Term 3 Mid terms are here.
Why they have decided to schedule 2 three hour long exams on the same day is beyond me !
One, ours is a 16 month accelerated MBA so life is as it is very tough.
Two, they now want to make us go through six hours of exam torture on back-to-back days.
Three, classes resume from Wednesday.
If you are reading this, I urge you to be good and do good. If not, not only does your ticket to heaven gets canceled but also does your ticket to hell. Instead of walking on red-hot coals in the Nether World, you will be banished to a B-School ...
I didn't bargain for this !
Showing posts with label MBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MBA. Show all posts
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Thursday, 26 February 2009
A handful of spice in a mouthful of food ...
0149 hours.
Let's face it. We Indians cannot cook without spices. Some of my American friends tell me that I do not put spices in my food, but rather put food in my spices. Well, I know better than to argue with that !
Last time I had some of my American colleagues over for dinner, and they were all left red faced and sweating. Looking at them I really felt guilty of trying to kill them and that was when I thought that I had gone easy on the red chilly powder !
After sampling various cuisines from different parts of the world, and after numerous trips to the local supermarket, I firmly believe that no other community spends as much time in the 'spices' alley as the Indians. I once saw a girl pick up 17 different types of spices, and couldn't help but notice, that she also had a large pack of toilet paper in her shopping cart. I was really tempted to suggest her to also buy a fire extinguisher because the toilet paper was sure to catch fire the next morning.
Eating spicy food is in some ways like weight training. On Day one, you struggle with the 20 pound weights and after a couple of months you are pumping away to glory with the 50 pound dumbbells. Ditto for a Nigerian friend of mine who at one point of time found guacamole extremely spicy, but now dips his crackers in habanero salsa ! What helped him achieve this transition ? Indian food ! Now that he is comfortable with the fiery salsa, his Everest is to eat a portion of Kolhapuri Chicken (a freaky traditional Indian chicken preparation that even I cannot eat) all by himself.
I have some more of my American friends coming over for dinner tomorrow. Let's see if they are up to the challenge !
The menu -
1. Tandoori Chicken
2. Fish Tikka
3. Kadhai Chicken
4. Vegetable Jalfrezi
5. Alu Matar Bhaji
6. Naan
7. Pulao
A dangerous game is about to begin ...
Let's face it. We Indians cannot cook without spices. Some of my American friends tell me that I do not put spices in my food, but rather put food in my spices. Well, I know better than to argue with that !
Last time I had some of my American colleagues over for dinner, and they were all left red faced and sweating. Looking at them I really felt guilty of trying to kill them and that was when I thought that I had gone easy on the red chilly powder !
After sampling various cuisines from different parts of the world, and after numerous trips to the local supermarket, I firmly believe that no other community spends as much time in the 'spices' alley as the Indians. I once saw a girl pick up 17 different types of spices, and couldn't help but notice, that she also had a large pack of toilet paper in her shopping cart. I was really tempted to suggest her to also buy a fire extinguisher because the toilet paper was sure to catch fire the next morning.
Eating spicy food is in some ways like weight training. On Day one, you struggle with the 20 pound weights and after a couple of months you are pumping away to glory with the 50 pound dumbbells. Ditto for a Nigerian friend of mine who at one point of time found guacamole extremely spicy, but now dips his crackers in habanero salsa ! What helped him achieve this transition ? Indian food ! Now that he is comfortable with the fiery salsa, his Everest is to eat a portion of Kolhapuri Chicken (a freaky traditional Indian chicken preparation that even I cannot eat) all by himself.
I have some more of my American friends coming over for dinner tomorrow. Let's see if they are up to the challenge !
The menu -
1. Tandoori Chicken
2. Fish Tikka
3. Kadhai Chicken
4. Vegetable Jalfrezi
5. Alu Matar Bhaji
6. Naan
7. Pulao
A dangerous game is about to begin ...
Monday, 23 February 2009
सिन्धु भर सागर की तल्हति से बिन्दु भर मोती ...
2323 hours.
डूबते हुए इंसान को तिनके का सहारा मिल जाए तो उसे कठिनाई से लड़ने के लिए एक नई आशा और उम्मीद मिल जाती है। इसी आशा और उम्मीद की तलाश में कभी मैंने कई पर्वतों के शिखर और सागर की गहराईयों को नापा था। उस खोज से तो मुझे कुछ ना हासिल हुआ, मगर इस बात का एहसास ज़रूर हुआ की आशा और उम्मीद की किरणों का गौमुख हमारे ह्रदय के किसी कोने में है।
शायद ऊपर लिखे गए वाक्य और नीचे लिखी पंक्तियों में कोई सम्बन्ध नहीं हैं। मगर फिर भी, ना जाने क्यूँ, कभी कभी इस दिल में ख़याल आता है ...
कोई दीवाना कहता है, कोई पागल समझता है
मगर धरती की बेचैनी को बस बादल समझता है ।
मैं तुझसे दूर कैसा हूँ तू मुझसे दूर कैसी है
यह तेरा दिल समझता है, या मेरा दिल समझता है ।।।
मोहब्बत एक एहसासों की पावन सी कहानी है
कभी कबीरा दीवाना था, कभी मीरा दीवानी है।
यहाँ सब लोग कहते हैं मेरी आंखों में आंसू है
जो तू समझे तो मोती है, जो न समझे तो पानी है ।।।
समंदर पीर का अन्दर है लेकिन रो नहीं सकता
यह आंसू प्यार का मोती है, इसको खो नहीं सकता ।
मेरी चाहत को दुल्हन तू बना लेना मगर सुन ले
जो मेरा हो नही पाया, वो तेरा हो नही सकता ।।।
भ्रमर कोई कुमुदनी पर मचल बैठा तो हंगामा
हमारे दिल में कोई ख्वाब पनप बैठा तो हंगामा ।
अभी तक डूब के सुनते थे सब किस्सा मोहब्बत का
मैं किस्से को हकीकत में बदल बैठा तो हंगामा ।।।
श्रेय: डॉक्टर कुमार विशवास
डूबते हुए इंसान को तिनके का सहारा मिल जाए तो उसे कठिनाई से लड़ने के लिए एक नई आशा और उम्मीद मिल जाती है। इसी आशा और उम्मीद की तलाश में कभी मैंने कई पर्वतों के शिखर और सागर की गहराईयों को नापा था। उस खोज से तो मुझे कुछ ना हासिल हुआ, मगर इस बात का एहसास ज़रूर हुआ की आशा और उम्मीद की किरणों का गौमुख हमारे ह्रदय के किसी कोने में है।
शायद ऊपर लिखे गए वाक्य और नीचे लिखी पंक्तियों में कोई सम्बन्ध नहीं हैं। मगर फिर भी, ना जाने क्यूँ, कभी कभी इस दिल में ख़याल आता है ...
कोई दीवाना कहता है, कोई पागल समझता है
मगर धरती की बेचैनी को बस बादल समझता है ।
मैं तुझसे दूर कैसा हूँ तू मुझसे दूर कैसी है
यह तेरा दिल समझता है, या मेरा दिल समझता है ।।।
मोहब्बत एक एहसासों की पावन सी कहानी है
कभी कबीरा दीवाना था, कभी मीरा दीवानी है।
यहाँ सब लोग कहते हैं मेरी आंखों में आंसू है
जो तू समझे तो मोती है, जो न समझे तो पानी है ।।।
समंदर पीर का अन्दर है लेकिन रो नहीं सकता
यह आंसू प्यार का मोती है, इसको खो नहीं सकता ।
मेरी चाहत को दुल्हन तू बना लेना मगर सुन ले
जो मेरा हो नही पाया, वो तेरा हो नही सकता ।।।
भ्रमर कोई कुमुदनी पर मचल बैठा तो हंगामा
हमारे दिल में कोई ख्वाब पनप बैठा तो हंगामा ।
अभी तक डूब के सुनते थे सब किस्सा मोहब्बत का
मैं किस्से को हकीकत में बदल बैठा तो हंगामा ।।।
श्रेय: डॉक्टर कुमार विशवास
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Back with a vengeance !
I know ! I know ! I was MIA for the whole of term 2.
And I regret that. Truly. However, I am back ... this time with the fiery determination of the 38th Governor of California !
Term 2 is done away with. Term 3 begins, and what a term it promises to be ! Management Accounting and Finance II are staring at me right in the face :(
Thank God for my specialization course in services marketing. Guess, that's the only course that will keep me interested in this relentless 16-month academic pursuit that will make me a Master of Business Administration.
Hmmm ... there's also this course in corporate strategy. Don't really know how that will turn out. Guess the buzzword here is wait-and-watch ...
And I regret that. Truly. However, I am back ... this time with the fiery determination of the 38th Governor of California !
Term 2 is done away with. Term 3 begins, and what a term it promises to be ! Management Accounting and Finance II are staring at me right in the face :(
Thank God for my specialization course in services marketing. Guess, that's the only course that will keep me interested in this relentless 16-month academic pursuit that will make me a Master of Business Administration.
Hmmm ... there's also this course in corporate strategy. Don't really know how that will turn out. Guess the buzzword here is wait-and-watch ...
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Recipe: Term 2 Salad
Ingredients -
1. A dollop of Operations Management (INFO 614)
2. A quart of Corporate Finance (FINC 612)
3. A dash of Managing People in Organizations (MGMT 614)
4. A hint of Management Information Systems (INFO 612)
5. Competitive Negotiations : To taste
6. Business Communication : Handful for garnishing
Procedure -
Just toss all of them in. Keep up (try to) with the reading. Remember (try to) at least the title of the article by the time you are in class. Stay awake (try to) in class. Prepare (try to) for the quizzes. Submit (try to) assignments on time.
And you have the salad ready ! Enjoy (try to) your term 2 !
1. A dollop of Operations Management (INFO 614)
2. A quart of Corporate Finance (FINC 612)
3. A dash of Managing People in Organizations (MGMT 614)
4. A hint of Management Information Systems (INFO 612)
5. Competitive Negotiations : To taste
6. Business Communication : Handful for garnishing
Procedure -
Just toss all of them in. Keep up (try to) with the reading. Remember (try to) at least the title of the article by the time you are in class. Stay awake (try to) in class. Prepare (try to) for the quizzes. Submit (try to) assignments on time.
And you have the salad ready ! Enjoy (try to) your term 2 !
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Term 2.0
The wheels of time keep moving. It only seems like yesterday when I landed in the US of A and yet, here I am today getting ready for day 1 of class for term 2. Yesterday, our grades for term 1 were announced and with that we now officially have nothing to do with term 1 or any of term 1 subjects. Adieu ACCT 610 !
Term 2 ... here I come !
Term 2 ... here I come !
Monday, 3 November 2008
MBA term one: It was the best of times; it was the worst of times
2048 hours.
Charles Dickens, unlike me, never went to a B school. One of us is a respected novelist, while the other has to be coaxed to write anything (earlier by his mother and now by his business communications professor). However, both have something in common. Both have looked back at the past and felt the exact same thing: a paradox about the time that went by.
1. To keep up, you have to stay ahead.
There is always someone who is better prepared for the class, for interviews, and for life in general. Trying to keep up with them is a strategy that will seldom result in success. Being proactive, pushing your boundaries and making a consistent effort to deliver above expectations is a much better way to keep up.
2. If you are not careful, your strength may become your weakness.
Overconfidence can ruin a lot of things. It is essential to "sharpen your axe" to ensure that you maintain your competitive edge. Complacency is a breeding ground for future failures. A subject that you once thought you could breeze through, might just turn out to be your Achilles heel.
3. Movies are most entertaining when the incomplete assignment is due tomorrow.
Most battles are won or lost in the last few hours. A job that has been started in the right earnestness should also be concluded with the equivalent enthusiasm. Life has a tendency to throw something at you just before you finish your masterpiece. One should expect the unexpected, and be prepared to resist the temptations that may arise in the most crucial moments.
I am of the opinion that experience is the name men give to their mistakes. That makes me a very well experienced person who has erred, and has learned. With the lessons that I have learned in term one, I am confident that I have a lot more to look forward to in term two.
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Here I am. This is me !
1833 hours.
FINALLY its over. Oh yeah ! MBA Term 1 Finito !
Have a lot of plans for the rest of the week. There are so many things that I need to do. I have to do nothing, and then do nothing, and then I have to finish doing nothing.
It's going to be legen-wait for it-dary. Legendary !
FINALLY its over. Oh yeah ! MBA Term 1 Finito !
Have a lot of plans for the rest of the week. There are so many things that I need to do. I have to do nothing, and then do nothing, and then I have to finish doing nothing.
It's going to be legen-wait for it-dary. Legendary !
28th October 2008
0257 hours.
It's an important day. Very.
Reasons -
1. Diwali !
2. Exams get over !
3. Accounting exam !
1200 hours today will mark the end of a grueling trimester. Term 2 doesn't start until the coming Monday. Ah ! It feels so nice to think that after another 9 hours I will experience freedom for the first time in the last 3 months. At the stroke of the noon hour when the world toils, I will awake to life and freedom !
But, before that there's an exam to take care of.
Question: What's similar between Diwali and an accounting exam ?
Answer: Fireworks.
It's an important day. Very.
Reasons -
1. Diwali !
2. Exams get over !
3. Accounting exam !
1200 hours today will mark the end of a grueling trimester. Term 2 doesn't start until the coming Monday. Ah ! It feels so nice to think that after another 9 hours I will experience freedom for the first time in the last 3 months. At the stroke of the noon hour when the world toils, I will awake to life and freedom !
But, before that there's an exam to take care of.
Question: What's similar between Diwali and an accounting exam ?
Answer: Fireworks.
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Randomness Unlimited
2034 hours.
As I prepare for the accounting finals, some journal entries come into my mind that pretty much sum up my experience with ACCT610.
Dr LateNightsStudies ALot
Cr I-dont-understand-accounting A-lot-more
Dr TimeValueOfMoney ThisSucks
Cr WTF-is-wrong-with-this-balance-sheet Happens-a-lot
Dr WriteWhateverYouKnowOnTheAnswerSheet GenerallyVeryLittle
Cr Marks-Receivable Generally-even-lesser
If you think that I have flouted the basic accounting principles by debiting and crediting different amounts, you can stuff it up the GAAP in your posterior.
Guns. This world needs more guns.
As I prepare for the accounting finals, some journal entries come into my mind that pretty much sum up my experience with ACCT610.
Dr LateNightsStudies ALot
Cr I-dont-understand-accounting A-lot-more
Dr TimeValueOfMoney ThisSucks
Cr WTF-is-wrong-with-this-balance-sheet Happens-a-lot
Dr WriteWhateverYouKnowOnTheAnswerSheet GenerallyVeryLittle
Cr Marks-Receivable Generally-even-lesser
If you think that I have flouted the basic accounting principles by debiting and crediting different amounts, you can stuff it up the GAAP in your posterior.
Guns. This world needs more guns.
Friday, 24 October 2008
What the FAQ !!!
0011 hours.
Q. What happened ?
A. Got screwed in my statistics finals.
Q. Why ?
A. My prep wasn't great but it wasn't so bad either. Prime cause for the anal pain is the significant difference in difficulty levels of class problems and the exam.
Q. How did the others react to the 'anal pain' ?
A. Some were seeking solace from the fact that others did poorly, so they managed to smile in the light of relative grading. Some looked as shocked if they had just seen Rakhi Sawant fully clothed. Some were nonchalant and looked resigned to their fate. I think I was the only one abusing out loud.
Q. So you had a bad exam. Implications ?
A. Always knew that this course will only yield a final B grade for me. In that sense, dont seem to have lost much. Of course, there will be hell to pay for if I end up getting a C.
Q. What next ?
A. Economics and Accounting exams on Monday and Tuesday. This weekend is going to be sooo awesome.
Q. If you could go back in time and change something what would it be ?
A. Would really like to electrocute the person who motivated me to get an MBA, and I would also like to blow up the computer that conjured up my 740 GMAT. Had I scored something like a 450, I would have been sitting pretty in my old software job, away from this crazy management world.
Q. You have just been cribbing and cribbing all the time. No more questions for you.
A. Thanks ! You can just FAQ OFF !
Q. What happened ?
A. Got screwed in my statistics finals.
Q. Why ?
A. My prep wasn't great but it wasn't so bad either. Prime cause for the anal pain is the significant difference in difficulty levels of class problems and the exam.
Q. How did the others react to the 'anal pain' ?
A. Some were seeking solace from the fact that others did poorly, so they managed to smile in the light of relative grading. Some looked as shocked if they had just seen Rakhi Sawant fully clothed. Some were nonchalant and looked resigned to their fate. I think I was the only one abusing out loud.
Q. So you had a bad exam. Implications ?
A. Always knew that this course will only yield a final B grade for me. In that sense, dont seem to have lost much. Of course, there will be hell to pay for if I end up getting a C.
Q. What next ?
A. Economics and Accounting exams on Monday and Tuesday. This weekend is going to be sooo awesome.
Q. If you could go back in time and change something what would it be ?
A. Would really like to electrocute the person who motivated me to get an MBA, and I would also like to blow up the computer that conjured up my 740 GMAT. Had I scored something like a 450, I would have been sitting pretty in my old software job, away from this crazy management world.
Q. You have just been cribbing and cribbing all the time. No more questions for you.
A. Thanks ! You can just FAQ OFF !
Is raat ki subah nahi
0300 hours.
Exam starts in another 6 hours. I might have just covered 50% of the syllabus till now. Deep into the the night, this zombie works on ...
Sleeping is a useless activity.
Exam starts in another 6 hours. I might have just covered 50% of the syllabus till now. Deep into the the night, this zombie works on ...
Sleeping is a useless activity.
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Statistics: The Last Race
1634 hours.
Probability theory, regression & optimization: Take me in your arms !
Probability theory, regression & optimization: Take me in your arms !
Requiem for a dream.
1350 hours.
The A in Marketing dream is over. I goofed up.
Got a relatively simple case about some twerp who wanted to make contact lenses for chickens. Yeah, thats right. Let me say that again: contact lenses for chickens. Bloody crazy shit !
We had to do some analyses - SWOT, 5C, Porter's and take some decisions - pricing, promotion and segmentation. All that to make a chicken wear some contact lens.
I could'nt finish the exam in time. Left a 35 marker almost untouched. There's no way I will be scoring anything more than 60 on this exam. Celebrated this joyous event with some chicken pad-thai for lunch.
Off for a little nap. The next bit*h in line is statistics.
One more time : Some shithead wanted to make contact lenses for chicken !
The A in Marketing dream is over. I goofed up.
Got a relatively simple case about some twerp who wanted to make contact lenses for chickens. Yeah, thats right. Let me say that again: contact lenses for chickens. Bloody crazy shit !
We had to do some analyses - SWOT, 5C, Porter's and take some decisions - pricing, promotion and segmentation. All that to make a chicken wear some contact lens.
I could'nt finish the exam in time. Left a 35 marker almost untouched. There's no way I will be scoring anything more than 60 on this exam. Celebrated this joyous event with some chicken pad-thai for lunch.
Off for a little nap. The next bit*h in line is statistics.
One more time : Some shithead wanted to make contact lenses for chicken !
Off to war 1.1
0803 hours
MBA Term 1
Final 1: MKTG 613
... And so it begins ...
Koi hamse jeet na paaye, chale chalo chale chalo
Mit jaave jo takraave, chale chalo chale chalo
Bring on the case !
MBA Term 1
Final 1: MKTG 613
... And so it begins ...
Koi hamse jeet na paaye, chale chalo chale chalo
Mit jaave jo takraave, chale chalo chale chalo
Bring on the case !
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Numb and brain dead
2344 hours.
Nothing makes sense now. I am reading a marketing problem and analyzing it from an economics perspective. I think that's a signal to call it a day.
Lots of stuff pending. Especially, the bits about pricing and Roger's Framework.
Hope to be up by 0600 hours tomorrow so that I can squeeze in some 90-100 minutes of revision.
Zzzzzzzzzzz....
Nothing makes sense now. I am reading a marketing problem and analyzing it from an economics perspective. I think that's a signal to call it a day.
Lots of stuff pending. Especially, the bits about pricing and Roger's Framework.
Hope to be up by 0600 hours tomorrow so that I can squeeze in some 90-100 minutes of revision.
Zzzzzzzzzzz....
Panic Station !
1446 hours
I have no freaking clue whats going on in statistics. Portion covered after the mid terms apparently was taught in Swahili and Hebrew. There's no way a Hindi speaking dude can understand that !
The portion before the midterms was probably taught in a now extinct language. Apparently, I knew that language on the day of the exam, but now I don't. I think I can now appreciate the bollywood melodrama of the 80s, when an unimportant character would open his eyes and say, "Main kaun hoon ? Main kahaan hoon ?"
Talking about movies, another song plays into my mind when I look at the chapters I had prepared for the mid-terms, "Sab kuchh alag hai ... sab kuchh naya hai ... kuchh to hua hai ... kuchh ho gaya hai."
Damn, I should start my marketing prep now. Lunch is a bowl of cut fruit. Boo !
I have no freaking clue whats going on in statistics. Portion covered after the mid terms apparently was taught in Swahili and Hebrew. There's no way a Hindi speaking dude can understand that !
The portion before the midterms was probably taught in a now extinct language. Apparently, I knew that language on the day of the exam, but now I don't. I think I can now appreciate the bollywood melodrama of the 80s, when an unimportant character would open his eyes and say, "Main kaun hoon ? Main kahaan hoon ?"
Talking about movies, another song plays into my mind when I look at the chapters I had prepared for the mid-terms, "Sab kuchh alag hai ... sab kuchh naya hai ... kuchh to hua hai ... kuchh ho gaya hai."
Damn, I should start my marketing prep now. Lunch is a bowl of cut fruit. Boo !
Simulation modelling sucks
WTF ! WTF !
This INFO-610 course is weird. Dimitris Bertsimas & Robert Freund (authors of my stats textbook) are weirder. And, of course, MS Excel is weirdest !
Man, I guess I cannot be a statistician even if my life depended on it.
Joke:
Q. What does a Gujju mean when he says, "Mero dikro States ma gayo."
You think: "My son went to the States".
The real thing: "My son failed in statistics." Touche !
Just got another 3 hours before I start to study for marketing.
This INFO-610 course is weird. Dimitris Bertsimas & Robert Freund (authors of my stats textbook) are weirder. And, of course, MS Excel is weirdest !
Man, I guess I cannot be a statistician even if my life depended on it.
Joke:
Q. What does a Gujju mean when he says, "Mero dikro States ma gayo."
You think: "My son went to the States".
The real thing: "My son failed in statistics." Touche !
Just got another 3 hours before I start to study for marketing.
Subah ho gayi mamu !
0857 hours
Have woken up, but damn, feeling so sleepy. Wish I could sleep for another couple of hours.
Have my marketing finals tomorrow. Not going to start studying for it till 1500 hours today. Gotta do some statistics now. Breakfast is going to be an awesome maggi topped with mixed vegetables and scrambled eggs.
I hope I do well enough in Marketing to get an A - something I feel I deserve !
Have woken up, but damn, feeling so sleepy. Wish I could sleep for another couple of hours.
Have my marketing finals tomorrow. Not going to start studying for it till 1500 hours today. Gotta do some statistics now. Breakfast is going to be an awesome maggi topped with mixed vegetables and scrambled eggs.
I hope I do well enough in Marketing to get an A - something I feel I deserve !
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)