China…Here I Come!

I’m done with my exams for 2008 and I’m off to China next week! I’m participating in the China Study Trip along with 50 of my Ivey friends and I’m starting to get really excited. Geeta is heading to Ottawa for a month and I’ll be joining her and my family post-China.

Oh my god, life is passing by way too quickly. I’ve been having way too much fun this year, and I’m already starting to worry that life in the “Ivey bubble” is going to end soon. I know all too well that when I’m back to work, life will get routine again and that I’ll be submerged in my career. I know that this year will go do down in my books as the most memorable one, and perhaps the most influential one in my path towards ‘elderly wisdom’.

I know I’ve had an incredible experience here at Ivey, and perhaps my experience is not totally reflective of everyone else’s. I know I’ve been lucky to get a job six months ahead of graduation. I know that I’ve been lucky to make so many incredible friends. I know I’ve taken an easier path with respect to my course selection and extracurricular activities. I know that I’ve allowed this year to become a game changing one. I know I’ve grown in so many ways. I know that I don’t regret any of my decisions this year. BUT, I also know that not all of my Ivey colleagues have had the same wonderful year as I have had. Perhaps I paint a rosier picture of life at Ivey than that of the one that many of my other classmates would paint. What can I say; I’m a positive guy, an eternal optimist, and a believer in forceful optimism. My positive experience at Ivey may not be the same as yours, but I promise that you’ll learn a lot and that the chances of you regretting it are slim. That said; don’t always take my positivity in these blog entries as proof that you will have the same great experience. Honestly, your experience in this program is largely based off what you make it to be and will vary student to student.

Last week, I had the opportunity to see both Bill Clinton and Paul Martin in one day! What an inspiring set of speakers. I wrote a blog for the Financial Post on my key takeaways from these two leaders. Have a read if you get a chance. Feedback is always welcome and appreciated!

When you enter the MBA program, you’re told that you’ll depart as a more effective decision maker. Of course one would think that this skill set is more applicable in the business world, but it’s amazing to see how it’s very applicable in your personal life as well. For example, in my family we have an inherent problem whereby we have a tough time departing with useless articles and clothing that we’ve accumulated over the years. One visit to my parent’s house and you’ll understand what I’m talking about. My wife is a believer in a non-clutter environment, and departing with all things that are not used within the last year. That said, I was told/forced (sorry honey) to clean out my closet a few weekends ago. I used my newly acquired MBA decision making abilities (that allow me to make quick/effective decisions based on facts) to get rid of all the clothing that I had not worn in the last year. I ended up with a garbage bag full of clothing that will be donated to a good cause, and an organized closet that would even make our resident fashion expert proud. A year ago I would not have been willing to let go of these clothes, but I am now able to effectively make the decisions to do so and I attribute that to my $62k MBA education. See…its money well spent ;)

As one of my key goals this year, I’ve decided to become a less stubborn person. I’ve lost good friends in the past because of my stubbornness, and I don’t want to continue on that path. In the last couple of weeks, I feel really good about some of the changes I’ve made. My wife always tells me that I need to be less sensitive and less stubborn. I couldn’t agree more and I’m going to continue working on that through 2009.

What an incredibly crazy political time in Canada? My classmate wrote a really interesting blog on it that really makes you think about whether the Coalition Government is the way to go. Check it out.

Since I’ll be in China until late December, this will likely be my last posting until then. I promise a full report on my experiences in China; Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong. Have a great holiday and I wish you a Happy New Year. I promise to keep posting through 2009.

Until next time…

Sacha