Northampton > Ooh So English

The whole of the last few weeks had been a blur - hopping from one form of transport to another - just in time visas, ticketing and what not.

With the post on the italy not yet complete and here i am in an idylic, lonely little suburb (the locals here like to call [pronounced 'cooull' ;)] it a 'village') of Northampton, UK. (its called Moulton)

Ive been here now for a day and my work begins tomorrow.

The ride down to Northampton & then down to Moulton on the bus (called 'coouch' here) was all nice & cushy - thanks to google & my hotel's helpful boss cum manager.

I had a nauseating dinner yesterday of vodka, orange juice, french fries ('chips' here) and some kind of Rivoli made of mushrooms & Goat's cheese at the village pub called 'The Artichoke' - whatever that means. The matronly waitress calls you 'luv' and 'tut - tut's when you say you're vegetarian. ( The dinner put me back about 13 pounds, so that rubs that much more salt in)

Earlier Today - Explored Northampton town square on foot, got back & went out on an another expedition locating the best route on foot to my workplace for the coming week (that turned out to be a 4 mile trek in the rain, in shorts - and back - what now turns out to be a 2 mile route)

Turns out that this stay down might just turn out better than the Italian trip (i was longing for that one to turn out into a dreamy experience and didnt quite happen that way because of work pressure maybe).

The best thing is - Im not in a huge place like London and see things out of Buses & Taxis & Trains - I am staying in an old fashioned country inn (i even have a key to the front door & the owners live in the same building) in a nice & proper ('proh pah') English Village.

Will keep updating !

More -- An MBA / Management / Me

In the same vein as the previous post - One thing that struck me as pretty significant - In all these accounts, books, magazine articles, TV talkshows - even discussions with friend / acquaintances etc. - theres always - I Banking, Management consulting, Marketing, Finance, M&A - and what the heck - even working with "NGOs" - as fancy - B School type career options.

In case, uve read this far - u might ask - fine, whats wrong -

My little observation is - 'Where is 'General Management / Managing ur own thing ' / 'Entrepreneurship' as a career option?' does any MBA at all focus on training some1 to run a business - B Schools are just teaching students the 'skill sets' needed to be successful, specialized EMPLOYEES - who work on specific assignments ?

As i gather - there ARE 'courses' listed in all B schools for 'Entrepreneurship' etc. and i guess, no successful entrepreneur will ever sit down to write a book about how B School helped him be a successful entrepreneur ;)

After all this thought about this whole thing - a few things have emerged - worth recording -

a) When i write my essay for 'Why an MBA?' when i apply (i mean, IF at all i apply) It'll begin like this -

' In my opinion - to be well rounded, successful & content in any endeavour the following are important:

i) Keeping oneself updated - Information

ii) Being capable of performing several specialized functions - Skill sets

iii) Giving oneself opportunities - Putting oneself in the right 'places'

iv) Making use of i, ii and inherent values, instincts, personal qualities (Personality, discipline, hardwork) and converting Opportunities from (iii) into worthwhile accomplishments.

The express purpose of my applying for an MBA from GSB XXXXX is to improve my sources of information, gain exposure of updated skill sets, broaden industry/geographical/network exposure AND identify/evaluate/improve my personal qualities to be successful & content in future complex, global ventures.

b) I WONT apply for an MBA until i manage a significant / groundbreaking achievement ( or achievementS ) with my current EXISTING portfolio of skillsets, Information and Opportunities [ I can judge it for myself ] - Otherwise there i run of risk of coming back from an expensive MBA - with more information, Skillsets - but unstable, incapable of what i am doing presently and in essence, very destabilizing for my present family, family business & employees - All probably because my personal qualities are no good for this kinda thing.

Closing comments : I havent managed a clear thought session like this for a LONG time :)

So - Gud luck to me & We'll keep updating on progress made.

Snapshots from Hell - A Review

I am recording my train of thoughts from the last couple of days on a lot of subjects, mostly along the same central theme:

The whole thought process was, i guess, triggered off when i started reading my new copy of "Snapshots from Hell - The Making of an MBA -- BY Peter Robinson"

[ Interestingly i bought it because i was at the bookstore and cudnt really find anything i havent read / or on the read list / or new stuff which caught my fancy - I had called Suraj from there asking him for some book to read - and he suggested this - Dunno if hes read it - but it has -- for a couple of hours yesterday and a good portion of the morning today -- kept me entertained and got me thinking ]

It is a very entertaining, very -in detail- account of the author's two year MBA course at GSB Stanford back in 90 or 91. What sets this apart - from the other similar books like 'Running with the bulls (some guy's account of his Wharton experience) is that the author - a self confessed 'Poet' (i.e a guy with no math background / literature / Non-business work ex) - gives us the other side of what superficially was a 2 yr top tier MBA

The emotional ups and downs, self doubts, course difficulties, day to day things etc. are chronicled with very good thoughts on -

Why an MBA ?

Hows an MBA grad different from others ?

What does it take to be an Investment Banker or Is Investment Banking a correct career option at all ?

Or is Marketing or Management Consulting your cup of tea ?

Is it really worth the trouble - cramming for 2 years, spending 100,000 $ ? etc. etc.

It is a nice read for guys like me who can always use a concise, lucid account (without the jargon) of what skill sets can acquired, networking is achieved, how it changes your life etc. etc.

Nice Read !

Am i fucken suffering from Manic Depression !?

I was on a trip to Italy - Milan - Florence - the works - and just got back to work. Beautiful place, Italy. I really loved the trip - possibly some of the most beautiful places ive ever ben to.

But the fucken matter of fact is that i suddenly have been feeling so goddamn low and all - i spoke to my dad today about it - he told me that 'at my age, i am blessed to be going through such a productive/informative phase and must take everything in stride'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_depression

But i dunno, i think i have Manic Depression - Means - i have prolonged phases of Angst/depression/negative periods lasting 3/6 months in between periods of good life & productivity.

Are such periods of Intensive introspection / Thought / Loneliness / actually good for you ?

What i mean is , Is it like you're supposed to build on these thoughts and do the groundwork for your next period of productiveness OR Am I really a hopeless, fucken depressed asshole.