My annual June vacation is shaping up to be a two-week Haas excursion to Shanghai and Beijing. I made it on the list of twenty students that can go on the early summer international seminar (there is another seminar in July, to South Africa). This will be my first trip to Asia.
If I go, it means that I'll finish my MBA a semester earlier than I had been planning. For some reason, that freaks me out a little.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Trim it
I have noticed an overabundance of nose hair on those around me lately. I mean the kind that is attempting to escape from it's relegated territory, creeping out of the nostril, sometimes curling out and up and around in a way that makes it seem impossible for the owner of the nose hair (OONH) not to notice. These are some seriously long hairs. Shouldn't the OONH be irritated by a tickle as the nose hair is blowing in the breeze?
Men, women... young, old. The aggressive nose hair does not discriminate. Previously, I believed nose hair to be something that only grandfathers and older uncles had to combat, but in 2007 it's everywhere.
There are three major problems with this:
A) It's gross and hard not to stare at when someone is talking to you.
B) There's no polite way to point out the problem and help someone with their nose hair issue, regardless of how well you might know them.
C) I have been noticing this phenomenon in relatively well-groomed people -- people who probably dedicate more time to their appearance than I do. If they have not observed their own fly-away nose hairs, is it possible that I too am unaware of the same problem in my own nose?
I urge you, head to the bathroom mirror (maybe with some tweezers or a small pair of scissors) and check things out. We all owe it to each other to be more diligent about keeping our nose hair under control. Peace out.
Men, women... young, old. The aggressive nose hair does not discriminate. Previously, I believed nose hair to be something that only grandfathers and older uncles had to combat, but in 2007 it's everywhere.
There are three major problems with this:
A) It's gross and hard not to stare at when someone is talking to you.
B) There's no polite way to point out the problem and help someone with their nose hair issue, regardless of how well you might know them.
C) I have been noticing this phenomenon in relatively well-groomed people -- people who probably dedicate more time to their appearance than I do. If they have not observed their own fly-away nose hairs, is it possible that I too am unaware of the same problem in my own nose?
I urge you, head to the bathroom mirror (maybe with some tweezers or a small pair of scissors) and check things out. We all owe it to each other to be more diligent about keeping our nose hair under control. Peace out.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Wise words from my CEO
Today I interviewed my CEO for a class project. Since I work for a global company that has thousands of employees worldwide, I hadn't ever met him before and didn't really expect to. It's amazing the kind of access you can get to people when there is a school project in the mix.
He was a very approachable and friendly guy, charismatic and chatty. Once of the questions I asked him was whether he had any advice for someone at the beginning of her career -- say, maybe in an MBA program -- who might aspire to lead a company one day. He said that the most important thing is to focus on your current responsibilities. Consistently excellent performance is the basis for building a reputation, and it's your reputation that you build a career on. He said there's no excuse for not performing well. If you don't like a job, or don't think it's important, you should move on quickly.
He also recommended being extra careful to only go to companies with a good reputation that will provide you opportunities to learn and grow. He said it's important to be able to grow without hopping from company to company, and it's the choice of companies that enables this.
Finally, he told me that you have to WANT success. You have to want it bad. You have to be competitive, and you have to have the drive to get you where you want to go.
He was a very approachable and friendly guy, charismatic and chatty. Once of the questions I asked him was whether he had any advice for someone at the beginning of her career -- say, maybe in an MBA program -- who might aspire to lead a company one day. He said that the most important thing is to focus on your current responsibilities. Consistently excellent performance is the basis for building a reputation, and it's your reputation that you build a career on. He said there's no excuse for not performing well. If you don't like a job, or don't think it's important, you should move on quickly.
He also recommended being extra careful to only go to companies with a good reputation that will provide you opportunities to learn and grow. He said it's important to be able to grow without hopping from company to company, and it's the choice of companies that enables this.
Finally, he told me that you have to WANT success. You have to want it bad. You have to be competitive, and you have to have the drive to get you where you want to go.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
The party of the century(s)
Tomorrow night is my company's much anticipated 200th anniversary party. Just like the formal dances back in high school, the office has been buzzing about this event for months. Mainly the coversation has been centered on who is bringing a date and what everyone is planning to wear. Some conversation has also been dedicated to the debate on why the hell anyone would plan something like this on a Monday night. The shindig is at the Palace Hotel downtown, and will be a relatively formal event. I'll be busting out the old black cocktail dress and my date will be suited up.
My primary goal for the evening is to not drink too much champagne. The 8am presentation I'm scheduled to give the next morning should provide sufficient motivation to stick to that goal. The primary goal enables the secondary goal: no dancing in front of my coworkers.
My primary goal for the evening is to not drink too much champagne. The 8am presentation I'm scheduled to give the next morning should provide sufficient motivation to stick to that goal. The primary goal enables the secondary goal: no dancing in front of my coworkers.
Semester of introspection
I'm taking leadership and negotiations this semester, which basically means I have had to take every kind of personality/leadership/career assessment or evaluation that exists. I just took one that says I should be working for a non-profit, working in HR, or be a CEO. It strikes me that it might be kinda tough for me to ever get to the CEO role if I'm working in HR at a non-profit. Too bad there's no such thing as an entry-level CEO. I could start interviewing now.
I get my Meyers-Briggs results on Thursday. I am suffering evaluation fatigue.
I get my Meyers-Briggs results on Thursday. I am suffering evaluation fatigue.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Linda's new sibling
...IS SO FRICKIN' ADORABLE! Maggie is getting cuter as she grows, I'm sure of it. Just adds to her family's renown for producing cute blonde bitches.
Linda's dad is pretty cute, too...
Linda's dad is pretty cute, too...
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Everyone needs a little egging on
I've had a great need for inspiration lately, which is why I appreciate the new effort happening at EggOn. This blog offers creative experiments based on the cheesey-motivational-poster model. I think they're picking up stream with some of the recent posts. Enjoy!
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Happy Birthday, Linda!
Today's the big day -- Linda is turning 30! So, I'm posting this photo in her honor:
Yes, Linda loves that Clive Owen. She also likes her men roughed up a little. With hairy chests. And drenched in rain. Have a fabulous day, Linda!
Yes, Linda loves that Clive Owen. She also likes her men roughed up a little. With hairy chests. And drenched in rain. Have a fabulous day, Linda!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)