tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51276202024-03-17T22:03:28.399-05:00poweryogiPowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.comBlogger400125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-12066486591868317962007-07-19T10:52:00.000-05:002007-07-19T11:06:37.840-05:00Hasta La Bye Bye, Windy CityIn the past couple of days, as a take-my-mind-off-packing-er, I've been reading Dan Brown. So, I guess that's why I'm looking for signs and their meanings. Last night, it rained. Pretty heavily. And, I was thinking back to last year, a taxi ride to Ezeiza airport in BsAs. As my friend and I left our hostel, what seemed like a clear-ish sky darkened, and then opened up. I was told then that it was a very good thing - it means that the heavens are sad to see you go and these are their tears. I'd like to think they were crying for me pretty hard last night. In any case, they did manage to postpone my cleaning up, whereupon I find myself today still here, having lunch at my <a href="http://www.kristofferscafe.com/">favorite</a> coffee shop, a few minutes away from leaving this fantastic city. I'm all packed and house keys have been handed over.<br /><br />Officially, Homeless.<br /><br />I'm not one for long goodbyes, but while Chicago will always be here, it won't ever be the same city for me when I return. My time in Chicago has been so intricately associated with my GSB experience. I will miss Chicago - it is a truly magnificent city - but I will miss so much more the people I got to get to know this city with.<br /><br />OK, shut up and drive time. Next stop: Boston. 1000 miles.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-69565493094840222052007-07-06T14:09:00.000-05:002007-07-15T13:31:08.928-05:00Four KingsIt has been my experience that, when it come to courses, choosing Professors matters more than the subject itself. This has been made more stark as I sit here and try to 'remember' what I actually learned in the two years past ... and I have to say that not a great lot has actually stuck : I'm sure things will come back in context when they need to, but.<br /><br />I've actually been lucky to have taken classes with some amazing professors, but in the spirit of forced curve grading, here are my top Four faves, in no particular order. It's actually really hard to choose four over the rest (save a few), but the reason these cats jump so high is because they brought something to the experience that elevated, and this is a personal observation, the classroom beyond being just a place to imbibe what they had to profess.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Austan Goolsbee</span>, Robert P. Gwinn Professor of Economics<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Economics and Policy in the Telecom, Media and Technology Industries</span><br /><br />The first time I raised my hand in class to make a point, Prof. Goolsbee pointed to me and before I could say anything, he said, "PY, you know I am going to laugh at you if you make a stupid argument, right." And, I loved him for that. Far from being a repudiation of the No-Stupid-Questions ethic, his teaching style is the closest I've seen at the GSB to the Socratic method of learning knowledge. He openly encouraged <span style="font-style: italic;">debate</span>, insisting on people coming to class not just having read his cases, but with formed opinions. These opinions were then set off to clash, Prof. Goolsbee nudging and prodding from the Well, until either one was convinced, and hence able to convince the class, of the strength of their arguments, or seeing the chinks therin, and accepting an alternative thesis. Not just what, but <span style="font-style: italic;">Why.</span><br /><br />And, Prof. Goolsbee did it in a manner all his own. I'm fond of the adage that the problem with adults is that they are not kids. Watching him in class is like seeing a kid playing with his latest infatuation. He's all over the place, gesticulating, and radiating an infectious energy. In his free time, he's rumored to moonlight as a stand-up comedian at Second City, and that's probably where the funnies come from. His class was a riot, and the mirth was perfect foil for what was unfolding - under the guise of applying economic principles to analyze policy decisions and their impact on TMT industries, I found myself being instructed in the subtle arts of <span style="font-style: italic;">critical reasoning</span>. I have not come across another professor at the GSB that actually pushed so hard - my yardstick for evaluation being my sitting in class debating with myself in my head. This is also the class that I have most recommended to my peers, and I highly recommend it to anyone attending the school in the future.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Ronald S. Burt</span>, Hobart W. Williams Professor of Sociology and Strategy<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Social Network Analysis</span><br /><br />Prof. Burt during his first lecture: "As you sit in this class, think of yourself as a gumball machine. If you have a question that comes to mind, let it roll out like a gumball. And, I'll be watching for it. If there are too many well-thought-out questions, I'm going to stop the class. Because, that means that you are not asking enough questions that you don't have answers for. And, that's a dangerous thing." I paraphrase, of course, but that was the general tenor of the Ph.D class on Social Network Analysis that I audited during Autumn Quarter 2006. Prof. Burt is a sociologist, a leading authority on brokerage in social networks, and a phenomenal professor. While the class alternated between hard-core quant stuff and analysis of network behavior, I couldn't help but be in a constant state of <span style="font-style: italic;">thinking</span>. I have scarcely been in a class where I felt afforded the luxury of letting my mind wander - in the best possible way. I would sit in class totally engaged yet thinking of situations, from my past experiences and what was going on around me, where the concepts being talked about applied, their interplay, their foilbes, and then being a gumball machine: I suspect I asked way too many questions for someone auditing the class, but Prof. Burt was very patient, helping me understand what I didn't. If I have to nutshell it, I'd say I learned to <span style="font-style: italic;">extend</span> the argument, search for applications beyond the obvious, to seek meaning where it's not immediately evident. It's hard to describe, but the class was totally awesome. (to be more precise, the classes that I ended up going to - I did miss a few)<br /><br />Prof. Burt is also an evangelist for the Chicago School. In his opinion, at the University of Chicago, one is at very high risk of running into an articulate opposition to one's idea. At that point, you have two options - either an equally articulate response or an acceptance of a divergent point of view. I learned more about what this school is about - with, at its core the Workshop methodology of knowledge creation - by listening to him than any literature. Prof. Burt is also an extremely nice and approachable guy - I had occasions to talk with him about his work, my experiences at the school, organizations and networks, and also interviewed him for an article for the school newspaper.<br /><br />A few months ago, out of the blue, I received an email from him asking about my job search. Basically he said that I was an interesting person, and that interesting people don't place as easily as uninteresting people, and that he was worried if I was well. He offered any help or advice to make sure I was OK on my first steps post-GSB. Receiving this email was one of the few 'moments' of my time at the GSB, one that set down some roots, if I may, when the place took a step away from being a 2-year transit stop to one where someone else cared about what was going on with me, and wanted to see good things happen.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Matthew S. Bothner</span>, Associate Professor of Organizations and Strategy<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Strategy and Structure: Markets and Organizations<br /><br /></span><span>I can't seem to remember if it was Fall Preview or Admit Weekend when I sat in on a class by Prof. Bothner. I do remember the class though, where he talked about Explorers and Exploiters in the context of strategy, using Apple and Wal-Mart as examples. A great class, full of energy and brining a new perspective to things around us. Later that day, I was standing outside the building when Prof. Bothner, on his way home, stopped by to talk with me. We talked about going to school here, the teaching, faculty etc, and ended with him suggesting that this would be a great place for me to attend.<br /><br />I did, and this pattern of random conversation repeated itself several times, starting with my taking his class. Prof. Bothner is a great teacher, and I have not studied under anyone so dedicated to his students. He brings a phenomenal amount of energy to the classroom, is constantly in motion, generated involvement in his case discussions, and uses media - video and audio clips - extensively, making for an interesting experience. He also grades his cases himself, and writes detailed individual reports back to each student - 180 of them in a quarter - for 3-4 cases. &, he is totally available for discussion and advice. I remember a time when we hung around class talking about Jack Welch, and my lack of any desire to be a CEO :), until 10:30 PM!<br /><br />The all-round-great-guy apart, what endeared me is his approach to the issues of business and strategy. He is a sociologist by training (I've come to realize, I've taken a fascination to that subject), and seems not to be full of the business BS. In one especially memorable class, he was talking about Annealing. You know, the process of shaping metal by heating it first and then letting it cool to reveal its new form. The class was about applying the analogy to shaking up organizations in the midst of uncertainty. I ask him a question: How do you know when you've heated things up enough and it's time to let things cool? I was expecting a framework-type answer, when he turned to me and: "You've got to feel it in you Gut." I can't think of any other professor who could have given me that answer. When you are surrounded by people who think they know the answers, or are learning them everyday, it's quite the summer rain to be reminded that there is no magic bullet - that despite all the education, the fancy diploma, it still comes down to intangibles.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Omar M. McRoberts</span>, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ethnographic Methods<br /><br /></span><span>This one is from my Book of Quirky. Any professor who says motherfucker in class has to be a hero, methinks. And, any professor who doesn't fail you for saying <span style="font-style: italic;">fucking</span> in your final report has to belong to a pantheon of something, ya.<br /><br />Prof. McRoberts is not a GSB professor, he teaches a graduate class in the Sociology department that I took in my final quarter. I walk into class my first day and realize that I have never taken a class with a black professor - it just never happened. And, there was the coolest cat ever to have sat at the head of a class I've been in - dreadlocks, smart as fuck, chill, the works. And, he said something that I should carry around inscribed on something:<br />"Nothing I profess today I've ever learned in a classroom."<br /><br />He was talking literally: about how there was no class on Ethnographic Methods, the class he was teaching, at Harvard; how he was trained as a sociologist but his work now is in History. But, I read a more profound meaning: Classroom education is not just a starting point, but an obligation: to move beyond, to discover different things. Simplistic, I realize. But, one can tend to forget these small things when in business school, being around people whose choice of learning is linked directly to what they want to do - bankers want to major in Finance and Accounting, someone concentrating in Marketing wants to find a job in, no surprises, marketing. This is taken to extremes sometimes - people squeezing in a course so that they can get a concentration in something so that they can put it on a resume; conversely, not giving a damn about courses that are somehow not related to their intended line of work. <span style="font-style: italic;">Immediate </span>line of work, emphasis mine.<br /><br />And, lest you think that this was a profanity-laced experience, I was being a tad facetious. Prof. McRoberts tells stories. One of his best was when we were discussing reading about the culture of Jazz musicians, about the concepts of front-stage and back-stages, literally in performers and profoundly in people's behaviors when they are around others. He told us about the time his dad went to see Miles Davis play. After he finished his set, Dad walks over to the stage:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mr. Davis, I just wanted to say that I'm a big fan. Love your music.<br /></span>And, Miles, being the consummate non-square:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Motherfucker, I don't need to be talking to you.<br /><br /></span>I learned a phenomenal deal from the class about people, and their relationship to the Around them. And, I did a cool 10-week project: An ethnography of the GSB Communities. The plural is deliberate. After observing people in their environment, writing fieldnotes, parsing through this data, I ended up generating a theory about how students here live in 2 sometimes, sometimes not, overlapping communities - the existent one and an imagined one. It was a fascinating report, and hard to summarize all 18 pages of it, profanity et al.<br /><br />I could go on, but I should stop. It's taken me a while, interruptions considered, to write this post. And, I need to pack.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-25232628012087031432007-07-06T13:08:00.000-05:002007-07-06T13:16:13.910-05:00The GSB Life That WasI find myself with some time between sleeping nowadays and am going to do a series of posts looking back at my two years at the school. There is much to be said - should have been said during the past two years, really - and I'll try to cover decent ground over the next week or so.<br /><br />Not sure if anyone still reads this blog, but this is also more of putting some finality to my experience thing. First post being typed up in a few minutes.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-88310265705768889642007-07-05T14:10:00.000-05:002007-07-05T15:34:38.895-05:00historias del cuarto del julioWhen you have things to do, a holiday is a most welcome thing. But, when you are on holiday, a holiday can be quite a pain. I mean, what do you mean that the coffee shop is closed today? At 2 in the afternoon? But, but, I just woke up? Observance of holiday shmoliday. All right, I complain too much.<br /><br />I had the second most unusual 4th of July this year. Usual usually has meant staking out a nice spot - on the grass by the Charles, or in Point State Park, or facing Mount Nittany - and watching the choreographed fireworks. A few years ago - Most unusual - I was in Alaska with friends headed towards Seward on the evening of the 3rd. Without having a place to stay, of course. From many miles outside town, we started to come across bed and breakfasts. While I love these joints for their individual eccentricities, they seemed to have a shared similarity that day - No Vacancy signs outside. We must have driven for a couple of hours trying to find something - and there would be a repeated pattern. We would pull into one that didn't have an explicit Go Away sign (and these were all similar in their layout too, a gravel road that led off the highway for a bit before one came across the home), only to have the owners peek at us suspiciously, or in one case, us locking the car doors at the sight of the giant dogs coming at us! <br /><br />Finally, we pulled into Alaska Nellie's, an old home inhabited by an old woman, and with a set of trailers outside. The trailers were partitioned into small 'rooms' that she was renting out. One of my friends went in, and asked her if she had a vacancy. She did! But, she said, she couldn't rent it to us. Why, Why. Why?? Well, because it had only one bed and we were three. Oh. We'll take it, señora angel. For a bunch of unwashed guys coming off sleeping in tents for 4 days, it was no problema. At all. That night on the floor of that trailer (my friend who was driving us got the bed), was one of my soundest nights of sleep. <br /><br />Turned out the big Rush was for a marathon that's held every 4th in Seward - this one starts in town, and goes up and down a mountain. Checked out the town that AM, headed back to Anchorage, and got a super vantage point to watch the fireworks that night - from the window seat of an airplane with the pilot banking to get us a better view. Very Cool, indeed.<br /><br />Chicago, I was told recently, has it's main fireworks on the evening of the 3rd, so that individual neighborhoods can have their celebrations on the 4th. I should have paid attention.<br /><br />On the evening of the 3rd, I arranged to meet a friend for dinner. She had just moved to LakeView and I live on the south side of town. No issues - it's a 20-odd minute drive. If I left home at around 9, we would be all settled in and breaking bread by 10. So, I leave at 9:15, and at 10, I'm like 4 blocks from my house. Stuck in what must be the second most insane traffic I've seen in the US (the worst was crossing the GW Bridge into New York one especially busy evening). It was gridlock everywhere. Roads closed. No left turns. Jesus in his manger. Christ! So, I decide to go west and take an alternate route. Only problem was, getting to that alternate route meant taking police-mandated alternate routes due to road closings. Finally, I pick up my friend at around 11:30. I know a couple of places that are open until midnight. We make some wrong turns, thanks to Chicago's ingenious 6-way intersections, and get there too late. Really starving at this point, we decided to head to Chinatown, where I know a 1 AM place. <br /><br />So, we finally head south and find a spot to park - it's around 12:15. And, Penang is still open. It was really funny except for the fact that I was starving to the point of dropping dead - Chinatown is 3 blocks from my house :) 3 hours of non-stop driving just to endUp round the corner! But, the evening progressed dandily from there, nice times were had by all.<br /><br />Yesterday, the 4th, I woke up late, missed my coffee due to previously ranted Observance of holiday shmoliday, and promptly went back to sleep. Was woken up by my downstairs neighbor with an invite for a soiree at his place, which I lazily stumbled into around 9. Just about the time they were getting ready to leave. Invited along for a walk in the neighborhood, I decided to go along.<br /><br />And, boy, am I glad I did.<br /><br />I live, or am living my last few days tobemoretothepoint, in Pilsen, which is Chicago's Mexican neighborhood. And, as we set out (Destination: Tim's backyard, Agenda: Fireworks watching), it was just the coolest street scene. At every corner, there was a block party. And, these were really organized. A small tent covered music players and huge speakers, food, liquor and table-spreads of fireworks. On the streets, there were girls dancing to the music, elder people sipping Caronitas on their porches or lawn chairs, trucks blocking off traffic, chicos setting off fireworks on the street, people running from badly aimed missiles. I was told that these fireworks were actually brought in all the way from Mexico! And the noise - there was only one reference point for the cacophony surrounding me: Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights. Took me back to memories of my own childhood. Very Cool.<br /><br />We stopped by a friends' of somebody, set off a few ourselves, strolled through a couple of these parties, and settled into comfortable lawn chairs in a backyard watching the being-illuminated night sky. And, thusly the night progressed, surrounded by artists and fabulous conversation about The Alchemist, stealing bikes, being 40 and wanting a perfect bike, juggling school|work|art, audio books, Salman Rushdie, holding on to a perfect job and suchlike. <br /><br />It was one of those unexpected and subtle evenings that made me glad that I chose to act on an impulse and live in this neighborhood. I've gotten to know my neighbors, been exposed to a variety of art, and more importantly, a bit of understanding of the struggles of artists as they hold on to doing what matters to them. And, though I rant, I love going to my local coffee shop, where the people know me by name, and I them. Man, I am going to miss it all. (not, of course, the bastard who stole my bike)<br /><br />¡Feliz Cuatro de Julio!PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-49942416638225853952007-06-15T17:26:00.000-05:002007-06-15T17:58:26.960-05:00And So, it Ends. Or Starts a New Beginning.It's officially Official. I passed my classes! And, the Regents of the University of Chicago have, with the powers conferred on them by God Almighty and the Spirit of Rockefeller, conferred on Yours Truly the degree of Master of Business Administration. They have also, in the process, and in their own words, admitted me to a long and illustrious community of scholars. Well, nobody's perfect, ya.<br /><br />The long silence on this blog has been yin-and-yang matched by a raucous final quarter. I'm really sad that it's over. So sad that I'm back on campus today hanging out in a coffee shop. (ok, i don't have internet access at home. But, also.) This is going to be a period of my life that I am going to really miss. I met some awesome people, did some cool things, found myself a great amount of time to think about some interesting subjects, enjoyed being on a truly inspirting campus in a wonderful city, and, well, lived through it all to tell some great stories.<br /><br />I think I recall one of our graduation speakers telling us that we have dreams, and we have memories, and then there is the Moment. I can't say I've made all the right decisions, but I will leave this place with wonderful memories, and BIg dreams for the future. I can't suspect that anything more can be asked of this experience.<br /><br />So, to the Classes of 2007 who have just graduated, Many Congratulations.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-48488730665848239982007-03-16T16:09:00.000-05:002007-03-16T17:06:47.697-05:00So, What Happened<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Thus, gently prod, Shmoo, commenting. Wait. Is this even a real sentence? It feels like it should be. Makes sense in my mind, but I'm not really sure. Kinda like every single question on a Macro final that I just finished today. Man, I so got owned. I think it's been a while since I saw a bunch of questions where I couldn't honestly say that I 'knew' the answer. I ended up trying to figure out answers that, in the end, seemed like they made sense, but. It's all mercifully over now. Just handed in my final case write-up for another class, and the finals for this quarter are done.<br /><br />Yesterday, in the middle of finals week, I had another interview, this time by video conference. It was really wierd to talk staring at two screens next to each other, one of which was me. Kinda felt like the videos they shot of us doing mock interviews as part of Career Services prep when I got to the GSB. Only, it was Live this time. But, it was an interesting conversation, and I guess it went well too, according to the feedback from the recruiter. Now, it's onto to the next stage, which is basically deliberations about my case by senior management. Not entirely sure when that will fully happen, hopefully I get some news mid-next week.<br /><br />Speaking of, I will be in New Orleans all of next week for spring break, working with Habitat for Humanity,. We thankfully don't leave until sunday AM, saves me the frantic running to airport right after a final that some of my classmates are having to endure. I sure can use the extra day to de-stress. I am looking forward to next week though, I've never done Habitat before, and should be an interesting experience. I am also going with a good group of people, so that in itself will add to the experience.<br /><br />OK, time to sign off. I was up most of last night studying for my final, so i'm going to head back home for some shut-eye. Enjoy your break, all ye break getters.<br /></span></span>PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-54256111083146564752007-03-07T12:04:00.001-05:002007-03-07T12:33:05.442-05:00Goodbye, Depression. Thanks for Stopping by.I don't fancy the compulsive obsessive Me. So, it's been banished for now. To be replaced by the seriously sleep-deprived Me. And, all is well with the world.<br /><br />So, if you ever get to voicemail on my phone, you'll get a message that is something along the lines of 'hey, either i'm sleeping or my phone is dead or both. please leave a message.' This AM, it was neither and i was surprised to see a message waiting. Turns out I had it on silent as I've been, well silently, sitting in a library all night. Check the message and it was about the mild-case-of-depression inducing interviews. Call back, and what do ya know - I guess I did OK! So, it's now onto the next round, which should happen sometime next week.<br /><br />I guess I can say I'm relieved. But, I also realized that I'd broken one of my cardinal rules with these interviews - Play for Low Stakes. Also referred to as the Fuck-It Rule, its observance requires the utterance of the mantra - 'Fuck It' - before you walk into, say, an interview, or the GMAT, or have five hours to write a 25-page business plan. It is meant to bring you good luck. Or, for the disbelievers, it is meant to relieve stress, putting you in a more happy place, thereby resulting in better performance on these things, hence feeding into the you make your own luck thesis.<br /><br />However, it is not complete by itself. (OK, i don't know why the hell I am making all this up, but I need a distraction from starting on the aforementioned 25-page plan) There is an unmentionable addendum to Fuck It: what's the worst that can happen. However, you don't want to jinx things by thinking of that pre-facto. I guess where I found myself was a place in the recruiting process where the worst that could happen was, actually, pretty bad. In playing the Low Stakes game for the past year and half, I think I find myself now at a place where the stakes are getting higher.<br /><br />Maybe it's time for me to grow up and realize that? Damn, now that's a depressing thought! Ah well, Fuck It.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-48720481854590072612007-03-06T16:59:00.000-05:002007-03-06T17:26:37.594-05:00OK, you can get things from kissing, people.I should check if the dorms on campus all went strictly same-sex. I'm sitting in the coffee shop on campus and there's this couple in the booth in front of me who have been making out non-stop for like the past hour. It was kissing etc at first but now it's evolving into nsf-coffee-shop stuff. Now, there's a card-carrying voyeur part of me that doth protest at my protesting about this, but I am trying to get some long-delayed work done and this is incredibly distracting. Get a room or something already! (and don't make me want to wallow in self-pity for sitting here working instead of, you know)<br /><br />Doesn't also help that I'm going through what can only be described as a bout of mild kinda, sorta depression. It's been creeping up on me since yesterday evening when I walked out of an interview for what should be one of the jobs that I really want to do next. I don't know man, I thought parts of them went well, but others were a little all over the place. But, this was technical CS stuff and I'm not sure how it's going to pan out. The wait isn't fun.<br /><br />But, I have things to keep me busy, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005TQ72?tag2=musicoveryc01-20"> Khaled, Taha and Feudel</a> are keeping me good company. Shukran. My friend M and I made the second round of the <a href="www.socialvc.net">Global Social Venture</a> competition, and we have to work toward a deadline that is due tomorrow. An all-nighter has been added to the menu. We have an idea to start a non-profit, I will write more about that. It is basically a version of AdSense for Charity, with all proceeds from blogs going to charities nominated by the bloggers. I think it is pretty interesting. Later today, I have meetings with the two teams I am working with in my role as a TA. They are coming up on final presentations, and i am going to be going over their stuff. And, I am creeping up on finals week. Given that I missed mid-terms for both my classes, some work is needed to ensure that I don't flunk out of these! So, that's going to keep me busy, busy, busy for the next 2 weeks. <br /><br />Then, it's on to New Orleans for Spring Break. While I will be spending time there working with Habitat for Humanity building homes, I do expect to spend some quality time on Bourbon Street. Surrounded, once again I suspect, by people making out. Ah well, circle of life or some such right.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-37229080615457553682007-03-01T20:46:00.000-05:002007-03-02T00:49:22.949-05:0010 Minutes. 50 States. Go<a href="http://www.ironicsans.com/state21.html">http://www.ironicsans.com/state21.html</a><br /><br />This is pretty cool. OK, a lame way to start blogging again after forever. But, it's pretty cool, regardless. You get 10 minutes - with a countdown clock staring at you - to name all the 50 United States. I got 48, but pretty much froze for the last 2 minute with my mind going super blank.<br /><br />Check it out, if you have 10 minutes to spare.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-62054660792940814962007-01-19T22:39:00.000-05:002007-01-19T22:54:24.839-05:00Older, but Wiser?It's that interesting time of the year, again. The first year wannabe-banker cohort is all stressed out about the recruiting dance that kicks off for them next week. I was talking with a couple of my classmates who are helping them out with mock interviews and the impression is that it's a smart class, but they aren't completely there with their 'stories' yet. They'll get them massaged just right in time. It always happens. Manifest destiny, and all that jazz. <br /><br />But it's an interesting process to get there. You come up with a baseline story to sell, sorry, tell. Go to all the presentations, pick up bits and pieces and buzzwords. Start to talk the talk. Put on a spiffy suit and practice walking the walk. Do some mock interviews with second years. Get a reality check. Go back and regroup. Practice. Like this first-year girl said today, "the mirror is my friend." In more ways than one, methinks. But, I digress.<br /><br />On my way back home today, I stopped by one of the campus coffee shops to get some joe. There were a couple of undergrad girls talking, and I happened to eavesdrop. Turns out one of them was talking about her own interviews.<br /><br />"I am getting a double major in Physics and Statistics. And, the guy was, like, why?"<br />"Oh my gawd (OK, that I added for effect :). What did you say?"<br />"I was, like, duh, it was 'cuz of my dad."<br /><br />Ah, the incorruptibility. Something very endearing about it, no?<br /><br />Like they say, the problem with adults is that they are not kids.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-47585089266433187082007-01-10T02:39:00.000-05:002007-01-11T19:40:14.385-05:00Venice, anybody?I'm sure most of you have heard the buzz by now about <a href="http://www.theveniceproject.com">The Venice Project</a>, the latest venture of the team that founded Kazaa and Skype. This newest venture is supposed to revolutionize TV as we know it. They are currently in beta right now. I got on the beta program recently, and was just rewarded with two 'tokens' to hand out for invites into the Beta (don't ask me why people go the secretive beta route :) Anyways, if anyone wants in, leave me a comment and I'll send one your way. First comment, First Served.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-34938149309770452642007-01-08T15:21:00.000-05:002007-01-08T15:45:00.525-05:00ps: MBA's and Priority SettingI've ranted, in private and an <a href="http://www.chibus.com/media/storage/paper408/news/2006/09/28/Perspectives/The-Business.Ethics.Curriculum.At.The.Gsb-2317798.shtml?norewrite200701081543&sourcedomain=www.chibus.com">article</a> on ChiBus, on the emphasis, the lack thereof actually, of ethics related issues in our curriculum. So, I was really looking forward to a panel discussion organized by NetImpact on campus later today on the theme of Incorporating Social Responsbility into MBA Careers. <br /><br />Received the customary reminder email this AM for the event, and it included this gem as an addendum:<br /><br /><i>It'll start exactly at 6:15 (with some food starting at 6:00) in order to allow people to catch most of the college football national championship.</i><br /><br />As I told the person who sent the email, it's an interesting commentary on the times (place, actually) we live in. God forbid someday we have to choose between social responsibility and, oh I don't know, making profits. Doesn't make for a hard guess as to which we'll be inclined to move around for convenience, yeah. Just an observation.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-70692024452218705172007-01-02T23:23:00.000-05:002007-01-03T01:29:47.829-05:00Observations on Consulting Recruiting ObservationsSo, I was at the bookstore today picking up my coursepacks for the quarter. Mercifullly, my professors this time around seem to be a considerate lot, with a total bill around 200 bucks. Trust me, that's a steal compared to what I've paid in the past. Was walking around the business books section looking to see if they have copies of<a href="http://www.creatingcustomerevangelists.com/cm/">'Citizen Marketers'</a>, a new book that I did a spot of research for over the summer. I got a copy from the authors, Jackie Huba and Ben McConnell, and am just about to finish it. A brilliant book, extremely welll-written, and I highly recommend it. A detailed review will be forthcoming, maybe this weekend. <br /><br />Anywho, they didn't have it in stock yet but I was intrigued by a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ideaspotting-Find-Your-Great-Idea/dp/1581808003">'ideaSPOTTING'</a> by Sam Harrison. Bought it, and I've spent the better part of the past two hours browsing through it. And, I like it a lot. I need to sit down with a more serious eye soon. But, this post isn't entirely about this book either.<br /><br />While I was at school, I ran into a couple of first years and we spent some time talking about recruiting, specifically consulting. Now, I'm no expert on the matter, but having talked to a select few (well ... the few that selected me to talk with them :), I could offer decently cogent observations on the process, work and firms. And, also my criticisms. In my opinion, these firms really want people who can follow a solid middle path, not deviating much from message. It is embodied in the case interview 'format' that's thrust upon us during innumerable case prep sessions ... listen to the problem, take notes, ask a couple of clarifying question, ask for a minute to gather your thoughts, write, nay draw, a framework, be damn sure to make it MECE, turn the sheet towards them, point out the main 'buckets' you are going to explore ... ad infinitum. No Detours, por favor. <br /><br />Makes one wonder how different the approach to their work is, ya?<br /><br />This comes to mind because the first chapter in ideaSPOTTING talks about 'exploration' as the key to finding new ideas. The book is written in a mix of typefaces and fonts that makes for an interesting visual experience, and every page seems like its own chapter. There was one page that, as a title, poses a question which, in my twisted world, could be asked by a consultant as a rebuttal to this thesis of exploration: <i>But why explore when the facts are before you?</i><br /><br />Last quarter, I audited an awesome PhD class on Social Networks and one of the intriguing discussions was on groupthink. A few days later, finding myself at a dinner table with a partner of a Big 3 (the capitalization is demanded, ya!) firm, I asked him how they, being what (I consider) dangerously closed networks, combated groupthink. He started by stating the open environement, spirit of debate, etc before ending with an interesting observation: that ultimately they were looking for facts, that lead to data, and data to answers, ergo no scope for groupthink. My professor was as surprised as I was about that response. So, I was intrigued to read what ideaSPOTTING had to say about it:<br /><br /><i><b> But why explore when the facts are before you?</b><br /><br />There's nothing wrong with backbone data. Or raw statistics. Or bedrock demographics. They're fine as far as they go. The problem is, they don't go far enough. Not if you're looking for information instead of data. And insights instead of information.<br />To spot ideas, you want insights. Lots of them. Because ideas aren't spotted in forms. They're spotted in sights - those revelatory insights seized only when you roam new turfs, meet new people and have new experiences.<br /><br />Light bulbs weren't invented by exploring candles.<br />Iron ships weren't made by exploring wood boats.<br />Skyscrapers weren't designed by exploring bungalows.<br />Walkmans weren't invented by exploring turntables.<br />Cell phones weren't conceived by exploring land lines.<br />Macs weren't designed by exploring clunky, dull PC's.</i><br /><br />I can't help but agree.<br /><br />My pet peeve of the entire process is how people are even guided on the questions to ask at the end of the interview. Which is fine, except you are expected again to ask only 'safe' questions.<br /><br />An interesting thing happened when I had a mock interview, last january, with a then-second year. This is part of a program at the GSB called wInterview, which is prep for internship interview season. These are actually taped on DVD's and handed to the first years for review. I finished the mock interview with a guy who was going to another Big 3 firm, and when it was 'do you have a question for me' time, I asked him something about facetime with partners given the traveling etc. I asked because it was something that my ex-roommate and her boyfriend, both consultants, and I had talked about in detail a few weeks prior. He gives me an answer, thanks me for my time, and ends the formal part of the interview. Then, it's feedback time. But, before he gives me my feedback, he asks if it's OK to turn off the recording for a minute. I'm fine, so he does and comes back to the table. <br /><br /><i>"What the fuck are you doing? Do you want a job or not?" </i><br /><br />I was taken aback, but he explained that the question was out of line because it talked about the things that are most 'uncomfortable' about consulting - the travel, the up-or-out policy etc. His advice was to pick something harmless. And, I'm not picking on him, it's something that has come up in several other discussions. Ask about their experiences. What excites them about coming to work? The opportunities that a career in consulting opens up etc. <br /><br />Well, I find myself a couple of months ago in the final interview of my second rounds with the same firm said second-year was off to. It's question time. The interviews had gone well so far, but there was a question I needed to find the answer to. Me being me, I ask: <br /><br />"So, fit is very important for your firm, correct?"<br />"Absolutely."<br />"I'm curious, how much of fit is conform?"<br /><br />Why did I ask that question?, is the question often asked of me by my classmates who I've talked about this with. What were you thinking? Well, it was something on my mind, I thought of it as valid, and if a partner at the firm can't answer hard questions, who can? She did actually give me a candid answer - conform is a big part, because they want you to go out and represent them to clients in a certain way, but fit has its place too in terms of the culture inside the firm. I actually think highly of that response, but I must have triggered something in her, because she got a little edgy after that. Towards the end of the interview, in the middle of answering another question, she goes " <i>... Yogs, we don't make mistakes in recruiting ... (pause) ... we've never made a single mistake in recuiting."</i> That was verbatim, I swear.<br /><br />You know, I really don't know what to make of that. In a certain cool way, those shall forever remain the last words said to me in a consulting interview. A fascinating bookend to a fascinating recruiting experience. They capture a certain attitude that, in the end, did not agree with me, and mine with them. <br /><br />To quote Albert Einstein, <i>"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."</i>PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-74169360782170112542006-12-29T14:50:00.000-05:002006-12-29T16:43:04.700-05:00A Year in the LifeI'm having a moment right now. Last december, almost to the day, I was sitting in this very same cafe in Waltham! And, everything seems oddly similar - I'm a full-time student, excited about school, excited more about going back to start another quarter, can't seem to find the time(or is it motivation?) to blog, don't know what I'll be doing come summer ... and yet, a year has whizzed by so fast. Wow. Time's a flyin'. It's time to sit down and take stock of the year past. So, here's my great, not-so-great and oddly-enough list.<br /><br /><b>Great</b><br />* The top of this list has to be the friends I have made at the GSB. There was a time during my first quarter when I was doubting if I had made the right choice to go to b-school, because the people seemed so, I don't know. But, over the year, I have gotten to know very many really cool and interesting people who are unique in their own way. And, I don't have to be someone I'm not around them.<br /><br />* Some of my classes. I decided to roll the dice and take Prof. Meadow's Commercializing Innovation during my first quarter with no background in any of the 5 pre-reqs for the course. Looking back, it is probably the single greatest class I have ever taken. It was a ton-load of work, but I couldn't have asked for a better all-round introduction to every facet of business education. As an added bonus, I also had great team-mates and probably the only class that really fulfilled the promise of one 'learning' from the people in their group. <br /><br />I have also come to realize that it's not so much the course matter as it is the professors who teach them that matters. For me, the holy grail is to understand how to think about a problem, not necessarily if I got the right answer for that particular case. And, there are some professors that enable this more than others. Since the GSB allows, within very loose bounds, the ability to choose classes right from day one, I've chosen mostly very good professors, but still some stand out as especially awesome. I should blog separately about the other classes I've enjoyed mucho. <br /><br />* DSAC. I am a student GA on the Admissions Committe this year, and read applications and interviewed applicants this past quarter. I was asked during my interview for the position why I wanted to do this, and, though sappy, I said that it was the single best way I could contribute to the school. I really think it is, and every time I read an application, I am reminded of the responsibility it entails. A few posts on my thoughts for applicants should be forthcoming.<br /><br />* ChiBus. My time as the editor-at-large (go figure :) of the GSB newspaper has been kick-ass. I've enjoyed working with the entire team, writing for the publication (having prospective students come up to me and tell me they loved my articles :), and it's been a great way to get at the 'pulse' (and gossip!!) around the school.<br /><br />* The I-house. Well, I've written much about my time there, but it is quite possibly the best thing going on the U of C campus.<br /><br /><b>Not-so-Great</b><br />* The top of this list has to be the friends I had before I moved to the GSB. I am so bummed that I've been so caught up in the madness of the experience here that I have neglected to keep in touch with many awesome people. It's definitely on my new year resolution list (then again, those lists have a way of, well, remaining lists. damn.) The whole MBA thing is fine, but not at the cost of losing touch with everything that came before. Need to work on that one.<br /><br />* Recruiting. I hate it. Every statistic shows that most MBA's stick around maybe for a couple of years on average at their first post-MBA job. It seems like an awful lot of purported 'fit-finding' on the part of companies that, I quite frankly, find a little overwhelming. But, it is what it is, I guess. <br /><br />* I wish I had seen and experienced more of Chicago. I guess it's a case of 'well, it's going to be there, what's the hurry', but time's a running out now. It's quite sad that I haven't gotten around to seeing more of the awesome theater, museums, live music, parks etc that this really great city has to offer. I really like Chicago, it's the kind of city that I feel grows on you, and I hope to more fully experience it before I leave.<br /><br />* Last, but most definitely not the least, Me. I had hoped that I would change some things about me, especially when it comes to time management and commitments, during my time here. That hasn't happened and I am entirely to blame. I must sincerely apologize to those who have encountered frustrations on my account. I am truly sorry.<br /><br /><b>Oddly Enough </b><br />* The herd mentality. It is pretty huge at b-school. I saw that in my classmates when we got here, and I can see that in the first-years now. I guess I won't really understand it.<br /><br />* Recruiting. OK, I need to take one more dig. I was recently talking with friends about the offers people got, and there were more than a few <i>What?</i>'s. I never really thought about it, but a lot of people turn into someone else when they put on a suit and walk into an interview room or recruiting event. It is actually a skill, adapting to the situation and people you are talking with. But, once you spend a year at school, you get to know who they are when they are in jeans. And, I wonder what the companies are looking for - the person in the suit? I guess they have no real way to find out otherwise. Anyways.<br /><br />* 41 and counting. One of the questions I get most often from prospectives is about the lack of cohorts and its impact on creating a community. I, for one, have found this system to have a lot of benefits. After my first quarter, I decided that I was not going to repeat people in my study groups - for good or worse. And, it's generally turned out to be a cool thing. I have worked with 41 different people so far. And, I have learned a lot. There are many I'd love to work with anytime, and a few I'd never hire. I can't think of another opportunity I'll have to get such a cross section of teamwork experiences.<br /><br />* Chibus. Oddly enough, working at the newspaper has also made the GSB more personal. One of the great perks of the post is that the newspaper has its own office in the basement. It is small, window-less, and messy - in stark contrast to the immaculately clean, almost corporate, Hyde Park Center. Having an own little 'space' in the building has made it much less of walking in and out of a building every day. I've hung out there, worked, have my stuff lying around - and even caught a few naps. Oh, and did newspaper stuff :-)<br /><br />* Why MBA? The oddest thing of all is that, almost a two years since I submitted my application, I find myself truer to the things I wrote down in my essays! I think the GSB is really an environment, in large part, where things are questioned, and the status quo not easily digested - I could say, post haste, that the mascot essay I wrote was not without basis. And, I hadn't talked much about my long-and-short term goals, well, because in part I didn't really know, and in part, I wanted the experience to inform my path. I think I might actually be headed towards an entrepreneurial type of situation, which is what, well, I wrote about. I guess the point I'm trying to convince myself of is that the GSB was the right place for me. Of course, it was the only place that would accept me, so ... :-)<br /><br />* Oh, recruiting, one last time. So, I interviewed with some consulting firms, and the recruiter from the Mickey D's of that world called to inform me of the bad news after my second round interviews. Her opening words: "All of us felt that you will be a successful entrepreneur and make millions some day." For once, I'd like to believe a consultant's recommendation :-) <br /><br />Anyways, that's all I've got. Hope everyone had a fab holiday season and here's wishing a grander 2007. Now, i have to go and get ready for a 1000-mile drive from Boston to Chicago. Sounds like I'm just moving there for school, yeah. Like I said, some things don't seem to have changed. <br /><br />Bye Bye 2006. You've been good.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-9764944648851192272006-12-05T18:25:00.000-05:002006-12-05T18:27:09.911-05:0012 Days of Christmas'tis the holiday season. Here's some cheer, Indian style.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/owK5tHjL0aE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/owK5tHjL0aE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-79384807264337515942006-10-21T23:27:00.000-05:002006-10-22T00:09:44.513-05:00I just had to Scrybe thisI just remembered an old adage that if you are writing software, you are best off making it a platform that others can build stuff on. OK, that wasn't even an adage, let alone old, but whatever. So, why did Google buy YouTube? Other than, of course, that they were getting their hindsides whipped in online video sharing? I suspect YouTube is fast becoming a platform: for expression, for exposure, for home-made-porn-makers, for looking-at-home-made-porn, for marketing, sometimes to searchers-for-home-made-porn, for starting new companies, for ... Wait. Yeah.<br /><br />Check what I just came across. It's a pre-launch video for a new online calendaring+to-do+offline+ well, take a look. I think it's mighty cool.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mr1YE_xS_n8"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mr1YE_xS_n8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />What I think is cooler is this - their <a href="http://www.iscrybe.com/">website</a>. Take your startup that wants to get its new product message out, and wants complete attention from its potential customers when it's delivering that message. And, for bonus points, it wants to build in a powerful system of capabilities so that the message has a chance at getting viral. Oh, and it would be great not to have to pay for most of this.<br /><br />So, what do they do? Shoot a video in their office and upload it to YouTube. Voila. It's in front of millions of people, some of whom are commenting about this, subscribing to this feed, intriguing some of their own subscribers, some of whom decide to leave some comments, and some others with plenty time on their hands embed this video on their own blogs, and this gets the message in front of an entirely new set of people and the cycle may continue. Help add some spice to this concoction by linking to the same YouTube video from their homepage - to help direct all comers to the center of the tornado, helping it build momentum. <br /><br />Platform? Getting there, methinks.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-1161488720935899462006-10-21T22:35:00.000-05:002006-10-21T22:43:13.342-05:00Hugs! Free Hugs!Man, time is a-flyin! I didn't realize it was weeks since I last blogged. Incidentally, about blogging more often. There goes that. So, I came across this video on YouTube today. The description says:<br /><br /><i>Sometimes, a hug is all that we need. Free hugs is the real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their life. <br /><br />In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal. <br /><br />As this symbol of human hope spread accross the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign Banned. What we then witnessed was the true spirit of humanity coming together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.</i><br /><br />I wouldn't necessarily endorse their recommendation - <i>In the spirit of the Free Hugs campaign, pass this on to a friend and hug a stranger! After all, If you can reach just one person... </i> - but it is worth a watch. Which would make you the 3,757,697th person to do so. In exactly a month since it was posted. And, maybe you'd want to leave a comment. Which would make you the 10,678th (At the time of posting, of course)<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vr3x_RRJdd4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vr3x_RRJdd4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />Gotta love YouTube.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-1159920748877074672006-10-03T18:19:00.000-05:002006-10-21T22:43:13.240-05:00Or why KV will be a Genius[File Under: Course Reviews]<br /><br />I've discovered an interesting behavioral pattern. I seem to enjoy more the classes I audit than those I am enrolled in. Last quarter, I was in a class on Organizational Behavior and, to caveat - for the 6-odd weeks I actually went to the class, this was the class for which I prepared most thoroughly the cases and readings. This is playing itself out again this quarter. This time, I am in an absolutely fantastic Ph.D class called <a href="http://gsbportal.chicagogsb.edu/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_306_205_0_43/http%3B/gsbportal.chicagogsb.edu/Facultycourse/Portlet/CourseDetailAllProf.aspx?course_id=39903&course_title=Social%20Network%20Analysis&ac_year=2006&crsTitle=&lastName=&firstName=&selFields=&season=&venue=&src=FacultyList.aspx">Social Network Analysis</a>, taught by the way cool <a href="http://gsbportal.chicagogsb.edu/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_0_321_215_0_43/http%3B/gsbportal.chicagogsb.edu/Facultycourse/Portlet/FacultyDetail.aspx?&min_year=20064&max_year=20073&person_id=30400&lastName=burt&firstName=&selFields=&src=FacultyList.aspx&search=True">Prof. Ron Burt.</a> Proof of Life: I've actually been 'reasonably' on time to both the classes we've had for this course so far ;-)<br /><br />This is the only professor I've had at the GSB who uses a Mac! And, not one, but two. Earlier today, he was demonstrating how to use the statistical software to do the mucho regressions required of the class, and he was using Virtual PC to run as it is a Windows-only piece of software. He kicked off the software, showed us the results and was about to move on when the rest of the class, working on their PC's, said that they were still waiting for theirs to load. He goes: "A Macintosh pretending to be a Windows machine is faster than an actual Windows machine?" Did I say he was Way Cool? But, I digress.<br /><br />The class is about understanding social networks, in a broad sense. In the first class, he showed us a short clip about Steve Jobs and his Macintosh team, and a team at DG in the 80's out to develop a faster 16-bit processor. After we saw it, he started to collect what he termed 'emotional data', which was basically what we felt about those teams, the connections that bound their members, how they worked, why they were successful etc. It was a fascinating exploration of these cult-like structures, and how they can be an effective tool to exact an almost slavish productivity from the group, all of it given willingly. <br /><br />Today, in typical some might Chicago fashion, we went data crunching. We created sociograms and then started to analyze how people find themselves at differing points in these networks. Social networks typically take the forms of several clusters with connections between them. Nodes on these graphs are people, and the lines who they connect. Turns out that there are two typical leadership roles in such networks. One is being in the thick of a cluster, completely interconnected to everyone else inside. The other is that of being a bridge, at the intersection of 'social worlds.' The former is very 'central', but typically wedded to a small group of ideas which are championed by the surrounding group. The latter, on the other hand, brings in variation due to his/her being part of several groups and exposed to heterogeneity of approaches and, more critically, though processes. <br /><br />We then looked at how this maps to creativity and innovation. Research indicates that innovation can be traced as a chain, with the key transit points being these folks who are the interchange of ideas. But, what is it that makes them valuable? For one, the breadth of information they are exposed to expands, due to an increased likelihood of seeing differing views of doing things. Secondly, due to their plugged-in-ness to disparate networks, they typically get information earlier than most outside of the clusters. Both of these put them in a position where they can effect what my professor calls 'information arbitrage.'<br /><br />There is an interesting manifestation of this arbitrage opportunity: <b>Genius</b>. Prof. Burt asserted that genius is a social phenomenon, not so much an individual characteristic. When one sits at this social intersection, they can 'see' opportunities. This, to repeat, is due to the fact that s/he can see variations in ways of doing things, and if they come up with an idea, they know where to sell it. Ideas do well not just because they are inhrently great, but "because they find great adherents." The more you live at the intersection of social worlds, the more likely your idea is going to be deemed a great idea. And, since people typically associate ideas with the one who espouses them, your transfering of one set of thought processes from one cluster to the other will deem you a genius to the latter if it is the first time they have been exposed to it. I thought that was pure distilled common sense. Way cool.<br /><br />Which led me to think: how does this apply to business school? I look around, and there is definitely a social network structure at play. There are 'cliques', if I may, of students who are very close to each other, and there are the 'social butterflies' who are not wedded to one but flit between many.(As well as a decent number of outliers whose connections to the rest of the community are tenuous at best). If the thesis of the class is to believed, the butterflies will be more creative and successful than the clique-sters. But, it is still an overall closed network of MBA-types being groomed towards a mostly similar style of thinking. What would be most beneficial is for each of us to be plugged into clusters that are completely disparate and dislocated from the people we go to school with.<br /><br />Like, say, surfers in Biarritz.<br /><br />I did a double-take when I read about KV's <a href="http://usatolbs.blogspot.com/2006/09/all-settled-in-euskadi.html">plan</a> to stay in Biarritz and commute to school in Londres. But, the more I think about it, the more it seems like a stroke of genius. I learned today that the more one lives inside closed networks, the lesser idiosyncratic their conversations get, and the more they fill with the jargon of the network. They get very 'local' in terms of their language, which is increasingly understood only by their world. Which, if I listen to the people around me at school, is so very true. LPF. TNDC. Closed Lists. Bid Points. Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Surfer Girl. Wait, strike that. <br /><br />Research presented in class indicates a strong co-relation between idea generation and the heterogeneity of types of network connections of the generators. These people have a 'vision advantage' that translates into higher compensation, better career progression, and even happiness. The last point is due to fewer forced behavioral constrains as they live in these differing social structures.<br /><br />Translation: KV has a much higher likelihood of being seen as a Genius. And, with a Surfer Girl.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-1159862839063709632006-10-03T02:29:00.000-05:002006-10-21T22:43:13.134-05:00An Auspicious Re-start.I just got my first ding of the recruiting season. <br />From a firm that I didn't even apply to!<br /><br />Everything is Right again with my world :-)<br /><br />Welcome back, gentle reader. Trust you me when I say that I have missed blogging as much as regular readers tell me they have missed reading my rants. I decided to, for symmetry's sake, mirror my blogging habits with my career path these past few months - and take the summer off! Yup, I am back at school after a relaxing summer. But, that's past. And, as I recall, we focus on the immediate present on this blog.<br /><br />Like, last night. <br /><br />So, yesterday was the deadline to apply to one of the top (oh, how they love that word, don't they) consulting firms. After a night of <a href="http://mbaperegrinations.blogspot.com/2006/09/dancing-queens.html">debauchery</a> with the secretly hip Le Voyageur on saturday, I went brunching with a friend I helped move sunday morning, then stopped by CB2 to pick up some furniture etc for my hipster loft in the <a href="http://www.chicagoartsdistrict.org/">Chicago Arts District</a>, walked around some of the Open Houses, comissioned my first piece of (very inexpensive) <a href="http://www.maladjustedart.com/images/Gettingoutofbedcopy.gif">tile art</a> from my artist neighbor Vanessa Shinmoto, grabbed some dinner, and got home around 9 PM to start working on the online application.<br /><br />Nada.<br /><br />See, I just moved into my new place, and as I wait for my internet connection to be set up, I'm leeching off the open network of some kindly neighbor. I guess the said Kindly neighbor decided to get un-kindly and added protection to his network. Last evening. So, I'm sitting here like 2 hours to the deadline and no internet access. Jumped in my car, raced to school, and booted up. Finished up my cover letter (and checked to make sure I wasn't saying firm B instead of M), readied my resume and logged into the website.<br /><br />Deja Vu. I'm sure that was what it was. I had, once again, not realized that 12 PM is in the afternoon, not midnight! Well, what r'you gonna do. Deadline blown by like 10 hours, I tried to submit just in case, but the system was so broken that it took me 2 hours just to get to page 3. So, I shoot off an email to the recruiting manager with my cover letter and resume, basically apologizing for being a jackass. And, I came back home. Woke up this morning, no internet access at home, so go to school, got stuff taken care of, and check my email. There's one from the recruiter. Basically said that it would be OK if I can send in my office preferences by 11:30 AM sharp. The watch sayeth: 12:35. Of the PM. Yes, I know now, thank you. PM means afternoon. So, I sent an email back, hoping against hope that they would be OK. And, they were. Phew. That was close.<br /><br />Which is way more can be said for another firm. As I was getting ready to apply, I get an email from them thanking me for applying to their XYZ office and that I was a kick-ass superstar etc but their staffing requirements mean that they can't interview with me. The ye olde it's not you, it's me. Ah well, it's better now than after I've bared my soul to you, my someday darlings. <br /><br />So, I sit here. Closed wireless network miraculously Open again. I should post before the plug is pulled. And, no, the plug has not been pulled on this blog. It's got another 9 months of life at least. I should be posting much more regularly from now on. Wait ... I've said that before too ya ...PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-1151372408708353642006-06-26T18:59:00.000-05:002006-10-21T22:43:13.037-05:00The Lions have ArrivedNo, I'm not talking about the English football team. They've made the quarters of the World Cup but it has been an unimpressive display so far methinks.<br /><br />What I am referring to is the <a href="http://www.canneslions.com">Cannes Lions</a> - one of the world's premier advertising awards. It's been today's timesink, and a fabulous one at that. I love advertising, especially film ads. The best ones combine aspects of storytelling, production and sublime messaging to create an intrigue about the product that transcends 'we want you to buy this' to 'i want to try this.' Many of the winning ads do, and that's what's fun about spending hours checking these out.<br /><br />A few days ago, I was at the local grocery store, and near the checkout was a collection of speciality-type chocolates. I picked up a box of Baci. Baci? I'd never heard of those until a month or so prior. I was checking out the winners of another really awesome ad awards - the <a href="http://www.epica-awards.org/epica/2005/results/2005_results.htm">EPICA</a> - when I came across what the romantic in me considered the best of the bunch. Yes, it was for Baci. When I saw them at the store, I bought them not so much for the chocolate, but for the little notes in them that the <a href="http://www.epica-awards.org/assets/epica/2005/finalists/film/flv/02506.htm">ad</a> highlighted. [personally, i think the ones in fortune cookies are way better. but, i digress]<br /><br />I recommend checking both the Lions and the EPICA winners and finalists when you have the time to spare, but here are some of my faves.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.epica-awards.org/epica/2005/results/winner_film.htm">NoitulovE</a> - If the pundits be the voices of God, this spot by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO for Guiness is the absolute best ad of the year. It won both the Epica D'or as well as the Grand Prix at Cannes. <br /><i>Synopsis: Three young men at a bar drink Guinness. Suddenly the action pauses and the film starts to play in reverse. The men walk backwards out of the bar. As they walk they seamlessly go back down the evolutionary chain through hundreds, thousands, millions of years. Super: GUINNESS. Good things come to those who wait. (bonus points: The name of the ad, NoitulovE, is Evolution spelled backwards!)</i><br /><br />A Love Story in Four Parts(<a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_2_1_02484.htm">One</a>, <a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_2_1_02485.htm">Two</a>, <a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_2_1_02486.htm">Three</a>, <a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_2_1_02487.htm">Four</a>): This set of four spots, by Thailand's JEH United Bangkok, for Smooth-E Baby Face Foam absolutely rocks (personal bias since I've been to Thailand and really like the language).<br /><i>Synopsis: Decades ago before DVDs, the classic Thai selling method was free outdoor cinema that sold a product during a show. We brought that back… We created "The Love Story" series of 4 episodes that not only sells but also pokes fun a conventional 'Beauty' commercials.</i><br /><br />Imitation, best form, Flattery, etc: I guess most people may have seen the spot called <a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_2_1_03421.htm">'Balls'</a>, made by Fallon London for Sony's Bravia LCD TV's. It won a Gold at Cannes. There was another ad, almost an exact replica of the first one down to the music and the frog, created by Clemmow Hornby Inge called <a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_3_2_04978.htm">'Bravo'</a> for Tango Clear, and it won a Silver. Very beautiful both.<br /><i>Balls Synopsis:Dropping 250,000 brightly coloured bouncy balls down the streets of San Francisco for real = colour like no other.<br />Bravo Synopsis: To promote Tango Clear, a refreshing fruit drink with no added sugar, we dumped thousands of pieces of fruit in Swansea and filmed what happened.</i><br /><br />You say Tomato, I say Tomato: Two awesome, awesome ads to promote language centers (of all things!). One of them, called <a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_3_5_02672_3.htm">'Mayday, Mayday'</a>, created by Norway's BTS United for Berlitz Language Centers won a Gold at Cannes. The other, called <a href="http://www.epica-awards.org/assets/epica/2005/winners/films/flv/21006.htm">'Rapid Spanish'</a>, created by Kolle Rebbe Werbeagentur for Inlingua Language Center, won the B2B award at EPICA. <br /><i>Berlitz Synopsis: At a German Coastguard, a recruit is getting his tutorial on his first day. The senior officer leaves the control room. Suddenly a "mayday" comes from an English ship: "WE ARE SINKING". The recruit answers in german-english: "Whatz are you sinking aboutz...?"<br />Inlingua Synopsis: Well, it's better told seen.</i><br /><br />Boys and Girls, use Condoms to prevent AIDS: Again two spots, one a winner at Cannes, the other at EPICA, but both were for the same campaign - AIDS awareness, by TBWA\Paris. They are both animated spots: <a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_3_5_04858.htm">'Sugar Baby Love'</a> and <a href="http://www.epica-awards.org/assets/epica/2005/winners/films/flv/10539.htm">'Vibrators'</a>. Contains animated nudity.<br /><i>Sugar Baby Love Synopsis: As a little boy grows, he discovers that he prefers men. After a series of dating catastrophes, he finally meets the man of his dreams. TAG: Live long enough to find the right one. Protect yourself.<br />Vibrators Synopsis: As a little girl grows, she discovers that she too, well, prefers men. After a series of dating catastrophies, she finally meets the man of her dreams. TAG: Live long enough to find the right one. Protect yourself.</i><br /><br />Argentina's Silver Lining: I was in Buenos Aires for spring break, fantastic place, but it is a country still trying to drag itself out of the economic mess it's been in since the last 3-odd years. But, there seems to be an emergant creativity in that place. Take a walk through Palermo Soho, considered one of the planet's hippest neighborhoods right now by the travel-writers-in-the-know, and you are surrounded by some of the coolest independant fashion designers, jostling for space with art-house-restaurants. I was talking with a woman who had a month-old boutique called Postman where she sells all of 3 designs of laptop bags/totes, and I later google it to find that tourists buy half-a-dozen bags at a time! Hey, I bought one too. As did my traveling companion. <br />Anyways, it seems like this creativity extends to the world of advertising too. I couldn't help notice that there were quite a few Argentine winners at Cannes! Here is a i-like-these listing:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_3_5_03419.htm">Truth</a>: Political Message created by Savaglio\TBWA<br /><i>This TV commercial addresses people in a straightforward and intelligent way. It starts by providing a very dark vision of Argentina, to later surprise the audience with a totally opposite message that appears when you read it upside down. </i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_3_4_01119.htm">Father & Daughter</a>: Young & Rubicam Buenos Aires for MTV<br /><i>A rock star has to explain to his daughter how she was conceived. With no inhibitions, he decides to tell her the story in great detail... Moral: Rock is hard.</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_3_1_02469_3.htm">Vladimir</a>: El Hotel/JWT for Knorr Soups<br /><i>a love story between a Russian man and an argentine woman who meet by any chance. Clara and Valdimir, each one in their one country, meet themselves working on cleaning in a conference room. Without realizing, she presses the redial button and a videoconference screen opens with Vladimir on it. Heart-warming stuff</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_4_2_04464.htm">Sorry Mum</a>: Santo for Unilever.<br /><i>Children apologize for getting dirty.</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.canneslions.com/winners_site/film/winsat10pm_3_2_02336.htm">Dog</a>: McCann Ericsson Argentina for Bavaria Beer<br /><i>Sometimes a good beer can give you the joy that you need</i><br /><br />Enjoy!PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-1148961375307894522006-05-29T22:24:00.000-05:002006-10-21T22:43:12.933-05:00wii will wii will rock you[file under: Games People Play]<br /><br />i heart <a href="http://youtube.com">youtube</a>. and <a href="http://dailymotion.com">dailymotion</a>. and <a href="http://video.google.com">google video</a>. and <a href="http://revver.com">revver</a>. and <a href="http://vidilife.com">vidilife</a>. and the many video sharing sites that are God's intervention to slow down our growing productivity rate. I don't know if you've spent much time on these sites, but they are an absolute time-sink. as well as a treasure trove. i don't know which of the two was an inspiration, but a fellow student decided to consider youtube as the subject of his group's research paper for a marketing class. yup, the GSB gets it ... well, kinda. his group decided to nix it in favor of studying female viagra. come to think, the GSB does get it :)<br /><br />bad jokes apart, the growth in video online is just astounding. See <a href="http://www.google.com/trends?q=youtube%2C+flickr&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all">this</a> chart at Google Trends for a comparison with the other social media darling, flickr. if this trend continues, the telcos might yet have to start switching on some of that dark fiber. one of the cool things about these services though is just the varied amount of content available, and stuff like tagging and embedding in people's blogs making it possible for dissemination to a much larger audience.<br /><br />case in point: i came across a video on digg today for a demo from E3, the gaming mega show that was held a couple of weeks ago. for those who missed it, nintendo announced their latest console, the wiierdly named Wii. and you heard it here first - they are going to make some kind of HBS case study on this someday. of how a scrappy almost down-and-out console maker, unable to compete on technological prowess, decides to change the rules of the game. they reinvented the controller, adding motion sensing capability and a 'nunchuck' extension. i haven't seen it in person, but the pictures/videos i have seen have been super cool. like this one, where two players use their Wiimotes to play drums. <br /><br /><embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvp.video.google.com%2Fvideodownload%3Fversion%3D0%26secureurl%3DvAAAAG7ggqAHSiJjpW0D3w4aYTXoEOi6CO9og8j6OvAsP4p-zu1MA-_Xt7NkDgawjY0y-8Zp9kc0yGyQb_kYdkYNtsm7FZDPkvQeyqM9-1rl6ZDvgU-7s4yHxGEKEBrtVDonqkjuh_X8LyMwsNKEOPioKg1Uz9nav7aNo5URd3JM5r_pbmxHeuLJAq232RZLJQNQ09thOGCt65LfMstV31U1lk-RRN14KzNkq2siKFNswAh_Oo4MhVnx3BW-aNaOvUWLsQ%26sigh%3DNPuZUggJNgziIbV-IndMe2atR7Q%26begin%3D0%26len%3D30000%26docid%3D3462908789880309791&thumbnailUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer%3Fapp%3Dvss%26contentid%3Deb995f550cee138d%26second%3D5%26itag%3Dw320%26urlcreated%3D1148959232%26sigh%3Dsv6wyqY1_1AD1oWTNILUkVeJUTU&playerId=3462908789880309791" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" quality="best" bgcolor="#ffffff" scale="noScale" wmode="window" salign="TL" FlashVars="playerMode=embedded"> </embed><br /> <br />And, as I was reading through people's comments (it's the honorable thing to do, no?) I came across a link to this video of a guy hawking a Creative Labs keyboard on which he does a little drum demo. Rock and Roll, actually. it's about 2 minutes long, but wicked cool.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hEJC50dHQG8"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hEJC50dHQG8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />ok, back to work now.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-1148862245597407862006-05-28T19:21:00.000-05:002006-10-21T22:43:12.841-05:00It Happens Only in IndiaI saw this video on <a href="http://blog.lundit.com">Zaphod's</a> blog of traffic at an intersection in the city of Hyderabad. Kinda cool, methought.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gtIXw3aCaJs"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gtIXw3aCaJs" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-1148673943807992782006-05-26T14:33:00.000-05:002006-10-21T22:43:12.751-05:00Venturing back toward the OldYesterday was the finals of the Chicago New Venture Challenge. I had submitted a not-so-detailed executive summary over winter break, and was fittingly dinged. But, some people I know made the finals and I watched the latter half of the presentations yesterday. And, I have to say, there was some really polished presenting. Interesting ideas, thoroughly researched, and backed up with detailed financial analyses and ROI/valuation projections. There were also some insightful questions from the panel of VC's who were judging it, but tame compared to what I had been led to believe - that the judges tore apart some of the contestants in the past.<br /><br />The results were announced during a reception for the participants, which I did not go to. I was out later that night with friends when one of them told us about the results, and I have to say that there was a consensus of What? It seems (and this is hearsay, i wasn't there) that Professor Kaplan, before announcing the winners, said that these would not have been his choices! So, what's going on?<br /><br />Well, it seems that the GSB has decided to get on the Webtrain. We had two dot-coms share the first prize this year, after having an online test prep service, a pharma startup, and dental marketing software ideas win the last three. The two prize-winning plans were for <a href="http://grubhub.com">GrubHub.com</a>, a restaurant locator service, and <a href="http://www.collectica.com">Collectica</a>, a community for collectors incorporating tagging, user-generated content and suchlike.<br /><br />Further details, and lists of winners, can be found at <a href="http://thesiliconprairie.blogspot.com/2006/05/nvc-we-have-winners.html">here</a>, which BTW is also a good blog tracking entrepreneurship at the GSB and beyond.<br /><br />The people's choice seemed to go with either Hybridtronics or BB Catalyst. The former is commercializing technology to retrofit buses and trucks to go hybrid, and they have an arrangment in place with Tata Motors in India. This is a huge deal, especially with the Supreme Court in India, with their verdicts, driving (pardon the pun) a slow, but sure, move towards using alternative fuels such as CNG, LPG etc for public transportation. BB Catalyst is thinking on a truly global scale to solve problems, and has found a great niche. Made up of Japanse and Latin American team members, they have contracted to buy used modem kits at throwaway prices from Japanese telcos and rehab and sell them at significant discount to new products to ISPs in Latin America. Turns out Japanese technology is so advanced that ISP's there replace customers' modems every 8-10 months and they are left with huge disposal costs. And, the cost of equipment in LatAm is prohibitively high impediing broadband adoption. And, they projected some really sweet margins, and contractual agreements with some huge players.<br /><br />Maybe the winners' plans were better overall, maybe the fact that both of them had either revenues or promises of helped them, or maybe the next wave of internet companies are 'the' thing to invest in right now ... but it was a good experience for me to sit in that room, listen to them present, and challenge my own opinions. While I still think that the web holds some of the best potential for phenomenal growth ventures - and the inevitable burnouts - it was educational to be shown ideas that are solving some 'real' problems, and I suspect, have the better chance to turn into lasting, sustainable companies.<br /><br />Congratulations to all the finalists.PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-1148601133985006072006-05-25T18:41:00.000-05:002006-10-21T22:43:12.663-05:00Ah, the Fan Mail.Talk about finding interesting THINGS to do - I ACTUALLLY READ one of them spam emails today. I guess the 'Greetings Poweryogi!' sucked me in, and the possibility of FINALLY finding my true LOVE kept me going. Excuse the CAPS, they are just in character with the LETTER, reproduced below. Why? 'coz I want to BLOG, and can't find ANY other inspiration right now.<br /><br />---<br />Greetings Poweryogi!.!<br /><br />at first I should tell you about my appear, so I got E-mail from one DATING AGENCY but really that was VERY STRANGE for me because I closed all my accounts at DATING SITES, because I don't like people who are interested just in non SERIOUS RELATIONS, I have much FRIENDS from that sites but really I did not find someone special for me....<br /><br />But I got your E-mail address and thought "MAYBE THAT IS MY DESTINY" to find someone special?<br />Really there was written that you wish to know me.<br />So I don't know where you did get MY E-MAIL ADDRESS but I hope that is NOT JUST MISTAKE.<br /><br />I hope to hear from you soon....<br />If you decide to answer me I promise to SEND YOU big LETTER and MY BEST PHOTOS !!! I'd like to learn more about you. PLEASE, WRITE ME some lines about your personality, your hobbies, your way of life. I'm really interested to know!<br />As for me, I'm an easy-going and open-hearted person. I take life as it comes and have optimistic views. It doesn't mean that nothing makes me sad, but I consider all the difficulties in my life to be useful for me.<br /><br />I'm very communicative and like to spend time in a good company. I enjoy outdoors activities and sport. What about you? Do you go in for sports?<br />Hope to hear from you soon, please use solaris13@HotPOP.com to answer me ! I wit your letter with large impatience . Please do it for me .<br /><br />Katya<br />---PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5127620.post-1147931224381591012006-05-17T23:33:00.000-05:002006-10-21T22:43:12.572-05:00Click for Small Change™ supports the Guild for the Blind[File Under: Sensible AdSense]<br /><br />It's that time again. Actually, it was some time ago, this post is long overdue.<br /><br />The Google Adsense revenues on this blog have continued their forward, albeit at a snail on vacation's pace, march. Enough, though, to make the next donation, to add to the <a href="http://poweryogi.blogspot.com/2005/05/click-for-small-change-supports.html">first</a> <a href="http://poweryogi.blogspot.com/2005/07/click-for-small-change-supports-london.html">two</a>. <br /><br />As the next installment, I made a contribution of $15 to the <a href="http://www.guildfortheblind.org/">Guild for the Blind</a>. They are a Chicago-based non-profit that serves the visually impaired, mainly by helping them prepare for and obtain professional employment. Usually, the visually impaired are relegated to doing call-center type work. What makes the Guild unique is an emphasis on finding career paths that utilize a person's abilities and education. <br /><br />There was also a personal motivation behind this choice. I did a consulting project for the Guild during my first quarter at the GSB as part of a student club at the GSB called the Business Solutions Group, and the people who run it are a great bunch of folks. Our team's mandate was to do research and come up with a strategy to better connect their membership to the corporate world. I'm not sure how much of that work was impactful, not unlike this small donation, but as we'd like to think on this blog, even the smallest things matter.<br /><br />On an unrelated note, I had a conversation with an author of a marketing book last week and he asked me for a Web 2.0 startup that I found interesting. I thought of <a href="http://www.squidoo.com">Squidoo</a>. They are a blogging-based platform that lets one create 'lenses' that are areas of interest or expertise. An added bonus is that these lenses can earn you royalty. What I find interesting is what you can do with it - <i>"A single lens might not earn a lot, but if you imagine hundreds of lenses working to your favor, or fundraising for a charity, it can really start to add up,"</i> according to their website. <br /><br />I get a certain sense of, i don't know, when I read this. I <a href="http://poweryogi.blogspot.com/2005/05/sensible-adsense.html">wrote</a>, almost exactly a year ago, when I added Google Ads to my website with the intent to donate all proceeds to charity: <i>"So, here's my pitch to Google: why not create a program around this. So that interested users can sign up to have any revenues from ads on their blogs/sites be pooled in a repository - pennies from each site add up to dollars - and it be administered in a sensible fashion."</i> A few months ago, I made the same pitch to three people from Google who I met as part of internship recruiting. Each of them thought it was a great idea, but I don't think they've really done much with it.<br /><br />Then again, it's never too late :-)PowerYogihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17737622221957505255noreply@blogger.com12