Some of you may be interested in getting an update on the problem of Maria. We can only pray that the Sisters' decisions will be guided by God as they struggle for an appropriate solution.
The fact that I even get the humor in that is a bit embarassing. I like to think of myself as a manly man, but I'll confess that I actually like "The Sound Of Music". I generally have a low tolerance for musicals, so I think my enjoyment of the movie stems mainly from its setting and my love of the Alps.
Hat tip to Joe Malchow over at Dartblog for the link.
--Chris
I just put my deposit down for enrollment into the Johnson School, class of 2009. I really hate the feeling of shutting the doors at UNC and Yale that I worked so hard to get open, but I am very much looking forward to being a student at Cornell. Having said that, I'm still very hopeful that Tuck will convert my waitlist into an admit.
--Chris
We brought home the newest member of our family last night. Her name is Gretl. She is a Miniature Dachshund.
--Chris
"Now I believe, myself, that the secretary of state, the secretary of defense and you have to make your own decision as to what the president knows: that this war is lost, that the surge is not accomplishing anything," Reid, D-Nev., told reporters.
The biggest problem I have with the politics surrounding the war right now is that a whole bunch of people have bet their political careers on the United States losing the war. If the "surge" were to work and we, the United States, were to be successful in Iraq, it would be a huge politcal victory for the Bush administration. Too many politicians simply can not let that happen.
So, how do you trust someone who has vested interest in us LOSING the war? If the surge was working, would they even admit it?
--Chris
I just got the call that I was not selected for the Park Leadership Fellowship at Cornell. I'm pretty dissappointed by this, but I guess not really surprised. I thought I made a good showing and was very competitive. I had fun at Cornell during the finalist event and was pretty excited about the prospect of being a Park Fellow.
If I had recieved the fellowship, Cornell would have had my deposit tomorrow. Now it is not so clear. Elizabeth and I have to take a hard look at our situation and goals, and make a decision between Kenan-Flagler (UNC), Johnon (Cornell), and SOM (Yale). Career wise, I'm pretty confident that I can get the consulting job I'm looking for out of any of them. Of course, a phone call from Tuck could make the decision a lot easier!
I was always perplexed by the "which offer should I take" conversations, but now I get it...
--Chris
I read how Sears is supporting its employees called to active duty this morning and thought that was information worth passing on. I know that there are several companies that do this; I would ask/suggest that we support those companies who support our citizen-soldiers so well.
--Chris
Elizabeth and I went to look at the puppy again tonight. It looks like she is going to be a smooth hair instead of a wire hair, which is what we were looking for. However, she's so cute, we don't think we really care.
--Chris
Debating the real value of an MBA is always a fun topic. For an example, see Seth Godin's great satire on his concept for a new business school, the New Order Business School, aka, NoBS. Given that I am quitting my job this summer to go back to school full time, it does sting a little to read this as there is a lot of truth to it, I am sure. However, I am not daunted, just realistic in what I hope to learn in and gain from business school.
I do recommend that all of my compadres out there who are about to embark on the MBA journey, or who have already set sail, pay particular attention to the five items that Mr. Godin suggest are vital to running a business that you won't learn in business school; those being:
1. Finding, hiring, and managing supergreat people
2. Embracing change and moving quickly
3. Understanding and excelling at business development and at making deals with other companies
4. Prioritizing tasks in a job that changes every day
5. Selling -- to people, to companies, and to markets
I think it's important for all MBA grads, students, and prospectives, to realize and understand the negative sentiments that you may encounter, then strive very hard to prove them wrong.
If reading that article brings you down, remember this: it was written by a Stanford MBA.
--Chris
More good news: I'm a finalist for the Park Leadership Fellows Program at Cornell. That means I'm heading out to Ithaca next week for the interview on Friday. Making travel arrangements to Ithaca ain't easy, and since they just invited me yesterday, I wasn't able to make arrangements to stay for the whole "Destination Johnson" admitted students weekend. I'll just have to scoot out early Saturday, so at least I'll have Friday evening and the breakfust on Saturday to meet with some potential future classmates.
I'm pretty excited that I'm a finalist. Financial perks aside, it looks like a great program and was one of the facets that drew me to Cornell in the first place. The fellowship is obviously very competitive, so I'm hoping that, even if I don't get the fellowship, the fact that I was a finalist may lead to a good scholarship reward.
Unfortunately, the Kenan-Flagler Experience weekend at UNC is the same weekend, so I won't be able to attend. I'm also in the hole for vacation this year already, so I probably won't be able to go to the Yale SOM Admitted Students Weekend, either (which I haven't been officially invited to yet, anyway).
So, just when I thought all my interviewing for the season was done, I have one more. And this time, instead of interviewing for the opportunity to spend a lot of money, I'm actually interviewing to recieve a lot of money. No pressure, though...
--Chris
I'm a heavy Debit Card user, so I get asked the "Debit or Credit" question several times a week. I've never really known which answer was best, but this story makes me think I should opt for "credit" every chance I get.
--Chris
I just recieved a phone call letting me know that I have been offerred a seat in Yale School of Management's class of 2009! Given that Yale has the smallest class size of the schools I applied to, I have always viewed SOM as a long shot. I am very excited to have been accepted and now Elizabeth and I will have a very difficult choice to make, but I'm certainly not complaining.
--Chris