Two Fifths Down, Three Fifths to Go

Some friends back home make fun of the way I frequently divide things into fifths: probabilities, progress, alcoholic beverages . . . anything. Well today my pro-fifthism is justified as we are 40% done with our Mod I final exams. LPO went well yesterday as we analyzed a very interesting case about leading change in uncertain times. Today Accounting went . . . less well . . . but I was impressed during my studying by how much I had picked up in class. Stewart has managed to teach me a thing or two whether he likes it or not!

To help me tune out all the clackity-clack of laptops and calculators during the exams I have been listening to Mozart on my mp3 player. As Maury, my LPO professor, is a pianist, I listened to piano concerti (especially 21 and 23) and sonatas (especially 11 and 16) during the LPO exam. During Accounting I played operatic overtures. Given how much better I think (hope!) the LPO exam went, I think I’ll return to the piano tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s exam is Marketing. We have already received the case on which the exam will be based and most study groups are here in the Dungeons working feverishly to dissect it. Then tomorrow we will individually present our analyses and formulate marketing plans. I’m sad that marketing is coming to an end; it was an interesting class about everything from market research to branding to comunication and distribution of products. We learned much more methodical approaches to answering marketing questions (and that most business questions have at least some marketing relevance) than I’m used to in my “put out the fire” and “if the shoe fits, wear it” software startup experience. Indeed, marketing has turned out to be much more than just “tra la la.”

What we have learned is just the tip of the marketing iceberg. IMD’s objective isn’t to train marketers; it’s to train general managers to be familiar enough with marketing concepts to manage marketers well. I’m embarrassed and disappointed that my group received a barely passing grade–the lowest grade in the class–on our Marketing Plan, the key group project of the Marketing curriculum. However, I’m not here because I have all the answers; I’m here to learn and a key part of learning is failure. Tomorrow I will deliver a much better marketing plan during our exam because I have learned from the failure of our group project. More than just enhancing my grade, hopefully this will help Martin understand that he has succeeded as a professor as well. We got him a bottle of champagne for the last day of class, but I think he will feel more rewarded by our high performance. I hope so at least, as high performance is what I intend to deliver.

1983

Jimmy Buffett isn’t the only music to which I’ve been listening; my march through the American pop charts continues and I just finished 1983. Although the number one song was by the Police (Boooooooo!), close on its heels were “Billie Jean,” “Flashdance,” “Down Under,” “Beat It,” and “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Not bad! Other ’80s staples are sprinkled throughout the top 100: “Come On Eileen,” “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Electric Avenue,” “Africa,” “Mr. Roboto,” “Sexual Healing,” “Safety Dance,” “Rock the Casbah,” and many others.

Perhaps most noteworthy, though, is song number 93: Far From Over by . . . FRANK STALLONE!!! Fear not, Roger Clinton; if Sly’s brother can make it, so can you! In the words of Norm Macdonald on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, “”The most popular toy of 1996: ‘Tickle Me Elmo’. And the least popular toy of 1996, you guessed it: ‘Tickle Me Frank Stallone’.”

I Think I’m Allergic To Accounting

Today’s weather was just about perfect: 60-65 degrees F and not a cloud in the sky. It was just the type of day that reminds me of sipping Brunello all afternoon on some beautiful terrazza in Florence. For that matter, it was just the type of day that motivates me to sip wine all afternoon on some beautiful terrazza. Unfortunately I was indoors all day studying Accounting and Finance. Final exams for our first module are next week and those are the two subjects for which A. I have the least background and B. there are definite, non-BSable, right and wrong answers.
The self restraint has taken its toll; my forehead is breaking out. Conclusion: I am allergic to accounting!

I actually tried to begin studying for Accounting on Friday by participating in a review session. Stewart would have none of it, though, and ordered those of us who had decent grades in the class to leave. He didn’t have a grades list with him so he didn’t know who was technically supposed to be there and who was prohibited. Interestingly, when Stewart asked who had a certain grade or higher, some of the students with decent grades remained silent so they could stay for the session. It will be interesting in August when, as a class representing 44 nationalities, we are tasked with agreeing upon a universal code of ethics. I wonder where disobeying direct orders from professors will come out. For me, it was clear. For others, it clearly was not.

Staying in today wasn’t all bad, though; I opened up my windows and was still able to enjoy the day. Once I finished studying for Accounting, I even rewarded myself by heading outside for some exercise–pictures are on FaceBook. Mozart‘s piano concerti and symphonies kept me company while I was studying but, in honor of his upcoming Houston concert, Jimmy Buffett was the soundtrack to my walk outside.

And speaking of Jimmy Buffett, I’ll close with some select lyrics from “If It All Falls Down,” off of his 1986 album, Floridays. It seems like an appropriate song for IMD as it addresses his hard studying and struggle to choose the right career:

…
Never wanted to be
A part of history
I have my days in the sun
A beach bum, a man for all sea sides

Guidance counselor said
Your scores are anti-heroic
Computer recommends
Hard-drinking calypso poet

Studied life at sea
Studied life in bars
Never passed my S.A.T.’s
So I thought I’d study extra hard
…
We had plenty of doctors
We had plenty of lawyers
We had people to make us things
We had people to sell us those things
We didn’t have enough room for those things
We built lots of self storage
Calypso poet shortage
Calypso poet shortage
…

That last verse even include some supply chain theory–so appropriate! This partial song quote is dedicated to another American IMD student, Matt. He is the captain of IMD’s sailing team for the upcoming MBA Tournament and he has taken a very Buffett-esque approach by making it the IMD drinking team. Jimmy would be proud!

IMD Information Sessions

For my readers who are considering an MBA in their futures, I am pleased to announce that IMD will be holding information sessions around the world over the next two months. If you would like to learn more about the school, the participants, the program, the application process, Lausanne, or anything else, I strongly encourage you to go. Especially because the IMD MBA is so unique relative to other programs, discussion with real, live people may help you understand more about the IMD experience than just reading about it online.

The full schedule and RSVP forms are on the IMD website but following is a summary of info session locations and times.

AFRICA
Johannesburg – 31 March, 16:00 – 20:00

ASIA PACIFIC
Singapore – 22 May, 19:00 – 21:00

EUROPE
Zurich – 22 April, 18:30 – 21:00
Munich – 28 April, 19:00 – 21:00
Köln – 29 April, 18:30 – 21:00
The Hague – 8 May, 18:45 – 21:00
Paris – 19 May, 19:30 – 21:00

NORTH AMERICA
Houston – 23 April, 18:45 – 20:30
Chicago – 26 April, 10:30 – 12:00
Washington DC – 28 April, 18:45 – 20:30
Toronto – 29 April, 18:45 – 20:30
San Francisco – 30 April, 18:00 – 20:30

Note that Houston is on the schedule for the first time. There are two possible explanations for this: 1. They are so impressed with me that they just had to go back to Houston to find more candidates like me. 2. They are so unimpressed with me that they just had to go back to Houston to assure themselves that I’m not the best Houston had to offer! Or perhaps it is because, despite no marketing efforts in Houston, there has been at least one Houstonian participant each year.

Especially to my Houston readers, I would appreciate your help in letting others know about the event. Those interested in an MBA, international business, and/or intense leadership development will probably be the most interested. Nathalie in the admissions office will be conducting the session; she’s really nice so show her some Texas hospitality!

I’m Hungry Like the Wolf

A major objective of our Leadership stream is to understand better the role our subconscious minds play in everything we do. One tool we use is dream analysis since the content of dreams is subconscious. I have been keeping a dream log for the past two months, waking up in the middle of the night, fumbling around for the pen and then scribbling in the dark whatever I can remember from the dream I was just having.

I can’t remember last night’s dream but apparently I tried to document it as my bedside notepad was not empty when I woke up this morning. What articulate words did I jot down to provide enlightening analysis of the deep, sophisticated inner workings of my mind?

“There are hunters and gatherers.
I am a hunter.”

Thanks, sleepy Bryan, that’s very helpful.

All I can do is leave you with a related quote from one of my favorite movies about hunters, Predator. During a pivotal scene in which Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s character decides to go on the offensive, he taunts his predator-turned-prey as follows:

dun-dun-dun-dun-dun. Dun-Dun-Dun-Dun-Dun. DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

There, just as intelligible as my dreams.

Early 80s

My American popular musical Odyssey has arrived in the early ’80s and I couldn’t be more pleased. Why? Two words: Air Supply. I still remember how vehemently I disagreed with my mom as she tried to convince me that they were two male vocalists. I listened to their songs over and over again–how was at least one of them not a woman?? Anne Murray had at least two octaves of lower range on them. I was pretty young at the time and I guess I had a lot to learn about women . . . some things never change!

Around the house I was left to my own musical devices, listening to tapes I had made of records on my dad’s juke box (a lot of Elvis, Beatles, Platters, and other Oldies). It was on road trips where Mom exposed me to more contemporary music. I still fondly remember stretching out in the back seat of our car and listening to Air Supply, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Dan Fogelberg, Neil Diamond, and Lionel Richie for hours at a time until we reached our destination. As you can tell, Mom was a fan of the soft rock. However, our musical selection was dependent on our destination. Whenever we were headed to the beach, it was Jimmy Buffett all the way!

I’ve made it through 1982 so far and following are the early 80s highlights (and lowlights) for me, in roughly chronological order:

The emergence of Air Supply
The emergence of Blondie
Way too much Olivia Newton-John
Michael Jackson goes solo and is on the cusp of truly breaking out
Kenny Loggins’s solo career finally achieves success
Kenny Rogers hits his stride
The emergence of Billy Joel
The Rolling Stones just keep on rolling
Lionel Richie goes solo
Sheena Easton briefly captivates the nation
So does Christopher Cross
So does Toto
So does the Alan Parsons Project
So does Men At Work
All of the Beatles continue to produce solo hits–until John Lennon’s assassination
Eric Clapton kicks his heroine habit and ramps up his productivity
Barry Manilow just won’t go away
Neither will ELO
The emergence of Pat Benetar
The emergence of The Cars
The emergence of Journey
The emergence of the Police – not a big fan
Lots of movie theme hits, e.g. Eye of the Tiger, 9-to-5, For Your Eyes Only

Actually, if there is one early ’80s emerging band that is more nostalgically important to me than Air Supply, it is Huey Lewis & The News. The first tape of popular music I ever bought was their 1986 album, Fore! In 1982 they had just entered the scene with Do You Believe in Love (and, to a lesser extent, Workin’ for a Livin’) and were poised to dominate with their subsequent Sports and Fore! albums.

It’s warming up a little outside and the snow is turning to rain. I’m off to wade through it toward the gym before what will surely be a wonderful weekend in Lugano.

The Rite of Spring

As I mentioned last weekend, spring is in the air here in Lausanne. Or at least it was. Today, the first full day of spring, is cold and foggy with wet snow and high winds. That’s no problem for me, though, as I’m planning to spend most of the day indoors anyway.

We have today and Saturday off from classes so I am working right now on my group’s LPO paper on “Authenticity in Leadership.” It is very in vogue to talk about authenticity as a given “must have” in Western leadership right now. However, some of my international colleagues have mixed feelings about it. In China, for example, where leaders have a more stoic style, authenticity could be seen as a weakness. This makes for a very interesting topic that we are analyzing from from three different perspectives: research in the popular press, our own LPO coursework, and our multicultural group members’ experiences. There may be no hard and fast leadership rules (e.g., “A leader is this.” or “A leader does that.”), which is exactly why I came to IMD. My leadership experience has been in leading small (< 500 people), mostly homogenous organizations and I want to be aware of what issues are at play in larger, more diverse ones.

Peanut Butter

Hold the presses! Stop what you’re doing right now and pay very close attention as I have a very urgent message for each and every one of you. I have just been informed that March is National Peanut Butter Month. I love peanut butter but have yet to find any of the real stuff here in Switzerland. So please, especially those of you fortunate enough to have access to a steady supply, take a moment to pause and give thanks for the many wonders and joys the peanut brings to our lives every day.

That is all.

Missed Opportunities

In Friday’s POM class, Corey focused on knowledge brokering–how to find solutions to problems instead of solving them. As part of the lecture, he walked us through his own knowledge brokering experience at HP, which led to the invention of several products. One of these products was the HP Universal Notebook Expansion Base, which I happen to have in my apartment and on which I am typing right now. As many of my readers know, I have a very personal attachment to my computer hardware, so you can imagine my excitement when I realized that Corey held the patent to one of my favorite computer accessories. I did not contain my excitement well in class and was made fun of by my American and Danish colleagues for being a brown-noser–but then I suppose I can’t really argue with that.

If I am a brown-noser, though, I am not a very good one as I missed a serious opportunity that day. Our morning marketing case was about the International Children’s Heart Foundation. Its founder, Dr. Novick, flew all the way in from Memphis, TN to speak with us about his life’s work and his difficulties in branding/promoting it. The class responded by providing him with insightful marketing ideas and a check for $1,500. The way the $ is going (On Friday it slipped below the Swiss Franc for the first time!), though, he’d better spend it fast!

Our afternoon POM case was about NASCAR‘s efforts to cut pit stop times in half by using knowledge brokering. Suggestions made by last year’s class are already being employed and this year we came up with several ideas that had not been tried before too. Perhaps IMD should change its MBA slogan from “90 Exceptional People Who Will Shape the Future of Business” to “90 Exceptional People from 44 Countries Who Will Shape the Future of Entertainment for Millions of Americans Who Still Wear Jeans Shorts.”

It wasn’t until Saturday that I realized what an opportunity I had missed. Our classes were about a doctor from Memphis and a NASCAR pit crew. I have with me here in Lausanne a Red Hot & Blue t-shirt that says “MEMPHIS” on the front and “PIT CREW” on the back. Never again will I have the opportunity to wear that shirt and have it be so incredibly appropriate. I missed my chance. I lose at life.

Oh well, speaking of pit crews, Saturday was Beer Bike at Rice–the first Beer Bike I’ve missed in a decade! Lovett’s theme this year, 300 Proof, would have been particularly fun to celebrate, but I was there in my traditional role of pit crew captain in spirit. EOL RRF!

On an unrelated note, the Class of 2009 began interviewing this week. There was a group on Tuesday and another on Friday. IMD is not like some schools where the hard part is getting in and then it’s smooth sailing afterward. However, getting in is so rigorous a process that you at least have an accurate idea of what you’ll be getting yourself into if accepted! Good luck to all of you applicants out there and don’t hesitate to send me any questions you have about the IMD experience.