Surviving the First Week

When was the last time you have thought about your first week of a new experience? Your first week at a new company? a new country? a new school? better yet, a new relationship? First week is always the hardest, yet the most exciting and interesting. And just when you thought you got it, you quickly realized that there is much more that you did not know before. Isn't this what makes life ever so interesting?

So this is what I did during the first week at Haas besides preparing for the cases and the key takeaways -
1. Attended career marketing plan workshop: It's all about having a strong personal statement
2. Seeked advice from our career advisor: Do your research so you can ask sophisticated questions
3. Attended the IB workshop -guest speakers from Goldman Saches: The culture and work content of an Goldman associate is not much different from that of a McKinsey associate. Perhaps it won't be so bad to try to get a summer intern at an IB
4. Sat in "Product Management" speaker series: Passion for the product itself drives excellence. And 70% of people hate their boss
5. Participated the Venture Capital penal: When making a sales pitch to a large audiance, try to say something funny " I am just a regular guy trying to save the world"
6. Joined our Cohert for lunch and drinks at Raleigh's after the make up class on Friday: Peach Magirita are good. And there are cheap but good food by the student ID center
7. Had drinks at the bar of the week at Raleigh's and later to Blake's: Don't show up too late for the BOW
8. Meet up with my second year mentor: Don't wait until second year to get to know people. Do it at first year!! 9. Had drinks and talk gossip with the Taiwanese crowds: We are truly an awesome crowd..

Last but not the least, I finally got to settle in at my new apartment. I feel happy, prepared, excited about the upcoming week

Take risk!

One of my biggest weakest, which I did not came to realize until recently, is that I just don't take enough risk-either physically or mentality. Why is taking risk particularly important for leaders you might ask. My short answer to that is risk taking requires courage and courage inspires others to act. Not to say, sometimes life's greatest moments are when we take risk- climbing the Chinchen Iza at Mexico , riding on the airchair at Capri, Italy, my first 10 meter swim, the satisfaction after organzing the first Asian gathering. Afterall, life will only give us as much as we ask for.

A great article on risk taking

http://www.take-risks.com/pages/FstP2TakeRisks.html

O week 4,5/5

I’ve gotten quite a lot of attention from introducing myself as “ I have never gotten drunk before but look forward to the experience when I get to know everyone better” . Luckily, I have also gained valuable tips on staying sober and happy in drinking events
1. Don’t mix your drinks. Not only it will prevent you from blackouts but a really bad hangover the following morning
2. Drink water between drinks/shots
3. Eat very oily food before drinking
4. Take the aspirin the night before, NOT the following morning to prevent bad headache
5. Stop drinking/take a rest when you begin to feel it kicking!

I have been drinking and hanging out in the bar three nights in a row. I have to say although it might not be the most healthy mean of meeting people, it sure makes it much easier to connect with others since we feel relaxed with alchol. Not to say many relationships actually begins from here….

O week 3/5

Me and Soo Jin in blue spirit

Despite the fact that the Olympics game was designed more for Americans than international students , I enjoyed hilarous skits by all coherts , learning what ultimate freesbie is and actually playing it, cheering for our team, and meeting with other wonderful people from/besides my cohert. Like all things in life: get involved, get excited and remember to have fun

I love the feeling of winning and the seemly endless energy. G O BLUUUUUUUE!

http://picasaweb.google.com/agreystoke/HaasOweekOlympics .

O week 2/5

I found three things which really exceed my expectation since I arrived Haas-

1. Highly inspiring leaders were Haas alums to speak with us

" Hire the best people to work for you and just let them do their job"- Bill Jasper, CEO of Dolby

"The last thing on leadership is to focus on the people. 50% of my time is spent on focusing people" - Shantanu Narayen, President and Chief Operating Officer of Adobe

" No one will take you seriously until you are 35 years old" - Bob Haas, the Chairman of Levi Strauss & Co

2. Friendly and interesting classmates
They push me think things from other perspective, make me laugh, offer suggestions on my future career, listen to what I have to say about the consulting industry, encourage me to take risk and make me feel engaged and welcomed.

3. The enjoyment of being surrounded with tech/digital media
I may never learn how adobe software works nor the actual value-added of each party along the broadcasting value chain, but I am fascinated by how crucial it is for these companies to stay creative and innovative. Most importantly, it's the people that really counts

Although there were some mediocre workshops, I know as long as I have these three things, the rest is not important anymore.

Four Rope Course

I had a good time during the four rope course today although I did not complete any of the high rope challenges. I am not sure when I will or ever will overcome my fear of hights, but I do know that I will never forget the encouragment that my rope team had so generously gaven me today

Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do

Go smoky bear!

more pictures on http://www.jordanandkaren.com/events/haas2007-08/ and http://picasaweb.google.com/agreystoke/HaasSaturdayRopesCourse