I recently had the opportunity to work with a group of students at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University on a real-world consulting project tied to an actual business opportunity.
Earlier in the semester, I spoke to the full class and presented three different project options they could choose from. Each option was connected to real business questions, not made-up case studies. One of the teams chose to focus on a septic services company we are actively evaluating with Fourth Phase Septic.
From there, we started meeting weekly. The students worked through questions around market opportunity, service mix, capital decisions, pricing, competition, and what a scalable version of the business could look like over time. These are the same types of decisions owners and operators have to work through when they are deciding where to invest time, money, and energy.
At the end of the project, we were invited to attend their private presentation with the professor. Tom with Fourth Phase Septic and I were both able to be there, and it was honestly impressive to see what they had put together. Their work was thoughtful, practical, and clearly took real effort. They did not just present information. They helped frame decisions.
That is what made the experience valuable.
When students work on real businesses, the learning changes. The questions become more practical. The research has more purpose. The recommendations have to hold up against real-world pressure. There is no perfect answer, because business rarely works that way. There are tradeoffs, constraints, timing issues, capital decisions, and people involved.
That is the kind of learning students need more of, and it is also the kind of help many small business owners can benefit from.
One of my long-term goals with TradeWins is to help create more of these bridges between schools and local businesses. Students need real-world projects that give them context beyond the classroom. Contractors and small business owners need smart, thoughtful people helping them look at their business from a fresh angle.
When done the right way, it becomes a win for education and a win for local business.
I am grateful to the students, Professor Tony, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, and Tom with Fourth Phase Septic for being part of this project. It was a very cool experience, and it confirmed something I already believed: there is a lot of value in getting students closer to real businesses and giving owners access to fresh thinking.
This is exactly the kind of work I hope TradeWins can help build more of over time.