mytwotalents

Well 2008 is here and next time this year I will have lived through KWEST, CIM, and my first fall at Kellogg.  I know some of you are ready to turn in 2nd round applications (don’t forget to make sure your recommender’s have handed in their part!) - so to all of you may the next two weeks seem like a time freeze so you can finish editing and re-reading and adjusting your essays.  I think that the Chicago GSB power point slides will be interesting to look at once some sneak out online…

Well I will be taking a quant class here in the spring, and apart from that I am still busy trying to clean up the basement ahead of moving down to Evanston. I’m going to try to put together the FAFSA as soon as possible, but getting tax forms is always a struggle.  I am also looking at some summer opportunities that might even have a community service aspect.  Oh and yes I have been checking out some class requirements, but for the most part things won;t really start rolling till after DAK.

Last thing - I was watching the Iconoclasts show on Sundance the other day and it was very interesting to see how Norman Lear (I admit I did not grow up with his tv shows) and Howard Schultz (sbux whiz) became friends and in disparate arenas managed to influence life beyond the narrow roles we would normally give them.  Norman bought the U.S. Constitution and took it on tour to encourage voting.  Howard was a pioneer in health care for part-time employees, as well as ownership stakes.  Anyways, not totally related to mba  - except that meeting people from different arenas and learning from them IS really one of the top expectations and hopes that I have for my 2008-2010 journey.

Well I have to say that already knowing where I am going and not having to wait around has been huge! I remember sitting at Kellogg hearing Deena and the team reminding us to have a good Christmas and not fret about admit decisions. I was one of the ones that received the news earlier on (Dec 11th) so I haven’t had to worry much about it!

-To those of you still waiting, good luck.
-For those of you still working through 2nd round applications, good luck too - press on, it will be worth it.

I have been doing some school related researching, with the latest involving what smart-phone/pda I should get (iphone probably out since it is not supported) and looking more closely at classes. Yes I know it sounds like I still have so much time before starting, but it has been fun to dig in further knowing that’s where I’ll be next Christmas. Lastly, here is a lesser known Christmas carol on this most special day:

Pilgrims they were from unknown countries
Searching for one who knows the world
Lost are their names and strange their journeys
Famed is their zeal to find the Child
Jesus in You the lost are claimed, aliens are found and known and named.

Merry Christmas.

Well one thing I have realized through the application process is that I need to get more organized. I use a fairly simple excel doc to keep track of dates, essay, recommendations, logins, etc - but grad school is boot camp for time management for two straight years. I have not decided yet what I will use, but my brother in law J has some ideas and even gave me an itunes book as a congrats present for going to school. Once I settle on something I’ll post on it.

Right now I need to:

• brush up on some specific excel things I haven’t done in a while
• get ready for a certificate I’m taking
• start cleaning the basement so I can get the house ready to sell
• enjoy Christmas with my family

One thing to remember for all of us on this mba experience, let’s not get a big head. Not for getting into a top 3 or m7 or top 10 or top 20 or into any school at all. I was reminded of this today at work - and as I was going home I kept thinking about it in my brain. Am I excited to get into the school that I wanted to? YES! Days go by and I am just as excited - and yet I know that it will have to be an active exercise to not get a big head, which seems to be a hallmark of mba grads This world has enough big heads already, let’s do our part to reduce big-headedness…