Mad Professor Smashes Cell Phone...

This college professor loses it when a student's cell phone rings in class he then procedes to kill the phone. Taking the call probably didn't help much either. This is probably in an undergraduate class. Is the professor justified in this situation?

Tweaking schedule to satisfy my life priorities...

I'm deep in GMAT study and still feel behind. I don't recommend studying for the GMAT and doing B-school applications at the same time. Unless you're maschositic. If so, then have all the "pain, spiked w/ pleasure" you want.

Good thing I have my surfing and biking/running to release this building stress. Speaking of which, I've been giving blogger Petite Canadienne and two of her consulting associates surfling lessons in Newport Beach. They've begun to call themselves the "-tvu surfing club." I'm not sure this is good or bad. Since my name's attached, I'm going to make sure they can surf properly. Don't want people to comment that my students sucked and who's the idiot that taught them?? Anything -tvu is associated w/ must be w/ quality. Brand Management 101.
I have not gotten blogger Petitie Canadienne permission to put pictures yet. If blogger Petitie says ok, then you'll see.

Aside from surfing duties, which I'm rediscovering my love for, I am tweaking my exercise routine so I can actually do it. I'm waking up 5:30am, out the door 5:45 (who needs to brush teeth b4 morning run) for two mile run and light weight. Hmm...how long can I keep this up.

Life Lesson 1 - Once you figure out your life priorities, then work you life schedule to accomodate it. You will enjoy "tu vida mucho mejor."

Life Lesson 2 - Teach a novice something you're passionate about. You will rediscover your love for it through the student's eyes.

**Update; Blogger Petitie gave the OK***














-tvu; Surf Instructor
(1st lessons)













Petite ; Wipe out
(1st lesson)









Petite; BIG SMILES, even after thrashing around the white waters and swallowing a lot of Pacific Ocean seawater
(1st lesson)






tvu; surf instructor
(2nd lesson)









Petite; Big smiles, before lessons starts
(2nd lesson)










tvu; securing keys to car onto surf leash
(2nd lesson)











Petite's coworkers; Students 2 (Nic) and 3 (Nathan); Pre-surf lessons
(2nd lesson)






Nic and Nathan; Post surf lessons...big smile. Nathan really, REALLY likes my banana surf board
(2nd lesson)










tvu surfing club
(2nd lesson)










Rising the boards
(2nd lesson)









I luv my students
(3rd lesson)







3rd and final lesson; tvu surf club

A Divine Birthday...(nonMBA)

The importance of Alumni contacts

It's late and I've just finished a phone interview with an Alumnus from another B-school from Europe. Yes. He did have very insightful information that was not contained in the brochures and definitely not on the website.

I am going to have to reconsider these B-schools. All have compelling facts and inside dirt. What to do, what to do...

***Additional editor note***
I'm still very much in love w/ the schools I'm applying for. Now my view of them has more dept.

Was emailed; "You mentioned something about the discussion with an alumni on the blog. Compelling facts and inside dirt, could you extrapolate on that just a little bit"

Here's my response;

Compelling fact ref. to what they did during their MBA. What was unique to their experiences. Mainly to match up w/ what is important to me. Possibly something I have not figured into my equation and thus shed light into something I have considered.

Tip; Gather as much information and then gather some more. Knowledge is key. I prefer to research thoroughly, then weigh all options, and then make a decision. I don't want to have any regrets once I've finalized my choice. Considering the importance of the MBA, the amount of $$ I am pouring into it, and it will be a life changing decision, I definitely want all options placed on the table. This is not a situation for a hasty choice.

Good luck w/ your research and may the force be with you.

Passing the good word and earning Karma points...

Three straight day of postings. Wow~ I'm a blogging fool.

I've received some questions from applicants regarding shortlisting B-schools. Here's my advice to them. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[applicant],

I haven't done much on B-schools in the US, so I can't provide which school is better then another for your profile. Majority of my research has been on B-schools in Europe.

Tip;

Instead of finding the schools that will accept your profile. Find out what you want from this MBA and research the schools that provide what is important to you. Simply put; rather then you matching what they're looking for. Find the schools that will match up w/ what you're looking for.

Key items that are important to me, that I used to short list schools. This will be different from your criteria, but it can be a useful example.

• Career changer or career advancer - I'm a career changer
• What I wanted to do post MBA - Consulting. **removed my comments to protect the innocent (me, ok I'm not that innocent)**
• Region I want to work/live post MBA. - Europe. Rule of thumb, businesses local to the region will hire from that area's B-school. Thus you get better chance of work/live in that region.
  
• Student body - Smaller class size and international diversity are very important to me. I want to make friends and contacts around the world. US B-schools can not match the international and depth of diversity of European schools.
• Non MBA related lifestyle - I love backpacking through foreign countries. Surfing and snowboarding are also very important to me. Guess what I'll be doing w/ my free time through Europe? hehe... You're in school for two years and you can't study every single minute of that time. What do you do for fun? What's your passion? Will that location allow for you to pursue your non-MBA interest.
• etc, etc.

List the things important to you. Then research the schools's websites. Read the student's blog for insider information, the glossy brochures/websites don't tell you. Make contact w/ the Admin people. Surprise, they're actually really helpful once you know what you want. Remember, they want a match also. It's a two way relationship. Make contacts w/ the Alumni. Yes, they will tell their experience is the best and they highly recommend their school. But they do provide valuable, very valuable information, high lights and low lights. Develop a repore with them, so they see who you are. That way, they can also see if you'll be a match for that school. I rather get honest helpful opinion, instead of hot air expanding my ego. Be courteous and buy them a drink or lunch. They are spending their free time for your interest. If it's a match, now you have an alumni that can vouch for you to the B-school.

Hopefully that helps.
Earning the good karma points.

Extracurricular activities that help shape you...

Toastmaster International is organization that, "offers a proven way to improve your communication skills. By participating in a fun and supportive Toastmasters group, you'll become a better speaker and leader and gain confidence to succeed in whatever path you've chosen in life." Zotspeak is my chapter here at UCI and I'm the VP of membership. After spending two hours on the GMAT, I have to prepare a speech w/ specific items to cover. Sure, sleep isn't really necessary.

The items to cover w/in this speech actually brought to my attention to the B-school essays. I have not touched them for the two weeks and that's a good thing. The focus of this speech can also can transfer to my essays. Funny how things can apply through various parts of our lives. If not now, then possibly the future. Which bring to attend to a speech by Steve Job's Stanford Commencement Speech in 2005. For your viewing and inspirating pleasure. Now back to the speech. Once upon a time ago...

Review of the World MBA Tour in LA

Since this tour had only US based B-schools, I was second guessing myself spending it in LA LA land instead of surfing or w/ my son. Afterwards, I was satisfied w/ my decision. Considering my life experiences, work experiences and my persona, international business schools are a perfect match for me. So I'm still focus on schools in Europe.

I'll bullet points the high lights and low lights;
High Lights

• Panel discussion w/ four Admission Directors on strategies for submitting a succesful B-school application
• Be honest when showcasing yourself and leadership skills
• Don't write essays over weekend, they read thousands upon thousands of essays, so they can smell it.
  
• Answer the questions in your essay
• Better chance of acceptance in R1 and R2
• Show a clear goal
• Come prepared for interviews

• 24 Top US B-schools in one location
• Two hour to meet and greet all the B-schools in open area w/ their tables, brochures
  
• Almost all had their Admission Directors presenting and fielding your questions and for you to suck up to...I mean impress
• Alot of the schools Alumni were present also
  
• After 10 minute conversation w/ a Admission Director, he wanted to see my application on his desk. Nice feeling to have THE Admission Director of a major B-school requesting me to apply. Yes, I know he's making a "sale", but don't burst my bubble. hehe...
• Free event

Low Lights

• Event went from (8:30am registration) 9am - 5 pm w/ only ten minute breaks inbetween presentations.
• No coffee, snacks, food provided. Bring your own. Aside from my morning coffee during the drive (7:30 am) , my first meal was at 5pm after it finished.
  
• B-school presentations only lasted 35 minutes. Thats not enought time for complete presentation, only quick showcasing and hight lights of their program and fielding the typical admission questions. This was my second MBA forum, but the questions were generally all the same and the answers were all the same. Been there, done that.
• The two hour provided to meet and greet w/ the schools were a mad house. Lines forming after the popular (higher ranked) schools.
  

World MBA tour in LA...what happened the world?

I just spent today (9/10) attending the World MBA tour in LA. The schools presents were only US B-schools. The one I attended back in Feburary in San Francisco had only European B-schools. What happened to the world portion of the world mba tour? No worries, the event was not a complete lost of my day. It reaffirmed my decision on focusing on B-schools in Europe.

It has been a long week and I'm drained physcially and mentally but promise to post a review later. For now, -tvu's soul needs a little recharging. Now where's that damn charger?

Stuck between the heart and a hardplace...(nonMBA)

My inherited son is at a development stage, where he is flexing his persona, i.e. strenght drawn from muscles and force through power. I am trying to teach him that true strenght is fueled by the heart and determination comes from the mind. I try to be strong, not for myself, but for my mother. With my father's passing, my strenght no longer belonged to me. It belongs to my mother and I don't know how much I have left for myself. So I work hard to strenghten myself, so I can provide for my son and mother.

I am increasing the GMAT studies and placing thoughts to paper for the other B-schools essays. So I sacrifice time from my workout schedule, which has proven great results. A stong body, equates to strong heart, leading to stonger mind, allowing for stronger character.

My family, they don't know. They function normally. Noises here, screaming there, TV on, radio on louder, bored son pacing about the house, mother w/ questions, concerns, and worries. Always her worries. I don't know. There times when my strenght is drained and I still have to put in a few hours for studies and readings. This is when I draw upon my determination, my will, my mind to focus on the studies, when my body, my heart is weak. Some days are better and some days are worse. Worse days, I regret the promise to my father on his death bed, "Stay close by and watch over mother." I've given up my peace, my quiet, my social life, my bachelor life for the responsibilities of son and mother. Better days, my heart and soul swells w/ the love my son and mother entails.

Life is an amazing adventure and life lessons learned are...well, they are worth more.

LBS online application, now active

London Business School's online application is now active and accepting applicants. Eventhough my essays are not finalized and I have not taken the GMAT, I've filled out some information. My application is now officially started. I won't submit it until all parts are complete, but it is now a tangible item.

Speaking of GMAT, since the Kaplan messed up my re-enrollment, I will not be ready to take a shot at the GMAT until after LBS R1 deadline. This will push me back into R2. No need to stress (benefits of being a laid back surfer), this will give me time to travel, hopefully in November back to Europe to visit the B-schools I am applying for. Yeah...It's a thin excuse to travel, but since I was not able to travel last year (dad's illness). I am ready to explore more of the unknown and expand my comfort zone.

BusinessWeek B-School Videos...

A couple of new BusinessWeek B-School videos came online this past few weeks. This video, with Dan Smith, Dean of Indiana's B-School provided good insight for career changers, i.e. me. He's the Dean of a major B-School, so pay attention to what he is saying. Another video with Julia Tyler, Associate Dean of LBS, comments on it's focus on global business, and internationally diverse student body. All important criteria for business school I am interested in. Guess which school I'm applying for? hehe...