneurship, financial modeling, global business and communications. The series will include access to specialty one-on-one coaching in such diverse areas as speech anxiety, talent management and personal branding. I encourage you to review the information on the specialty coaching in Section 1 of today’s TEMBA Gazette.

The MBA + team has developed some outstanding programming for the year. I encourage you to take a look at the sessions below and note those sessions for which you have an interest on your calendar. We have tried to schedule these sessions on dates and times convenient for you and your schedule. More details will follow soon.

TEMBA ENRICHMENT SERIES, 2010-11

Putting Wisdom to Work on Project Teams presented by Chris Douglas
Thursday, Sept. 30
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Legacy Events Room

Venture Capital & Entrepreneurship: Why the Tension? presented by Kevin Williams
Thursday, Oct. 14
5:30-7:30 p.m.
GSB 5.142A

LESCANT Model of Business Communication presented by Orlando Kelm (not confirmed)
Thursday, Nov. 11
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Legacy Events Room

Marketing Yourself & Your Ideas by Mimi Drumwright
Thursday, Dec. 2
5:30-7:30 p.m.
GSB 3.130

Quick & Effective Intercultural Assessment presented by Deirdre Mendez
Thursday, Jan. 27
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location TBD

Unleashing the Power in PowerPoint presented by Steve Toms
Thursday, Feb. 10
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location TBD

Clear & Confident Speech presented by Pamela Christian
Thursday, Feb. 24
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location TBD

Other communications topics will be offered at the same time on March 31, April 14, and April 28. Location for the spring TBD.

In addition to the offerings above, the following sessions are in conjunction with the full-time and executive MBA programs. We have reserved seats for TEMBA students in all of these sessions as an opportunity to expand the offerings available to you and as a way to get to know students in other programs better.

MBA Sales Training presented by Jeff Hoffman
Friday, Sept. 24
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
ACES Auditorium

Corporate Valuations with Training the Street
Friday, Nov. 12
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location TBD

Strategic Search Engine Marketing with 360 Partners
Saturday, Jan. 22
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location TBD

Financial Modeling with Training the Street
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 11-12
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location TBD

Taming the Email Beast & Other Time Management Strategies presented by Randy Dean
Friday, Feb. 18
Time TBD
Location TBD

Positioning Corporate Social Responsibility: Identifying Social & Environmental Bottom Lines with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
Friday, February 25
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location TBD

First 90 Days presented by Doug Dierking (tentative)
Friday, April 8
Time TBD
Location TBD

As you can see, the MBA + team has put together some diverse and robust offerings. I’m very excited about this launch and hope you share my enthusiasm. I would love to hear your thoughts.

As a reminder, I post this commentary on a blog and encourage you all to become subscribers and comment as much as possible. Here’s the link, http://trentsrunningcommentary.blogspot.com/.

I’m in the process of revamping the site for better readability. In coming weeks, it will include more pictures and links that I hope you find of interest.

To the Class of 2013, welcome. I’m excited to have you in the program. To the Classes of 2011 and 2012, welcome back. I’m looking forward to an excellent year. Cheers.