After Hours At Zicklin

The upcoming AHZ VI will start with a recurring theme — developing your brand.  How do others see you?  On what specific characteristics do you want others to see in you?  Just as a company or a high-profile figure will manage their image, so will a successful manager.  How will you add value to a team?  Where do you need to improve?  These and many other questions form the foundation of developing your image.

Follow this link from PWC that they put out during brand week.  You will find a lot of  material.  Some may seem obvious, but overall it’s a good guide to help you hone how you want others to see you.  Check it out and join us at the next AHZ session this Thursday, November 4th.  Share your opinions and your own approach to getting the word out about yourself.   Reserve your spot at eventbrite.

This lovely September evening was a great night to get out and enjoy discussing the issues of the day.  Zicklineers et al gathered at Andreas Kitchen with wine and some snacks.

Introductions started with a new angle: tell us who you are and describe a moment or event when you were at your best.  Try that one on for size.  It’s not a as easy as you think.  Responses ranged from good social & networking skills, going the extra mile,  to the satisfaction at the completion of a 2+ year project.  When did you shine? Can you artfully describe it?

We moved on the topic of the evening creativity.  Po Bronson wrote a piece in Newsweek recently that caused a bit of a stir. Are we facing a crisis of creativity?  What do you think?

Let’s be clear what we are talking about.  It’s not being independent, quirky, or even artsy.  Creativity is when the magic happens.  Using both hemispheres of your brain.  It happens when scientists, dancers, engineers, artists and even with MBAers really get down to it and breakthrough.  Whatever it is, Mr. Bronson makes a pretty good argument that we are seeing less of it.

Everyone brought up some good observations that coincide with the decline since the 90’s. The AHZ group was clever enough not to confuse correlation with causality, but there is certainly something going on (or maybe not going on).

• We are just too damn occupied. Were is the down time?  The little bits here are there we would just do nothing and stare into space. Now you are constantly on and being fed a diet of data.
• We want answers now that are simple.  One peer noted that if he changed just a negative sign in a problem set for this students, they were flummoxed.  “You didn’t teach us that!”  Is it the students? Is it the teachers, or is it the system?
• Employers want some object ranking system such as a GPA to pick the best.  We all know that 4.0 GPA says only that you are good student.  It says nothing about whether you will be a good leader or manager.
• We don’t allow failure.  One peer noted that in his band if he struck a bad note or dropped a melody, everyone kept on going or compensated.  Are you allowed to make a mistake (big or small) in your workplace? What do you, your colleagues and or bosses do when someone make a boo boo.

Now it wouldn’t be an AHZ session without something really interesting to converse over.  This recent blog post on HBR Where The Free Market Fails: Online Dating stirred things up. The next time you are meeting someone new (dating or not) try some deeper questions.  Research found that asking delving queries result in happier participates.  Here are the questions researchers had daters ask each other:

• How many romantic partners have you had?
• When was your last breakup?
• Do you have any STDs?
• Have you ever broken someone’s heart?

Wow! Getting right to the heart (pun intended) of the matter!  And it’s related to markets and business.

Come to the next AHZ. We promise it won’t be dull!

A small group gathered to enjoy a beautiful summer evening at Cavatappo.  The conversation drifted from power (what is it, who has it and how to cultivate it) to a subject defining many developed countries, especially China — small families.

The topic started from a recent spot on WNYC’s  Leonard Lopate Show called (L)Only Child. In short single children are not the stereotypical “little emperors” but rather well nurtured, accomplished individuals.  Two peers from China commented about their experiences as only children.  They certainly are accomplished people.  Interesting will be the demographic impacts on business.  How will services be marketed to a greying population?  Will China’s meteoric rise suddenly arc down as there are fewer workers to support their parents?  Two generations of a one-child policy will result in one child supporting 6 adults (two parents and 4 grandparents).  Moreover, will only children who are now educated, self-actualized and discerning consumers choose services for those in their dotage?

. . . to be continued.  See you at Session V — September 23rd.  Click here to sign up at EventBrite

Choose one word to describe the business person you think you are.  Integrity, Innovative, Communicative, Decisive, Creative, Collaborative et al attended the third session of  AHZ.    That was the just beginning.  You weren’t off the hook with just one word.  Back ups and explanations were required — a segue to that 30-second pitch.

With spring wafting up the avenue and into the wine bar Cavatappo, the session took a more interesting tone.  It happens sometimes for the better and sometimes not, but romance in the workplace happens.   AHZ peers who hailed from 4 continents shared their, ahem, anecdotes that happened to other people, of course.    The view from Mars and that from Venus do share some common ground.  Opinion number one: be careful.  Opinion number two:  it can be fun.

Enjoy your summer and stay tuned for sessions in the summer and autumn.

Are you just attending classes, getting decent grades and hoping that your dream job will land in your lap?  What you learn in the classroom is a small fraction of what you need out there.  What are you doing to make the most of your graduate experience?  That was the topic of the second session of After Hours at Zicklin at Andreas Brick Oven Ristorante.

The conversation among the group of 12 Zicklineers and NYUers centered first on what we read.  The NY Times and the Wall Street Journal, of course, made it on to everyone list.  The Economist and Financial Times were favorites as well.  Everyone had their own approach to networking.  A few bottles of wine loosened up the eclectic mix of backgrounds who offered some opinions.  What I found most valuable was the discussion about using Facebook and LinkedIn apriori and aposteriori networking events.  Our group had some novel approaches!

Want to know more? Contact me Lem Morrison and join us at the next event and bring your thoughts!  Opinions are currency at this group. You will be welcomed and expected to exchange.

“In Vino Veritas,” was the toast that kicked of the inaugural session of the After-Hours Sessions at Zicklin.   Cavatappo served 14  venturous (and thirsty) Zicklineers seeking to create connections to fellow graduate students.  The first order of business . . . vino and nosh and of course introductions.   In addition to refreshment after classes, the purpose of the session is to provide a forum to discuss contemporary topics with fellow graduate students.  Lem Morrison, the facilitator (and author of this post) guided the discussion and made sure there were no wall flowers.  Opinions were required.

Topics included:

• McKinsey Quarterly report on how helping women helps business.   The consensus : “duh.”  Why is this “discovery” being made on a regular basis.
• 30-second pitch on yourself.  One member recounted his recent encounter with the CEO of his company, yes, in an elevator.  An “elevator” really does happen.  Do you have one?  or two? or three? as another member commented.  Different situations call for a different pitch, er spiel, or introduction.

The session concluded with some honest feedback on the presentation made by one member in class that night.  When was the last time someone told you what they honestly thought in a supportive and constructive way?  Come to the next session and find out!