Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Dismantling makes it interesting!

"But why do we take the average and not the end cash balance to calculate interest?"

One of those questions popped up in the Corporate Finance class, which make me realise that I have become so one dimensional. When I studied Cash Flow Analysis in my masters, it was more a matter of study than its real-life applications. Even the real life applications were 'studied' and not 'experienced'. The 'how' mattered more than the 'why'

So, whenever I heard questions like these in the MBA class or during a discussion with my mates, I always wondered why I didn't bother about this. Different angels, different opinions and views, different ways of thinking make everything complicated and fussy, but all the more interesting!!!

Monday, January 17, 2011

A Semi-finished Product

As I was talking to Professor Grando on our company visit to Alenia Aermacchi, he said "right now, you are a semi-finished product of our school...in few months you will be a finished product.." I suddenly realised, technically speaking, I am already a 25%MBA!!!!

In my one and half year of career break after marriage, I always wondered why people think I am doing 'nothing'. I saw many places in Europe, thoroughly enjoyed my passion for photography, wrote stories, learnt German. But everything added together was just perceived as 'activities to keep a housewife busy (???)'. That word 'housewife' felt like a swearword. But I had decided to speak through my actions.

And here I was... MBA at SDA Bocconi - Milan - Italy! That was indeed like a dream coming true. As I started studying for the pre-courses, I got answer to my question 'why my activities all together counted for nothing'...well, because practically I didn't contribute to the GDP of India! Okay...now I am talking like an idiosyncratic MBA !?! Never mind!

All excited about starting a new venture in my life, I came to Milan. But one never knows how unpredictable life can be. Some wrong decisions..some untrustworthy people taught me unforgettable lessons of life, while some 'too good' friends showed me what is it to be there for someone. Being away from our families, we inadvertently held our hands and started walking together.

Still, the first term was pretty disastrous for me. One thing I definitely learnt was how painful it can become if you lose time. I had planned so many things, e.g. writing this blog. But I had already wasted so much of time in other things, that I had no choice than to just concentrate on studies.

Nevertheless, the second term has started on a very positive note. Though hectic, MBA is kind of a high that I have started enjoying. I know this term is the toughest of all. But I just can't keep away from writing. Though it might look a little odd to start this blog now, its better late than never..