Time Management

This is a skill I sorely do not possess. I need to work on this in order to reach the goals I set myself.

Work Woes

I am currently undertaking a graduate diploma, what I call a pre-MBA. I was under the impression that is would be supported at work as I am getting more responsabilities.
After playing with me last semester and not paying my class, this time around, they gave me the excuse that I was not in a position to need these classes at the stage of my career.
I tried to brush it off but I really took it as a slap in the face considering I know a few people
with less work experience than me who are having these courses paid by their (smaller) companies. It's funny how less than a 1000$ can make a difference in someone's attitude towards their employee. I might just be blowing this out of proportion but I am mad...

Everybody be MBA'd Up

I always thought that an MBA would be the path towards a more managerial role. Yet, I was shocked to find out that some of my introverted old classmates are following that path. It strikes me as strange. I might still be somewhat confused by the whole signification of that degree and what one can achieve with it. However, why would someone who doens't seem to enjoy talking to people have an interest in such a degree.
I agree, this may come across as judgemental as everybody has different goals in life and I tend to believe that it is very hard to put oneself'in other people's shoes.

I quickly finished Snapshots from Hell. It was enjoyable although it felt like a textbook at times.
My main drawback was the Reagan Republicanism flavour of it all. It sounds good until you realise how unrealistic it is. It's funny because many of my friends, especially in the US and back home are bonafide Conservatives. Yet, I am more liberal. Sad to say but I have been very dillusionned by politics as right and left wing have completely lost their signification.

Sometimes, I wonder if I could evolve in a more corporate environment. I look the part yet I have a much more freer spirit than one could assume. I was raised in a simple environment where I was given values such as respect towards elders, deference, an open mind.
Somehow, it has helped me in my current career as I had to deal with very different individuals.
I can have lunch with the technicians and hold a normal conversation with them without feeling like I am too "above" them. I really despise individuals who by virtue of qualities that sometimes have nothing to do with their own merit feel like they are better than everyone.
I have unfortunately met a few these past few days and I know that I must have had a smirking smile whenever they were uttering their "I went to ....", "This wine is so much better than ....", "I don't like that area, there are too many .....",etc... Mind you, I love good food, I value education but ignorancce and prejudice I am not fond of.

OK, I'm done with my self-serving post of the month.

My Target Schools

On my list, I have put some of my target schools and frankly I feel I should be retitling it to my Dream Schools because there are onlye one of two where I feel I would have a decent choice of getting in. One of them in particular would very extremely economical for me and it doens't hurt that I am already enrolled in classes there. Sure, it's not a top-rated program but McGill still has a decent reputation around the world....

I started reading Snapshots from Hell and it's a great read so far. I am far from a poet since my background is EE. Therefore, the passages about math made me all warm and fuzzy inside instead of the expected fright that non-quants would have.. Frankly, I would feel more at ease in a program where quant skills are valued. Not to say I am not outgoing,etc...However, I prefer dealing more with numbers than feelings.

We'll see...

Reading List

One of the advantages of taking grad-level classes besides the joy of enduring three hours of lectures after a full day of work is to be able to take books and videos from the university's library.
I have just taken three books:

- MBA Planet, the Insider Guide to the Business School Experience from S. Cranier and D. Dearlove.
-Snapshots from Hell by Peter Robinson
-The Insider's Guide to the Top 10 Business Schools by Tom Fischgrund

I have no idea when I will be able to read them but they are due by mid-March..


I should start studying for my finance class now..

American Programs

I must admit in my mind I have always equated an MBA to be as American as apple pie.
Especially, since I could see myself working in New York for a finite period of time,
an American program would be the obvious choice.
Yet, for someone of limited means and adverse to great debt like myself, could it be manageable?

Also, do I want to be in a programme where the notion of diversity is whether they support the Patriots or the Eagles? Give me some real football!
Seriously, besides the minor issue of the sport of choice, I know that location is something that is very important to me. I don't see myself able to live in a campus in the middle of nowhere. My ancestors may have been peasants but I am really a city guy through and through.
From time to time, I might try to do some gardening to stay true to my roots but give me the griminess of Barcelona, Paris or New York any day over the pastoral beauty of the Vermont landscape.

While I didn't enjoy travelling much at my current position, I did enjoy the international ones.
Just to be immersed in a foreign land and to get to do business with people with a different set of values sure is a test for anyone. First, it is a test for tolerance. Clichéd may be but it is needed to get into someone's shoes and sandals.
As I am writing this, I am really think I just started a blog to practice my written English so when I have to write these essays, I will be able to actually finish them. I have read some blogs since I somewhat decided an MBA and I found many interesting. Few transpired a suffisance that I didn't enjoy when interacting with some of my old classmates. However, they are far in between. One thing I noticed is that there is much colour on the MBA blog circuit from Axechick to Call-Geek to Cubicle Lady( I think)! This is great to see!

ok

I still don't know if an MBA is right for you. What would be the goal? Investment banking? According to my mentor, I fit the profile: I look unassuming, have a good presentation, and I have an expensive lifestyle. Therefore, I need to sell my most precious ressource, my time, in order to make as much green and grey pieces of paper.

I need to take a yoga class...We'll see...

In other news, I can't wait to get my first issue of the Economist. It would be very different from what I usually read (GQ, Cargo,etc..). One of my coworkers used to read it and had loaned me a few copies. I thought it was very interesting as I am pretty curious about that is happening around the world. One thing, I have no idea how could I be able to read an issue in a week!

more than a month later

what have i accomplished? not much except i have been receiving prospectuses from diverse universities.
Still haven't studied for the GMAT. I am actually thinking of taking a GMAT course.
We'll see...