IceMan's MBA Journey

The Eagle Has Landed

2005-07-26T02:29:00.000+08:00

I know. I'm being slack again. This time I have a good excuse. It's just been simply crazy making the move to Philly - (and staying sane). First impressions of Philly are positive. My nocturnal exploring has been fruitful and I have found a few dives which I like. Thus ends the first and most important part of my MBA experience. Lower down on the priority list, has been furnishing my apartment. Last week I almost broke down and cried like a little baby after being overwelmed with the plethora of colors, styles, patterns, and designs. Then for each of these laid the various projects: bedroom, living room, kitchen. I HATE SHOPPING.

It was on the verge of color-cordination overload that I realized the luxuries I have left behind. Usually, when I move, I always left the interior decor to either the female in my life at the time, or delegate to a team of eager female engineers, who all relished the challenge of spending someone else's money - even if for no personal gain. (Have scientists isolated this gene in females yet?)

Anyway, this whole shopping for furniture thing has totally fried my brain and has rendered me useless for my Calculus pre-test in two weeks. However, while strolling through K-mart, Marta Stewart came to the rescue like an angel from the fashion-challenges gods. And in one swipe of a credit card, I was transformed into a young hip dude with exquisite taste. Thank you Martha Stewart for your color coordinated treats, your tasteful linens and bathroom accessories. You are a darling to bachelors everywhere.

As is typical with the karmic irony of life, with every blessing comes a curse. Here goes: What the ^&*% is up with best buy?!?! I went to two different branches to shop for electronics for the crib. 95% of the items I requested were not in stock. Which leads me to ask - If you are all out...why the *(^* do you have these items displayed if you have none there??? Why do you have this massive 10,000 sq ft store when you are going to tell me to order it on the website for delivery 2 week later? Ditto with the furniture stores. If anyone out there plans to go into retail here is the forula based of best practices from my experiences thus far:

1. Go to Amazon.com and order one of everything
2. Lease a building 2 miles outside of the city near the post and display these items with half the sales force that you estimate
3. If someone is crazy enough to actually purchase anything - refer them to your website or amazon.com
4. If the customer does not seem enthusiastic, refer the customer to WalMart and inform them that they have cheaper stuff with the same performance and specifications.

Sorry of the rant. But it's a necessary evil for the sake of dealing with culture shock. Apart from my woes with furnishing the crib, I have been giving serious thoughs about my blogging future. While I enjoy blogging, and have met many interesting people both online and in real life, I am still ambivalent about whether I will in fact continue. Still thinking....

Anyway, since I am still contemplating a new direction for myself, and am still without cable, internet etc for the next week - I would appreciate any suggestions on good books worth reading. That is, anything but Harry Potter! - (note to FutureMBAGirl - :)) On the movie end of things, I was able to check out the Wedding Crashers. I have not laughed that hard since There's Something about Mary. Definitely worth the 6 bucks and candied sugary goodies.

Booya!

2005-06-29T09:33:00.000+08:00

I wish I had more to blog about, but no such luck. Instead, I have faded into a placid obscurity. My most challenging projects to date have been queuing in the US Embassy for my F1 visa (see AttaGirl), chasing vaccinations and paperwork (BritChick), and making a spreadsheet in excel for my grandmother to organize the phone numbers of her church-cake-sale-homies.

Apart from the home improvement projects and the self-improvement binge, I am now hooked on Jim Cramer’s Mad Money on CNBC. Cramer is like the Jerry Springer of Wall Street viewing - over the top and just as addictive. There are cheesy graphics, cheap sound effects, and Crazy Cramer preaching the straight dope from the street. I can’t get enough.

Housebroken

2005-06-20T22:47:00.000+08:00

Thus far, my days consist of gym, yard work, laundry, stripping, sanding and building. I think I am being given an involuntary pre-pre-term in preparation for the student life. For the first time in years, I actually made up a budget, and even more surprising, I am sticking to it. Usually, at this time of the month, I become more aware of the impending paycheck slowly coursing through the company's financial veins en route to my chequing account. The reality just hit me that there is none coming - and so, the cash burn is officially on.

Apart from my domestic rediscovery, I feel like a stranger in my own country. Much has changed since I last lived here. On my previous visits home, I have been so consumed with errands and impending vacation plans, that I did not take the time to absorb the scenery. This time, things will be different. Last weekend, I decided to visit a different restuarant every other day, to become more au courrant with the local gourmet scene. My college buddies, took me on a club crawl to get reacquainted with the nightlife. Finally, today I had my first salsa lesson - and not too soon from the looks of things.

The self improvement binge continues...

A South Beach Tale

2005-06-12T17:11:00.000+08:00

The IceMan sits under the tarp of the pool bar sulking over the Miami Monsoon, which is plaguing South Beach. Amidst the deluge, the following unfolds…

Concierge:

Welcome to our lovely hotel. I hope you are having a good time so far. Please meet Arlene – our local tropical storm.

*smile and brief pause*

Arlene, this is IceMan…IceMan, please meet Arlene.

Arlene:
Nice meeting you IceMan. ooOOooo…cool shades.

IceMan07:
Thanks. You suck.

Arlene:
Excuse me? Is that how you speak to women that you just met, and whom I might add complimented you? No wonder you’re single.

IceMan07:
Quite the contrary, I am a perfect gentleman. I just don’t get along well with people you purposefully set out to ruin my vacation.

Arlene:
You give me too much credit. How did a little old girl like me do something like that?

IceMan07:
Well I came over here expecting some sun and fun and instead was greeted by dark clouds, wind gusts, and an almost empty beach. In all, just an all around cluster-#$^* amidst torrential rains.

Arlene:
*giggles*
Well, that’s not what it looked like to me. As a matter of fact, I helped your sorry ass!

IceMan07:
Normally I would have told you to go screw yourself, then make an equally obscene exit, but my curiosity is getting the better of me. How pray tell, by chasing all the scantily clad hotties from the beach, did you enhance my vacation experience?

Arlene:
*rolling eyes*
Men! Okay, try to stay with me now. Was that not you outside the ocean drive starbucks smoking a cigar and sipping a double cappuchino?

IceMan07:
*laughs snobbishly*
Yeah, so you’re comparing coffee to eye candy?

Arlene:
Okay, hang-on. Was that not you at the Clevelander chatting up a storm with the 2pm crowd? Was that not you at the Mango Bar sipping coronas and mojitos? Wasn’t it you who got summoned to take a twirl with the lounge singer? How about poolside at the hotel? Whose digits were those that got scribbled at the back of your receipt while complaining about the weather? Where did you go for dinner? Who with?

*confident pause*

MmmmHmmm. I rest my case.

IceMan07:
*staring down at his shoes*
Well. You have a point. *regaining composure now* But this is all circumstantial rather than cause and effect as you’re suggesting. I must admit, things did not turn out as bad as they could have.

Arlene:
Should I consider that an apology?

IceMan07:
You can do with it what you like darling. (infused with sarcasm). Anyway, as much as I like chatting with deviant weather patterns, I have a flight to catch. It was good meeting you.

Arlene:
Same here. Have a nice flight. I notice that your flight plan puts you very close to me. So we might see each other again sooner then you think. *evil grin*

IceMan07:
I hope you don’t take it personally, but I sincerely hope not. But, please take it easy on the US Gulf Coast. Energy prices are high enough, housing is expensive enough, and we're still getting over Ivan, Gibert and Andrew.

Arlene:
I’ll try, but you know these things are out of my control. You take care.

IceMan07:
I hear ya. Ciao bella.

*SCENE*

Bienvenido a Miami

2005-06-09T21:38:00.000+08:00

SoBe 8am
Originally uploaded by IceMan07.

Due to another delay from an undisclosed airline, I arrived in Miami at 6:45 am instead of the scheduled 10pm the prior night.

I explained the reason for my delay, and the kind front desk manager wacked 50% off of the night that I missed, and then upgraded me from a bargain basement regular room to an ocean-view suite. I love the effort. Someone else might not have even bothered.

Two words describe SoBe this morning - Quiet and Cloudy. I'll take a nap now, see how things progress, then roam about the old stomping grounds later on.

Last Day in Vegas

2005-06-09T04:18:00.000+08:00

It's my last day in Vegas, and like the spoilt brat in the toys u us aisles, I am pouting. I don't wanna leave :(. To add salt to the wound, SoBe looks like it's going to be drenched in rain during the two days that I'm there. To cheer myself up, I decided to do Poweryogi's Travel Type Indicator. It's official...I'm a "Travel Yup" - see details below. Hmmm Bali, Jakarta, Vegas, Miami....sounds about right.


	Your travel type: Travel Yup The Travel Yup likes exotic and adventurous travel, but prefers big cities with fast paced life. He has a keen interest in other cultures and always brings home a few souvenirs. Shopping in Bangkok, getting a tailor made suite in Kuala Lumpur, that's the kind of thing the Travel Yup is into. Even though he likes to get away, he prefers his travels to be comfortable.
	top destinations: Beirut New York Amsterdam	stay away from: Hampi Ciudad Perdida Darien Gap

get your own travel profile

Tagged in Las Vegas

2005-06-07T10:51:00.000+08:00

IMG_0348
Originally uploaded by IceMan07.

I made it to Las Vegas in one piece. Armed with the tips from my fellow MBA Bloggers, I am exploring this adult playground with gusto. While I am all for the city's self proclaimed mantra - what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas - a few things stand out:

1. Ususally I suffer from really terrible jetlag whenever I fly over to the US. This time, the transition was seamless.

2. I am hardly gambling. So far I have visited the blackjack tables only twice. There is just so much to do that I have not even thought about gambling. I think the hotels made the right decision, moving from the cheap subsidized hotel rates to the full service model where, even if people don't hit the casinos much, they can still make money on such customers.

3. On a lazy Sunday, I decided to teeter on the line of metrosexuality and spring for the works: a massage, a manicure/pedicure and a facial at the hotel spa. I can now understand why women go bonkers for this stuff. The pampering was definitely rejuvenating. Now I have the ultimate gift idea for the ladies, well, apart from jewelry.

In all, the IceMan *heart* Las Vegas, and I am happy that I have a viable alternative to South Beach as a favorite vacation spot.

On the MBA side of things, I have been tagged by AttaGirl on my last 5 books read. So, here they are in reverse chronologial order:

1. Berkshire Hathaway's Letters to the Shareholders - 1977 to 2004 - Warren Buffet
2. The Broker - John Grisham
3. Barbarians at the Gate - Brian Burrough
4. The Rules of Work - The unspoken truth about getting ahead in business - Richard Templar
5. The Art of War - Sun Tzu

So, in turn, I'll tag a mix of students, prospectives, and non MBA bloggers: Aregon23, Future MBA Girl, Mark & Jie, mbafarbe, Steph

Don't Cry for me Indonesia

2005-06-06T03:27:00.000+08:00

I officially had my last day of work on Tuesday 31st May, 2004. After I completed my formalities, packing, and shipping, I was off to a farewell tour of Indonesia spanning from Bali to Jakarta. Thus ended an era. A few coworkers and friends surprised me on Friday night by showing up in Jakarta for one last night on the town. We said farewell in a club crawl spanning the Dragon Fly, B.A.T.S., Tiga Puluh and of course, the Stadium. And so it all ended like it began - a Friday night escapade of the Jakarta club scene. I returned to my hotel at 05:30 am, just in time to shower and catch my flight to Vegas at 07:30 :) .

I have moved quite alot throughout my career, and have found that the old adage is quite true. Home is where the heart is. Just like any home there were good times and bad. In my almost three years in Indonesia, Have have been no more than 2 blocks away from two terrorist attacks. The bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta - (was having lunch nearby), and the attack on the Australian Embassy - (was delivering a presentation to 20+ seminar attendees). The last and most devastating tragedy we all remember quite well - the earthquake and tsunami, which devastated South East Asia.

Keeping with the time tested cliches, another adage says that there is a silver lining behind every dark cloud. Again, another truth. Personally, Indonesia provided fertile soil for my own personal growth - a comfortable life, substancial professional achievements, two heart wrenching romances, and of course, admission to 2 fantastic MBA programs. I hope that I was able to be - (buzzword alert) - a net contributor (/buzzword alert) throughout. Of all the activities in which I partook, I enjoyed working with the kids the most. Working directly with the kids, was in retrospect, more fulfilling than the gala fundraisier scene where I think I spent more of my time, or than cutting a check.

I will definitely cherish the memories, and hope that the lessons learnt throughout, will enhance my character in the future. If I ever get the opportunity to return in the future, I will snap it up in a hearbeat. (Recruiters! Are you listening? 2007 - mark your calendar. I'll be at DIP week, and the career fair at Wharton)

To Indonesia with love. Thanks for the memories. Terima Kasi Banyak

Lessons Learnt from the Applications Process

2005-06-02T19:34:00.000+08:00

I finally managed to turn my brain dump into something resembling coherence. There are many books, articles, and resources out there which all go into great detail on the various aspects of the applications process. Rather than get into the intricacies of the process, instead I will focus on a few oddball lessons that I learned during the process.

If you remember one thing during the application process, remember this: It's the package that counts. Additionally, the whole is not equal to the sum of the parts. There are many applicants out there. The acceptance rate to the top schools are anywhere from 8-15%. This all translates into many talented, motivated and exceptional not being offered seats. So, as much as you attack the challenge with gusto, remember to keep a sense of humor, and always be prepared for the worst. In my personal journey, what was important to me was to go flat out, but to simultaneously cultivate other opportunities towards reaching my ultimate goal in life. That said, here is my top 10 list:

1. WORK - My biggest enemy during the whole process was work. Never underestimate this beast. There is always a last minute deadline, a VIP visiting, a meltdown in progress, or a presentation to whip up, which eats into preparation time. If you're planning to apply in round 2 - BEWARE of end of year reports and forecasting committments for the following year. These are tasks which happen throughout all businesses, which always coincide with R2 deadlines, and which I severly underentimed during my application experience. Work pays the bills, but eats into time available for GMAT preparation, essay writing, and interviewing.

2. GMAT - The main point here is to start early. If you even suspect that you will be applying to business school, then it is never soon enough to start preparation. The scores are valid for 5 years, which should give you more than enough time to focus on the other aspects of your application. On preparation - find a technique, learn it well, then practice on the Official Guide - aka the Big Green Book of Questions. Personally, I liked Kaplan. I bought their three books: GMAT800, The GMAT MAth Workbook and the GMAT Verbal Workbook, and worked through them. Finally, practice with Powerprep. It is very close in look, and feel to the real test. Using these techniques I was able to crack the 700+ boundary.

3. YOUR TEAM - Another task to address early is to assemble a core group of people who you trust intimately. This is going to be your rock. From this circle, you will find candidates to proofread your essay drafts, to offer encouragement when you are temporarily overwelmed, and to provide honest and blunt feedback. Trust me, it's not easy reading monotonous revisions of essays. For one question for a particular school, I did 21 revisions. I encorporated feedback from everyone ranging from a peer at work to a current student of the program. Once I was happy with the final product, I asked my mom what she thought, and was given the tough love response - "I hate this essay! This is just a thesaurus of business-ese, and I don't see much of your personality here." Yes ma'am! Not many people will give you that kind of honesty, and these are the kind of people you want in the circle. There is no time for flattery, just results.

4. ESSAYS - At the tail end of summer, most schools release their questions for the following year's application. Try to consolidate the questions from all schools in a document and start brainstorming. The best ideas come when you least expect. I have had several Eureka moments in the shower and on the commute to work. Every school asks a derivative of: Why MBA? Why now? Why us? Theoretically, if you are going to be applying 2 years from now, it might be worth writing an essay on this and keeping it as a living document. I believe that any successful candidate must absolutely slam dunk this question. One final word on essays, is to have the courage to be open and personal, to allow the reader to understand what is your raison d'etre. Be honest but not too honest. Avoid the statements about being tired of your crappy boss or about wanting to get into private equity to buy a condo in Maui.

5. START A DUMP FILE - One of the things which was really helpful to me was my dump file. This was a simple text file in which I made quick notes on anything significant that happened in my life. In there were things such as: achievements at work and school, quirky travel stories, books that I enjoyed, and people I admired and why - basically anything that might add fuel to an essay question. You'll be amazed at the sheer quantity and diversity of experiences that you will have at your disposal when its finally time to put the proverbial pen to paper.

6. DETERMINE A BUDGET THEN DOUBLE IT - Applying to b-school is expensive. Each school application costs from 175 to 225 USD. Then, if you factor in GMAT, school visits, interviews, information sessions, courier services, airfare, and hotel rates, the financial comittment becomes sizable. But, there's good news. Members of the admissions committes usually visit different reigons of the world to conduct interviews. Additionally, these schools also have broad alumni networks, who all volunteer their time to the admissions process. Finally, if all else fails, there is the internet and telephone interviews for those who absolutely cannot afford the travel expenses. I was fortunate enough to be in a position, where by tightening the fiscal belt, I was able to visit one of my target schools, and meet a member of the adcom from another program, for a hub interview.

7. WORK EXPERIENCE - This is an area where long term planning can help immensely. Most schools ask for examples of leading teams, managing people, and navigating difficult situations. This fertile ground for some strategic career moves to boost your profile. From my own case, I was responsible for small, focused teams of 3-5 people. However, I took an opportunity for a small pay-cut but much larger sphere of influence a few years back. This move help me tremendously in my own maturity and leadership development. I believe that most schools look for blue chip F500 experience. Your plans for business school could be a point for consideration, if you had the choice between job offers when you're at 2-3 years of work experience.

8. ATTACK THE TOP CHOICE FIRST - It's no secret that Wharton was my top choice. I spent 75% of my time preparing for the Wharton interviews and essay questions. Once I had a solid grasp of the components for W, the other applications crystalized easily. The added benefit of working on the top choice first, is that when you are through with the others, you can revisit the application of your top choice with an even sharper sword and a more critical eye.

9. RECOMMENDATIONS - Now I have a disclaimer here. I went totally against the grain on this one. One of the people I chose was an old school hardass. He told me very clearly that he would "do it but would not blow smoke up my ass". Meaning, he would definitely recommend me, but will also provide a balanced view. I was impressed by that and signed him on. I signed up for the confidential recommendation and up to this day, I have no idea what they wrote. One of them tried to run ideas by me but I declined. Why? I really wanted these people to paint a true picture of their assessments. My only instructions were: be positive, be honest, and be forthright with my weaknesses and how business school can help. Recommendations are the most stressful part because it is the one aspect of the process which is completely out of your control. It took a lion's share of persuasion to have these busy managers complete this process three times. I think at least some of them were cursing me at their homes while they were online composing and submitting responses.

10. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE FIT - I think I gave every school 100%. over on the right there are the list that I was considering. I would have been thrilled to gain acceptance to any one of them. But the key lesson in fit is to network, network, network. Go to the information sessions. Visit the schools. Live on their websites. Unfortunately, I was over on the other side of the globe, and swamped with work deadlines. Thank goodness for the worldwide web. I was able to contact students from all of my target schools, talk to them, and get a feel for the culture of the program. I think that it's worth doing some due diligence on fit beause 1. you cannot fake fit, 2. it will show in inconsistencies between your essays and the interview, and 3. if you can't figure out if the fit is right, the adcom will do it for you.

In closing, here's why I chose the programs that I targeted: (as much as I can fit in a 2 liner):

Harvard - I have a strong interest in general management in industry. I like the case method. This was used in my professional training, and I thrived under the technique.

Wharton - GM focus. Strong in finance, which is my biggest weakness as a manager. Very quantitative, which might be a key differentiator during recruiting.

MIT/Sloan - I am an engineer. I like MIT/Sloans "niche" as a cross training platform for engineers with an eye on leadership. Again, very quantitative. Only 1 semester of core classes. More time to study electives that you like! Cool MIT Sweaters.

IMD - A no non-sense 1 yr program that cuts through the fluff and gets down to business with trademark swiss efficiency. An older class with proven leaders. Like and EMBA and MBA experience all in one. Focused on developing captains of industry.

INSEAD - Another no nonsense program. Only one year and perhaps a favorable ROI. High emphasis on language skills which is always in high demand in international careers.

I hope this post offers a few waypoints enroute to the school of your dreams. Send me your comments with any further questions.

Heartbreak for the IceMan

2005-05-30T17:14:00.000+08:00

Yes. I know. This is that last Formula 1 post...I promise. (*fingers crossed*) This was a heartbreaker for Maclaren Mercedes fans around the world. After dominating the race, Kimi aka as the IceMan, locked his brakes while overtaking a backmarker. This in turn created a "flat spot" on his tire, and lead to sever vibrations in the suspension and steering system. The result is the front-right suspension giving way just as the last lap was about to begin. Yes, after 59 laps of domination, the car spun around thrice, careened into the kitty litter and finally came to rest against the shock-absorbant wall.

I woke up this morning hoping that that incident was all just a dream. But alas, it was not to be. This is a devastating blow to the Maclaren F1 pursuits. The leading team, Renault (*pause for gross spitting sound*), was handed yet another lucky victory by the high speed misfortune of the devastated Kimi Raikkonnen. Oddly enough, this post reminded me of a Wharton Blogger - Future MBA Girl. Future MBA Girl succombed to a nasty spill on her way to class, and has been out of comission for a while, and is healing a broken foot and a tested spirit.

Well, for the rest of 2005 and well into 2006, I will be rooting for Kimi to seize the drivers' championship and the FMBA Girl to fulfill her ambitions. Oh yeah...and don't forget stop by her blog and sign her cast. :).

My Oakleys

2005-05-27T14:01:00.000+08:00

I know what you might be thinking. Is this guy for real? Is this guy really going to dedicate an entire blogpost to talk about his sunglasses? The reason for my blogging about fashion accessories is an incident that happened to me enroute to work.

While, I was in the car, the driver seemed intrigued by the Oakleys and proceeded to quiz me on them for the following 10 minutes. During this drivetime banter, it suddenly struck me just how long I have had this pair of sunglasses. (now remember this driver...we'll get back to him soon)

I have a tendency to celebrate "firsts" in my life by splurging on something. So, as a fresh, wet-behind-the-ears grad from college, I spent my third month's salary on a Tag Heuer, and this pair of Oakleys. That was about 7 years ago and some change, and both items look as if they were bought last week.

Then, I remembered the hell these glasses have been through. They have been lost and found 3 times. The longest duration was for 3 months, when it was discovered by my 250 lb. buddy as he sat on them in the back seat of my car. They were apparently wedged between the backrest and seat cushion, of the rear seats of my then Honda Accord.

On another occasion, my hooligan friends decided to ambush me and toss me into the water, during a bonfire on the beach to "celebrate" my 26th birthday. In the end, there were 10 people in the dead of night, feeling around the sand and wave-breaks to find the glasses, which were jolted from my head during the whole exercise. These were a few of the worst incidents that I can remember. When you factor in the cumulative effect of the soccer matches, the golf rounds, weaing them on my head and around my neck, the treks through Africa ... it can become mindboggling. At the end of the day, there is no substitute for Quality.

Despite the abuse, my oakleys have been good to me. Apart from protecting my vision from those nasty UV rays, the secondary benefits have also made a huge impact. That is, my sunglasses are beyond a fashion accessory, it's an inanimate pick-up line. Back to our friend the driver, conversations like these are quite common. One trend I have noticed is that people who seem intrigued by them are mostly from people in the transportation industry, namely: drivers, pilots, air stewardesses, and mechanics. Of course, when the person asking is female, it then becomes quite easy to enquire: - "what's your name?" and follow up "what are your plans for later?".

Well, it's been 7 years and counting...I maybe I should retire them or something similar. Perhaps start a shrine, or bury them in a time capsule along with a printout of this post. Ah...decisions decisions.

2005-05-27T12:46:00.000+08:00

Stormy Weather: This was the view from my porch this morning at 8am. The sea looks angry, and the power went down. It's gonna be a rough Friday...

Formula 1 - Monaco

2005-05-26T18:24:00.000+08:00

In my excitement, I wrote up a long post about the Monaco Gran Prix, which was held on Sunday. But I decided to spare you all the fanaticism this time. If you want an idea of just how much of a fan of F1 I am, you can check out this old post.

Monaco is the holy grail of motor sport, and is always the race that any driver would trade it all in for a chance to stand at the top of the podium. It's a street circuit, which is s test for any driver because it is bumpy, narrow, and bounded by steel barriers on both sides. At 200 mph, with 2G forces on your internal organs, and in a carbon fibre body race-car, this all adds up to zero margin for error, during a 90 minute race. I'll just say that:

1. Formula 1 is back!

2. The last 15 laps of Monaco were classic.

3. I wish I had Tivo.

These pictures were from the F1-Live website.

My namesake. Apart from our soubriquets and lust for fast cars, we have no resemblance to one another. Too bad, because I wish my bank balance looked the same as his :)

2005-05-26T18:18:00.000+08:00

The IceMan in action.

2005-05-26T18:17:00.000+08:00

Red Bull Racing pit crew caught the Star Wars Fever with Storm Troopers' Attire

2005-05-26T18:15:00.000+08:00

BMW's Nick Heidfeld played chicken with Renault's Fenrando Alonso daring the other to be the first to brake before the chicane at 200+ mph.

2005-05-26T18:00:00.000+08:00

His crash helmet embedded with real diamonds as any self-respecting IceMan should.

2005-05-26T17:58:00.000+08:00

The Pit Girls were ever-present.

I am in my late 20s but...

2005-05-25T18:23:00.000+08:00

I am in a reflective mood. For the past couple of weeks I have been working on compiling my b-school application lessons-learned opus. Look out for that soon. Meanwhile, I am trying to formulate some personal goals for the next 2 years. That is, non-academic and non-employment related goals. I'm starting with a status check to determine the starting point. Hopefully, these will turn into development points, and subsequently goals. Here's where I am at this point: I am in my late twenties, but I....

am delusional about being the best point guard in the hemisphere.
think I enjoy the PowerPuff Girls more than my niece does.
have read The Art of War more times than I can count.
can't get enough of Gran Turismo & Tekken.
am officially unemployed and "looking".
could probably shed another 5-10 lbs.
am not fluent in a second language.
only picked up golf a year ago.
think I am a good dancer.
may not be a good dancer.
play the piano like a beginner.
cannot prepare exotic gourmet dishes.
have not been to China, India or Monaco.
only ever go on vacation where there is a beach.
wonder what Aishwarya Rai thinks about Wharton men?
cannot get the lyrics ot Ice-Ice Baby purged from my memory!
am secretly addicted to French films, Kung-Fu & Bollywood flicks.

So, from a quick analysis of the trends here, my personal mission statement should be: "to quit the PS2, DVDs and sports, and join a Modern Arts Class in Asia?" Hmmm....not such a bad idea. if you know of any, please let me know.

Verification Complete

2005-05-24T14:12:00.000+08:00

Finally, Kroll has completed my verification. This whole process took exactly 42 days, and required every ounce of restraint on my part. But, a cool head prevailed and it all got done in the end. Clearly, navigating the bureaucracy of the MI6 and CIA required more time than usual.

Now that my veil of anonymity has been uncovered, I lament the fact that the Kroll employee who researched my case, must now be "re-located". This post will self-destruct in 5 seconds...

Viva Las Vegas

2005-05-23T13:25:00.000+08:00

Vegas, here I come! I have rented a Blackjack Video, practiced on my computer, liquidated all of my stock options, and am ready to put my skills and intuition to the test. I will invest a weekend in Las Vegas to raise money for my MBA fees, rent and GIP. I can feel it! June is going to be my month. If I need be, I will take out a marker, and will use my financial aid letter as collateral. I am going all out, and will let you guys know how my easy-money scheme turns out.

On a serious note though, this is going my first trip to Vegas, and I wanted to seek the advice of the West Coast bloggers on the L.V. scene. Feel free to drop me any suggestions on the must-sees, the club scene, casinos and shows, while I still have a couple weeks of planning left. :)

Dear Mr Trump - A Class Action Suggestion

2005-05-19T11:25:00.000+08:00

First of all, many thanks to the kind folks at Clear Admit. They conducted a survey into the MBA blogging community, and in so doing, identified a Top 10 List of Blogs according to the votes of other bloggers and a special VIP panel of seasoned veterans. Special thanks to those of you out there you showed love to the IceMan. I was pleasantly surprised to be nominated, let alone be in the top 10. Cheers to those who voted for me, and congratulations to the winners. And in case you didn't know PowerYogi Rocks!

This business of the Top 10 List spawned an idea. I believe that the MBA Blogging Class of 2007 should band together, procure some face shots, dust off the resumes, and send a lpackage to Mr Trump, volunteering ourselves for the cast for a new Apprentice Season – The MBA Bloggers. This is a clear win-win. (Be warned Mr Trump - my attorneys are working feverishly on patenting the idea. )

For the Trump Organization, there will be a truly diverse cast of young, talented, articulate and intelligent professionals. In the boardroom, seasoned veterans such as Alex Brown, Clear Admit, Hella, Tad Holbie, etc can make special guest appearances to offer Mr Trump their individual assessments of the performance of the hapless bloggers as they make progress in their tasks. The boardroom would be a battlefield when the losing project manager pulls the two bloggers from his team who forgot to add links to other blogs in their posts or who did not run spell-check before hitting the submit button. Those of us unwilling to forsake anonymity will have the benefit of TV Magic with pixelled overlays and voice encryption.

The contestants are the true winners. The Apprentice will be a heated battle between the outspoken PowerYogi and the affable Dave. (No offense to the other bloggers out there :)) The Board will definitely have their hands full with that decision. If past seasons are indicative of what future contestants can expect, in addition to the possibility of being the next apprentice, the rewards are bountiful. The female bloggers will of course have their mandatory appearance on Oprah, and the Ladies of Blogging Special Maxim Modeling Shoot on an exotic beach or in a boardroom with a Business-suit and a crop. WakeChick will have her pick of endorsements from Lucky Brand Jeans, Billabong, and QuickSilver. BritChick will be considering offers from a spin off of “The Office” or a Silver Screen debut – “BritChick – The Edge of Reason”, opposite the debonair Hugh Grant. MargaritaLuvr will be fiercely courted by Martha Stewart Omnivision to rebuild the empire while simultaneously managing to be a hostess on The View. The question will be who will get that offer to the fifth Desperate Housewife? - (I wonder which one of our ladies will be the Omarosaesque Villainess?)

The men also have their slice of the pie. Again, we all will be focused on winning the spot as the next Apprentice, however, if we get dinged, life goes on. A few of the men will make an appearance on Leno, and /or Letterman, and be suave, charming and witty, making millions of female viewers swoon and want to have our babies. B-skewl, Businessboy and Aregon immediately come to mind. While I do not think I am the right fit for the Trump organization, I do hope that if dinged, I would at least get an offer to be a judge at the Miss America or Miss Universe Pageant – (of course amidst a media circus of rumors following sightings with Lindsay Lohan and Ashanti at various nightclubs)

Much like the Clear Admit Best of MBA Blogs Survey, at The Apprentice, everyone wins.

Parting is such sweet sorrow

2005-05-06T19:05:00.000+08:00

The saga continued as I submitted my resignation circa 2 weeks ago. In my professional career I have only worked for one company. Although I have worked in many locations around the world, I have never gone through the process of submitting a resignation and saying farewell to years of accomplishments, relationships and friends. In the process, I am assimilating quite a lot of information on how others view me. For instance, in contrast to the rebellious, under-appreciated, ‘intrapreneur’ that I envisioned myself to be, I was instead perceived as the flag waving, pro-company, gung-ho activist.

In the past couple weeks, I have found myself becoming a bored, brain-dead cyber-loafer. Thus, in an attempt to rejuvenate my lazy neurons, I embarked on an ambitious project outside of my portfolio. I suddenly realize that I am vain. I want to leave that last accomplishment to safeguard my legacy. I think I can relate to President Reagan and President Clinton, in their leadership terms. Seven years of going against the grain, then that final sprint to meticulously polish the image.

The whole reaction in the office took three stages. At first it was like someone died. Everyone stopped by my office to offer congratulations or condolences, depending on whether you believed their words or their faces. Then, once the initial shock dissipated, I was suddenly invited to everyone's house for dinner, cocktails and other intimate gatherings. The masses were baffled and demanded answers. I made it clear to everyone that I was quite happy but I needed to invest in my own development to pursue divergent long-term goals from those of the company. So, after being stuffed with food, drink, cigars or combinations of the three, the interrogations began. So...what did you do to get into Wharton? Did you write GMAT? What was your score? Why don't you do an on-line MBA? (you get the idea). Finally, the sarcasm started to ooze from beneath the civility. For example, during our weekly steering committee meetings, there was an instance when I naively made the mistake of articulating a few ideas in usual fashion, only to be greeted with something like: "Well Mr. MBA will show us the way".

However, on the bright side, there are the few who seem genuinely happy for me. This group is making my last month enjoyable. They range from junior engineers who I believe see a path to follow, to senior managers who seem to be either brimming with pride from a self-realized protégé, or living vicariously in the excitement of a new adventure. Finally, to wrap things up, I have a booze-gushing farewell party, many nights of boxing my junk, and an exit interview to look forward to.

“So we finally found it…the rainbow connection...the lovers, the haters, and me”

Housing Blues

2005-05-05T19:38:00.000+08:00

I just spoke to my soon-to-be land lord. Can you believe this shit? The rep from the housing company told me that I either have to show proof of financial aid for ~15K USD or a bank statement with funds totalling 50K USD. All this to get a lease on a dingy 1 b.r. apartment? Well, I do not have either of the two, but I do have two words for them and a finger...

Byte-sized Blogging

2005-05-03T14:40:00.000+08:00

Oath to self: Stop being a slack blogger. From this day henceforth, it's going to be short entries every 2 days. No more mini-essays once a week. I am even contemplating whether I should ignore tHe ruLEs of cApitAliZaTIon.

April Adventures

2005-05-02T20:45:00.000+08:00

April has been the most bipolar month for me, in a long time. I wrote a song about it…and it goes something like this…

Trip to Houston:

After the post-admission euphoria, I thanked the gods when he presented called me into his office to attend yet another leadership seminar. Before I could weasel out of it, he said the magic words: blah blah blah mandatory blah blah blah Houston blah blah blah 11th to the 15th April... Could it be? I might make the Wharton Welcome Weekend after all!

mandatory:
This eased my conscience about jetting half-way around the globe on the company dime.

Houston:
I *heart* Houston.
I *heart* Texan women.
I *heart* Texan steakhouses.

11-15th April:
It meant there was the possibility to jet over to Philly after the seminar to catch the tail end of the Welcome Weekend...or so I thought.

The Seminar:

The seminar was definitely informative. This seminar, as with any leadership seminar, started with self-awareness. We spent the first day doing self-evaluations on Myer-Briggs Personality Typing. This is my 4th test of this kind during my career and I usually have very predictable results. I/E NTP. I/E meaning that I always fall almost dead between a 50-50 split between E, meaning that I am a cross between introverted and extroverted. Combining all four, this yields, a split between "The Scholar" and "The Entrepreneur". Sounds very Whartonesque if you believe the prevailing stereotypes.

As the week unfolded, we covered topics such as leadership styles, emotional intelligence, the concept of flow, and motivation - (yes, Mr Maslow again). All in all, it was a week of self-discovery, and we all left every day skipping to the bar singing kumbaya.

The Wharton Welcome Weekend:

Wharton was great. The last time that I visited Philadelphia, was during a snowstorm, when I flew over for the interview. This time, the sun was out and the place was buzzing with energy. My weekend however, went south very quickly. First, a car pile-up on the 610 in Houston lead to my missing the last flight to Philly. I rebounded, and caught the first jet the following morning. Next, upon my arrival, we quickly realized that Continental lost my baggage. How does an airline lose a bag from point A to point B? Stuck with my backpack with a laptop, a camera, cologne, a sweater, a change of undies, and portable toiletries, I headed over to the hotel to see if I could catch the afternoon session of the Welcome Weekend workshops. Finally, at the hotel, I was informed that they lost my reservation despite my calling in advance to reschedule. Fresh from the leadership seminar, I put my new tools to work and was able to secure a room in the fully booked hotel at no extra cost. By the time my adventure was over, it was 3p.m. and most of the scheduled events were done.

Through steely stubbornness, enhanced by a steak and a few beers at the hotel restuarant, I was able to salvage the weekend. First, I hit the Welcome Weekend Party got my groove on with fellow admits. Next, I spoke to Riter & met up with Brit-Chick for Mexican Brunch. (it exists and is delicious). I also did some apartment-hunting and found a winner. Finally, I wrapped up by heading over to the movieplex, and checking out Sin City - (Definitely a worth seeing, especially if you're into gore, nudity, and leather-clad nymphs having orgasms while shooting machine guns.)

The Resignation:

Last week I finally submitted gave 4 weeks notice at work. That adventure deserves its own special post.

Sex, Sex, and more SEX

2005-04-30T22:24:00.000+08:00

Let me apologize in advance. This body of this entry is far tamer than the title suggests. Call this my first experiment in Marketing. After composing this entry, I could not resist seeing if I could break my 'hit' record. Thus far, my most popular entries have been the Wharton admit & Sloan admit posts, the Wharton Interview & Sloan Interview posts, and the bskewl vs aregon/east coast vs west coast post. Many apologies in advance, and back to the regularly scheduled entry.

For some reason, this week I realized that sex is all around us, and is now a part and parcel of the Global Village 2000 & Beyond. This all started with the insistence of my current "on-again-off-again", that we watch the ABC TV hit - Desperate Housewives on DVD. After a few days of pressure, and faced with either Desperate Housewives or staring mindlessly at Charmed, I finally rescinded. So started yet another habit. I guess that the new Dallas/Dynasty addiction is born, and, if the first season was so fiery, then I am curious to see how subsequent seasons will unfold. Sex and the City was understandable, after all, it's on HBO - home to favorites such as Oz, Sopranos, etc. However, I was surprised that there wasn't much hoopla about Desperate Housewives for several reasons:

1. The title - I initially thought this was porn when I first heard the name.
2. The affair between Gabrielle - played by Eva Longaris, and her 17 year old boy-toy/gardener (imagine the disgust if the genders were reversed but that's another story).
3. The number of flippant crimes in one street in one suburb - 1 x arson; 2 x murders; 1 x embezzlement; 1 x statutory rape; 1 x aiding and abetting; 1 x prostitution & solicitation etc etc.
4. All of the all of the sex, sex, and SEX on primetime TV

Perhaps the US viewing public ARE becoming more tolerant and open-minded. Perhaps American TV will soon catch up to that of the French. Perhaps we are at the dawn of yet another Age of Aquarius, and the groovy swinging 70s are back! - (Yeah Baby!). Much like the rest of America, Desperate Housewives fast became my guilty pleasure. I am thoroughly ashamed to say, much to my gf's delight, that after 1 week, I have finished the entire 1st season DVD. Of course, I must chime in with my personal vote for my most favorite housewife, who is none other than Nicolette Sheridan. I remembered her from my puberty induced day-dreaming when she was a villainess on Knots Landing. Fast forward 15 years later and still the hard wiring still remains in tact. (Oh the perils of the male adolescent mind).

This whole brain dump was inspired quite innocently. After a hiatus of a few weeks, I decided to comb through the Businessweek MBA Forum to see what's been going on. By far the thread of the week is Where would Jesus go for an MBA? Apart from the humor of it all, threads like these remind me that despite the 700+ GMAT, reporting to the CEO of XYZ corp in High School, and Stellar recs from the past four Presidents, people are human, and are still need doses of mind-crack be it playststion or incoherent grass-inspired philosophy.

From the link, of a link, of a link, I stumbled upon these two threads: Hottest Chicks and Where are the Hot Guys? Funny stuff, and I suppose, useful intelligence. Undergrads seemed to be quite popular from both genders, but I lost interest after the third page of the posts. Perhaps there are more treasures within. Apparently the ladies aren't feeling most of the 'Top 10' MBA Guys. Harvard, Wharton and Sloan guys included. Ahh well...in the age of all the sex, sex, and more SEX, here's to 2 years of celibacy..... :-)

Out of the Closet

2005-04-24T13:27:00.000+08:00

As my fellow blogger Hamtastic did, I decided to step out of the closet, and announce my matriculation to Wharton with shameless, logoed paraphernalia

The MIT Sloan Experience - The Verdict

2005-04-05T08:58:00.000+08:00

Again, the votes are in....

"On behalf of the MIT Sloan School of Management, I am delighted to inform you of your admission to the MIT Sloan MBA Program......"

MIT Sloan *heart* The IceMan.
The IceMan *heart* MIT Sloan.

I think it's going to be a lovely day....

Then I look at you
And the world's alright with me
........
Just one look at you
And I know it's gonna be
A lovely daaaaaayyyyyy
... lovely day, lovely day, lovely day ...
... lovely day, lovely day, lovely day ...

MIT Sloan R2 D-Day

2005-04-04T17:56:00.000+08:00

This weekend was pretty uneventful. I spent my weekend in suspended animation watching The Apprentice Season 2 re-runs, playing Gran Turismo with other equally eager and shameless grown men, and cheering at the Formula 1 telecast. (Don't worry - I'll spare you all with the F1 fanaticism today) Just allow me four words: Pedro de la Rosa.

MIT Sloan is due to release decisions today. I am surprisingly more relaxed for MIT Sloan's decision tomorrow. An offer in hand is THE ultimate tranquilizer; definitely a far cry from the Chinese water torture of the Wharton R2 decision circa 2 weeks ago.

Good Luck to the fellow MIT Sloan R2 applicants out there. I guess we'll know our fate today...

Emotional Roller-Coaster Ride

2005-03-31T11:48:00.000+08:00

What an emotional roller coaster. The past week was filled with butterflies, anxiety attacks, post-admittance bliss, exuberance, decadence, and now an abrupt crash into reality.

On Monday, yet another earthquake hit the Indonesian archipelago. Again, the effects were not felt in my town. I was awakened by telephone calls from family and friends asking about my safety. That is to be expected. I was really surprised that I got a couple e-mails from blog-readers, who briefly said they have not heard from me in a while…so were wondering if the IceMan has melted away. Many thanks to you guys for your concern – you know who you are. Again, people living in my community were worried about a possible tsunami repeat since we are a coastal city. My house is about 40 yards from the coastline – so….. That said, I am thankful to report that all is well, and that the community groups, churches, and other NGOs, are busy mobilizing donations for the victims.

On the MBA side of life, I received my information packet from Wharton yesterday along with a BIG FAT DING from HBS. I was so enthralled with all-things-Wharton that I forgot about the HBS decision date, that is, until the e-mail notification came out. No surprises there.

Suddenly, it’s crunch time. I have been navigating through the plethora of forms, deadlines, and financial decisions, which all seemed so abstract just a week ago. The thought of being accepted to a program just last week was still an exercise in probability, and in the hands of the adcom-gods. Now it’s here, and it’s time to put my money where my essays were. I have always prided myself on living a debt-free lifestyle and paying off my credit card debt religiously every month. I think this practice has been my safety net from financial ruin, since I have a weakness for anything portable, electronic, branded, or all of the above.

Now, I am faced with the prospect of student loans or self-funding. I have made the decision to undertake the debt. This unleashes a new set of questions: Do I liquidate and go all cash? Do I mix cash and debt? If so what porportion? I don't think I am alone here. BritChick mentioned the similar issues in a recent post. Even though the program(s) have published detailed budgets, I have the gut feeling that this estimate requires a safety factor of ~50%. All of the quarter-breaks, trips, networking dinners, drinks and club activities are definitely going to require some financial horsepower. On the more pessimistic side, there are the realities of various emergencies. I definitely would not want to be faced with the daunting workload of classes and 7+ hours/day of preparation, only to be worried about raising funds for xyz-emergency either on campus of back home with my family.

Off topic, I took a tour of my favorite blogs and caught up with the unfolding MBA Soap-opera throughout the blogosphere. I was extremely disappointed in my gender after reading about WakeChick’s Adventures this past weekend. This seems like the perfect opportunity for me to help out my fellow man (literally), with a few time-tested nuggets of lyrical candy to the female ear.

1. Nice shoes, wanna?
2. Bond. James Bond.
3. Do you know what'd look good on you? Me.
4. [Look at her shirt label. When they say, "What are you doing?"
Checking to see if you were made in heaven.
5. If I told you that you had a great body, would you hold it against me?
6. [Grab her tush.] Pardon me, is this seat taken?
7. That's a nice shirt. Can I talk you out of it?
8. Hello, My name is Donald Trump.
9. All those curves, and me with no brakes.
10. Hi. You’ll do.
(Disclaimer: Do not use these if you have a problem with being slapped or being served with a restraining order. Do not try these on penguins.)

Although I am comfortable with sharing these pearls of wisdom for free, I would appreciate a donation by check or international money order to the following address. Unfortunately, I am unable to accept payment by credit cards at this time.

IceMan07
2304 Floating Glacier
South Pole
Antarctica

The Wharton Experience - The Verdict

2005-03-24T22:09:00.000+08:00

It's official.

"Congratulations, you have been admitted to the Wharton MBA program."

Wharton Loves the IceMan.
The IceMan Loves Wharton.

It's 22:10 here, and I see a tremendous scotch infusion in my immediate future. Will blog soon.

Life & Art

2005-03-24T10:55:00.000+08:00

It's officially 11 hours to go till the fist batch of decisions trickles down for R2 applicants. I have finally conquered the 3-day battle, and achieved a quasi-zen peace. After neurotically replaying the past 5 months of the whole journey, I am content with the fact that I have given 100%, and have learnt a lot along the way. I am now busy compiling a list of concepts, which I would like to rediscover:

1. Sleep.
2. Mental Tranquility.
3. My Little Black Book.
4. Workplace Productivity.
5. Sony PS2 - Gran Turismo 4 is now officially out *evil grin*

To kick off the lifestyle rediscovery campaign, I dusted off the formal wear and went to a benefit last night. This Gala featured dinner, cultural performances, and an auction. The items up for auction were a dozen paintings done by Indonesian Elementary School children to raise funds for the tsunami victims in their country. I put my money where my mouth is and got myself a masterpiece by a 9-year old, future Asian icon. Along with the personal satisfaction of my purchase, is the added upside that I may have the first-sold painting of a budding artistic genius.

Good luck to my fellow Wharton R2 hopefuls.

Formula-1 Fever

2005-03-22T12:02:00.000+08:00

Many people become addicted to post-its. Their work areas become psychedelic shrines to the memory aids, forming a tapestry of household chores, e-mail reminders and special events– lest you forget your significant other’s birthday! My personal indulgence is a folder of text files composed in notepad. I formed the habit around august last year to capture my memory flashes over the almost 3 decades of my life to provide fuel and inspiration for my b-school essays. This was in turn inspired by one of my favorite Businessweek Journals from Stanford alumna - Sucharita.

My favorite file is the “dream-job” list. Although very personal, I would say that my dream-jobs reflect the shallow and more stereotypical single male fantasies, which revolve around women, money and fast cars; from Marketing VP of Gucci based in Milan to VP of Racing Development of the Mercedes McLaren racing team. This weekend reminded me of the longest entry on my list – Formula 1 Driver.

In the nascent days of Formula 1, Ayrton Senna dominated the scene. He epitomized the wild days of motor sport, becoming the most prolific icon of motor racing and a deity among modern fans. Fans and foes alike vicariously relished dark seedy tales of the virile Brazilian partying the night away with super-models before race day and subsequently decimating his opponents on the tarmac the following afternoon. Most recently, Michael Schumacher has become the poster-boy of the F1 circuit. Clinical, precise, articulate, arrogant, leadership, are all words that describe his legacy. The sport has mimicked its franchise driver. F1 has now become a sport of focused professionals whose diet, fitness regime, meditation and practices are now a multi-billion dollar business. The square-jawed, clean-cut, alpha-males now enjoy salaries and perks between 1 to 20 million dollars a year catapulting them into the highest paid professional athletes in the world barring a few exceptions. Winning his seventh title last year, his F1 dominance is reminiscent of Michael Jordan’s career as a Chicago Bull.

Last weekend, my passion for Formula 1 racing was renewed. This season promises to be the most competitive and exciting in the past few years. Formula 1 was cast into a snooze fest over the past three seasons by Ferrari’s dominance of the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship. Schumacher, Barrichello and company dominated qualifying and race-day not only with superior machinery a year ahead of their competitors, but also with their surgical precision as F1 drivers. This resulted in numerous Ferrari 1-2 podium performances, and the associated arrogance therewith.

During the past two weekends of the 2005 season, the tables were turned in Melbourne-Australia and in Sepang-Malaysia. Renault who seemed promising last season, sprung to the fore winning the last two races. Last year’s black sheep Toyota, who arguably had the largest budget in F1 for the past two years came into their own as legitimate top contenders. Perennial favorites Mercedes McLaren and BMW Williams had solid performances. Finally, Red Bull Racing gave the finger to Jaguar after Jaguar pulled funding from the team due to poor showings last year. Noteworthy was the fact that RBR pulled this off with exactly the same car and team as they used last year.

Sunday was my turn to host the revolving F1 office ‘party’, and the race did not disappoint. The youthful Spaniard, Fernando Alonso was the runaway winner, however, the real battle was in places 2 to 9. There were three major adrenaline-spiking highlights during the race. The first, when the three drivers, Giancarlo Fisichella– Renault, Mark Webber – BMW Williams, and Nick Heidfeld – BMW Williams, side-by-side hurtling down at 200+ mph into a second gear turn daring each other to brake the earliest. No driver was willing to give up position, and the scene ended up in a low speed crash on the turn between Fisichella and Heidfeld, retiring both drivers. The second, when Ralf Schumacher, who came under criticism last year from his old team BMW Williams decided to take his replacement to school in an overtaking maneuver in his new seat as a Toyota driver. The last, which was especially tasty for my fellow Ferrari detractors, was watching the Barrichello’s Ferrari being lapped by a Toyota…twice.

What I especially like about Formula 1 is the level of professionalism that the sport exudes. Although I’m a fan of soccer, basketball and football leagues across the world, I think that the modern athlete should take note. No wife-beating, drive-bys, cop assaults or similar scandals to deal with. The drivers who put their lives on the line every fortnight all exhibit the qualities of quintessential role models and consummate leaders. For example, after winning his second drivers’ championship in a row, Schumy bought Rolexes for his whole pit team out of his own pocket! Lavish gifts are optional, but recognition for the little people who contribute to your success is crucial to team building and esteem. These drivers sit in fireproof suits for 2 hours in 52 deg C temperatures, losing in excess of 10-15 pounds of body weight and fluids over the course of a 2-hour race, yet still manage to sit for a 30 minute press conference and represent themselves, their teams and their country with dignity and class. I think my longstanding dream-job will be on my list for a long time to come: Formula 1 Driver.

Waiting To Exhale

2005-03-19T14:49:00.000+08:00

Here's a list of things that I am doing to keep my mind off of the looming notification dates:

1. Neurotically refurbishing my blog template.
2. Brainstorming classy and reflective ding posts.
3. Reading South Beach Blogs
4. Contemplating R3 applications to a few more programs.
5. Computing my probability of admissions a la businessboy
6. Working out till exhaustion - gym, b-ball, soccer, golf.
7. Avoiding my parents who repeatedly ask if I have heard anything yet. (bless their hearts)
8. Listening to 50's new album.
9. Mentally replaying my interviews and unearthing millions of minute flaws.
10. Waiting to Exhale ... *shoop shoop shoop shooby shoop*

The MIT Sloan Experience – Interview

2005-03-17T17:26:00.000+08:00

I arrived in Singapore on Sunday afternoon. Because of the last minute changes, I was safe and sound, but my luggage somehow did not catch the flight. I stayed back in the airport, and with the help of the hyper-efficient ground staff, I was able to file a missing luggage report and head to the hotel with the typical Singaporean efficiency.

I checked in and called the Admissions Committee member, to let her know that I finally made it. We agreed on a time, and met in the lobby of the hotel about an hour after my arrival – just enough time to grab a shower, shave and caffeine.

The interview began after a few pleasantries and introductions were exchanged. After jogging her memory by reviewing my application package (MIT Sloan interviews are not blind), my interviewer asked questions most of which paralleled the essay questions.

Note: I did a thorough detailed write-up of the MIT Sloan interview technique to share. Upon re-reading the interview guide that is distributed to all interviewees, I noticed the fine print, which prohibits the distribution of all or part of the document in any form without permission. So……

Here is the mind-dump of the interview itself:

1. The achievement over the past year, of which I am most proud.
2. A situation during which I was most effective motivating people.
3. A situation where I had to deal with difficult peers.
4. General questions on my goals.

That said, there were many specific and probing follow-up questions in response to my answers to all of these. The interviewer was definitely well seasoned. At worst, I gleaned a few interview tricks. The whole atmosphere was professional yet friendly and was comparable to having a cordial conversation to someone you just met on an airplane. Although warned, I was surprised at how much the interview focused on the human equation. Most of the interviewer’s probing was geared toward stepping into my thought process, understanding my instinctive style, and how I would deal with people/team/individual issues.

I do not think that my rush to meet this interview hindered me in any way, because there is just no way to rehearse for an interview style like MIT Sloan’s. In my opinion, the best thing to do is to be certain about how you tackle problems, deal with people and deliver results.

After the interview, I had several questions. My overall impression is that MIT Sloan is more than the stereotypical haven for techpreneurs or quant-jocks. The program seems quite committed to leverage its undergrad reputation in engineering, media and sciences to a unique MBA experience. Cross-pollination and collaboration with the various campus think tanks and labs seems to be encouraged and fits well with my post MBA interests. My only regret was that I was not able to visit the MIT Sloan campus to meet a few students and get a feel for the vibe.

I was miffed to return ‘home’ only to see this article a few days after my interview! Information and tips like that are priceless. (Thanks for the link Dave). Dave also has a very informative and thorough post on his MIT Sloan visit. Regardless, I felt that I managed to allow the interviewer to see a very genuine picture of who I am and what I represent.

Much like Wharton interview, the MIT Sloan interview was difficult to assess. The interviewers seemed amicable yet well disguised. There were no giveaways whether positive or negative – Poker Faces. Just a few more antsy weeks left…..

The MIT Sloan Experience - Preamble

2005-03-17T10:41:00.000+08:00

Now prepare yourself for a few paragraphs of surrealism too scripted to be true. This is my MIT Sloan interview experience.

Last week Wednesday, I was not a happy camper. I received an e-mail and follow-up call from work, which in short, required that I curtail my vacation and head back to Asia asap. Apparently our team managed to crack a potential client’s resistance, and we needed to sew up the contract within a week. While whining to anyone who would give me an audience, I prepared myself mentally and physically for my return trek with the disposition of a battered warrior. I consoled myself with the reassurance that I had not received any word from HBS or MIT Sloan anyway, and that my chances of admission to both programs were dwindling exponentially with each passing day.

During my 6-hour layover in LAX, I killed time by staring in awe at the sheer volume of people that fill up Trans-Pacific 747s on a daily basis, trying to understand why the airline industry is always in such a big mess. (Conclusion:- Short sighted execs and aversion to industry consolidation). I managed to locate a high-speed internet kiosk, and decided to check my e-mail. There it was – an invitation from MIT Sloan!

The email informed me that the interview would be with a member of the Admissions Committee and I was offered the choice of Singapore, Bangkok and Taipei. It would definitely be too late for me to get an entry visa to Bangkok and Taipei, so my only shot would be Singapore, where I would not require visa formalities. However, I would arrive back in Indonesia far too late to make it on time to Singapore, and the thought of a phone interview was a bit too daunting for me – I need the visual feedback.

Fast-forward 14 hours later. I arrived in Hong Kong, bolted to the transit desk, and spoke to the airline representatives for half an hour, trying to re-route my connections without hemorrhaging cash to buy a whole new set of tickets. Supervisors were called, and for ~120 USD penalty, they got me a new route via Singapore. While in the transit lounge, I called up the Interviewer, arranged a time and place, and voila…..the great MIT Sloan interview was on!

MIT Sloan Interview Invitation

2005-03-13T10:07:00.000+08:00

I received the MIT Sloan interview e-mail a few days ago, which has suddenly tossed my travel plans into a tail spin. Meanwhile, I've been using my precious online time reacquainting myself with the program. My initial take on MIT Sloan versus the other programs to which I am applying, was outlined in an earlier post.

The Plan:
1. Re-read my application sections
2. Re-surf the MIT Sloan Website
3. Scour cyberspace for Sloan Interview tips - Bulletin boards, Google, etc.

More on how the impending chaos was resolved later.

The Wharton Experience – Interview

2005-03-08T02:45:00.000+08:00

I arrived for my interview 15 minutes ahead of schedule amidst a brewing snow storm. After a 5-minute wait, sign-in and submission of my resume to the front-desk, I was escorted by my interviewer to his office and the interview began. The interviewer started by introducing himself, along with a brief summary of his background. He then explained that the interview was ‘blind’ and that the interview itself was not definitive, but is used as one more data point in the application process. The interviewer also offered a pre-apology for possibly interrupting me during the course of the session. I was advised not to be offended if I am interrupted mid-answer, but was very politely told that we were only allowed 30 minutes of interview time, and if I answered the sufficiently, that we would move on to ensure we cover the full spectrum that the interview encompasses.

The questions did not follow the ‘typical’ Wharton script that I read in a few blogs and on the bulletin boards. However, I did note that the interviewer made a couple annotations on my resume and referred to these annotations when asking questions. My interview unfolded as follows:

1. Some introductory industry specific questions on my work environment, industry specific performance indicators, and profiles of my direct reports.
2. Explain the daily duties in my current position.
3. How was I able to be effective to be in XYZ position despite the challenges involved?
4. Describe how I achieved a particular accomplishment, and how did that impact my leadership skills.
5. What is my plan upon graduation from Wharton if accepted?
6. Describe my role in a particular community service group in which I was involved.
7. What motivated me to pick up ABC-hobby and how did this impact my development as a leader?
8. What achievement am I most proud of and why?
9. Any questions for me?

In all, I think it went well. I did not rehearse answers during preparation, instead I focused on the major positives that both made me unique, and showed that I could fit in. I am hopeful that I managed to convey these eloquently and effectively.

With the interview behind me, I was invited by my hosts to chill out and to converse for a few hours. The discussion meandered among ‘lighter’ topics such as relationships, Wharton and religion (yikes!). I came into Philadelphia with high expectations, and they were exceeded.

The Wharton Experience – Day 2

2005-03-04T13:56:00.000+08:00

I woke up bright and early and headed down to Huntsman Hall to sign up for class visits. There were about a dozen of us there who signed up for the campus tour. A list is usually provided with the courses available for that particular timeslot. I chose Professor Seigel’s Macroeconomics & Global Economy class. The class was riveting; with some commentary on the previous day’s news from global financial markets as well as some thought-provoking historical comparison of different companies/industries over the past 50 years.

After class, I strolled back to the MBA Café to kill some time before meeting the next group heading to class. I was sitting there alone sipping a sprite, killing time before the next class that I planned to attend, when no fewer than three different students stopped by my table to say hello. I think the “smart casual” attire was a dead give-away and was equivalent to “I-am-a-Wharton-Wannabe” sign pasted on my forehead. The conversations were quite similar, comprising of name exchanges, business cards, background, and why Wharton. By this time I was two minds: either I have that lost puppy aura or there is just a very open and collaborative culture on campus. One student in particular suggested that I given my goals after b-school that the Innovation, Change and Entrepreneurship Class would be an excellent compliment, and would be worth checking out.

Throughout the rest of the day I was able to sit in on two more classes: the Corporate Development (M&A) and the Innovation, Change and Entrepreneurship class. I was expecting to be drowned in quantitative analysis, but was pleasantly surprised to see that the softer issues relating to both subjects were explored in depth. Issues such as: the effect of culture clashes, how to manage change, and the people equation were all given a thorough treatment during the lectures. Needless to say, it was a day well spent.

However, I absorbed this with a pinch of salt. All of the students I spoke to were all second years. My humble impression is the first-year students that I encountered were all focused and extremely busy. The second-years, while also pressed for time, seemed much more relaxed, and self-assured. Most of them had job offers secured, and appeared to have time-management down to a tee.

Again, after my recovery siesta, I got together with a couple second-years and spent a a few hours exploring the adjacent nightlife. We wrapped it all up just after midnight in anticipation for the subsequent day’s interview for me and group meetings/assignments for the rest of the contingent.

The Wharton Experience – Day 1

2005-03-04T13:48:00.000+08:00

By the time I arrived in Philly, I was exhausted. The flights, connections and delays were brutal. For my visit I stayed at the Inn At Penn. The hotel room was pretty much the standard business traveller package with breakfast included. The main advantage of the hotel was it’s proximity to Huntsman Hall – about 3 minutes walk from the hotel. My main objective before the interview was to get over the jet-lag FAST. I definitely have to do more research into this. I take at least 3 days before I decompress and get synchrnized whenever I come back to the west. Those of you with home remedies, please chime in and let me know.

I decided to wander around my surroundings, and was pleasantly surprised to see just how close Huntsman Hall was to my hotel. I knew it was within walking distance, but being one block away was a bonus, especially in springtime Philadelphia temperatures. The uber-friendly security guard at Huntsman directed me to the Admission’s Office. On my way back, I struck up a conversation with a current student, who was wrapping up a Q&A with a few interviewees. He asked me the usual background questions, asked my opinion of Philly, Wharton, my hotel etc, and in the process of our 5 minute chat we realized that we spoke the unifying international language of football – (soccer in US English). By this point I was completely FUBAR and decided to succomb to the sandman for a quickie nap.

*riiiiiiiiiing* *riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing*

Groggy Voice: Hello iceman here.
Student: Hey iceman, were you sleeping?
Groggy Voice: Yeah, the jet-lag got the better of me.
Student: We just finished studying for an exam tomorrow morning, our group is gonna catch the Juventus vs Real Madrid match at the pub. Wanna come?
Groggy Voice: *Profanity*, I forgot about that game. Sure I’m down, where do you want me to meet you guys.
Student: Dude, we’re downstairs. Better hurry.

Thus began my first night in Philadelphia. The match was pretty disappointing but I enjoyed hanging with this ad hoc group of fellow football fanatics, and discussing who over a pint, who is more over-paid between Beckham and Viera. There was very little talk about MBA, Wharton or admissions, just lots comments on football and the hotties at the bar. After the match, the group parted ways and agreed to link up after my interview for a proper tour.

Hip Hop Culture & Blogging

2005-02-28T19:44:00.000+08:00

It seems that during one of my spurious absences, the MBA blogging community has sprung forth an impending geographical battle, reminiscent of the 90's hip-hop scene.

Bskewl and his ‘East Coast Posse’, and Aregon23 and the ‘West Coast Homies’ are grid locked in a lyrical battle of innuendo, sarcasm and hyperbole. In the midst of the literary carnage, several rumors and sightings have already added fuel to an already heated battle.

1. Aregon23 was spotted last week in the VIP lounge of a bay area Starbucks having a laid back discussion with fellow heavyweights Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre and Mack10. Aregon23 leaped into fame following his multi-platinum debut album: "My Blog is My Nine". Word on the street suggests that a coalition is in the works.

2. Meanwhile, Bskewl was seen at a Brooklyn Hoop-it-up charity tournament with fellow titans including 50 cent and P-Diddy. The rumor mill and eager i-pods are churning as industry insiders are speculating the release date of Bskewls new joint: “efiL-4-gniggolB”.

The blogging community eagerly awaits the resolution of this beef, and remains enthralled by the unfolding drama.

Back to life...

2005-02-19T18:47:00.000+08:00

I returned from my brief break, energized by the interview invitation. My whirlwind globe-trotting is about to begin.

The first order of business was to get the team together, appoint my 'stand-in'. It was a tough choice between two members with loads of potential. I'm definitely looking forward to writing their application recommendations a few years down the line if they choose the MBA route. Substitute appointed, it was time to get down to the dirty business of documenting hand-over notes and to-dos while I am away. Finally, I was left alone to clean up a few loose ends that managed to find a stagnant home in my procrastination bin.

Content with my professional duties, I was then relatively free at night to orchestrate the mind-numbing micromanagement of flights and hotel bookings. So the whirlwind tour begins:

Why is this air-mile-junkie flirting with thrombosis and financial ruin? In short, because I had initially planned a US mini-tour during fall 2004 in anticipation of applying in R1, and providing inspiration for my essays. Alas, Zeus and Aphrodite had a bitter quarrel during this time, and I cancelled amidst an unexpected but welcomed, spike in work activity. Thus, a pinch of 2004 added to a splash of 2005, and voila! Jet-Lag Euphoria. My (perhaps) flawed logic included the fact that if I am accepted into any of these five programs, then I would definitely accept. Further, if Jupiter, Saturn and Venus are aligned just right, and I gain acceptance to more than one program, it would be a tough call and I would need some first-hand intel to split the tie. Prudent? Yes. Wise? Well....that's still up for debate.

Back to the Wharton Interview Preparation. Here is a list of what I have done so far:
1. Proof-read my resume.
2. Re-read my essays.
3. Re-surfed the Wharton website
4. Read through some notes on Wharton and interview tips that I cut and pasted from the BW B-Boards, Wharton S2S, various blogs, etc.
There are many days and many long flights ahead. So the preparation continues.

My main weakness, application aside, is that I have not interviewed in YEARS. I have been with my same company throughout my career. So, my interviewing skills may be a tad rusty. However, I am drawing strength from similar functions during my career. I have made a few sales calls, presentations, and even interviewed candidates before - the principles should be the same albeit the intricate details in the packaging and in the message.

As Megami says: tell a true story and tell it well...

The Little Wharton Invitation that could...

2005-02-09T18:07:00.000+08:00

I promised myself that I'd only check e-mail once per day, between 5pm and 6pm. I figured that this interval is ideal because it's too late for "fun in the sun" and too early for "a nocturnal prowl".

Lo and behold, the magical e-mail that made my day! Alas, tomorrow is another public holiday - the Islamic New Year; so my tango with the travel agent will have to wait until Friday.

Philly be warned....the IceMan cometh!

Fab Feb!

2005-02-07T20:53:00.000+08:00

After a surprisingly productive Monday, I have realized that February is going to be a superlative month! First, Carnival is in full swing all over the world: Caracas, Rio de Janeiro, and even New Orleans will be awash with scantily-clad, nubile females of all ages, creeds and races in festive decadence. (*sigh*) Second, the Islamic and Chinese New Year celebrations will be in full swing later this week – Wednesday and Thursday respectively. And finally, V-Day will soon be upon us. Corporate America will yet again set my girlfriend adrift in blissful showers of fragrant red petals, high-calorie confectionery treats, and precious trinkets that sparkle in the light.

You may be wondering why am I so stoked? Your humble blogger just received his airline tickets and hotel confirmation, and will be in Bali soaking it all up from Wednesday to Sunday (For those of you needing some winter inspiration – I’ll post some pictures). Even though I am sure that I will periodically continue my daily e-mail and status page meditation until the 17^th, I think some sun, surf, and a few well-punctuated Monte Cristo No.2’s ought to tame the anxiety monkeys – at least for a few days.

Breathe with me

2005-02-04T08:47:00.000+08:00

Like a number of other Wharton R2'ers, I'm trying to stay calm. It's good to have company.

From FANATICALFAN posted on the Wharton S2S B-Boards - R2 Waiting Room - *snip**snip*
"Repeat after me:
"The interview invite process is not FIFO. The interview invite process is not FIFO. The interview invite process is not FIFO. "
:-)
FF"

He-he-hooooooooooo............He-he-hooooooooooo

Off Topic: Mind Candy

2005-02-03T13:44:00.000+08:00

I like BMW as a company. Its marketing department is definitely populated with people on creative steroids. First, I like their ability to cut the BS and to be in synch with their customers' idiosyncrasies. Second, their segmentation of the market is dead on the money. Between the 3-series; 5-series; 7-series; and 6-series. You can predict to 90% accuracy which demographic is going to buy which product. Finally, the BMW marketing gurus showed their creativity yet again, with an initiative a few years ago, to seek out hot and upcoming directors, give them a budget and deploy them to create moving advertisements. These ads ended up as 5-10 minute long short movies. Granted, BMW has had their hiccups: i-Drive, and the X-3 (wtf?), but I like the whole philosophy. It's all about the experience.

You can view these films on http://www.bmwfilms.com/. Be sure to check out the Season one shorts, which in my opinion, were better. My favorite is "STAR" directed by Guy Ritchie and starring his wife - Madonna. After considering these short films in “The Hire” series, his previous work in “The Croupier”, and his academy award nomination in “Closer”, I think Hollywood definitely should give Clive Owen some more air-play.

Playing bmwfilm clips in the background on "mute" has been a main-stay in my house party repertoire. The result was a formula for instant host/hostess success: soft lighting, pulsating lounge music, fast-car clips on video, good conversation and of course, exotic drinks.

Applicants for the Class of 2037

2005-01-29T18:03:00.000+08:00

During one of my rare television binges this week, I saw the movie Gattaca after a couple years, which triggered a whole chain reaction of "what-ifs" in my head. This movie was a sci-fi satire of sorts and became a cult classic. In my humble opinion, what made this move so powerful was the focus on the satire, and the development of the themes, rather than on complex science or special effects.

The movie is set in a post-modern society where the people are judged by their genes, in contrast to our present differentiators of wealth, class, religion, ethnicity, etc etc. As a result, most people consult gene-specialists to produce "test-tube babies" with the best features in their phenotype. In order to rise to the upper echelons of a fictitious corporation and subsequently, be admitted to their prestigious space exploration program, the lead character - Vincent, who has "inferior" genes pulls out all the stops to get in this program and pursue his dream of space travel.

Vincent hires a man of superior genes "Jerome", who was previously in an accident that left him confined to a wheelchair, to provide him with urine, blood, and hair samples, which Vincent uses in elaborate contraptions to fool the stringent and frequent gene tests. He even went as far as having his legs broken, and bone extensions surgically spliced so that he would be taller than 6'2"- genetically superior men surely cannot be short!

I did not pay close attention in my initial viewing many years ago, and was smiling to myself as the ironic parallels between the plot and my own life unfolded. One of my favorite dialogs proceeded as follows:

“Program Director – You see, people can only go so far as their potential will let them.

Detective – But, people exceed their potential everyday.

Program Director – Then, their potential was not accurately measured to begin with.”

I allowed my mind to idly meander and thought about my hypothetical kids in 2035. Perhaps, as art-immitates-life-immitates-art, as it did for Jules Vernes, the fiction of today may become the reality of tomorrow. Perhaps, the admissions process for our kids for the Class of 2037 begins now with the selection of that significant other. Pressure that that would make our process look like a walk in the park. Then, after the joyous miracle of childbirth, eager parents may have to log into the undergrad, post-grad, private school or kindergarden admissions sites, and with broken hearts view the status: “Dinged at Birth”.

To wrap up till next week, CONGRATS to CAL Grad on the Berkeley Admit!!! Now it's off to some R&R, and later, poker-night with a few co-workers and neighbours.

Off Topic: - Rants of the week

2005-01-29T17:31:00.000+08:00

It's almost over guys. Hang in there. I have a few rants that I need to get off of my chest.

1. Adrien Brody is THE COOLEST actor in Hollywood, is a walking oxymoron, and is the geek icon of the millennium to date. First, he looks like the quintessential 90-pound weakling. Yet he is cool, self-assured, and has presence. Despite the pasty complexion and the scrawny build, he is Ermenegildo Zegna's poster boy, he french-kissed Halle Berry in front of her hubby and a global TV audience, and most recently, at the announcements for the Academy Award nominees, he stole the show with wit and flair. He is definitely a change from the typical gimmick ridden list of A-list actors out there in Tinseltown these days.

2. It’s time for a new James Bond! When will the producers of James Bond series finally change the lead actor, before he becomes old, fat and tired? They humiliated the best two “double-O” actors – Sean Connery and Roger Moore with the same procrastination, forever tainting the otherwise impeccable legacies. Now, I like Pierce Brosnan, but I'm starting to find it implausible for this guy to be seducing exotic young hotties – Denise Richards? Halle Berry? Please do not make the "Sean Connery - Never Say Never" mistake, where the obviously geriatric Connery was be-bedding an über-hot Kim Basinger. My favorite for the next James Bond is Christian Bale of “American Psycho” fame. Personally, I think I Christian Bale has the potential to capture all of Megami's Male Personality Types (I, II, III) simultaneously. I suspect Brosnan may have another few pictures in his contract, but we will see.

3. Finally a CEOs with vision! I am glad to see that there is hope in the CEO ranks. CEOs Alan Lafley (PG) and James M. Kilts (G) pulled off the deal of the decade. Job loss aside, this is a win-win for all involved. Gilette shareholders must be all smiles while PG shareholders can take heart from better long-term positioning and the cushion of a fairly aggressive share buy-back scheme. I am looking forward to looking under the hood of this deal (hopefully at one of my Fab Five). That said, I am hesitant to applaud CEOs nowadays. In the past few years I have had to eat my words a. la. Ken Lay, and Franklyn Raines. However, other favorites, Ken Chenault (AXP), Stan O’Neill (MER) and Warren Buffet (BRK.A), seem to still have what it takes to lead ethically.

4. What is it about Sean Paul that has everyone from teenagers to middle aged socialites “getting busy” on the dance floor? I was at a farewell party last night for a couple that was about to be transferred to another location in our company. It was refreshing to see everyone bond and have a good time with the families. The songs “Get Busy”, and "Baby Boy" with Beyonce, successfully transformed the strictest of prudes into dance-floor contortionists. Now if only I could get it out of my head!

Back to Normal

2005-01-29T16:43:00.000+08:00

My work-week has finally returned to a state of normalcy. The good news is that I have wrapped up my IMD application. Further, I have decided to bump my submission to R2 so that I can visit the school, which would hopefully coincide with some interviews in the US during my whirlwind tour. On the negative side, I have fallen off the wagon and have been silently lurking on bulletin boards, thus, in the process, finding myself caught up with the herd. Anticipation kills. My only solace is that not many fellow bloggers applied to my Fab Five in R2. So, at least I can live vicariously through the victors of R1 and cheer them on to their new journey.

Previously, I made a concerted effort not to discriminate between the ladies. Now, much like the plot of a cliché 80's romantic comedy; now, after juggling the mistresses; now that the date draws near when I may have to kiss all of them goodbye; a moment of clarity! Much like that lovable, roguish, male lead (aka Richard Gere, or Robert Downey Jr), I now realize "who I always wanted all along". Of course, for the sake of anonymity and saving face, I will not disclose, but I think the hints are subliminally all there in my previous posts.

Finally, I can now truly appreciate the sheer volume of spam and otherwise useless information that trickles into my In-Box on a weekly basis. I have set up my e-mail forwarding service to beam all my messages directly to my mobile phone. Now my pants spontaneously vibrates with SMS messages all day long, much to the delight of my coworkers.

Weekly Wrap-up

2005-01-29T13:48:00.000+08:00

Weekly Wrap Up:

I suddenly realize that I have a lot to say, since I am reveling in the post-submission bliss. So, I have decided to break these ramblings up into three separate posts.

Read on.

Adventures with the Swiss Miss

2005-01-25T19:33:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I made my last journal entry. I've been preparing for a string of planning meetings, and getting jiggy with the IMD application for the past week. Now even I have heard of the famous Swiss efficiency - as the proud owner of a finely crafted timepiece - however, I did not expect to tread on the cutting-edge of brevity. Over the past few months I was able to take my 1000+ word drafts and carve them down to ~500 word essays over the course of a few weeks. However, the IMD application is pushing me to new heights. The require 10 essays - make that 'mini essays' - on various topics such as:

Please describe the position you will be seeking after graduation (please specify position, responsibilities, industry, location, etc.). Very briefly give us your short-term, mid-term and long-term goals and objectives. (150-180 words)

and,

Please comment on a situation where you failed to reach an objective and what you learned from it. (150 - 180 words)

or perhaps

Describe a situation where you had to demonstrate strong leadership skills. Explain how effective you were and what you learned. (150 - 180 words)

I have finally finished and am now doing a final QC. As usual, my recommenders are dragging their feet, and it might take the promise of yet another bottle of single malt to have them mail me their sealed and confidential recommendations (IMD only accepts recs by snail-mail). I think my recommenders' brains are mush after the flurry of H/W/MIT during the previous weeks.

So, what is the key to motivate recommenders to be punctual and to be lucent after so many apps? My secret sauce was the promise of some scotch or two fine cubans. I wonder what everyone else has been using?

Admit-Fairies & Ding-Demons

2005-01-20T20:13:00.000+08:00

It's good to be back in the mix amongst the team again. After several weeks of mind-numbing meetings by day; GMAT, essays, and research in cyberspace by night, I am finally firing on all cylinders again. Over the next couple days I'll be wrapping up my field visits; speaking to the troops, and hopefully getting everyone pumped for another kick-@$$ year. The shareholders must surely be breathing a sigh of relief. (My company's stock is up 4% since I submitted my Sloan app)

I was pleasantly surprised as I combed through the blogsphere this morning. Seems like the admit-fairy brought an assorted bag of goodies the Class of 2007. Congrats to Megam i, Poweryogi, and Wakechick. I hope you all receive the love, after the recovery from the night's hangover is complete. Of course, the ding-demons were in rare form with some mind boggling rejections, but I think that everyone is all around happy with their admits. Also, good luck to MagaritaLuvr who is getting ready for interviews.

I'm firing up the creative juices again and reviewing my drafts for the looming February 1st deadline at IMD. After a few weeks of neglecting my the "Swiss-Miss" to pursue the three feisty "American Divas", I decided to re-ignite my passion for the school by combing through their website yet another time. I stumbled into this updated profile of MBA participants for 2004. Perhaps it's just me, but everyone in this class seems like the lead character in a Robert Ludlum espionage novel. They definitely have some talent over there. The challenge for me is to switch gears from a young high-flier with tons of potential to a seasoned decision-maker on the verge of mastery of the universe: Harry Potter vs Merlin the Magician.

Just to add salt to the wound, my mental discipline is being stretched from impatiently waiting feedback on interview invitations. Meanwhile, Wharton has supposedly started trickling interview invites, which should continue over the course the next four weeks. I have not received an invitation thus far. So, if any of you should happen to run into Alex, please let him know. Harvard and Sloan will soon be following suit.

Once again, congrats to our admits. I hope to join you all somewhere,....somehow...

MIT Sloan Apps

2005-01-19T19:28:00.000+08:00

Good luck to all of the fellow Sloan applicants out there. I've been ultra-busy, but will chime in with a more comprehensive post soon.

Bloggers in general

2005-01-16T21:04:00.000+08:00

I've just been catching up on some reading, and realized that a disproportionate number of Wharton applicants are blogging versus those of the other programs. (then again, it may be just my perception)

Question: What is it about Wharton that inspires applicants to blog?

When it rains, it pours...

2005-01-14T17:54:00.000+08:00

Seems like my "ME-time" is short-lived. It's the season for performance reviews in most companies around the globe. T'is the season for appraising, giving feedback, mentoring and setting objectives for 2005. Maybe this explains why my reports are being so cheery with me over the last few months (maybe I'm genuinely a good boss and they are like this year round - who knows). Regardless, I'm am a bit concerned about the performance review with my own boss for a few reasons:

1. I did not tell him/her my MBA plans, due to the company's culture. (more on this IF I get accepted to my program(s) of choice.)
2. He/she is genuinely a good boss and mentor. I hate not sharing this kind of news, but would also prefer not place him/her in their own dilemma between company guidelines and loyalty to a protege.
3. The rumor buzz is that I'm on the shortlist of candidates for promotion. The previous person in this position has already accepted his/her promotion, and is in the process of packing up. In other words, this is going to happen soon.

Now, here is where the plot thickens. Suppose I get offered a promotion at my review next week with no feedback from H/W or MIT, how do I deal with this? Although I realize that this is still a only a possibility, it seems that I have some deep reflection to do. At the end of the day, I'm going to have to put bet my chips on a number. There's a lot of cogitation and analysis going to be happening this weekend.

Viva Las Vegas!

The Sims - MBA Edition

2005-01-13T19:00:00.000+08:00

I'm driving myself nuts. I'm actually going to work, putting in twelve solid hours, hitting the gym, and still left with time to chill out and watch some TV. It's strange to be back into the matrix again. To be able to have spare time NOT dedicated to GMAT, brochures, b-school boards, and those wretched essays. It's a nice breath of fresh air, but I know it will be short-lived.

I was brainstorming for some of IMD's essay questions again. It's going to be a bit of a challenge, especially with my three apps submitted already. I'm unable to focus. Instead, I'm parallel-processing what-ifs, what-could-have-beens and what-the-#$@%'s, while reminiscing on the past 8 months of my application journey. Who can write more essays with Harvard, Sloan and MIT ad-coms on the verge of "processing" the cumulative value of your whole life?

One of my favorite bloggers aregon23 submitted a recent post, which is a manifesto for preparing for the worst. I had this silly grin on my face as I read it because it's definitely on point.

One on side of the coin, I myself have been found guilty. Ok, if this doesn't work out, should I retake GMAT next year? What schools am I gonna hit? Am I gonna re-apply? How will I break the news to my recommenders?

On the other side, I'm asking myself: When will I apply for my 2-year leave of absence from work? (I plan to keep my job just in case) Do I cash out of my stock now or risk something horrible? Should I quit as soon as I am accepted and take yet another round-the-world trip? Or stay till the very end and grab those extra couple thousand bucks?

There are enough scenarios to keep one entertained for hours. I wouldn't be surprised if Electronics Arts cooks up "The Sims - MBA Edition". They could make up a cast of applicants, randomize: work experience, GMAT scores, GPAs. Add in some essay consultants, ad-coms and bloggers :). Spice it up with a couple odd-balls, like the dog eating your application reviewer's newspaper on the way to work, or your alumni interviewer being cut-off on the freeway, on the way to your interview in the game. Voila!...best selling video game.

I like it. I'd better patent the idea.....

Euro-Chic

2005-01-12T08:42:00.000+08:00

With the drama of my US applications behind me, I am now focusing on the European programs, namely: IMD, Insead and LBS (still deciding). These programs are well respected in the international arena and have the added benefit of an approximately one year duration (except for LBS).

The benefits are:
1. Sound MBA with multinational brand and recognition
2. Intense curriculum - practically non-stop for a whole year. Just get the business done & graduate.
3. Shorter breakeven period and larger ROI. One year at school translates into smaller tuition, room and board, groceries etc. Also, the loss of income over one year, is of course, approximately half of the similar loss in a 2 year program.
4. Potential for landing a European Job in Euros or Pounds. (stronger currency).

The downsides are:
1. While top programs in the US are recognized internationally, not many Euro-MBA programs are given similar recognition in the US.
2. One year programs are excellent for people taking sabattical and returning to their previous industries. If planning to switch careers or spend a few years in consulting, one would definitely need the rigor of a 2 year program.
3. A two year program offers the opportunity to work as a summer intern. This is an invaluable part of the MBA program, which offers opportunities to network, to try a new career path and to refine your goals.

How does this all add up? I think it's a stalemate. In my personal situation, I can live with the relative advantages and disadvantages of either option. So, why not broaden my horizons and give it a whirl?

I'll keep you all posted on the IMD and the Insead apps as they progress.

ttfn...

The Show

2005-01-11T20:03:00.000+08:00

Although I initially sought the support of the internet community to hold my hand during the suspense laden process, I am officially swearing off bulletin boards - okay, maybe once per week.

Suddenly candidates, myself included, are reflecting on life with insightful and probing questions such as:
I have a 790 GMAT, should I have retaken before the round two deadline?
There's a 80% probability that the hub interview will be held in city X on the 20th February, however, this becomes 78.5% if it rains in Myanmar on the 6th of February at 5pm.
And my favorite: I reread my application and discovered a typo. My GMAT was reported as 760 instead of 660. Would adcom penalize me for a typo caused by a slip of adjacent keys?

Of course, these are ficticious questions, but the satire fits perfectly. I think that most of us are like a supermodel, thinking about fat she looks before a show, when in fact she's stunning. Or like a bodybuilder, flexing in front of the mirror, looking at ripped muscles, and only seeing a tub of lard. We've put in the hours in high-school, college, career, and applications; dare I say, we put our best foot forward.

So, my battle with my application neuroses begins with lightning up and enjoying the ability to relax a bit after a few stressful weeks.

All aboard Ice-Man's B-School Tour

2005-01-10T13:27:00.000+08:00

I'm just looking at my schedule for the next 5 weeks and thinking about how I can visit all these schools in a two week "vacation" tour AND squeeze in some R&R in South Beach. Let's see.....

Indonesia to Singapore (INSEAD)
Singapore to Swtizerland (IMD)
Switzerland to London (LBS, undecided about applying)
London to Boston (HBS, MIT)
Boston to Pennsylvania (Wharton)
Pennsylvania to Miami (R&R for 4 days)
Miami to Los Angeles (transit)
Los Angeles to Singapore (transit)
Singapore to Indonesia (utter mental exhaustion, thrombosis, jet-lag)

Let me go through the checklist again. What do I want in an MBA program?
1. An undisputed and internationally respected brand.
2. Recognized in thought leadership, general management, and rigorous quantitative methods.
3. A global Alumni network.
4. A diverse student body, not only across nationalities, but also across personalities, backgrounds and goals.

A quick goal check indicates that all of these programs fit the bill perfectly.

Now, I've heard about being committed to the application process, but this has to be something to the order of the nth degree! To help ease my swallowing this bitter financial pill, I stumbled upon the "One World Alliance", which offers a round-the-world-ticket that gives substancial discounts depending on your lay-0ver to different continents. If you visit 3 continents for example, you get a larger discount than visiting 2 continents and so on. There are other conditions of course, but if you feel like a Phileas Fogg adventure, there's no better deal out there. So in my case that'll be Asia, Europe and America (3). Maybe I'll try to squeeze in Oz somehow (Australia) and run a break even on excel to decide.

Now, I'll either be a genius for gambling this much on my apps or be a total idiot if I get dinged from all of the above. As they say in Texas hold-'em poker; "Dealer.....I'm all in!"

Q1: Introduce yourself to the blogging community. Why blogging? Why MBA? Why now?

2005-01-07T19:26:00.000+08:00

I've been answering everyone else's essay questions for the past week, so I've decided to answer my own!

I am a male, in my late twenties, and single (females take note). I work for a F-500 company as a middle manager, leading a team of 50+ people through the volatile inflexion points of our industry. I am an engineering graduate from a "no-name" school with a 700+ GMAT score. My work experience spanned 6+ years in various parts of the world including the US, UK, Asia and Africa. While I do not have the "stardust" - (as one web personality from BW boards puts it) - of some of the prospective candidates I have met or read about, I still think I have the mental horsepower and experience to be a good candidate at the programs to which I have applied.

Best case, this would be an excellent case-study of the admissions roller-coaster of a non-traditional candidate. Worst case, this blog will be the definitive guide on how to cope with high volume rejection. We shall see :)

As my profile says, I am currently in Indonesia. It's been quite a roller-coaster ride here this year. There were several unfortunate incidents in this usually peaceful country including, the attempted bombing of the Australian embassy, (I was 1 block away when it happened), and most recently, the tsunami tragedy which took so many lives. Apart from these isolated incidents, Indonesia is a treasure chest of history, natural resources and economic growth. As with most places in the world today, we need swallow the good and the bad.

Why blogging? Because I used to enjoy writing as a teen and have since lost the passion and the skill. I made this as a new year's resolution (see post 1) as an exercise to force myself to write proper English again, and to make my case very transparent to those who wish to take the MBA application plunge. First, in my line of work, writing consists of short rapid bursts of e-mails asking for data or commending my team on a milestone. It's time to get back to basics. Also, blogs and b-school message boards have been an invaluable bank of wisdom and experience, to which I hope to give something in return. Finally, I don't play the role of the voyeur very well. So, I decided to jump in and see what the fuss was all about. At the bare minimum, I expect it to be therapeutic.

Why MBA? I honestly do not think I NEED and MBA. I am quite happy with my career progress to date and while I am no corporate prodigy, I believe that I can have a prosperous and challenging career without one. However, I have this hunger to do more. I would like to make an impact on a larger scale and tackle bigger problems in the world. I think that an MBA would be an indispensible tool toward doing so.

This was definitely the easiest and most gratifying essay I have written to date. Ad-coms of the world...take note!

It's Raining Apps....Hallelujah!

2005-01-07T18:14:00.000+08:00

Well this week was absolutely crazy!

I managed to submit my applications to both Harvard and Wharton with a whole half hour to spare. I was a case study in separation anxiety. After practically eating, sleeping and showering with my applications looking for any errors to correct, I just couldn't hit the submit button without "just one more" re-read. Turns out that the application process has succeeded in drawing out the first - I am sure- of many neuroses.

To add some spice to the malaise, a number of Wharton applicants set the S2S boards ablaze with quizzical messages on a last-day technical glitch with the Wharton applications website. Apparently, the option to select "Round 2" for submission was disabled, albeit temporarily, leaving only the "Round 3" option. As you can imagine, numerous applicants, yours truly included, were re-reading the deadline dates and times for round two, on the brink of a nervous meltdown over possibly missing the deadline.

Fortunately, the behind-the-scene-techies who maintain Wharton's application server, gallantly saved the day, dashing the hopes of the P&G Pepto-Bismol brand manager.

The aftermath? Harvard - Submitted. Wharton - Submitted. MIT - Submitted. Now the waiting begins. I'm looking forward to hitting the gym hard tonight and maybe a massage afterward. It's time to re-build my mental strength to face the highs and the lows ahead in the next 6 weeks.

Ménage à six...

2005-01-03T19:42:00.000+08:00

I am about to do yet another proof-read of my essays and applications for Harvard and Wharton for the Jan-5 deadlines. Tomorrow will be the point of no return. That said, I have found new motivation in a moment of clarity while sipping some coffee this afternoon. I have realized this whole admissions process is in fact like waiting to be asked to the "prom".

B-School programs are like captivating ladies, who have spun their web of charm, intrigue and mystique, and challenge us all to be on top of our game. It's a type of courtship of Shakespearean porpotions: day-dreaming of her charm and promises (career progression), longing to smell her perfume (matriculating), sitting for hours writing sonnets (essays), stalking her every move and idiosyncracy (boards & forums), waiting for the phone to ring.....waiting for her to say "yes". (the magical adcom call)

It's amazing how diverse one man's taste could be:
- The techno-sex appeal of MIT - think Angelina Jolie in "Hackers" or Carrie-Ann Moss in the Matrix.
- The exotic euro-chic of Insead or IMD - think Catherine Deneuve or Irene Jacob in Krzysztof Kieslowski's Red-Trois Coleurs
- The poised debutaunts of Harvard & Wharton - maybe a Catherine Zeta Jones or Halle Berry.

I can't help to wonder. Do they even like me? Will we hit it off? Which cologne? Sushi or French restuarant? Quiet walk afterward or hit the club and shake some booty? Do I wear the fitted top that makes me look ripped or go for the "Mr Big" look?

Regradless, T-minus 3 and counting....going to hit the gym, head home and fire-up the neurons again for another late-night rendzvous with my essays and my red sharpie.....

hasta manana....

Cold Feet

2005-01-03T07:39:00.000+08:00

It's official. I managed to catch up on a couple blogs that I have fallen back on, and whoa! Some very outstanding, confident, self-aware and articulate candidates were all dinged. The quality of applicants this year, (maybe any year), must be stellar!

Anyway, off to a meeting maybe until lunch or until I come out of shell-shock.

ttfn...

Reflections & Resolutions

2005-01-02T13:23:00.000+08:00

Well it's 2005 at last.

I managed to tear myself away from my laptop for one night to relax and to bring in the New Year with excellent company and deceptively potent cocktails. As we lit up the fireworks on the beach amidst the revelry, there was a deep, pensive under-tone. Perhaps one of deep gratitude for seeing another year, when so geographically close to the site of one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. Perhaps one of empathy, for all the victims and the survivors who now face the unenviable task of rebuilding their communities and mourning loved ones, colleagues, countrymen, family and friends. Perhaps one daring ourselves to consider what-ifs, applying those to our own situations. We all live on the shoreline with wives, children, friends, and neighbors. We were lucky.

However, as I looked around at my fellow merry-makers, I could sense a steely resolve to make this year count. For some reason I think that resolutions made this year will not be tossed aside into the pile of the flippant goals of yeastier-year. While I didn't see anyone sit at the round table or sign a blood-oath, I dare say 2005 will be an inflexion point for a lot of us.

My previous Quiotic obsession with B-School, admissions and GMAT scores have now become morphed into a transparent piece of a bigger puzzle. One which fits seamlessly into a grand design for my personal development and that of my friends, family and community. So, regardless of my self-doubts, my apprehensions and my adrenaline overdose over the next few weeks, I'm going to stare the admissions croupier dead in his eyes and bet it all....

...Number 29-black.

The Virgin Post

2004-12-31T19:26:00.000+08:00

Well I finally started. This should definitely be a theraputic break from proofing essays and gently nudging recommenders. I had a quick read of aregon23's posts. This guy is hilarious. Anyway, it's new year's eve and so this time, as with most other first times in life, will be short and sweet.

Happy New Year All!