It’s nice to have time to read articles by choice again, my energy level was really flagging this last semester. Ramadan may have something to do with it but we were all suffering from some kind of burnout this semester. Continue Reading]]> I’m not sure if we should be proud or ashamed of it. Whatever your personal reaction, Duke University ran an experiment yesterday that brought down a part of the internet. We didn’t do it alone of course, we had the RIPE NCC (Reseaux IP Europeens Network Coordination Centre) to help us along in our gaffe. Here is the link to the story.

It’s nice to have time to read articles by choice again, my energy level was really flagging this last semester. Ramadan may have something to do with it but we were all suffering from some kind of burnout this semester. I think I only attended a couple of Centra classes live, it obviously didn’t help that I couldn’t keep track of the schedule and everything became jumbled up with Saturday and Sunday classes. Something tells me next semester will be just as tough as this one was. I hope all my fellow, foreign, students can make it to this final residency, getting a U.S visa is probably just as hard as getting one for North Korea in some parts of the world.

I actually started writing that post, but as fond memories of debits, credits and failed attempts to get Partial Credit from the Financial Accounting final rushed into my brain, I decided to stop and check Facebook.

Just a bit under a year ago, as CCMBA 2010D was wrestling with Accounting Finals, the countdown timer Continue Reading]]> This was supposed to be a whole other blog post about One Year Ago – when the CCMBA Class of 2010D flew off to London all bright-eyed and full of wonder, not knowing the bitter trials and tribulations that would go with Discounted Cash-Flow analysis and Monte Carlo simulations.

I actually started writing that post, but as fond memories of debits, credits and failed attempts to get Partial Credit from the Financial Accounting final rushed into my brain, I decided to stop and check Facebook.

Just a bit under a year ago, as CCMBA 2010D was wrestling with Accounting Finals, the countdown timer edged closer to zero when – yegads! – the Learning Platform breaks down, preventing on-time exam submissions. Red flags are raised; the Bat Signal is fired up; Moscow rings Washington DC which promptly confirms with Durham NC to make sure that Armageddon is averted.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Shanghai, I go back to playing Mafia Wars.

I should have probably used that time more wisely and gone back through my answers, but this was at the tail-end of a 24 hour struggle against the forces of evil (the IASB and FASB). I was sleep deprived, and my body was going haywire on what has proven to not be the last of a string of caffeine overdoses.

At that point, I was physiologically incapable of caring any less – the more pressing goal was to reach for something less intellectually demanding, and more immediately gratifying. I needed to reach for… reach for Level 50.

So yeah, Facebook and Mafia Wars.

Funny thing is I haven’t touched that game, since. Or any other Facebook game for that matter… until I started putting things together for Ye Olde Blogge Poste, got sidetracked and decided to log on to Facebook. My current high-score on Bejeweled Blitz is 437,000.

The last 12 months of business education must have paid off, because I just felt myself getting increasingly bemused with the number of gimmicks thrown by these game companies left, right and center. First they pull you in with bright colors, happy-smiley cartoon figures and (again) immediate gratification via a proprietary delivery-system made up primarily by repetitive mouse-clicking…

And then they monetize it.

So, some things I’ve noticed before, but didn’t “really” take notice of:

1.)    Bundling dynamics. 5 golden coins for 5USD, or a power-up for 5 USD, or 5 golden coins AND a free power-up for the next 3 games for 10USD. Dan Ariely would be proud.

2.)    Free advertising and lead generation. Invite your friends! Free stuff! Brag about your new high-score! Free tokens. Just how cheap can lead generation get?

3.)    Low buy-in. Everyone’s got a marginal utility curve. You can buy an iPad for the 500USD you will have in 6 months, or you can buy Texas Hold’Em Poker chips for the 5USD you do have now. Equal happiness? Click! Cheap and immediate gratification.

4.)    Process flow analysis. You have 30 minutes ‘til your carrots are ready to harvest. Idle time? Thankfully you’ve got a whole link bar of other games, just above the fold. Don’t be a bottleneck! Click on them and make yourself useful for those next 30 minutes.

5.)    The Freemium concept. All levels are free to play for as long as you want. However, some of the bosses can only be defeated using super special weapons. Click here and buy now! Click! Cheap and immediate gratification.

Now, just to clarify, I find absolutely nothing wrong with the things I’ve mentioned above. It’s a business, and businesses are meant to make money. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with monetizing search (ask Google!), so there should be nothing fundamentally wrong with monetizing time wasting activities. Then again, my head might be confusing “wrong” with “illegal”.

I guess, the question now becomes is there a line between having acute business savvy and being a slimey, scummy 2.0 version of a snake oil salesman?

When does knowing how to make money out of other people’s psychological predilections for obsessive compulsive mouse-clicking turn into a vile and devious form of revenue management which depends on App emails telling people that someone’s got a crush on them?

Hey, it’s money!

People might not like you, but you can’t argue with success.

Seeing as I see nothing wrong with above-mentioned activities, should I even be thinking out loud?

Yeah, maybe. Someone email me, quick! I need to get some more ideas on monetizing leads and how to increase my own CTRs!!!

As mentioned, I’ve got a job interview tomorrow; a 2nd interview to be exact, applying for the position of Marketing Department Manager for a Chinese tour and travel company. And if it were only a question of popularity, I think I Continue Reading]]> It’s 12:56, and I’ve decided to start writing a blog post. This is probably not the most intelligent thing to do, considering that I’ve got a big job interview early tomorrow morning. But then again, I did just have dinner with my Ex which is never an intelligent thing to do either, so might as well continue on with the inanity.

As mentioned, I’ve got a job interview tomorrow; a 2nd interview to be exact, applying for the position of Marketing Department Manager for a Chinese tour and travel company. And if it were only a question of popularity, I think I should have it in the bag: I’m Mr “Go Commando” (childhood nickname, the unfortunate result of a Spanish-style combination of  family surnames).

However, as “us” MBAs should know, jobs aren’t won on popularity… Or are they?

Think of it, who do you know has ever received a job offer based on his/her resume? Nobody.

You need to be interviewed, you need the other person to like you. Actually, if you think about it, you need a whole lot of people to like you.

I’d like to think I’m quite likable. In fact, in light of my distinct lack of any substance abuse issue, I’d like to think I’m very, very likable. I’d also like to think I’m confident, and smart and able to set the tone of any conversation.

The problem is, I’m not. Or rather, in real-life I am, but I suck in situations where you have to pump your chest out, put on a façade, and scream to the world that “I am AMAZING!” I hate those situations, and for some yet unknown psychological reason, I do the exact opposite of what is required.

But that’s what a job interview is – it’s a controlled experiment that tests how well you can talk your way out of anything. I can shell out with anyone in a pub, but I don’t know why I can’t do it properly in a climate controlled interview room with good lighting, and no loud noises. This is a situation where you have to rehearse an answer, and not even mention what’s really running in your head.

• How do you see yourself in 5 years? I hope to own this company.
• What are some of your weaknesses? That’s for me to know and you to find out!
• What interested you about our company? Well, aside from the fact that you called me back for an interview?!
• Do you think it’s ok to steal from an employer? Um, what exactly are we thinking about stealing?
• What motivates you? Well, looking at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, I’d say it’s sex and money.
• Do you prefer any geographic area? Yes, this place is perfect. Only 2 blocks away from my flat!

I’d like to answer thus, but won’t. For alas, complete honesty – in the real world – will get you nowhere.

It’s a good thing I’ve worked with the Fuqua CMC people on a number of job-hunting techniques, and mock interviews. Truth be told, while the exercises at the time seem quite bland, there really is no better way to prepare for an interview than having someone sit down with you and role play.

And before you even do that, you’ll need to know what you actually want to do with your life, because the person on the other side of the table WILL KNOW that you’re lying through your teeth. The CMC has some tests and processes for this part of the job hunt as well.

I’ve never really had any issues with the small things: Firm handshake, look them in the eye, answer with confidence, stop fidgeting, stop saying “uh” and “um”. I’ve had them along with common sense – what I really took away from the mock interviews is the capacity for molding and remolding yourself with each iteration of the process. The more you do it, the better you get at it.

It’s exactly like sales. And you’re the product.

You don’t have to tell the whole truth. In fact, you have to market yourself like you really are the bomb.

Yeah, that’s what I’m going to tell myself, walking into that office tomorrow in my power suit, and a big grin on my face.

• Why should we hire you?

“Because I am amazing. You need me in this company. You know why? Because I am a Fuqua MBA and I’m a Leader of Consequence, that’s why!”