12 hours case writing and a couple of beers later

It’s Saturday – everybody is relaxing from a hard week. Everybody – no… there is is still a small group of MBA students of a well known business shool who try to fix issues a company messed up. What’s happened? There is a Canadian company called CoastalContacts (www.CoastalContacts.com). They want to sell eyeglasses in the States – however, business hasn’t developed as expected yet. If you check their website and compare to the competition it is also quite obvious why it hasn’t worked properly. Now, 105 MBA student waste … sorry invest… their weekend to write nice reports how to fix obvious flaws. As we work in an academic context, we are also asked to do a lot of research to prove the obvious with relevant sources.

Actually they are quite smart - if you ever have a problem in business  - now you know how to get the cheapest consulting ever.

Anyway, after 12 hours of writing, I went to a party at my new place where I will move in in six days. Was an exiting party. Looking definitely forward to move in, I guess we will have a lot of fun there.

Did I mentioned that I am still not finished after 12 hours. Yeah – will be an exiting day tomorrow, too. And there is still a Strategy case and an Accounting Assignment due on Tuesday….. and I haven’t started yet.

That’s MBA life.

So long, take care!

PS: was sailing on Wednesday and Friday; might be a reason that I am a bit short in time now – but, you know, there are priorities….

The Minister and myself

Yesterday, the minister for small businesses in British Columbia visited our class to give a speech about – oh surprise – small business in BC. Just before the speech Steve, our accounting professor and head of the MBA faculty, came to me. He asked me to thank the minister and to hand him a present after his speech.
110 Students, the whole MBA faculty, a minister and in English – shit, IN ENGLISH - that was serious cold call. I have to admit: I was quite a bit nervous. But you grow with your challenges.
Finally, I managed somehow to say some words and I guess it worked quite well. in addition, I know now about the advantages of speaking notes. The notes saved my life because as soon as I had started to talk I remembered nothing of my preparation.

Would I do it again? Immediately! It was a great experience and I am even better prepared for the next one now. Actually, it has been one of my best experiences of the MBA so far.
Now, we have 0.08 am. I got up at 7.00 am and have studied since then without a real break. Bad news: still some preparation to do for tomorrow. Good that they did the class picture last week – nothing to laugh anymore.

Anything more? I got a lovely picture postcard from Denmark today. That was a nice surprise!

Study hard, sleep less and do considerable partying – my first week at school.

Wow, already two weeks passed since my last blog entry. The time is incredibly running. What has happened since then? A lot!

We had an awesome orientation week. Including two remarkable dinners in outstanding locations in Vancouver - The Cecil Green Park and Brock House - and an unforgettable day in the rain for a teambuilding event. It was a great week for building connections with my future class mates. At Wednesday last week the official core program started finally. Since then, life consist of lectures, group working, self studying and writing case memos. Hardly any time for something else. However, there is always the exception of the rule. Thursday night is party night – thanks god.

Saturday, I managed it somehow to join my sailing lessons. I took for the first time a Racing Laser. And even more important, I won my first regatta! YEAH!

So long for today!