Where's Nate?

living large in the four-oh-eight. wicked large.

2.21.2007

value this.


Tonight, instead of studying for Valuation, I'm going to just stare at this picture. Who is it? Why, none other than Moudigliani and Miller, the godfathers of Valuation. Osmosis, here we come!

2.20.2007

more finals.

It finally peeked above freezing for the first time in literally three weeks (maybe four), and that can only mean one thing: it's nearing the end of Winter A. I only have one final this week (Valuation). And since no single subject can keep my attention for more that an hour these days, I've been keeping myself busy with other activities. Just yesterday I took a huge bag of clothes to Salvation Army.

Last Friday, Carl and I competed in the semi-finals of the Michigan Business Challenge with the middleware product we've been working on since last November. We gave a very concise and direct 15-minute pitch to the VC panel, followed up by a 15-minute Q&A session. We thought we nailed it. Turns out we did, in a sense. While we didn't advance to the finals, we did win an award for the Best Presentation.

With the business plan circuit essentially wrapped up, Follies in the rearview mirror, only a few loose ends remaining on FuturTech, I'm finding myself with a bit more free time every day. And I'm loving every minute of it.

2.12.2007

making a difference.



It's been said that MBA students are a selfish bunch. That we're all out for money, upward mobility, and more money. But not every student fits that mold. My good buddy, Steve, is doing something different. He's leaving his pre-Ross job at JP Morgan to be a CFO of an amazing, world-changing academic environment called Team Academy.

I've included a link to the video above to show that being a Ross MBA is about more than just working for the man. It's about empowering people to make a difference.

2.09.2007

they're all gonna laugh at you. again.


One of the thing that I enjoy most about Ross is the sense of humor of the student body. We have weekly humor columns in the student newspaper, party by a large school bus painted like a football helmet, and are routinely laughing our asses off in class (especially with our first year sections). It's hard to describe, but it's a quirk, almost self-deprecating humor. People seem to revel in the irony of our pretending like we're 18 years old again. And, because we Rossers are a relatively humble folk, you'd better be able to laugh at yourself.

The pinnacle of said funniness is the annual Ross Follies. It's equal parts video spoofs and live on-stage antics. And it's hilarious. Take this year's theme: "Paradise Ross". As a English minor in undergrad, I read a fair amount of John Milton. I can hardly think of a more appropriate literary example to explain what it feels like to be in the middle of a construction zone, with an administration showing shiny pictures of a new paradise...errrr, building.

Back to Follies. I was in it last year and will be doing something very similar this year. Here's a hint: I'll be playing bass. I've also been involved on the video side, too, and am anxious to see how those turn out. Fingers (and funny bones) are crossed.

2.06.2007

it's ooooooofficial.

After weeks of head scratching and more twists and turns than the Matterhorn, I've accepted a full-time position with Google. It's crazy to think how close I was to going to Yahoo!, then Microsoft, then back to Yahoo!, and now to Google. Every time I think I'll miss the thrill of the job hunt, I'm reminded by how much of my life I just got back. Now it's all about closing out the academic year in style and enjoying a fantastic summer with Paige and Fenway. Then it's back to the working world. Whee!