Sick

Okay, this is something that I'm not used to. Since about Wednesday last week, I've been going through different phases of the flu. Sore stomach, sniffles, dizziness, headaches. Groan. At the same time, I've been trying desperately to start ... and finish ... an essay for Economics and Public Policy, and to make a worthwhile contribution to a syndicate presentation set for this coming Thursday. I'm certain that the only reason I'm sick is because I've been pushing myself to the limit this month. I guess it's come back to bite me.

25 days to go...

Family of travellers

My brother, Andrew, has just returned from a five month working holiday in UK/Europe. In typical Aussie style, he went all the way to London to work in a bar that pays homage to Australia - The Walkabout Inn. He also spent time in France and Italy, and of course, made the compulsary visit to Amsterdam.

T minus 27 days...

1 assignment to go. 1 presentation to go. 1 take-home exam to go. 4 'real' exams to go. Still haven't been allocated my New York accomodation. Haven't heard from my sublease tenant for a while - hope he's still coming to Melbourne. Nearly finished packing the apartment. My sister's already taken some of my shelves, and my dad's interested in borrowing my TV while I'm away (the vultures are circling ;-). It's all going to happen so quickly over the next few weeks. Before I know it, I'll be in New Zealand.

To make matters a little difficult, I've actually been a little ill this week, so much so that I had to skip a couple of classes and try and rest easy rather than working on an economics essay that's due on Tuesday. Looks like I'm going to be pretty busy this weekend playing catch-up.

Remember, if you're new to this website, it makes more sense if you read it in reverse, starting here. ;-)

The Dream

A friend of mine in the part-time MBA program asked me yesterday evening, "How can you be enjoying the MBA if you keep commenting on your weblog about the intensity of it all, and using moods like 'swamped'?"

I've had an interesting opportunity for some self-reflection over the past few days. Having been short-listed for a scholarship based on the content of my resume and my original MBS application essays, I decided to revisit the journey that I'd been on over the past couple of years.

My personal journal from my US b-school tour in 2000, combined with the eight application essays I wrote for the AGSM and MBS in 2001, and all the posts I've written for this weblog, make for a fairly comprehensive summary of the career growth/change process that I''m going through, and the end point that I'm trying to acheive. A common theme seems to be that what I'm really trying to do is 'live the journey' rather than end up in a particular job in a particular industry in a particular city.

Right now, I'm living that dream. I'm seven months into the MBA. I'm doing some challenging elective courses. I've interviewed for management consulting jobs, and I'm about to head off to New York to study at a top-ten school. This time next year I'll have my MBA, and I'll be working in a brand new role - in a new industry - possibly even in a new country.

One must maintain a positive attitude in an MBA program. It's a hard slog, the hours are insane, and it's expensive. However, with the right attidude and a dose of confidence, the returns can be substantial. And, yes, for the most part, I'm enjoying it immensely.

T minus 35 days...

Five weeks. Two assignments. One presentation. One take-home exam. Four final exams.

This is it, the final countdown. In a little over a month, I'll be off on my round-the-world adventure of self-discovery, world-class education, and potential career advancement.

Now, supposedly, I'm meant to get my New York accommodation offer today (New York time). Here's hoping for that luxury apartment overlooking central park at a bargain price of $500. (In reality, I expect to be in a share apartment without a view, located somewhere around 110th St, and with a price tag closer to $800*).

Some other good news - I've been short-listed for a nice fat scholarship which could potentially cover my remaining tuition expenses at MBS. I have an interview scheduled for next Tuesday, at which I plan to impress the sponsoring organising with my career achievements and ambitions in the areas of leadership, communication, and raw analytical talent. ;-) Although it won't make any difference to my present cash-flow crunch, the scholarship would make a significant difference to my financial well-being post-MBA.

(* For those unfamiliar with the US apartment rental system, rents are usually quoted in US dollars per month. A one-bedroom apartment in New York usually costs US$1000 - $1500 per month, but Columbia provides subsidised accomodation to graduate students.)

Don't trust the textbook

When most people get 90% for an exam, they're usually pretty satisfied - mass celebration, beers all round, that sort of thing.

When I received a mark of 90% for my 'Valuations & Financial Analysis' exam last week, I was disappointed. VFA is the one subject this term that I personally think is dead easy - a bunch of mathematical formulae which can be applied to various financial decision making situations. Having finished the mid-term exam twenty minutes early, I was pretty certain that I'd aced this one.

Alas, when it was returned with a mark of 36 out of 40, I couldn't understand my professor's reasoning for taking away those four marks. After a half hour discussion with my professor this morning, I'm still not happy (despite the fact that he's now bumped my marked up to 37). The problem centres around the fact that I answered one of the questions in the exam using an approach from our official textbook that my professor happens to have an issue with. Thus, despite the fact that my application of that approach is perfect, he's refusing to give me full marks because it's not the way he would have answered the question.

The moral of the story - question your professors in class, but when it comes to exams, put your own ideals aside, as do it their way.

Update (18.07.2002): My VFA professor approached me after class today and told me he'd had a change of heart. New score: 38 out of 40 (95%), which was my original target mark for the exam ;-)

What's the point of a decaf coffee?

In an effort to ensure a full night's sleep before my 9:00am Strategy class this morning, I decided to finish off a dinner out last night with a slice of cheesecake (yum!) and a decaf coffee. This was a first for me - it tasted the same, but didn't make me *feel* any better.

I didn't end up getting my full night's sleep, as I ended up on the phone for a couple of hours when I got home. As a result, I was in a rush this morning, and didn't have the time to buy a coffee before class. Let me tell you - I was really struggling. I didn't have the energy or the enthusiasm to contribute to the discussion (the case in question was The Body Shop, which is actually a really interesting values/PR/branding case), and instead sat in class continually looking up to the clock, waiting for 10:30 to come along so I could get my first coffee.

I tell you - I think I must be addicted.

T minus 40 days and counting...

Wow! What an intense couple of weeks. Business School is insane at the moment. There is soooo much work to do, that I barely have time for anything else.

Syndicate assignments for Strategy and Law, presentations for Law and Project Management, VFA and EPP exams, career planning seminars, presentation skills sessions, the list goes on. It's all a case of how high can you jump. In this past week, I've had three 14hr+ days at uni (including a Saturday), and I've spent over 70 hours in total on b-school work. It's all paying off though - I'm getting decent grades, and I'm learning soooo much. My super-intensive Project Management class is a real challenge, but the professor is incredible. He'll cold call at random, and if the answer you provide isn't satisfactory he'll press you for a better one. Awesome!

Not much more progress on my New York move. I'm still waiting for my accommodation offer from the Columbia Uni Apartment Housing group. Hopefully, I'll know the details of where I'll be living by next weekend. Forty days to go.

Where is Adrian?

Please excuse my absence in the past week.

B-school and my personal life have taken a higher priority over the past few days.

I'll be back this weekend. I promise.