Steve "Woz" Wozniak:
"Whatever develops your skills—you did certain things in your life that prepared you well, that gave you an open mind, and you should stay closely connected to the technology when you start your company. People can say, "Well, I'm the business man, I'm out trying to make deal," you might get your company going. But you'd better make sure you're around some good technologists that you can trust, or your business doesn't have direction. A lot of things seem to be worth almost no money. but if you do them very well, and they help people fill a need, there's a great business you can build around that."
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Running for HBS SA Co-Prezzies
One of my most beloved girly friends at HBS is in a joint-degree program with KSG and is running for HBS Co-President. In her list of august experiences, she inserts this:
"Came to HBS after attending UPenn, working at Bain & Company, and launching a social enterprise in the Himalayas sourcing yak down from herders"
The funny thing is, she is absolutely right.
"Came to HBS after attending UPenn, working at Bain & Company, and launching a social enterprise in the Himalayas sourcing yak down from herders"
The funny thing is, she is absolutely right.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Spiaggia, Gnocchi from Heaven, and Boredom
Last night we had dinner at Spiaggia, the highly acclaimed Italian restaurant and Obama's fav restaurant. We had gone because when we were first looking at the restaurants participating in Chicago's Restaurant Week, Spiaggia was listed. Unfortunately, sometime between then and yesterday night, Spiaggia no longer was a participant, and we ended up spending way more ($200 vs. $70) than we had planned.
Spiaggia's food was awash with the fresh Italian black truffle shavings. Every item we ordered was very well executed and delicious, but the gnocchi completely stole the show. I would have gladly eaten that gnocchi for the first, second, and third course. I was surprised that for how classically romantic, beautiful furnishings that scream lushness, Lake Michigan views, and the most well-executed Italian food I've eaten , I preferred my experience at Le Colonial over that at Spiaggia. Maybe I'm just not cut out for the haute cuisine life after all.
Today, DK left at 6am for a case that he said would "end before midnight if we're lucky." Part and parcel of dating a surgeon is a Faustian bargain to put up with absurd work hours. There will be days like today when we won't see each other awake. He'll slip back into bed at 1am, and I will sleepily kiss him, roll over, and continue snoring. It's easy to intellectually grasp period of several days of this, but harder in reality when everyone's else partners are safely home by 7pm, and I am eating dinner by myself.
Spiaggia's food was awash with the fresh Italian black truffle shavings. Every item we ordered was very well executed and delicious, but the gnocchi completely stole the show. I would have gladly eaten that gnocchi for the first, second, and third course. I was surprised that for how classically romantic, beautiful furnishings that scream lushness, Lake Michigan views, and the most well-executed Italian food I've eaten , I preferred my experience at Le Colonial over that at Spiaggia. Maybe I'm just not cut out for the haute cuisine life after all.
Today, DK left at 6am for a case that he said would "end before midnight if we're lucky." Part and parcel of dating a surgeon is a Faustian bargain to put up with absurd work hours. There will be days like today when we won't see each other awake. He'll slip back into bed at 1am, and I will sleepily kiss him, roll over, and continue snoring. It's easy to intellectually grasp period of several days of this, but harder in reality when everyone's else partners are safely home by 7pm, and I am eating dinner by myself.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
A Baller Restaurant
Yesterday, DK and I planned yet another beautiful Chicago day around what we planned to eat. The Green City Market, one of America's best farmer's market, takes up residence bi-weekly at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park, Chicago. We go every weekend when it's outside during the summer, and the fact that it only takes place every week only heightens our excitement during the cold winter months.
Green City Market holds several chef demonstrations during each market, and yesterday we slipped into one being held by a chef, not the chef, from Hot Chocolate. Hot Chocolate in Bucktown is known for their ridiculously sumptuous and whimsical desserts served in a dim, lush lounge-type setting. The cook prepared marinated New Zealand venison and fingerling potatoes in enough duck fat to make any nutritionist's head spin. It was delicious.
It being Restaurant Week in Chicago, DK and I ventured for dinner to Le Colonial, a french-vietnamese restaurant located in the heart of the popular Rush Street district of restaurants, clubs, and bars. The ambiance was that of a French-Indochinese villa complete with palm fronds and Ikea candles, but the tables were so cramped together that I could easily hear every word and sigh from the 2 adjacent dinner parties. The guy to the left of us had brought his parents, looked to be in his early 30's, and was easily the most arrogant prick there. He wouldn't shut up, spoke condescendingly to his parents, and capped with the funniest comment of the night, "This was a baller restaurant!" Holla right back at you.
Green City Market holds several chef demonstrations during each market, and yesterday we slipped into one being held by a chef, not the chef, from Hot Chocolate. Hot Chocolate in Bucktown is known for their ridiculously sumptuous and whimsical desserts served in a dim, lush lounge-type setting. The cook prepared marinated New Zealand venison and fingerling potatoes in enough duck fat to make any nutritionist's head spin. It was delicious.
It being Restaurant Week in Chicago, DK and I ventured for dinner to Le Colonial, a french-vietnamese restaurant located in the heart of the popular Rush Street district of restaurants, clubs, and bars. The ambiance was that of a French-Indochinese villa complete with palm fronds and Ikea candles, but the tables were so cramped together that I could easily hear every word and sigh from the 2 adjacent dinner parties. The guy to the left of us had brought his parents, looked to be in his early 30's, and was easily the most arrogant prick there. He wouldn't shut up, spoke condescendingly to his parents, and capped with the funniest comment of the night, "This was a baller restaurant!" Holla right back at you.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Homecoming to Chicago gone terribly wrong
I just had 2 huge arguments with DK within 3 hours of landing in Chicago. I'm exhausted and sad and frustrated.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Inconspicuous Consumption & Perverse Incentives
Two days ago I spent $90 on a bathing suit and $50 on rain boots. I know, conspicuous consumption is SO last year, but the bathing suit was over 50% off retail, and the rain boots are that of the classic Hunter brand and bought at a 65%+ discount. The wellies make sense; I shuttle between Boston and Chicago, where both liquid and solid precipitation is present for 9 months out of the year.
The Vitamin A bathing suit, however, had a completely different motive. I'm going to Hawaii for spring break, and since my skin has not felt the warmth of delicious UV rays since my Australia trip at the beginning of this year, I felt compelled. This will have been the first bathing suit I will have bought since sophomore year in college, and that one was bought for me by my ex-boyfriend while vacationing in Puerto Rico. Second, over-spending on what is essentially a piece of lined stretchy fabric with strings attached creates a perverse incentive to eat right and go to the gym. I usually go straight home after my Thursday early evening classes end at 6pm, but in that crucial inflection point where I was driving home, the image of the bathing suit with its less than ample bottom flashed in my head. I think perhaps that is how habits are created. You make the same choices again and again at similar inflection points, and then it becomes automatic. I'd never gone to the gym right after Thursday's class, after all, 6pm is when I become crotchety with hungry. But today, I made a different choice. Maybe the bathing suit was a good idea after all.
The Vitamin A bathing suit, however, had a completely different motive. I'm going to Hawaii for spring break, and since my skin has not felt the warmth of delicious UV rays since my Australia trip at the beginning of this year, I felt compelled. This will have been the first bathing suit I will have bought since sophomore year in college, and that one was bought for me by my ex-boyfriend while vacationing in Puerto Rico. Second, over-spending on what is essentially a piece of lined stretchy fabric with strings attached creates a perverse incentive to eat right and go to the gym. I usually go straight home after my Thursday early evening classes end at 6pm, but in that crucial inflection point where I was driving home, the image of the bathing suit with its less than ample bottom flashed in my head. I think perhaps that is how habits are created. You make the same choices again and again at similar inflection points, and then it becomes automatic. I'd never gone to the gym right after Thursday's class, after all, 6pm is when I become crotchety with hungry. But today, I made a different choice. Maybe the bathing suit was a good idea after all.
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