Comments for Cal Poly MBA Trip http://calpolymbatrip.com The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:27:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 Comment on Dude, It’s All Good All The Time in SLO Town and No. 1 in the West Cal Poly. So Why You Be Doggin’ Me To More Aggressively Network 24/7? by Chris Carr http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/dude-its-all-good-all-the-time-in-slo-town-and-no-1-in-the-west-cal-poly-so-why-you-be-doggin-me-to-more-aggressively-network-247/#comment-7009 Chris Carr Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:57:44 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=1010#comment-7009 Well said, Matt. Well said, Matt.

]]> Comment on Quiet And Open Spaces … by Lonnie B Hodge http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/quiet-and-open-spaces/#comment-7005 Lonnie B Hodge Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:11:14 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=1070#comment-7005 I will look forward to feedback of any kind. Thanks Chris. I will look forward to feedback of any kind. Thanks Chris.

]]> Comment on Dude, It’s All Good All The Time in SLO Town and No. 1 in the West Cal Poly. So Why You Be Doggin’ Me To More Aggressively Network 24/7? by Matt Eves http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/dude-its-all-good-all-the-time-in-slo-town-and-no-1-in-the-west-cal-poly-so-why-you-be-doggin-me-to-more-aggressively-network-247/#comment-7004 Matt Eves Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:05:07 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=1010#comment-7004 With regard to the WSJ article, I couldn't help but be reminded of attending professional tennis tournaments when I was a kid. I was a huge Andre Agassi fan. Determined to get an autograph, I knew the court he was warming up on, the gate he would leave when he finished, and the path he would take to the locker room. This required doing my homework, strategizing, and being prepared at all times. As Brandon Gutman cautions in his article, "Don't expect to just show up and bump into these people." To set yourself apart you need to be able to get your face in front of key personnel, and this takes some work. Secondly, as much as I have enjoyed being at Cal Poly this year, I am still a proud Trojan and can second Dr. Carr's comment about USC’s emphasis on networking and the acclaimed Trojan Family. It is amazing. The price for the education is a hefty one but in addition to the degree, the student is connected to the Trojan network for life. I think that there is a lesson to take from this. Networking is quite possibly as important as the actual education because it allows you to be mentored by those with more experience. While in the case of USC you can purchase your membership in the Trojan Family once being accepted to the school, it may take outreach and effort to make those connections in another college with fewer high powered and networked alumni. It takes time to communicate with others, listen to others, send thank you cards or send a follow up email. I don't think it's the $2.00 card but the 20 minutes it might take to write it and send it out that prevents us from doing so on a regular basis. It is great to be a part of a program (Cal Poly) that gets the hammer out to bust blockheads like myself from missing out on the opportunities we have as MBA students. I know I need the reality check. To end on a lighter note, reflecting on the topic of networking reminded me that the best and most memorable times I've spent on this planet have been getting to know other people and putting myself out there to start a relationship and let it grow. With regard to the WSJ article, I couldn’t help but be reminded of attending professional tennis tournaments when I was a kid. I was a huge Andre Agassi fan. Determined to get an autograph, I knew the court he was warming up on, the gate he would leave when he finished, and the path he would take to the locker room. This required doing my homework, strategizing, and being prepared at all times. As Brandon Gutman cautions in his article, “Don’t expect to just show up and bump into these people.” To set yourself apart you need to be able to get your face in front of key personnel, and this takes some work.

Secondly, as much as I have enjoyed being at Cal Poly this year, I am still a proud Trojan and can second Dr. Carr’s comment about USC’s emphasis on networking and the acclaimed Trojan Family. It is amazing. The price for the education is a hefty one but in addition to the degree, the student is connected to the Trojan network for life. I think that there is a lesson to take from this. Networking is quite possibly as important as the actual education because it allows you to be mentored by those with more experience. While in the case of USC you can purchase your membership in the Trojan Family once being accepted to the school, it may take outreach and effort to make those connections in another college with fewer high powered and networked alumni. It takes time to communicate with others, listen to others, send thank you cards or send a follow up email. I don’t think it’s the $2.00 card but the 20 minutes it might take to write it and send it out that prevents us from doing so on a regular basis. It is great to be a part of a program (Cal Poly) that gets the hammer out to bust blockheads like myself from missing out on the opportunities we have as MBA students. I know I need the reality check.

To end on a lighter note, reflecting on the topic of networking reminded me that the best and most memorable times I’ve spent on this planet have been getting to know other people and putting myself out there to start a relationship and let it grow.

]]> Comment on Incredible China Pics … by Amy Cook http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/incredible-china-pics/#comment-7003 Amy Cook Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:12:41 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/incredible-china-pics/#comment-7003 The pictures that stood out to me were the early ones in the "survival" file. The photos of rush hour and and thousands of people in line for instant lottery reminded me of something I was told recently about China. The IT Manager at my last job was Chinese and had lived in Beijing before moving to the US. When I told him my MBA class would be doing a business study tour in China he told me that I would be struck by the amount of people in Beijing and that sharing my personal space with thousands of others would take me far outside of my comfort zone. He also said that when he moved to the US several years ago his major source of culture shock surrounded the fact that there were so few people on the street and that personal space was such a norm in our country. He said for awhile he felt quite lonely, despite having come with his family and despite living in a large populated city, (by our standards). As I look at the pictures of thousands of Chinese huddled together or climbing in train windows for a seat I wonder what kind of connection these people actually have with one another. While these circumstances look uncomfortable to Westerners, perhaps they are comforting to those who live every day in crowded China. The pictures that stood out to me were the early ones in the “survival” file. The photos of rush hour and and thousands of people in line for instant lottery reminded me of something I was told recently about China. The IT Manager at my last job was Chinese and had lived in Beijing before moving to the US. When I told him my MBA class would be doing a business study tour in China he told me that I would be struck by the amount of people in Beijing and that sharing my personal space with thousands of others would take me far outside of my comfort zone. He also said that when he moved to the US several years ago his major source of culture shock surrounded the fact that there were so few people on the street and that personal space was such a norm in our country. He said for awhile he felt quite lonely, despite having come with his family and despite living in a large populated city, (by our standards).
As I look at the pictures of thousands of Chinese huddled together or climbing in train windows for a seat I wonder what kind of connection these people actually have with one another. While these circumstances look uncomfortable to Westerners, perhaps they are comforting to those who live every day in crowded China.

]]> Comment on What do a Nightwatchman, a Duck, and a Maiden have in common??? by Chris Carr http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/what-do-a-nightwatchman-a-duck-and-a-maiden-have-in-common/#comment-7002 Chris Carr Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:53:01 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=1091#comment-7002 Nice. Still in the very early stages but we are working on a cricket get together for winter or spring quarter with the Cal Poly Indian Students Assoc. Nice. Still in the very early stages but we are working on a cricket get together for winter or spring quarter with the Cal Poly Indian Students Assoc.

]]> Comment on Incredible China Pics … by Karen Pedersen http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/incredible-china-pics/#comment-7001 Karen Pedersen Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:46:09 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/incredible-china-pics/#comment-7001 I am always amazed when a picture has the ability to conjure up a variety of emotions. If a picture can say a thousand words then these pictures must be continuous conversation. Looking back at picture #58 on the Survival it is a picture of school girls crossing what was once a wood bridge. These school girls must balance on a system of ropes just so they can attend to their education needs. Exactly how does that happen? And who should come to fix that bridge? The governement? The parents? The people of the town? Or does one person in particular need to rise up and take the initial action to help them? If these schoolgirls are willing to expose themselves to such risk in the attempts to attend classes then watch out world. If one of those young ladiesshould rise up in the business world then I wouldn't expect them to back down from a battle of negotiations. Strong will and determination in little hearts. That is a big picture indeed. I am always amazed when a picture has the ability to conjure up a variety of emotions. If a picture can say a thousand words then these pictures must be continuous conversation. Looking back at picture #58 on the Survival it is a picture of school girls crossing what was once a wood bridge. These school girls must balance on a system of ropes just so they can attend to their education needs. Exactly how does that happen? And who should come to fix that bridge? The governement? The parents? The people of the town? Or does one person in particular need to rise up and take the initial action to help them? If these schoolgirls are willing to expose themselves to such risk in the attempts to attend classes then watch out world. If one of those young ladiesshould rise up in the business world then I wouldn’t expect them to back down from a battle of negotiations. Strong will and determination in little hearts. That is a big picture indeed.

]]> Comment on Incredible China Pics … by Mark Polydoris http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/incredible-china-pics/#comment-6982 Mark Polydoris Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:10:27 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/incredible-china-pics/#comment-6982 #4 in the second reel - The Plane, The Horse, The Truck. I liked that this great photo catches three completely different modes of transportation all at once, painting an interesting snapshot of what I assume is a dichotomy of past/poverty and future/technology. I also really liked the first few photos in the first reel, showing seas of people waiting in line for the lottery, the bikes, and waiting in line for the train; especially when you compare those to the pictures of the vast open country and all the open spaces. It's hard to imagine a country that's even bigger (and has more people!) than our own. China seems like the kind of place that can't be packaged into a convenient tourist location. I'm excited to learn more about it's complexities and extremities. I also loved the picture of the free outdoor karaoke for migrate workers! (you can't beat that...) #4 in the second reel - The Plane, The Horse, The Truck. I liked that this great photo catches three completely different modes of transportation all at once, painting an interesting snapshot of what I assume is a dichotomy of past/poverty and future/technology.

I also really liked the first few photos in the first reel, showing seas of people waiting in line for the lottery, the bikes, and waiting in line for the train; especially when you compare those to the pictures of the vast open country and all the open spaces. It’s hard to imagine a country that’s even bigger (and has more people!) than our own. China seems like the kind of place that can’t be packaged into a convenient tourist location. I’m excited to learn more about it’s complexities and extremities.

I also loved the picture of the free outdoor karaoke for migrate workers! (you can’t beat that…)

]]> Comment on Incredible China Pics … by Thijs (Shenzhen) http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/incredible-china-pics/#comment-6955 Thijs (Shenzhen) Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:42:26 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/incredible-china-pics/#comment-6955 Great photos, but not something you would see often in the major cities nowadays. I'm under the impression that several of these photos are already quite old (80s/90s). Great photos, but not something you would see often in the major cities nowadays. I’m under the impression that several of these photos are already quite old (80s/90s).

]]> Comment on Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart Are gods by Jessica Harris http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/stephen-colbert-and-jon-stewart-are-gods/#comment-6954 Jessica Harris Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:20:17 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2007/china/stephen-colbert-and-jon-stewart-are-gods/#comment-6954 Haha! I am still laughing from how horrible that kid made all college students look. I don't think that as students we have to agree with everything that our professors teach us, but students should also be open minded enough to consider the option of it being true. As far as the Crossfire segment with Jon Stewert, I wish more people could share his opinion. Why isn't there more debate with EDUCATED ARGUMENTS rather than fighting? Just like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop...the world may never know. Haha! I am still laughing from how horrible that kid made all college students look. I don’t think that as students we have to agree with everything that our professors teach us, but students should also be open minded enough to consider the option of it being true. As far as the Crossfire segment with Jon Stewert, I wish more people could share his opinion. Why isn’t there more debate with EDUCATED ARGUMENTS rather than fighting? Just like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop…the world may never know.

]]> Comment on Incredible China Pics … by David McKinnon http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/incredible-china-pics/#comment-6952 David McKinnon Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:19:12 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2008/china/incredible-china-pics/#comment-6952 It was heart warming to see the picture of the woman who cares for the 20 mentally handicapped kids with her own money, especially after hearing at our last Chindia meeting that the people there mainly look after themselves (picture 13 under part 3). It was heart warming to see the picture of the woman who cares for the 20 mentally handicapped kids with her own money, especially after hearing at our last Chindia meeting that the people there mainly look after themselves (picture 13 under part 3).

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