Friday Funnies

Today's the last full day before I fly tomorrow and it still has not registered with me yet. I'm too busy finishing up family errands before I get two weeks to myself.

Now onto Friday Funnies;
In order to appreciate each other, we need to be able to laugh at each other and ourselves.
Introducing - Russell Peters



You think he's joking about using scooter as a mini-van?

Wear smoking jackets when going down in flames

It's done. Finito. It's a good thing I wore a smoking jacket, as expected, I went down in flames. I'll look into redoing the test later, once I turn in R2 application (getting the application in for R2 is more important), and once mom's health improves (hopefully) after the holidays so I can focus on the GMAT.

This score does not define me
It does not mark my potential
It does not mark my determination
It only mark how I am forced to think within the box

For now, I'm back home and kicking it w/ mom watching Monday night football in her room. Finally able to watch sports once more. Go Lakers! Go Cowboys!! Mom was a bit tired when I left for the ~Dun Duh Dum~ test this morning. Got home and made her some rice porridge. OK...it was instant porridge, but its the though that counts! Making real rice porridge would have taken too long.

The priorities for this week before I head to London/Paris this coming Saturday (12/2 - 12/18) will be;

• Spend time with mom, god son, and family
• Gather cold weather clothing to minimize freezing -tvu's ass
• Gather travel papers, lodging papers, etc
• Focus on essays, all the way baby
• Try not to worry about mom, and try to sleep more
• Remembering to laugh
  

More laughing material - William! William!! William Hung!!

Surviving a crisis

This past week has tested my strength, endurance, hope and faith. My mother was checked into the hospital on Tuesday, because of tiredness and difficulty breathing. Conditions like that for a 86 year woman is very scary. Once more, our family did around the clock bed side attendance. I put in 4-6 hours per day. Compared to my other life priorities, the GMAT studies were pushed down the list. Thankfully she was released later in the weekend, but her energy level is still low. Since her admittance into the hospital through now, I have barely gotten in 2-3 hours of GMAT review and the test is tomorrow. ~dun-duh-dum~

The potential of good a GMAT score isn't looking too good. It's OK. I don't regret my decision. The care of my mother will never be a regretful decision. Her health has not improved much, but she is out of the hospital and with family. I'm spending time at home to be with her but can not focused towards the GMAT. I'll have pick up a smoking jacket for tomorrow's test, because I'm going down in flames.

Pointers on surviving a crisis;

• Keep breathing
• Spend time with children and get lots of hugs from them;
  
• A hugg from a child can mend anything
  
• Today was hard, but tomorrow can be better
  
• Alone, you are strong. Among family and friend, you are even stronger
• Success is not required for survival, but adaptability is mandatory
• Remember to laugh
• Whoever is happy will make others happy, too - Mark Twain

What is to become of my choices

What is to become of my choices
All the planning
All the work
All the hopes
All the dreams of my tomorrow

I am no longer a child
I am no longer a young adult
I am a man...with all that it entails

I delayed one year for father
Can I delay another for mother

Can I live with myself
because of my dreams
because of my future
because of my absence to mother

I pray that you will be aright
I pray that you can understand
Why I made my choices

THE PRAYER

A hug from me to you...(nonMBA)

Be Thankful
Be Thankful of all the love within your life
Be Thankful for all the love ones in your life
Be Thankful for all those that you have loved and have loved you back
Be Thankful...

Soo many things within my life
Soo many things...

So I am giving you a hug
So that I may receive one from you

Inspiring Story! Free Hugs Campaign (Music by Sick Puppies)


Description: Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man who’s sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives..... what we then witness can only be described as awe inspiring.


Free Hugs story on Ten News Australia

Are you that friend? ...(nonMBA)

I love comedy shows. I haven't seen a show in a while...a very, very long while. If given a choice between the top comedian and the top band. I'd pick the comedy show.

Here's one of the US's current top comedian, Dane Cook.





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Apprecitation and using it effectively

So much of life responsibilities were in my thoughts, I was having a difficult time focusing on studies tonight at my usual Kaplan center. I felt how it sucked and unfair for me. As my self pity was bubbling, I noticed something interesting.

Nearby, a woman (still in her nurse uniform) was studying with her 10 (?) year son. She would study, but occasionally have to turn her attention towards her son. This happened many times.

This brought things into perspective. Regardless of my responsibilities, I have been able to get away and study. I realized how worthless my self pity was.

Self pity will not help to completing the task.
Appreciate what you have and learn to use it effectively
-tvu

For me now? The center is closed and I'm back home, kicking it with my mother in her room. Appreciating what I have and learning to use it effectively.

Life Lessons

Hope - Faith that things will become better

Prayer - The act/expression of hope

Helping to raise another man's (my brother) son - Do not take the role of the father. The son knows who the father is. Just show him the love and guidance he needs.

Spending time with a teenager - Ask a question on his/her favorite subject. Let them voice their knowledge. Make acknowledging comment ("I didn't realize that"), continue with another question on subject.

Dealing with a teenager - Give directions in calm even voice (i.e. do homework, bedtime, clean room) and repeat ("clean room") 60 minutes later. Few days later, repeat in calm even tone, "clean room", 60 minutes later repeat, 30 minutes later repeat...

Parents - It is not for them to understand you. They raised you, thus know who you are. It is for you to learn who they were, before they became parents.

Adaptbility to overcome adversity

Life loves me soo much, that it's dumping tons on me. Holiday season is fast approaching and my mother is starting to feel it. During the sliver of time I'm home, I see that she's getting more tired and I sense my fathers' passing is weighting heavily on her. She needs my presence and whatever strength I have left. With only two weeks left before my dun-duh-dum date coming, I will try to ask for half days at work, spend remainder of day w/ her until my family gets off work, and I'll head to study. This schedule will probably last to Thanksgiving, thereafter we'll re-evaluate her condition. I know my score will completely suffer and perhaps hurt my application. But my mother is more important then the stink'ng score and the B-school should hopefully not place too much emphasis on a simple, regulated number. If they do, then they were not the school of character I thought they were made of.

Now I will have to craft a nice letter to work, use some of my vacation time, to have half days off for my mother.

Life Lesson - You have to remain adaptive to overcome lifes' adversity

Duck, Weave and roll with life's punches -tvu

Visiting the B-schools...Good ROI

It's done. No turning back. I've bought the tickets and my credit card is hurting. I will fly to London on Dec 2 and fly back to SoCal on Dec 18 from Paris. All so I can visit the B-schools I am applying for. I can't imagine making a milestone decision without visiting the schools in person. You wouldn't buy a car without a test drive. So a face to face visit with the perspective institutions, I will hopefully spend the next two years, is in order. It is my first time in the England and my second time in France. This trip will definitely hurt my wallet, but the expense is worth the insight I will gain. Good ROI.

Coming for SoCal, I expect to freeze my ass off. I expect to be a lot poorer. I also expect to see the schools' brochures and the words of the MBA bloggers come to life. I also expect to see how the school will fit with me. Hey B-school, it's not just you making the acceptance. You have to get my acceptance too. Do try impress me.

I have some clue where I will stay the first few days and the last few days of my B-school excursion, but I don't like to preset my entire trip until I am in that region of the world. It is a tried and proven method for me. For now, there are only four dates I must be, the day I'm flying there, the two days of info sessions of my top choice schools, and the day of my flight back. Everything in between those days, is up in the air.

Since this trip is B-school first, expanding my comfort zone second, I've made a few contacts w/ some students. Thanks again with putting up w/ my questions. If any of you guys know Texas Hold'em, I'll wager a nice, fat dinner. Care to accept? Remember, I'll get the first round of beer/wine/poison.

Speaking of poison, I have to get back to the GMAT studies.

Fast Times to get transcripts

My GMAT study schehdule has been crazy for the last month and I'm still embarrashed by my Kaplan CAT scores. I will have to push the "dun-duh-dum date" back a week to Nov 24.

Regardless, R2 deadlines are coming up so I decided to get the easy items completed from the application requirements. Two official transcripts done, and one left from UCSB (to be mail requested tomorrow), I rewarded myself w/ a nice sit down lunch.

Low behold, I spotted "Jeff Spicolli" of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" eating lunch also. Gnarly~ Dude!






What was he eating? Chilli-Cheese-Fries...of course!

Words of wisedom from this past week

Kindness - The help you provide for strangers and acquaintances

Loyalty - The help you provide for people important in your life

Mistakes - Admittance to it is not a sign of weakness, rather it shows courage...Valuable life lessons, if you learn from it

Forgiveness - Forgive them of the hurt they caused you...forgive yourself of the pain you carry

Friendship - Most valuable commodity in the world...second only to love

Love - What you say, pales in comparison to what you do

Got Married...(nonMBA)

I forgotten what normal life is like.
Some photos of my nephew's wedding.
They're dropping like flies!

Pick up the Bride - Average October day

Bride's maid - Pre-wedding snack

My Grand Nephew - Japanese-Vietnamese-Mexican-American

Beautiful older sister and I

In-Laws - Nice family

Their cousins - small group photo

Mom - never say a woman is weak
Lifetime of accomplishments

Nephew and I - hvu and tvu in da house~

Rub the pregnant lady for good luck

OK...maybe a few too many drinks

Hmm...maybe one more

Google shares $$ w/ viral video makers

File this under proper management/leadership decision. You know/heard/seen the Diet Coke and Mentos viral video right? Google has decided to share its' ad revenue w/ those guys. Here's the article from C|Net. Shows a lot of integrity from Google management to recognize they benefited from other people's goofy hard work. I deeply respect that.

Your words pales in comparison to your actions. -tvu

The two guys (Fritz Grobe and Stephen Voltz) from eepybird.com made another Diet Coke and Mentos.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween...

Words of wisedom from this past weekend

Sacrifice - Placing the concerns of others before yours'

Strength - Not using your superior physical attributes upon a weaker person

Integrity - Knowing that you will get away with it, but still not doing it

Class - Not saying hurtful things to the other person and/or situation

Character - They did you wrong and you rightfully can unleash your anger, fury,...but you don't lose your control. You don't lose your character

Buy flowers for others, to brighten your day...

When feeling lousy, try to cheer up other people so you don't have to think about your problems. Sounds weird? Try it. Next time you feel bad, buy flowers for another person. Their reaction will put a smile on you. Thus, I submit something that will put a smile on your face, so it will put a smile on my depressed face.

Joining the $100,000 club

Read this article "Joining the $100,000 club" from CNN, which was linked from BizdeanTalk Blog. Here's short excerpt from the article;

Taking an MBA at a top business school is a classic route to boosting your salary.

And now, according to a new survey, those who take the right MBA can demand a basic salary of $100,000 or more as soon as their studies are over.

The eye-catching figure comes in a major poll of MBA students and recruiters around the world for Business Week magazine.

The latest version of the once-every-two-years survey, which processed questionnaires from more than 9,000 students and 200-plus recruiters, found that graduates from almost a third of the top 30-ranked US MBA programs earned an average of $100,000 or more on graduating, a figure generally boosted further by other benefits.

On average, those leaving one of the top 30 schools walked into jobs worth $95,000 a year, up 9.7% on the last survey in 2004, also receiving an average of two job offers each.

Does not matter these are US schools. I'm still focusing on a international B-school. I would love to include this part of my many clubs I am active in; Sigma Chi Omega Alumni (Co-founded multinational fraternity), ZotSpeak (Toastmaster International), -tvu Surf Club, Flying club (was working towards "private pilot certificate", flying single engine cessna but on "hold" to raise god-son)...hmm any clubs I might of forgotten? YES...Club Rafael, my future gig as host in Japan!

Candy for your ears

Came across this blog trolling for Jazz, which then lead me to sign up w/ Odeo. Podcasting that has free, unrestricted musics. One of the two founders, founded blogger! Very intersting. Here's their story in their words;

Odeo is a small company based in South Park, San Francisco, California.

We were founded in December, 2004 by Noah Glass and Evan Williams. Noah had been helping individuals publish audio to the web for over two years with his company, ListenLab, which provided a service called AudBlog (now part of Odeo). Evan was most recently with Google, where he ran their personal publishing service, Blogger, which he co-founded in 1999 and sold to Google in early 2003. (You can find Noah and Evan's personal blogs here and here.)

As a company, we believe strongly in the democratization of media. We think that giving more people powerful tools for the creation and distribution of media will result in more knowledge, ideas, art, truth, and amusement available to all. This, we see, is one of the most important roles (if not the most important) that the Internet is playing in society today.

And we think that the potential for new forms of audio content is particularly exciting, as it is one of the most ubiquitous mediums possible, yet also one that has lacked options for so long.

We're a tiny team now but starting to grow. And we're looking for top coders, smart business people, and others who are interested in doing neat stuff. If you're interested in working or partnering with us in some way, please let us know (we're very busy right now, but will try to get back to you).

So dear friends, I will start posting more music for your entertainment. I know you can only take so much of my silly poems, so here's some candy for your ears.

A range of jazzy hip-hop & beats lovingly blended together with a dash of nu-jazz and jazz to make a smooth. This special mix is filled with soulful Japanese artists of today. Enjoy!

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Studying is cool...if you're getting the materials.

Last night was pretty cool. I had completed another dragging work day and went to Kaplan's study center for my usual three hours study. My GMAT cram course is done, so it's all self driven from now on. My tentative "dun-duh-dum" GMAT date is Nov 17, it is approximately three weeks away. My arshe is focused and motivated. It's a Tuesday night and only three to five people where studying. Yea, we're the few focused, no life, losers that are motivated. The GMAT review materials were actually making sense and I was feeling great! Spurred on by this academic high, I pushed through the materials and felt even more charged up. I'm such a nerd. Back in undergrad dates, I sometimes...OK very, very sometimes studied on Saturday nights to cover courses I was behind. Even then, I felt super cool. I like learning new stuff. I am a geek and learning new different interesting things is really fun.

It is when I'm not understanding the materials, when it gets painful. Feels like beating head to the wall and there's a hollow echo in the head. I push through and keep at it, but the feedback from the echo gets louder and louder. Back in undergrad, I would stop and lite up a cancer stick. Now -tvu is older and hopefully wiser and pays more attention to healthy life style, thus a cancer stick is a NO NO. In the future, I can ask for help from my B-school study group. But that is the future and now it's just me, myself, and -tvu. So I was super stoked w/ myself for understanding all this standardized sh*t...stuff.

Learning. Cool for kids and fun for -tvu.

Life Lessons from this passed weekend

A hard journey is the path inward

The harder journey is finding illumination from within

A long journey is the distance between two hearts

The longer journey is communication between the two hearts

A wise person learns from his/her mistakes

A wiser person learns from others mistakes

You have to be strong, to lead

You have to be stronger, to be lead

It's OK to be tired

It's not OK to be lazy

You can be sexy while being slutty

You can be sexier while being classy

Replacing surf session for study session

It's Friday and the work day is almost over and I should be grabbing my board and heading out to Newport Beach for my Friday surf session. But no~ I'm going to put in a few hours of GMAT studies (similar to last Friday's 2 hour study session). Hmmm...replacing surf session for study session. After reading the 1st year B-school studies, I anticipate my schedule will still be the same. Lack of sleep, lots of work, lots of reading, and lots of cramming. One huge difference is I'll be in suffering in Europe, instead of familiar SoCal. ~Sigh~

Attached are two videos of surfing in my local breaks, HB (Huntington Beach) and NB (Newport Beach). Hopefully I won't forget how to surf after all this B-school stuff is taken care of.

Have a good weekend!



TOP VIEW OF SURFERS FROM HB PIER




NEWPORT BEACH - Where I surf Friday after work. Pier in background is NB pier

Hello...Bubye, Waves of R1 deadlines

As the waves of R1 deadlines are here and my co-applicants (i.e. RusGirl, Iday) have submitted to their dream B-school, I breath a depressing sigh. I'm still studying for the GMAT but tonight will be my last night of cram class w/ Kaplan. The rest of studies will be solo.




No worries, I'm a man w/ a master plan. I've got plans for most life pathways, except for my solo foreign travels. Its only me, a backpack (7 undies, 1 jean, 1 short, few T-shirts, 1 trousers, and 1 nice shirt), a travel book (Lonely Planet/Let's Go) and the wind. Back to my GMAT plan. I've requested one week off work so I can focus/cram all things GMAT, following week is for review, then the week after, take the GMAT. Dun-Duh-Dum~ No rest yet. Well maybe the weekend to kill a few brain cells w/ various forms of adulterated debauchery and sunburn from surfing my brains out. Yes, we still get sunburn surfing during the winter. Yes, I still surf during the winter.

I will then be all essays, all recommendation package, all transcripts, all etc, all etc. But wait~, there's more. I've scheduled for two glorious, freezing week in Europe for "On Campus Info Sessions" to the B-schools in the first two weeks of December. Hello UK (1st time), Hello France (3rd time), Hello freezing ass (countless time). If any of you in Europe are free to meet and have a few drinks, I'll get the first round of the local poison. Then it's back to SoCal, back to application deadlines for R2! Yipee~!

If I fail miserably, there's always hosting in Japan @ Club Rafael. Good thing I've maintained my dropped weight of 10 lbs. Looking to drop another 10 lbs. People are like fine wine. Which is why, let's open it up and down that baby!

Rejoice UK Supermarket Shopper...(nonMBA)

Found this article on Gizmodo Gadget website. I am a geek, so I do keep current on geeky stuff.
So for you UK based readers, you can comparison shop your heart out. Save a few pounds here, only to be spent else where. Money comes and goes, but experiences can be retold and exaggerated for a life time.

A UK company has figured out a way to keep online supermarkets as competitive as possible with mySupermarket, a website that lets you pick out items and then compare the prices for that shopping cart full of food between the four major online supermarket chains in the UK. A running total shows you the price of the goods as you choose them, directly comparing the four supermarket prices. Once you've finished shopping, pick the lowest-priced store, and with a single click mySupermarket will send your order to that supermarket's website for online checkout.

What a great idea! Now, if we could just get even one online supermarket that doesn't take a one-way trip down the road to financial ruin here in the US, someday we could get started on something like this. Maybe online supermarkets are unsuccessful in the US because of the distances involved. Or maybe it's their super-slim profit margins. –- Charlie White

Kid's got poetry potential...(nonMBA)

As you may noticed, I enjoy soulful writing (poetry) like most people and I have been known to write a few "bad ones" myself. Yet this commercial...yes, it's stage but still tugs at the soul. I present for your soulful viewing pleasure.

Happy anniversary...to me

Today is Friday the 13th. Dun-da-dum~. This superstitious day also marks an anniversary for me. A nine year relationship...with my employer; The University of California, Irvine. Wow~ how time drags by while working for the State, in the public sector. It's a stable environment, unfortunately, too stable. Everyone stays put and set up for retirement, so advancement is very slow. I'm ready for a change, hence B-school in Europe will recharge my ambitions and rejuvenate my aspirations.

Side note, studying for GMAT is taking another back burner. Last weekend's wedding sucked most of my study time and this weekend is my nephew's wedding will suck even more of my study time. This is really testing my self displine. I am going to try ... will get at least two hours for studying today, on Friday. Yeah, yipee~! I'm also amazed that I'm still able to wake up for my morning run. Although not every morning, but just enough to keep me wanting more. Three to four weeks is the magic number to develop any activity into a habit. I'm aiming to create this new healthy habit.

Since most of you readers have experiences w/ GMAT, or other standarized tests, you'll appreciate these pictures.








What's the issue?? It makes sense.


















Again, what's the problem? The logic is correct!











S/he did find X.













The instructions did say expand.















This sums it up correctly!

Curious about what goes through the minds of B-school Deans?

If you were ever curious to what goes through the mind of a Business School dean...Well tonight is your lucky night. I found this blog from two (yes, not just one, but two) Deans and of course an Editor from a reputable business newspaper.

Side note, I tried really, REALLY hard to stuyd tonight, but it was a complete wash out. Too many family members are arriving home for my nephew's wedding this Saturday. At least I tried.

Good night, I got an overtime workday coming up tomorrow and the next day. Yeah...lots of fun. Talk'ing geek language and stuff. yeah...very exciting.

Why bother w/ a MBA when I can Host...

What have I been think?? Why have I been bothering going through the hassle and pain of getting into an European B-school, while I could earn over $100,000 a month hosting in Japan!! Yes..ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND. View this video report from Reuter's Oddly Enough; Host w/ the most.

Lady's night is every night at Club Rafael, a Japanese host club, where men make a mint making women feel special. Patron Yuka will pay about $13,000 for champagne and the services of Manato, the top host at Club Rafael. Manato, whose 25th birthday is the cause for the bubbly, is one of thousands of young men who can earn over $100,000 a month, almost entirely on commissions from drinks and the kindness of strangers.

Over $100,000 a month?? OK, change in plans. Toss the freak'n GMAT book, screw the essays, transcripts, recommendations, and pick up Japanese language book. Good thing I studied Japanese for a year back in college. Lets not forget a plane ticket to Japan. OK. Now I have a new goal, have list of action points w/ milestones. Lets get going! Gambatte Yo!!!

How much longer...(nonMBA)

How much longer...
When can I...
How much longer am I to wait
When can I spread my wings

I bear the burden of my family
the worries of my life
I feel the emptiness of my heart
the emptiness of my father's passing
the weight of his promise

I don't know how much longer

How much longer am I to bear
When can I spread my wings
to feel the wind through my hair
to breath in the air above my worries
the worries of my life
to breath in the air above my burdens
the burdens of my life

I don't know how to say it
express the emptiness of my heart
the sadness within my soul
the guilt of my dreams

If I close my eyes
can I turn my heart
can I close my soul
to stop my dreams

How much longer am I to wait
When can I spread my wings

How much longer
To spread my wings

Study break from GMAT studies...

I really, REALLY, REALLY don't recommend studying for GMAT and applying for B-school at the same time! How I got myself into this predicament?? Earlier in the year, January 2006, I was on track studying for the GMAT. After spending all of December 2005 studying on my own, I realized I need professional help. Through the recommendations of friends, colleagues, I went w/ Kaplan and paid their $$$ fees. Half way through, my father's cancer had worsen. He would be admitted into the hospital for 2-3 weeks, be released and 2 weeks later, would be re-admitted again. He's 87 years old and does not know English. My family would do 24 hour bed side attendance. I usually pull 4 -6 hours a day during the weekdays, and half days on weekends. This was my schedule.

Although I did read up and research thoroughly the European B-schools and attend the MBA fairs, I could not muster the discipline to study the GMAT while bed-side to my dad in the hospital. With my father's deteriorating health, I didn't think he would survive through the calendar year. After one month of getting the run around, I was able to freeze my Kaplan account. Two months later, my father passed. Having accepted my father's dying wish of me "stay close by and watch over mother," I moved back home. This was my fifth time moving in three years.

My summer months were spent getting reacquainted w/ the "joys and blessings" of living back home w/ mother, two nieces, and my inherited/god son. I kissed my single life and bachelor adventures good bye..."buh-bye." I did finish up a second professional certificate and celebrated w/ an one week drinking festival, which I won't recommending again. Well unless I'm on vacation.

Now I'm here...writing/editing essays, gathering recommenders, getting official transcripts, working a full work week, and putting in 2-4 hours of GMAT studying each day. Except Thursday and Friday. -Tvu does need some break. After all this work to get myself into an European B-School, I think...know the MBA program will be easier. A nice vacation from myself and for me to spread my wings again. With the frequent flight back home.

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...