1 Week!!!!

Hello again, I bet you missed me last week. (And, of course, by missed I mean spending your time doing fun stuff with your family and eating too much.)

               Good news: My entrepreneurship team—Boston Mountain  Biotech—got  into a business  plan competition at the Ivey Business School in Ontario, Canada. Two other UA teams got into the competition also so it looks like we’ll be booking the whole plane.

               Double Good News: 1 week of class left!!!! Things left to do[1]:

                              1) Final edits on my Community Development paper (Due Monday)

                              2) Revisions on business plan (Due Tuesday)

                              3) Leadership final (On Wednesday)

                              4) Investments presentation (On Thursday) 

                              5) Entrepreneurship presentation (On Thursday)[2]

                              6) Work. (Always awesome!)

               I’m looking forward to Winter Break so I can see my family and take a break(ish). I say “ish” because I’ll be working on the business plan, repainting 2 dining chairs and trying to clean the house.[3] Don’t worry, though; I’ll be blogging away about repainting chairs and reading books!
               Following up on my last post, I have finished the four seasons of Burn Notice on Netflix. I plan on watching the fifth over break, along with the sixth of Doctor Who. In the meantime, I've been catching up on episodes of The Next Iron Chef: Superstars and Nikita. (Nikita seemed a logical progression from Burn Notice.) I know you love hearing about my TV watching habits.

'Til next week kiddos. 

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[1] I do have three finals the next week but I’ll handle those when I get there.

[2] This is a big deal. The winner gets first choice on competitions that only allow one team from each school.

[3] It’s gotten really messy. 

Dt.Cokes and Rice Krispie Treats: or How I Get Things Accomplished

     First draft of the business plan is done—well minus financials but that’s not my area so I can’t really do those—and all it took was 1.75 seasons of Burn Notice and half of a box of Rice Krispie treats.[1] Though to be honest the work is just beginning, because now we’ve hit the stage  where it’s about fixing the weak spots in our plan and the problem with that is that about the time you get one weak spot solved  five more pop up. We’ll get there; we’ve got a great team.

   In other news, it’s finally scarf weather and you know what that means? It’s time for me to crochet some scarves. I bought some yarn, pictured right, the other day. It’s nice, soft wool yarn, which is perfect for scarves. I plan on making a one for me with each color, but I bought extra to make some for friends and family.[2] I’ll try to post some pictures of the finished project.

   Guess what? Two days of class/work this week! (That’s all I really have. I’m just really ready for Thanksgiving break and a couple of days off with my family.) After the long week that was last week—btw, I passed everything—it’s just time for some days off.

   In GWIB news, we’re having a Tacky Sweater party. If you’re a prospective student, MMBA or alumni, we’d love to have you. It’ll be Dec. 9^th from 7:30-9:30 at Grub’s. Tacky Sweaters are must. (Though, we’ll loosely interpret tacky.)

   Alright, that’s it for this week, kids. Be good and have fun.[3]         

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[1] I don’t think I’ve mentioned this but I love Burn Notice, probably as much as I love Doctor Who. Obviously, I have a thing for quirky group dramas that involve solving a problem—one with power tools, duct tape and cell phones and the other with a sonic screwdriver.

[2] Hopefully by now you’ve figured out that I like projects, especially projects that involve making or fixing things. This also seems to explain my love of the shows mentioned above.  

[3] My mom once told me that. Then my friends and I joked that if you graphed “be good” and “have fun” using a Venn Diagram the circles wouldn’t intersect on a 3-D plane, which involves my friends and I circling our arms out to the side like the bunch of nerds we obviously are. (Oddly enough, this also seems to explain my love of the TV shows mentioned above.)

I'm Still Working on It...

So this week…two super awesome things: 1) we filed as an LLC. I am officially CEO of Boston Mountain Biotech[1]; and 2) I chopped my hair. The first is a really big deal and the second…not so much, but only because I do that every couple of years. (No really, I’m one of those girls who’s always growing her out, wearing it long for 6-12 months and then chopping it off and starting the process all over again.) I’ve included a picture of my hair but not of the filing b/c we did it while sitting around my kitchen table eating pizza. We’ll pull a reality TV and restage it at a later date when everyone looks more official.

Anyway, other sundry items[2]:

-The partnership with the women’s shelter is going well. We had two meetings this week to discuss ideas for 1) helping them on the long-range financial planning side—basically we are going to use our “expertise” to help interview and vet financial planners for them; and 2) planning some sort of fundraiser and how to provide some marketing “expertise” for their thrift store. [3]

- Almost done with classes. This next week of classes is going to be long—2 tests, 2 assignments, 1 paper and 1 presentation—but after that it’s all downhill.

-Speaking of winter break have you seen the reading list? I need suggestions. 

-I learned an important lesson this week: Be careful when watching the most recent season (6) of Doctor Who…because those episodes have some creepy aliens! I was home alone after 5 pm, so every light in the house was on and I had to do checks of the house.

-I only have three classes next semester. (Granted, I have business plan competitions and job-hunting, but let’s focus on the positive.)

-I need to karaoke. That’ll be happening in the next month or so.

Alright, well I had a really good analogy for the analogy of the week, but then I forgot it—probably to make space for something important—so I’ll try to get you two next week. Or I’ll just dispense with the whole “analogy of the week” bit, either way.

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[1] Yep kiddos, I’m CEO.  Make of it what you will.

[2] I didn’t feel the earthquakes, so they don’t make the list.

[3] “Expertise” is in quotes because, well, I can and that’s really  all I’ve got. 

Happy Friday!!!

Almost there. It’s just a little over two weeks until Thanksgiving (and, therefore, pumpkin pie) and really once Thanksgiving hits the semester is done. I mean there are a few tests and whatnot but it’s pretty much just done.

               1) I still have to finish my Community Development research paper. Upside, I’m 17 pages into a 25 page assignment. It’s downhill from here.

               2) All the pieces of the business plan are done or near done. It’s all about the editing and refining at this point, which will take the rest of the school-year but step 1 is almost done.

               3) I have a couple of tests and presentations left in all my other classes but those are doable.

              

On the extracurricular activities front:

               1) we had an etiquette dinner at Ella’s, so that we all knew what fork to use when. Is it just me or when you know you’re supposed be acting gracious the first thing you want to do is tell the dirtiest joke you can think of?[1]

               2) Halloween was fun. My friend Lauren had a party in a little wooded area just outside Fayetteville.  It was cool but as we drove up to it everyone kept repeating “This is how horror movies start”. Luckily, no horror movie. Just a bonfire and a band and some really cool costumes.

               3) They’re repaving the main road near my house.  It takes 30-40 minutes to get anywhere, more if it’s rush hour, less if it’s night time. Someday Siri will be able to do my homework for me while I’m in traffic.

Plan for next week: Finishing my Community Development paper and the business plan rough draft; advanced excel workshop and studying for my accounting and investment theory tests (Monday the 14^th and Thursday the 17^th respectively.)

analogy of the week: Getting your homework done means you get to party; therefore, studying is fighting for your party rights.[2]

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[1] What exactly you say or do could be different. Maybe you need to pick your nose or belch the alphabet but the sentiment of wanting to do something completely ungracious when your sole purpose is to be gracious.  

[2] I know this isn’t exactly an analogy but it’s still metaphorical so it counts. 

T-minus 6 Weeks

Correction: Before I start my current post I need to make a correction to my previous post. My sister pointed out that my comment about seeing Rangers Stadium could mislead people into believing I had never seen it before. I have seen it before. In 2001, we drove by it on a family trip.[1]

Hello all! Sorry this is later than my usual Thursday rant but I was too busy with my NEW job. Yup! I finally got that job and I’m pretty excited. I’m working for a sustainability software and consulting firm, which is just starting its US branch. It’s a bit like working for a startup/small business because, well, it kind of is. I probably won’t have anything big or exciting to tell you about it because I’m just trying to catch up and understand the industry and our product right now.

Anyway, in other news, it’s Halloween this week and that means I get to dress up like someone cooler than myself.[2] I’m going as Lana Kane—from the TV show Archer.(See right.) Mainly, I’m just looking forward to getting a night away from the homework and group projects that have piled up on me.

Speaking of homework, there are only 6 weeks left of class and then a couple of finals. I am both super-stressed and elated at this thought. Super-stressed because I have SO much to finish in 6 weeks and elated because it will all be done in 6 weeks. Then I will get a few weeks off from class (hopefully not from work) before the craziness that will be my final semester. I’m already starting to make a non-business reading list for Christmas Break. I’ll make it a widget on the side and you guys can give suggestions.

Here are the highlights from this past week:

1) I had lunch last Friday with a potential student and a current Ph.D. student. This is part of being an MBA program ambassador and luckily it involves free lunches at Ella’s. Dessert is required.

2) I slept most of last weekend. I think I did some homework but most of what I remember is a really glorious 2-hour nap on Sunday.

3) I started work on Tuesday. I forgot how comfortable black slacks are compared to skinny jeans.[3]

4) My Cardinals won the World Series. Now my Razorbacks and Chiefs have to keep up the winning.

Analogy of the week: (talking about interview skills) it’s like that opposite day episode of Seinfeld, as long as I do/say the opposite of whatever’s in my head then I’m good. If I say what I’m actually thinking then I just put my foot in my mouth.

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[1] Better, Joni?

[2] Most days I’m just dressing up as a cooler version of myself.

[3] There are no alternatives to skinny jeans. Don’t even think about suggesting any. 

Another Exciting(ish) Installment

I’ve come to enjoy our weekly get-togethers and by that I mean the hour a week I spend writing this blog like I’m actually talking to someone. This week’s excitement was 1) the National Association of Seed and Venture Fund conference in Arlington, TX with my Entrepreneurship group; and 2) getting the bedroom set from Kansas City on Saturday.  

               Here’s a picture of the bedroom set in the truck and then in my garage, where they’ll sit for months until I graduate and have some time to tackle the set. For the curious minds, they will be painted dark brown or espresso, depending on how you classify colors, with vintage hardware.

               Here are the highlights from NASVF conference:

1) We were right next to the Ranger’s and Cowboy’s stadiums.  I’m not a huge fan of either team but their stadiums are impressive.  The Ranger’s stadium is a good, all-brick baseball stadium; it’s just so American and classic and I’m pretty sure I could smell popcorn there. The Cowboy’s stadium is shiny and BIG.

2) I spilled a full drink on myself driving through Oklahoma. After safely pulling over and jumping out, I got the ice cleaned out and Thomas and Daiwei helped me sop up some of the soda. I sat on a plastic bag for the rest of the trip, 3 hours, and my jeans were still wet when I got there. From now on I will only be allowed to drink from sippy-cups or camelbaks while driving.

3) These things are really great for networking and you really have to be on at all times, including the gym at 6 a.m. Yes, I really did have someone talk to me at the gym; luckily, I was wearing my super-awesome Snorg Tee shirt that said, “What’s your favorite Planet? Mine’s the sun because he’s like the king of the planets.”[1] I’m sure I was taken completely seriously. 

4) Evidently, part of my job as Chief Marketing Officer is to stay out late networking and get up early for more networking. This was not something my group told me but some contacts. I’m gonna need some better under-eye concealer. 

Finally, here’s a picture of Thomas and Daiwei. They wanted me to include a picture of them in their suits but I wanted you all to know them as I know them. Ellen was on the phone during this photo session so I couldn’t get her in. I’ll add a picture of her though, someday. The group is going well and I’ll let you guys know more fun stuff like our name and product once we get some paperwork finished.  Have a good week and a great weekend.

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[1] That’s a reference to Will Ferrell’s great impersonation of Harry Caray. Look it up on the Youtube. 

class and boringness

               I don’t really know what to write about this week.  I mean stuff happened, but mainly stuff like class, meeting, homework and class.  I left the house without brushing my teeth one day. (No sleep will do that to you…thank god for wisps!) I lost my car in the parking deck and walked around in heels for 15 minutes looking for it.  And I ran out of clean bowls and spoons.

               But! It is Fall Break and so I at least don’t have homework for Monday or Tuesday. But! This means that I’ll spend my weekend playing catch-up.  As much as I’ll ever be able to catch up.

               Excuse me; I’ve been a bit cranky all week. (Ask people how much of a joy I was in ethics this week.) This break is much needed.

               To be more positive, I’m going to the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds Conference in Arlington on Monday. It should be a great networking and educational opportunity.

               I get to see some of my family this weekend and I am picking up a beautiful mid-century modern bedroom set from some family so that I can restore it. I should mention that this summer I stripped 6-7 layers of paint off my kitchen table and repainted it and am working on the chairs.[1] Why? Because I like old things; they have a lot of personality. Also, I like making stuff. At the end of a weekend I can bring people in and say “look at what I did!” I like the concreteness of making or fixing something. It’s something more tangible than most of what I deal with in business where I’m doing research and picking options but the outcomes are always debatable.  I am tempted to complain here that I’m too busy to crochet, which I always want to do when it nears scarf/hat/gloves time of year, but I am resolved to more positive in the rest of this post. Anyway, I have to ban Etsy otherwise I’ll wind up with a stack of yarn that I don’t have time to do anything with.

That’s about all I’ve got for you guys tonight. I realize it’s a bit boring…but, hey, send in questions and maybe that’ll give me something to talk about.

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[1] The chairs did not come with the table. I bought them from a local store that repaints old furniture and resells. But I didn’t like what they’d done to the chairs and once I started working on the chairs I realized the store had committed a great injustice and painted over the perfectly good dark wood. (Also, they’re getting recovered over Christmas Break. That pattern is not me.)