Today I was reading an article in inc. magazine about interns and it reminded me of all the untapped talent and potential that exists in the world just waiting to be awakened, hungry to be developed.

Here are some famous interns who went on to develop their greatness:

Bill Gates: Congressional Page

Before Harvard University, before Microsoft, 17-year-old Gates spent a summer as a congressional page. A budding entrepreneur, he sold outdated campaign buttons as collectors' items.

Oprah Winfrey: WTFV TV

During her sophomore year at the Tennessee State University, Winfrey worked at WVTF-TV -- the CBS affiliate in Nashville. She was hired on to co-anchor the news from 1973-1976.

Patrick Ewing: Capital Hill

Former New York Knick Ewing, while a basketball star at Georgetown University, spent the summer of 1983 interning for the Senate Finance Committee. During his internship he met his now ex-wife, Rita, who was interning for then Senator Bill Bradley.

Brooke Shields: San Diego Zoo

Shields volunteered at the zoo through an internship program at her N.J. high school before heading off to Princeton University, where she studied French.

Jodie Foster: Esquire Magazine

Foster was already a celebrity before her summer of '82 internship at Esquire, but that didn't give her special treatment. Primarily doing office work, Foster realized the world of 9-to-5 wasn't for her.

Brian Williams: Jimmy Carter Administration

Before starting his broadcast journalism career, Williams, a college dropout, worked as an intern during the Jimmy Carter Administration.

Betsey Johnson: Mademoiselle Magazine

Johnson worked in Mademoiselle's fabric library after graduating from Syracuse in 1964. She started making clothes out of the fabric no one wanted and sold them out of the building's ladies room.

Each of these interns shared some common traits: They were hungry. They were goal oriented. They had BIG dreams. They were passionate. They possessed a willingness to learn and start at the bottom. They were eager and willing to work on advancing their knowledge, experience and understanding of their interests. They were committed to improving their skill level.

Some ended up in entirely different fields, but their experience as interns enabled their success in the profession they eventually did pursue.

One of the secrets or Time Commandments of time management is to empower the brainpower, talents, time and energy of others.

If you are running a business, perhaps it's time to consider finding a motivated intern and unleash a win-win relationship. Or perhaps you are the one who would bring value to a company or mission by becoming an intern.

Whatever the case, it's a great way to advance your goals more quickly and pursue your dreams. Internships can lead to synergistic relationships, which is a major key to Goal Achievement.

Time Managment is about working smarter, not harder.

Live Your Dreams