Classroom Pass is an Iowa Now project that sent teams of writers, photographers, and videographers to 15 classes on Wednesday, Oct. 22, to showcase the breadth and strength of the University of Iowa's academic offerings for undergraduates as well as its dynamic faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. See what other classes they visited.

Class: Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Instructor: Joseph Sulentic, lecturer in entrepreneurship

UI student Kyle Krauter wants to be the general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals some day.

But, often, achieving goals is about forging mental toughness despite life’s trials.

So, after presenting his personal brand and aspirations for the future to the class with four other students, the Donnellson, Iowa, native takes a seat and is ready to learn.

Today’s lesson in Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Way of the SEAL.

Whether it’s getting a good grade, nailing a job interview, or asking someone out on a date, instructor Joseph Sulentic draws on lessons from a retired Navy SEAL commander when he tells his students, “First, you have to win the battle in your mind.”

Much of the course is about helping students determine what they’re trying to achieve, and giving them the tools to do so.

“It’s not ever going to work out perfectly for you, so you have to look at these challenges that are thrown your way as an opportunity to learn and grow,” he says. “If you view a challenge as something that is going to make you a better person, then you really don’t have to be worried about it.”

Take Michael Jordan, for example. He didn’t make his 9th grade basketball team.

“And he used it as fuel to get better,” Sulentic says.

“When you speak with successful people, or people who love what they do, they generally don’t have a negative mindset, it’s a positive mindset, so that’s what you need to think about,” Sulentic tells the class.

“Visualize what you want to achieve.”