No connections to each other, but just a few random thoughts, channelised effectively into one value chain….sorry….post ( The MBA gets to you sometimes).

These days, Niels, our Entrepreneurship professor, brings a never ending stream of millionaire entrepreneurs into the classroom to discuss the fine technicalities of the subject. It is an enlightening mode of discussion when you hear people of all kindsa mindsets come and talk to you about what they think is entrpreneurship. Besides talk of valuing companies, promoting brands, splitting equity and the works, these sessions kinda leave our systems confused. Here you are, in the prime of your job hunt, and in walks in one millionaire after another, saying how they can never go back and work in the corporate jungle again. But it serves one very important purpose, very often you kinda drift away with the normal coursework. All these folks ( entrepreneurs) have this sense of focus which you cant help marveling.

One specific instance I kinda remember from the haze that was last week is when the myphotobook.de founder walked in and said he quit his job to start the venture even without knowing what exactly the idea was. You ask him why and believe me he did not seem even a bit anecdotal when he made a grimace and said,”You know, I knew the guy ( his co-founder with the idea) from my MBA. We had worked together on projects and stuff. I knew him”. That kinda set me thinking about my class. I looked around ( lest Niels read this, I was not dreaming in class) and realised that there were probably 4 or 5 people in my class with whom I could take such a blind step. That by itself was a revelation for a cynic like me. Guess all those nights and weekends spent arguing, toiling over projects…ok…drinking beer, kinda brings atleast an iota of the real person in all of us. Cool!

Moving from that topic to another, three weeks ago(or was it four) ,Turkish Bergfest, I was trying hard to practice the fine nuances of belly dancing to some excellent music, when I felt being yanked by an alien hand. Peter Cichon was the owner of the hand. My collar still in his hand, he made a request which sounded more like an order from medieval times - his hand extended in the general direction of the crowd, “See you have to write about such things in the blog”. I accede to Peter’s request but have to take different direction though. Sorry Peter, will compensate with a ” beans curry” lunch at my place. When my collar was released, believe me, sometimes it is painful, I was out of the dancing crowd and had to refill my glass too. As I walked over, I saw Sarven enthusiastically teaching the class, “The Move” . For those from outside of the class, Sarven is Sibel’s ( our classmate) spouse from Istanbul. As I saw him teach a bunch of MBAs ’shake’ the fatigue off their system, I realised how much spouses are part of our class of 2007. They are like an extended class (They do bring much more wonderful food and gifts than my classmates). And these folks live all over the world beyond just Berlin. Restating the cliche, doing an MBA is a hectic experience and when you have a partner, it requires a special kinda commitment from people involved. I ( can only) guess for people with partners, life can become just that lil bit easy when everyone’s part of this extended (Simpson’s) family.

To be continued….

Current Book <The Dark Side of Valuation>

Current Main Action Item <Reorganising my Life around the Job Search…rats!!>

Current Class Mood <Practice Project…Ahoy>

It’s been a long time since I started telling myself ( and Tendi) that I’m gonna do this. So finally here it goes, my first ESMT blog.

Since this is my first entry, lemme talk about my typical day. I get up at 8 am on normal days ( when I have hit bed before 2 am) and 30 min later on others. I live real close by, so manage to get to classes on time. Check this out. The grey roof at Sclossplatz is ESMT. I live in Poststrasse just across the river. You must have noticed that the Spree ( pronounced “Shprey” for non-Germans) is on either side of the school. Ferries operate on this river all day along and on a sunny day it’s ideal to grab your cases studies and head out on one of those three hour rides, either into the city or out across the eastern suburbs to Lake Muggelsee. I’ve done it a couple of times and would strongly advise you to do these trips, easier with those discounted student passes that makes you love Berlin.

Whoa, this conversation has digressed like a case study discussion . Back to my day’s start, then I usually take three stairs at a time, skip the cargo vans at Maredo’s Spanish Grill, maneuver thru’ morning joggers on the bridge, sprint across Breitestrasse and enter school.

Normal days permit an espresso and a quick snap conversation with someone ( To think of it, most often its Peter Carvalho) at the coffee machine. Tea drinkers dont despair, ESMT has some 10 different kinds of tea at each beverages lounge, besides the supplies from China and Japan (Pray every batch has a Guang Hui and a Russ). You hear doors slamming, realise its 2 minutes to 9 , enough time to deposit your bag in the study room and rush into the class.

To be continued….

Current Book <Travels of a T-Shirt in a Global economy>

Current Main Action Item <Upgrading my RAM, my notebook’s slower than service at Kartoffel House>

Current Class Mood <Job Hunt>