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John Gustincic

@g_prof

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College Professor - Entrepreneurial Mindset Advocate - Attorney

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Poverty taught me something that privilege often cannot.
Nobody is coming to save you!
I don’t say that with bitterness.
I say it with gratitude.
I grew up poor.
My mother dropped out of school in the 10th grade.
My father dropped out in the 9th grade.
None of my four siblings graduated from high school.

We didn’t have money.
We didn’t have connections.
We didn’t have a roadmap.

What poverty gave me was something else.

Responsibility!

At a young age, I learned that if I wanted a different life, nobody was going to hand it to me. I learned that complaining doesn’t change your circumstances.
Excuses don’t pay bills. Victimhood doesn’t create opportunity. And life doesn’t care whether your reasons are fair. That lesson was painful. But it was also one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.

Once you realize nobody is coming to save you, something changes.
👉 You stop waiting.
👉You stop blaming.
👉You stop looking for permission.
👉You start building.
👉You start learning.
👉You start taking ownership.
👉You start creating value.

Over time, I learned something else. The people who succeed are not always the smartest. They are not always the most talented. They are not always the most connected. Often, they are simply the people who refuse to quit. The people who accept responsibility for their future.

Poverty taught me many things. But the most important lesson was this: Your circumstances may shape your starting point, but they do not get the final vote on your future.

That vote belongs to you.

— Professor G
#Entrepreneurship #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #Education #Resilience ProfessorG by @g_prof

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4 months ago

The academic year Central Michigan University has officially come to an end.

As I reflect on this past year, I find myself thinking less about lectures, grading, meetings, or deadlines and more about mentorship.

One of the greatest privileges of my life has been the opportunity to mentor students, especially students who may not yet fully see their own potential.

Some arrive carrying confidence. Others arrive carrying doubt.

Some are navigating financial hardship, anxiety, family struggles, loss, exhaustion, or the uncertainty of trying to find their place in the world.

Yet, they keep showing up. That matters. This year reminded me that education is not simply about delivering information or preparing students for exams.

It is about helping human beings grow.

Helping them understand that their voice, ideas, and future matter.

As someone who came from nothing, I understand how powerful encouragement and mentorship can be. Sometimes one person believing in you can change the trajectory of your entire life. That is why mentorship matters.

This year culminated in me receiving the Stan L. Shingles Award for Distinction in Mentorship, an honor recognizing the creation of a nurturing learning environment centered on diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.

I am deeply grateful and humbled by this recognition.
But the truth is, the real reward has always been the students.

Watching them realize they are capable of more than they imagined.

That is the work that matters.

To my students: Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey.

Your future is still being written.

Professor G

#HigherEducation #Mentorship #StudentSuccess #Leadership #Entrepreneurship Education ProfessorG CMU Innovation by @g_prof

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5 months ago

🚀 BUILT TO WIN!
Pitch to Win. Build to Succeed.

GOT A BIG IDEA? LET’S TURN IT INTO SOMETHING REAL!

I’m excited to announce BUILT TO WIN — Professor G’s Entrepreneurship Workshop Series, six FREE, hands-on workshops designed to help Central Michigan University students transform entrepreneurial ideas into ventures with real potential.

Whether you’re just exploring a business idea, developing a startup, or preparing to compete in a pitch competition, this series is for YOU!

We’re not just going to talk about entrepreneurship. We’re going to BUILD!

🔥 THE WORKSHOP LINEUP:

🏆 October 22 — THE BIG IDEA: From problem to opportunity.

🏆 October 29 — PROVE IT! Customer discovery and market validation.

🏆 November 5 — BUILD THE BUSINESS: Business models, pricing, and financial viability.

🏆 November 12 — MAKE IT REAL: Prototypes, proof of concept, and traction.

🏆 November 19 — PITCH TO WIN! Build a compelling pitch and learn to impress the judges.

🏆 December 3 — THE PITCH LAB: Practice your pitch and receive real feedback.

🎓 BONUS: EARN THE BUILT TO WIN — VENTURE BUILDER AWARD!

Attend at least 4 of the 6 workshops and earn a certificate recognizing your commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture development.

📍 WHERE: Grawn Hall, Room 150G
🕔 WHEN: Thursdays, 5:00–6:30 PM
🎓 WHO: All current CMU students, regardless of major
💰 COST: FREE!

Here’s what I want students to understand:

You don’t need a business degree. You don’t need investors. You don’t even need a fully developed idea.

You need curiosity, ambition, and the courage to take that first step.

Winning a pitch competition is exciting. But building something that succeeds in the real world? That’s the ultimate victory.

Questions? Email me at john.gustincic@cmich.edu.

YOUR IDEA COULD BE NEXT! 🔥

#BuiltToWin #ProfessorG #Entrepreneurship #CentralMichiganUniversity #CMU taken in Central Michigan University by @g_prof

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20 hours ago

HAVE YOU EVEN TRIED?
No, really. Have you even tried?

Far too many of us complain about our lives. We blame everyone and everything for our circumstances.

“I cant succeed because the system is against me.”
“I cant find a job because of ______.”
“I cant get ahead because capitalism sucks.”

And sometimes, the obstacles are real. Life isnt fair. Opportunities arent equal. Some people face enormous challenges that others will never understand.

But heres an uncomfortable question:
Have you actually done the work? Have you made a plan? Set a goal? Developed a skill? Taken a risk? Made a sacrifice?

Or have you become so comfortable explaining why you cant succeed that youve stopped asking yourself what you can do?

If you refuse to invest even one hour a week in building a better future, how can you expect that future to materialize? If you never take the first step, why are you surprised that you are standing in the same place?

Life is hard. And no, it is not equally hard for everyone. But waiting for life to become fair before taking responsibility for your future is a dangerous strategy. Here’s something I believe deeply: You cannot control every circumstance in your life. But you can take responsibility for how you respond to those circumstances.

Discipline matters. Effort matters. Persistence matters. And the willingness to get up tomorrow and try again matters.

You might work incredibly hard and still fail. But you will never discover what youre capable of accomplishing if you never make the effort.

It’s your life. Live it. DO THE WORK.

Professor G #PersonalAccountability #Discipline #EntrepreneurialMindset #PersonalGrowth #Resilience GrowthMindset Leadership Motivation ProfessorG BuiltToBuild by @g_prof

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3 days ago

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MENTOR?
It’s not easy!

Many seek out mentorship roles as a form of ego stroke. These mentors enjoy telling mentees how great they are (mentor). They are there for themselves, not the mentees. When the mentees truly need help, lease ego-driven mentors don’t show up. They will be there for the photo-ops, but not for the hard times.

I have been mentoring for 10+ years. I don’t recommend it to everyone. As a mentor, I am here to help current students, and former students 24/7. And I am not just saying that. I mean it. I am here to help 24/7.

I mentor students and former students in entrepreneurship, business, law, time management, discipline, goals, etc. These are the easy topics.

The reality is that the hard topics are failure, lack of motivation, lack of purpose, lack of support, financial hardship, health issues, homelessness, depression, and sadly, even suicide. When you sign up to be a mentor, you are signing up to positively impact the life of a mentee – their entire being – not just their ability to pitch a startup idea.

I believe my only true-life impact will be in mentoring, at least that is my hope. It’s not easy. I carry the weight of so many mentee problems and challenges on my shoulders. There are days it feels overwhelming – but I cannot and will not quit. I’d rather impact one life than participate in 100 ego-driven photo-ops.

Professor G

#Mentorship #MentoringMatters #TheWeightOfMentorship #MentorResponsibility #StudentsFirst BeyondTheClassroom RealMentorship ServantLeadership LeadershipWithPurpose LeadWithEmpathy StudentSuccess MentalHealthAwareness EmpathyInAction MakingADifference PurposeDrivenLeadership ImpactOverEgo PeopleOverRecognition BeTheMentorYouNeeded OneLifeAtATime ProfessorG by @g_prof

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4 days ago

BIG IDEAS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. SO CAN YOU.

This is the class I have always dreamed of teaching.

I am thrilled to share that the Central Michigan University Honors Program has adopted my new course for Fall 2027!

HON 321 — Ideas That Change the World: Innovation, Discovery & Human Progress

Over my years as a professor, I have observed something troubling: what I perceive as a decline in BIG IDEAS among our young people.

Not a decline in intelligence or potential. But perhaps a decline in the belief that they can actually change the world.

How terribly sad.

Human history is filled with people who dared to imagine something better. Vaccines. Electricity. Democracy. Flight. Civil rights. The internet.

Every transformative idea began with someone who saw possibilities where others saw limitations.

I want my students to rediscover the courage to THINK BIG.

In this course, we will explore the ideas that transformed civilization, the people behind them, and the failures along the way.

But we won’t simply study history. Students will identify meaningful problems facing humanity and develop their own innovative responses.

My greatest hope is not that students leave my classroom knowing more about innovation.

My hope is that they leave believing more in themselves.

That they recognize poverty, disease, injustice, and countless other challenges are not simply conditions we must accept. They are invitations to imagine something better.

You do not have to be wealthy, famous, powerful, or extraordinary to have an extraordinary idea.

You need the courage to question, the curiosity to discover, and the determination to act.

The world does not need another generation that simply accepts things as they are.

The world needs a generation that believes things can be better — and believes THEY can make them better.

That is why I created this course.

And I cannot wait to teach it.

— Professor G

Entrepreneurship Is a Way of Life. by @g_prof

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8 days ago

BIG IDEAS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. SO CAN YOU.

This is the class I have always dreamed of teaching.

I am thrilled to share that the Central Michigan University Honors Program has adopted my new course for Fall 2027!

HON 321 — Ideas That Change the World: Innovation, Discovery & Human Progress

Over my years as a professor, I have observed something troubling: what I perceive as a decline in BIG IDEAS among our young people.

Not a decline in intelligence or potential. But perhaps a decline in the belief that they can actually change the world.

How terribly sad.

Human history is filled with people who dared to imagine something better. Vaccines. Electricity. Democracy. Flight. Civil rights. The internet.

Every transformative idea began with someone who saw possibilities where others saw limitations.

I want my students to rediscover the courage to THINK BIG.

In this course, we will explore the ideas that transformed civilization, the people behind them, and the failures along the way.

But we won’t simply study history. Students will identify meaningful problems facing humanity and develop their own innovative responses.

My greatest hope is not that students leave my classroom knowing more about innovation.

My hope is that they leave believing more in themselves.

That they recognize poverty, disease, injustice, and countless other challenges are not simply conditions we must accept. They are invitations to imagine something better.

You do not have to be wealthy, famous, powerful, or extraordinary to have an extraordinary idea.

You need the courage to question, the curiosity to discover, and the determination to act.

The world does not need another generation that simply accepts things as they are.

The world needs a generation that believes things can be better — and believes THEY can make them better.

That is why I created this course.

And I cannot wait to teach it.

— Professor G

Entrepreneurship Is a Way of Life. #innovation #ideas by @g_prof

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8 days ago

The Cost of Unmasking

I have Asperger’s (a form of Autism). As a child parents and teachers beat me. They were literally trying to beat me into acting “normal.” Whatever normal is?

My high intelligence should have been a gift, but it made everything worse. I was smart, but my Asperger’s gifted me with high sensory issues (sound, smell, touch), and the inability to understand the emotion-based nuances of neurotypical language.

Asperger’s gifted me with the ability to speak plainly and truthfully. I had a brief respite when for two years I was placed in a program for gifted students. When that program ended, I was back with the wolves.

As I progressed through school, college, and finally law school, I learned how to imitate normal people (masking). I found that I could do it well. But I was living a lie. A 12-hour workday felt like 18-hours for me. The heavy cost of pretending to be that which I was not took a heavy toll on my health, and general well-being. Nevertheless, I persevered.
For decades, I lived a lie.

Two years ago, in late middle-age, I finally decided to live as my authentic self. I, John, have Asperger’s. I am really smart, but I “experience” the world much differently from most, and my brain works in systems, and patterns, not emotion.

I am healthier and happier today, but my career has taken a hit. I have found that the world is very much unkind to those who choose to live their authentic Autistic self.

I interact with those who champion diversity yet label me as “quirky” or “difficult” simply because I do not act like “them.”

Why did I come out of the Asperger’s (autistic) closet? In part, for myself, but in larger part, for those younger than I. They should not be forced to bury their authenticity, and in doing so, suffer daily.

To all those who are bothered by my quirkiness or my other autistic characteristic – you can kiss my ass. I no longer live to make you happy.

Professor G
#TheCostOfUnmasking #AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptance #ActuallyAutistic #AutisticVoices AutisticAdults AutismInAdults Neurodiversity Neurodiversity by @g_prof

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8 days ago

Build Self First!

We are taught that we will be happy or successful only after we build a career or launch a successful startup.

Reality? Neither will happen if you do not first build yourself!

We are the foundation upon which our lives, families and careers are built.

Before you build externally-take some time to build yourself from within.

Character has more impact on your future than any degree.

Professor G

#success #career #character #entrepreneurship by @g_prof

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10 days ago

FROM ENROLLMENT LOSS TO ENROLLMENT WIN:
5 PROFESSOR G TIPS

You cannot blame demographics forever while delivering the same experience and expecting different results.

1. Make the value obvious.
“Why should I choose you?” Answer that question with more than rankings, buildings, and brochures. Show students what they can build, who will support them, and how their education connects to the life they want.

2. Build relationships before asking for applications.
Get into schools and communities. Work with counselors. Bring current students who can speak honestly about their experiences. Earn trust through a sustained presence. A marketing campaign cannot carry the entire relationship.

3. Make belonging something students experience.
A campus visit should help a student think, “I can see myself here.” Learn their interests. Introduce them to a professor. Connect them with a student. Give them a reason to picture their future on your campus.

4. Remove the friction—and assign accountability.
Confusing financial aid. Unanswered questions. Slow decisions. Complicated transfers. Every obstacle gives a student a reason to leave. Assign someone responsibility for fixing each problem, with a deadline and a measurable result.

5. Keep the students you worked so hard to recruit.
Enrollment work continues after move-in day. Notice the student who stops attending. Reach out. Address academic, financial, and personal barriers early. Recruiting students creates an obligation to help them succeed.

Enrollment is everyone’s responsibility. Leadership must make that responsibility actionable.

Give students a compelling reason to come.
A meaningful reason to stay.
And an experience worth recommending.

— Professor G

#HigherEducation #EnrollmentManagement #StudentRecruitment #StudentSuccess #StudentRetention HigherEdLeadership CollegeAdmissions StudentExperience AccessAndOpportunity ProfessorG CMU CentralMichiganUniversity FireUpChips taken in Central Michigan University by @g_prof

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16 days ago

A Conservative Defends the Arts and Humanities

Why must everything justify its existence in dollars?

I belong to no political party. Many would describe me as conservative, and that is probably fair. My views lean toward classical liberalism and many conservative principles.

And I absolutely support the arts and humanities. We should not judge their value solely by what their graduates earn. A paycheck tells us something about employment. It tells us very little about beauty, understanding, meaning, or the human experience.

I am not a painter, sculptor, or musician. Yet, I love art. I love music. And reading extraordinary works of literature was one of the most significant tools that helped lift me from generational poverty toward opportunity, relative success, and financial independence.

Books expanded my world before I had the means to explore it. They helped me imagine a life beyond the circumstances into which I was born.

How do you assign a dollar value to that?

Now imagine our existence without the humanities.

No literature that helps us understand another person’s suffering. No art that makes us pause. No music that carries us through grief. No philosophy that challenges us to examine how we live.

The humanities bring beauty into a world that can be painfully ugly. They help us understand ourselves, and one another.

Yes, earning a living matters. I grew up in poverty. I understand that deeply.

But we are human beings. Our worth extends far beyond our economic output. Our education should reflect that. I am a conservative, and I defend the humanities.

Professor G

#Humanities #HigherEducation #Education #HumanDignity #ArtsAndCulture Literature LifelongLearning FirstGeneration Opportunity ProfessorG CMU CentralMichiganUniversity FireUpChips CMUAlumni CMUHumanities CMUArts by @g_prof

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16 days ago

Here for the Broken …

I love all of my students. But I have a special place in my heart for those who arrive feeling broken.

The student who grew up in poverty.
The student who survived abuse.
The student who has experienced homelessness.
The student living with depression, anxiety, or thoughts of suicide.

Some walk into our classrooms carrying burdens we will never see. They question their worth. They struggle to imagine a better tomorrow. Sometimes, showing up takes more courage than we realize.

In a class of 30 students, I care about every one of them. But if I can help one struggling student feel seen, find support, and believe their future is worth building, that matters deeply to me.

I cannot erase their past or resolve every struggle. I can listen. I can treat them with dignity. I can help them connect with support. And I can remind them that someone cares whether they come back tomorrow.

To the student who feels broken: your pain does not diminish your worth. You matter before you earn a grade, complete a degree, or achieve anything. If my kindness makes a difference in even one life, that difference is enough to give this work meaning.

Professor G
#HereForTheBroken #YouMatter #KindnessMatters #StudentSupport #MentalHealthMatters TraumaInformedEducation FirstGenerationStudents HopeForTomorrow HigherEducation ProfessorG by @g_prof

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17 days ago