My beef with an MBA / Consulting experience is having to see the world through the prism of business practicality. Every commercial establishment, most commonly restaurants, gets scrutinized under this new view, and it takes away from the experience. Granted, many people who walk into an extremely crowded restaurant will wonder about the how lucrative it may be, making comments about how much money is made. Plenty of times I hear my grandmother harp about the excessive profitability of a restaurant in relation to its prices and underwhelming service, all with a tinge of jealously. This perfectly normal human behavior has unfortunately been warped for me, for the worse. I feel compelled take it to the next level, to perform quick arithmetic on number of customers, average costs, hours of operations, and whatever to find out the total amount of dough being raked in. Then I think about the margins, costs, competition, efficiencies, and the next thing you know, I have in my mind a half-baked business case worked out. Of course that would all be incomplete without a recommendation, such as how to streamline processes or it being too late to enter this market. (Tip of the day: The luxury frozen yogurt market will soon be saturated, so please don't venture out there expecting Pinkberry-esque profits) The damnest thing about this compulsive behavior is that I care very little about money, especially other people's money. I just want to have a good time and enjoy the experience, not try to solve business problems. I think the solution is to put on some different hats: the social conscientor that thinks about the happiness and enjoyment people are getting; the health fanatic figuring out the averse health costs from fast food joints; the art snob judging decor and ambience. That should be fine, as long as I don't summarize my results in powerpoint.
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About This Blog
Welcome! Here I chronicle the events and thoughts of my days. It started from my time in Silicon Valley leading to my journey to Fontainebleau France and Singapore for b-school. If you just care to read about my experiences with INSEAD, follow the category link. Nowadays I'll be talking about my life in NYC, as well as my post-MBA gig as a management consultant.
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Tuesday, April 1
Monday, July 9
INSEAD Anniversary
by
svjohnny
on Mon 09 Jul 2007 11:17 AM CEST
The class mailer has been flying with congrats, reflections, and suggestions for gatherings, all in celebration of our one-year mark post MBA life. Where did the time go? It still does feel like just yesterday when we were living the high life and indulging in excessive amounts of fun. The great thing is, despite being apart and spread all around the world, our bonds keep our friendships afloat.
To celebrate our cozy little network, I'm going to plug a few websites from my friends, where they are putting their energies and careers. First is FitFiend, an online community based on fitness and health. Sometimes you need some expert advice, other times you just need someone to kick your butt and take you to yoga practice. How can you say no to better fitness? The second site is Edun, an apparel company with a conscience, selling clothing made from Africa, from grower to sewer. Check out their spiffy site (also logo'ed in my affiliates section) with one of my classmates posing as the male model. Full disclosure: I take no monetary compensation from either site, although I may be accepting a drink or two from these friends who also happen to be based in NYC :) Thursday, December 21
Congratulations!
by
svjohnny
on Thu 21 Dec 2006 01:23 PM EST
To my dear December promotion friends: Congratulations on completing a fantastic year at INSEAD. While it was probably one of your best years to date, don't stop there. Keep adventuring and growing. Let INSEAD be one of countless highlights of your storied lives. I promised not to get sentimental, so to keep it short and sweet: continue to work smart, play hard, love life, and most of all, stay in touch. :)
Wednesday, December 6
Donde esta la comida?
by
svjohnny
on Wed 06 Dec 2006 04:14 PM EST
Some habits never die, including coming home after a late night's worth
of partying to pollo con arroz with Gino. Just a typical
Montmelian kitchen gathering - music, chicken, Johnnie Walker, drunken
dialing, and four different languages spoken (sorta).
 The locos are back My Peruvian partner in crime once again succeeded in getting
both of us loco, well before the main INSEAD gathering
in London this past Saturday. After the two of us
were reunited with a liter's worth of Johnnie Red, Gino miraculously
had the sense to leave the bird in the oven before leaving the
flat. Too bad he didn't have much sense for anything
else. Also joining us for the pre-party were two more Monty
folks, another guy from our promotion, and some local friends of the
host couple. They managed to finish the other liter bottle of
happy juice.  London weather in rare form My very brief pit stop to London was fun, exhausting, and with the exception of certain parts of the night, memorable. Five months after graduation and we haven't skipped a beat. Getting together again with friends made every bit of the trip worthwhile. My heartfelt thanks go out to Gino and Laura's overwhelming hospitality. There simply aren't words to express gratitude to friends like them; not that they're ever necessary. Sunday, November 12
Friends in Town
by
svjohnny
on Sun 12 Nov 2006 07:33 PM EST
Had two special visitors in town this weekend, one of my favorite December promotion peoples, and a we-go-back-before-the-dawn-of-time buddy. What a treat, double treat at that. As soon as I got home on Friday night, I shed my work clothes and flushed out all thoughts of work; just couldn't have the weekend tainted by thoughts of increasing profitability while avoiding office territorial disputes and no-nonsense methodology. The task was clear: give our friends an authentic slice of our New York City lives. It would have been a crime not to bring these out-of-towners to one of our favorite hang-outs, so we started right of the bat for some yummy Thai food, where we dined, Californian-wined, and practiced some rusty français before dissolving into the Friday night meat-packing district crowd. Special thanks go to my white-jacket-styling colleague for making a normally amusing night a memorable one.
I always found the overlapping promotions idea at INSEAD a superb idea, and even better, I'm so glad I took out the time to get to know the younger promotion. I caught updates on the latest whereabouts of some friends, current Montmelian generation, post-MBA job market situation, and even some juicy gossip. Something extraordinarily precious about life's random blend of events, insomnia, spicy tuna rolls, uncertainties, and complications shared through a connection bridged by 2.5 academic institutions and 1+0.5+0.5 languages. One of my best buddies from INSEAD recently recounted to me a little story of being stranded in Paris at midnight, with no more trains to Fonty and bleak visions of sleazy French motels looming. But what unfolded was a night of beers, pasta, and laughs with a few of our not-so-long-lost classmates. At the end, softly landing on a comfortable extra bed, he concluded "this INSEAD network is no joke." I second that, and I know that I should get my act together and reach out to our community in NY. Foreseeing the words coming out of PGuy, I'll just pre-emptively respond, "I'm on it already." Monday, October 30
Can-Am Week in Fonty
by
svjohnny
on Mon 30 Oct 2006 09:45 PM EST
Just wanted to get the word out for Can-Am Week, happening for the Fonty folks in P2/P5. Have a great time!
 Don't miss the bus! Friday, October 13
Recruiting Season
by
svjohnny
on Fri 13 Oct 2006 04:21 PM EDT
So many people in the office are simply overwhelmed with the recruiting season. In a few weeks, full day interviews begin, and will take place once a week, every week, for two months. And on the student front, the December promotion folks at INSEAD are in full recruiting swing for the final two periods.
My project leader finished the first round interviews at INSEAD just a few hours ago in Fontainebleau. I put a few good words for my December promotion friends and my PL was pretty happy talking with them. I just want to say great job everyone and enjoy the weekend. (I wonder what national week party is happening tonight?) Hopefully you'll hear some good news soon. For those of you stressing out, don't. My advice is that interviews go both ways. You absolutely must figure out if your potential employer is a good fit for you, both in the nature of the work and if you can see yourself liking the people. In the consulting industry where teams spend enormous amounts of time working together, not getting along just makes life miserable. So take your time, figure out to the best of your ability what you want, and just be yourself (albeit prepared). Monday, July 31
Ho's Your Daddy?!?
by
svjohnny
on Mon 31 Jul 2006 12:05 AM PDT
Catching up a bit on previous posts I neglected, this one from March...
My week-long trip to Vietnam redeemed my lack of travels during P3. Starting from Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon), we traveled through the Mekong Delta, and moved our way up to Hanoi to explore the exquisite Sapa and Halong Bay. Because the country is still relatively undiscovered by tourists, we managed some very off-track type trips (think more backpacking than tourist sight-seeing.) There we had a pleasant homestay with a friendly family, in their home on the Mekong river. We moved around exclusively by boat and encountered the numerous boats that composed an impressive floating market armada. This itinerant market travels down the river and sells fresh produce for the entire duration of the trip of about a week. You would bring your smaller boat into the market, and then vendors would weigh your purchases and transfer them over.  Fresh fruits and veggies, anyone? Up north in Sapa, we did a2 day mountain biking trek organized by the highly recommended Handspan group. Imagine rolling mountains covered by rice paddies, serpented by gentle rivers. Here we also did the homestay, and of course concluded the night with our hosts toasting us to the popular melange of rice wine and Chinese herbal medicine (dang gui).  Aquaduct device for rice paddies  Trekking in Sapa The entire trip was physically exhausting. Not just from mountain biking up and down hills for 50km, but because we were so ambitious about fully taking advantage of the trip by cramming in so much in a mere week. Mekong Delta alone warranted an entire week. We made up for it by sleeping during the long drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay. Because my two travel partners were white (the fabulous Sophie from Engerland and my partner in crime Douglas from US), most of the locals mistook me as their tour guide. Problem is I don't speak a lick of Vietnamese, other than "I don't understand" and "Do you speak Chinese?" Ok, maybe also "I love you" but I never got that far. So while we were checking in a very upscale hotel in Ho Chi Minh, the concierge brought out a tray with two bottles of water and two glasses. When I looked at her with a cocked eyebrow, she began talking to me in Vietnamese, which I promptly replied to in English expressing my utter ignorance of the situation. In that moment, it dawned upon the four of us, simultaneously, that no, I was not the hired help. Good times being branded as the tour guide from then on, ha! Speaking of tour guides, the two we had in both the South and North impressed us with their competence and diligence, especially our mountain biking guide. Not only did he ride all day along side us, he also cleaned and maintained the bikes at the end of each day. And to top it off, he would cook us a fabulous meal while we sat around. During our homestay, he cooked the entire meal for us and the host family of 7 or 8. Our man just did it all, and maintained a great attitude to boost.  Bountiful dinner accompanied by rice wine and thigh slapping Many locals there assumed the nature of my visit to be that of business, once I announced that I was from Taiwan. Some even offered to find me a wife. While that may reflect the current trend of Taiwanese investments in the region, I would recommend that you discover the country on your own, outside the context of work. The country is surprising large both geographically and population wise (approximately 75m). Its natural beauty and harvest offer an abundance of adventures and tropical fruits, all for small sums. I can't stop praising the place, and I am not alone in that respect, from INSEAD. A group of students from my promotion started an education project there, to encourage the local children to attend school and learn English. Many of them are volunteering their summer to teach there right now. Thursday, July 13
INSEAD Hangover Cure – Prague
by
svjohnny
on Thu 13 Jul 2006 11:30 PM CEST
Prague, known as Praha to the locals, has been the perfect cure to my INSEAD hangover, that fleeting sense of security in knowing there's always a full day's worth of intense activities ahead of you. The past 10 months provided non-stop action in the company of friends you keep for life; action that never lets down, whether you like it or not. All of a sudden, you wake up and realize that there are no more group trips, parties, or lectures in your schedule, and the group of friends you've shared those unforgettable experiences with are spread all across the world. There's a definite pang of bitter sweet longing. And though we rightfully tell ourselves that it's not the end, just the beginning of something great, I nonetheless found myself in an eerily depressed transition period the last days in France.
It has been the perfect antidote to my lull in energy and spirits. Consider me fully recovered from the end of my INSEAD experience, and recharged and ready to adventure to Odessa and beyond. Sunday, July 9
Nobody Home
by
svjohnny
on Sun 09 Jul 2006 12:38 PM CEST
Depressing and deserted. That's how it is right now. I'm in an empty chateau packing my things. People are either long gone, traveling, or who knows where. Officially there are only 3 of us left in the main house, and I think 3 down the hill. But for the greater part of today, nadie, just me. It's such a contrast to when I first arrived and most of the chateau was empty. Back then, while I unpacked, I looked forward to meeting the new people who have yet to arrive. Now, I just want to make sure I'm not the last one out.
Monday, June 26
Newly Minted MBA
by
svjohnny
on Mon 26 Jun 2006 04:36 PM CEST
Can it be true that I am done!?! This morning, I finished my last academic obligation with our final presentation for REP. What an incredible experience. Do I feel smarter, wiser, more MBAy? I certainly have the lingo down, acronyms, accounting ratios and all. But the most growth has been from the exposure to my classmates, who have shown me their level of excellence in so many diverse areas. They prove to me what amazing things can be accomplished and that gives me the utmost confidence.
So what's next? In my immediate future (aka Wednesday), I will be visiting Tunisia with almost 200 of my classmates for our graduation trip. We've managed to secure an entire private resort for some good relaxation. Afterwards, we come back for the graduation ceremony at Versailles, and final party in Paris. Before heading back to the US, I'll be in France for just a few more days, packing and handling whatever needs to be done. And then my own journey to Prague that concludes with meeting my buddies in Ukraine. I'll be posting random thoughts over the next few weeks about the INSEAD program, my friends, our last Montmelian party, and our lives. Sadness of leaving hasn't sunk in yet, but as one of my best friends put it, we're tired of hearing about it being the ending; it's a beginning. Going forward our network of friends all over the world will always be there to share a drink and catch up on the fond memories. So frown not my fellow INSEADers, let the spirit survive. Sunday, June 18
World Cup @ INSEAD
by
svjohnny
on Sun 18 Jun 2006 06:29 PM CEST
I'm sitting in the INSEAD lounge here in Fontainebleau, watching the Brazil Australia game with a bunch of my very, um, passionate classmates. P5 luckily coincides with the most popular sporting event in the world, and with our large contingent of non-North American friends, the campus has become quite the festive location, with 2 separate televisions covering the games from Germany. The most recent display of football prowess by Argentina has driven our Brazilian friends into a frenzy, raising the already sky-high expectations to near-unattainability, not to mention a level of anxiety and unrest rarely seen in their usual carefree spirits.
So how did I ever get into this sport? I find it only befitting that my first introduction to football, was being a spectator of the World Cup as grandparents and I were glued to the French television coverage when we lived in Montpelier. That was 16 years ago. Since then, every four years I find myself sharing the energy and passion of most of the world. And in some small way, it helps alleviate my withdrawal effects of not watching the NBA playoffs. Saturday, June 10
La Semana Latina
by
svjohnny
on Sat 10 Jun 2006 04:57 PM CEST
Haven't posted about the national weeks for a while now, thought I'd drop a note about this past week, where our Latin American friends put together a festive week, in the buoyant, easy-going spirit that they always carry themselves with. Last night I had the pleasure of helping out a little bit in the making of the Caipirinhas for the party. The party was cozy, in the sense that many people are either traveling, studying, or national week partied out. But for those who did show up, they brought their party hats for the Carnival theme party. I was doing well, sipping on the Caipirinhas all night until the Tequila girls found me, and introduced me to some memory-effacing straight-from-the-bottle pours. Funny how I thought I was well behaved until my buddy help me reconstruct those lost memories. I managed to stick around afterwards for the cleanup, and really enjoyed the camaradery of the gang, sharing in their joy that they put together a wonderful week for the INSEAD community. Gracias, obrigado!
Sunday, June 4
YFCD
by
svjohnny
on Sun 04 Jun 2006 07:57 PM CEST
One of INSEAD's most popular courses, Your First Hundred Days, just kicked off last Friday. (Why 'C' instead of 'H' you ask? Because our superstar smart alec professor, Patrick Turner, uses the roman numeral to denote it) So far, it's been amazing. The four of us are teamed up as the new executive management team taking the reigns of a company we just bought. Now, we face the chaos of running it during the first 3+ months. In order to not having to constantly recreate the scenarios, the course management team has made us sign to secrecy not to give away the details, so that future promotions can enjoy the course. Withouth breaching the NDA, I can reveal that it's crazy, hectic, unpredictable, and really fun - to the point where I am really tempted to go out and buy and run my own company. REP - Realizing Entrepreneurial Potential - is the pre-requisite for taking the course. If you can take these two with Patrick, you won't regret it, just the stuff that MBA programs should be made of.
Friday, May 26
Car Woes, Again
by
svjohnny
on Fri 26 May 2006 08:03 PM CEST
Thank God I'm still alive to write this. I got into a car accident yesterday. It was one of those mornings, cold, running slightly late for the 8:30 class, raining, and still tired from the party the night before. So stupid me takes the turn into the roundabout too fast without considering the wet road, and I lose control. The car went right through the roundabout, then hits the curb on the other side. Usually this roundabout by my house is crowded, but since it was a national holiday, not a single car was in sight. So no other cars, people, or animals were injured. As for me, not even a scratch. I got out of the wreck and saw that one tire completely deflated. The wheel on the other side was dented, not good.
 So between then and now, my mood did the full transition, cycling through a gamut of emotions. At the time of the incident, I didn't panic or feel frightened, simply pissed off that it had happened. One of my housemates picked me up on the way to school and I left my car on the side of the road. In class, my mood went from anger to sullenness, the usual "why does this have to happen to me" self-loathing, carping at the world. By the afternoon, it had become gratitude. I came out completely unscathed and nobody else got hurt. The rest is just tackling the issue. Today, it became irritation. My buddy Gino and I spent the afternoon trying to fix it. We got turned down by the local garage to fix it; "c'est impossible" repeated the garage owner, because they're too busy. They couldn't even spare us 10 minutes to replace the tire. We left in disgust and decided to handle it ourselves. Since I had to replace two wheels, I borrowed Gino's spare, which turned out to be flat. So Gino drove all around town trying to inflate it, and after half an hour finally returned. For the second wheel, when I tried to get mine, the bolt that holds the spare (the cars here in France have full spares under the car) was completely rusted and refused to budge. So with that dented wheel, I drove the car gingerly to another garage, hoping they could unbolt it. But alas, the verdict was cutting it and replacing it. Again, the liberal French holidays kept the parts shop closed, so I had to drive home whobbly-wheeled. Looks like I will have to tackle it again next week. At this point, I will be happy if replacing the wheel is it. I really hope the alignment isn't completely destroyed. |
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