It's All Our Fault!

In coming to HBS, I have learned many things -- some wonderful and some not so great.  One of the things I have come to realize is that most anything that happens is somehow blamed on the U.S. by those who don't live here. Last week it was the global financial crisis -- today it was global warming.  One of the most difficult challenges here has been to defend our country to those who disparage it.

But you know what?  I love the United States of America.  I love the stars and stripes and the purple mountain majesty of the Rockies, the rocky coast of the Pacific and the peaceful sandy shores of the gulf.  I love that is snows in Denver and Vermont and that it doesn't in Miami.  I love that every American over the age of eighteen has the privilege to vote in a democratic society and choose our country's leaders.  I love that we have protected the home of the brave and the free and have used that same power to help others be both brave and free.  I love the men and women I see on my flights that are in camo fatigues headed to unknown deserts so that I can go freely to my job -- one of my own choosing.  I love that In God We Trust is printed on our money.  I love the pledge of allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner.  I love that I am free to worship anywhere I choose without fear.  I love our history and I believe that we have hope and a future for generations to come.  

So regardless of what I hear, and wherever this life leads me, I know that I am very fortunate to live in the greatest country in the world and the longest surviving democracy.  God Bless America~

Blessings to all -- and I sure do miss you,

Love,

Dee Ann

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You . . .

I am just finishing my second glass of Chick-fil-A sweet tea following a wonderful Chick-fil-A Day at Harvard. Two Operators, one interim manager and 11 staff members came up to provide the great taste of Chick-fil-A and wow with second mile service for the 165 members of my class, 75% of whom are international.  Thanks to Amy R., Amy O., Lynn C., Todd G., Lance L., Lisa H., Cathy P., Brandon B., Michael L., Will M., Melissa T, Katrina, Juan and Dusty for making me a hero today.  Everyone certainly knows who Chick-fil-A is now.

Most of all, I was so encouraged by their visit.  We enjoyed great seafood and fellowship last night at dinner and it was my favorite day at HBS, yet!  I felt so loved and lifted.

I goofed off a little while my friends were here, so I must get to my studies, but I wanted to share some pictures of the day with you.  It really was a great day.

Missing you all so much,

Love and blessings,

Dee Ann

The Eyeballs Were Staring Back at Me!

Here is a picture from the Lobster feast last night.  Once I saw those beady looking eyes looking back at me, there was no way I could crack that crustacean open and eat it.  I will have mine, tails only, thank you very much!

Have a fabulous weekend~

Love to all,

Dee Ann

Toenails, Dogs and Global Financial Crisis Day

So, which one of those thoughts should I open with?  Oh, let's get the bad news over with first.  We spent the entire day on the Global Financial Crisis in our classes today.  If you think hearing it from your investment banker, on CNN or reading about it in the Wall Street Journal depresses you,  just try hearing about it from some of the top economists in the world at The Harvard Business School.  You don't want to know what I know now.  And if you know what I know, you don't want me to remind you.  Just one hint though - you might take the suggestion to learn Mandarin very seriously.  If I was having a hard time in this class as an American before, you can only imagine the backlash from today's classes.  Although, Europe and Asia have certainly done their share to contribute as well.  It's one thing developing nations (3rd world countries) can be grateful for -- they do not inherit any blame for this situation.

Okay, on to other tidbits of my life that you will probably not be very interested in.  There are 51 steps from the first floor to the 4th floor where my room is.  I know this because I count them everyday when I walk up and down them 20 times.  I drink about 20 bottles of water a day between meals, classes, study group and personal study time.  So, you know what else I do about 20 times a day.  Speaking of water, one reason I drink so much is that it is very dry here.  It's so dry that I don't have any bad hair days here!  Great - I find a place where my hair cooperates everyday and it has to be some place that is 35 degrees in the middle of April.  

When you are somewhere that you can not possibly take time for a pedicure (really can't), you have to cut your own toenails.  Three weeks in and I finally realized that!  Okay, that was TMI.

About the pictures -- The building with glass windows is called Kresege Hall and that is where I eat my meals (the ones not in styrofoam).  The picture of the stairs I put in, because I actually saw somebody ride a bike UP them today.  They lead from campus to the bridge across the river.  The dog picture is because I even miss my dogs (well, they are really Ashley's, Trevor and Trey's - but I claim them since I am hundreds of miles away), and I enjoyed watching this dog swim in the river today.  The picture of the JFK park shows you where I spend exactly one hour on the rare sunny afternoon, such as today.  Ashley gave me this great wireless weather thingy that shows me the daily weather, hi and lo, and windchill factor and a five day forecast.  SO, I have been watching this thing all week and it said hi of 70 and sunny for today.  I worked all week day and night to get my cases done early for tomorrow so that I could enjoy the afternoon for a couple of hours and I did!

I am so excited about the CFA team that is coming in on Monday!  I cannot wait to see you all!  For those who don't know, 11 CFA staff are coming in on Monday to serve CFA to all the class members Tuesday at lunch time.  People from all over the world will be having their first taste of CFA!  I am not sure what my friends from India will think of the Eat Mor Chickin cow, but we shall see.

I better get back to work -- getting ready for Monday and Tuesday classes so I have time to visit with my CFA friends.  And tonight is lobster reception, which means there will be a little lobster and a lot of drinks.  I am going for the lobster!

I wish everyone an awesome weekend -- thanks for the many thoughtful cards -- they really lift me and thank you for all the prayers behind them.

Blessings and love to all,

Dee Ann

Paranoia and Growing Giants

"If each of us hires people that are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs.  But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants."

David Ogilvey (Ogilvey and Mather Advertising)

"Only the paranoid survive."

Lou Gertsner

 I had two jam packed days, but outstanding learning opportunities.  My classes have been in marketing, strategy, ethics, innovation, decision making, of course, finance and organizational development.  Well-known author and Harvard professor, Michael Porter spoke to us yesterday and Lou Gertsner, former CEO of IBM, Nabisco and American Express spoke this afternoon.  Hema Hattangady taught innovation class today.  She is CEO of an Indian company called Conzerve.  She has a fascinating  story how she was chosen to be the CEO of her father-in-law's company, which you can imagine would be a very odd thing to happen in India.  I may have told you that I am one of 22 women in the entire program and there are 152 men.  We are in two sections, so there are 11 women to 75 men in my class.  When she answered questions, some of the Indian and Middle-Eastern men took that as an opportunity to be condescending and insulting to her, but she responded as a seasoned executive with more grace and poise than I have publicly ever witnessed in such a situation.

The work load is still averaging about a 100 pages a night plus presentation preparation, but I am starting to get the hang of it, and I am learning so much! I would love to tell you a funny story, but there has not been anything too funny to happen.  If I could tell you of all the drama that goes on around here, you would probably laugh.  It's amazing to see very high level executives, from all around the world and in some of the top companies in the world acting in the ways that they do sometimes.  Again, I am so grateful for my team at CFA, who are the best people to work with on the planet!

I finally realized that the barrier I am experiencing has more to do with me being an American than anything else.  The rest of the world is really mad at us "for crashing the global economy."  Their perception is that all Americans fly on private jets, bail on their mortgages and over leverage their credit.  I have done my best to let them know that ALL Americans are not that way. 

I am working very hard on teaching please, thank you and my pleasure -- I miss hearing those words that are ordinarily part of my daily life.

The weather has been beautiful all week -- still cold, but tomorrow is supposed to be 70!  It gets cold again after that, but I plan to enjoy a walk by the river tomorrow afternoon.  Mom is worried about me walking, but I only walk in safe places in the daytime.  The HBS campus is a walking only campus, so everybody walks.  It's a very healthy place.  And the Harvard Police Department is very good.  I checked the crime statistics -- no violent crimes -- just bicycle theft and such.  

Melissa, thank you for the awesome snack package.  Lisa, I don't know how long I am supposed to keep those Chocolate Chip cookies, but they are the best ever -- there have been days I lived off them (isn't that a healthy thing to do!) and Kelsey, thanks for all your encouraging comments, texts and e-mails!

Please continue to remember me in prayer.  I have told you the surface stuff, but there is so much going on behind the scenes.  I am definitely on the front line of Spiritual Warfare.  God gives me just enough to keep in the game, but not so much that I am not dependent on Him.

More scenery attached -- same stuff, different time of day and different weather ~~ The building is my a picture of the outside of "my home."

Love you all,

Dee Ann

Spare Change and BandAids and other Minutia

During my sunrise walk this morning at 5:45 a.m., I was reflecting about this blog and why I write it.  As much as I want to tell you what is going on -- I really write it for me.  You see, I just need a chance to "talk" to people who care about me.  People here only want to talk about economics, or missiles in North Korea, or Obama, or capitalism or socialism or complete a spreadsheet.  No one cares that my husband is teaching my son to drive, or on Friday, Trey is going on "the biggest field trip of the year," or that my oldest son is finishing his first year of college.  They don't care how much I love my family, or children in Africa or anything about my life in Atlanta.  They don't laugh and they have no sense of humor.  So, it's actually a little selfish of me to take your time and invade your cyber world with my need to talk about everyday stuff -- thanks for allowing me to do that.  We don't ever talk about everyday stuff at HBS.  We will have dinner in assigned groups in just a little while and no one will even know the things I am about to tell you about my day.

So back to my walk this morning.  I have been here for almost 3 weeks, and noticed a completely different perspective on scenery.  The focal point of HBS is the library.  I always walk by it and it is a massive traditional Harvardish building (see picture).  But today, I found myself looking back at it from close to the river and the view was very different.  I compared it to how I have looked at my own experience here from a very close up internal view and that if I backed away and looked outward, things look different.  So that led me to the spare change and BandAids . . .

A classmate of mine is sick -- she is a delightful woman from Australia.  I really wanted to get outside on this beautiful day in Boston during my one hour break from class today.  I had really caught up on my studying (that is a minor miracle and requires missing sleep), so I decided to walk over to Cambridge and get her some medicine from CVS.  Guess what?  They don't have Tylenol Cold in Aussie. You should have seen us trying to communicate about what I needed to get.  Anyway, on my way over, I was mumbling to myself about how no one speaks or smiles or even seems to notice anyone else in this city.  It's just not a particularly friendly place.  I am sure there are many people who are nice and friendly, but in general, not a very friendly place.  So, I started thinking about how I might do it differently than them.  Then I started finding coins -- I don't mean pennies -- I mean quarters and dimes and nickels.  When I arrived at CVS, I began my retail therapy and not only bought Tylenol cold, but decided to stock up on any other drug store items I might need.  I was rubbing a bit of a blister on my heel, so I thought I might as well get neosporin and bandaids while I was there.  Had no idea I would need it, but thought I would get them.  As I started back to HBS, I passed a young couple and the woman was trying to re-attach a bandaid to her heel where she had rubbed a blister.  I stopped and said, "I have a Band Aid if you need it."  They looked at me like I had just spoken in a language from Jupiter.  So I repeated myself and he said, "really?"  I said, "yes, I have just bought a brand new box, but didn't know why. I guess they were for you."  I smiled all the way back across the bridge over the river. :)  :)  I thought -- why not bring a little cheer along the way.  Can't wait to see what retail related warm-hearted prompting God gives me tomorrow!

I had lunch today with our professor of Corporate Governance.  She, like all the others, is an extremely credentialed woman, with various experiences, and degrees, including a Harvard Law degree.  But I thought most interesting, is that she has a degree in "Moral Philosophy."  I wondered all day if that was opposed to "Immoral Philosophy," but I guess it's just a philosophical question in and of itself to ponder it.

Had my last class on negotiation today with the tree hugger (he is actually very intriguing, challenging and engaging).  I think I may have a future calling there -- definitely not in financial analysis!  No surprise there~

So much to say . . . so little time to say it.  Check out the pictures of my view from walk this morning.  Would send you something different, but the view is mostly the same each day -- only the weather changes.

Love and blessings to all,

Dee Ann

HBS AMP Week 3

Praying that you all had a beautiful Easter.  Mine was a little different, in that I had to fly back to Boston on Easter afternoon and did not get to spend Easter with my entire family.  Compared to my international classmates, however, I am glad that I was able to go home this weekend.  Dodging the hailstorms and tornadoes, I came home on Friday and went to the G-Day game at UGA on Saturday.  Much to our surprise, Trenton played the entire game Saturday at Defensive End for the Red Team, contributing to a few tackles and even deflecting an Aaron Murray pass in the waning seconds of the game.  We all had a great time and enjoyed a great family day between the hedges.  Before the game, they have a family luncheon for the team and their families.  Trey took that as an opportunity to get autographs from all his favorite Bulldogs, proudly telling them all he was Trenton's little brother :).  They seem to like little brothers there.  Go Dawgs!

On Sunday, after a wonderful worship service, led by Christian music artist, Al Denson, we had a family dinner at home, and I was able to witness Trevor driving for the first time.  Please pray for Ashley while I am gone!!

So, on my flight out of Atlanta, for the second time in two weeks I set the metal detector off.  This is quite strange since I am always certain not to wear anything that would do that.  I thought last time was a fluke, but now I knew there was definitely a problem.  So, as I am getting wanded and patted down, the TSA agent tells me that it must be part of my , er, uh, the engineering of my undergarments.  (How was that for delicate?)  I said, well, I really haven't changed my habits in that area lately.  She said they have new equipment and it is more sensitive.  You all can send in comments as to how you think I should handle that when I go through again in a few weeks, because I certainly don't want to have the full inspection for the third time.  Just a warning to women, everywhere -- your bra is being scanned for explosive material!

Nevertheless, I made it back late last night, going from the beautiful 73 degrees in Atlanta to 35 degrees in Boston, with a windchill factor of 22 degrees.  The school does not allow taxis to come to the building, so it is about a half mile walk from the taxi stand to my building.  Not so bad if it is 1:00 p.m., sunny and 70 degrees, but I don't think those conditions exist very often in Boston.  

Class started at 8 today and went to 5, followed by an hour long study group, followed by two hours of negotiation group and in 15 mins, I go to another two hours of study group!  Fun day, eh?  I enjoyed the negotiation professor very much today.  His name was Guhran Subramanian.  He is the first professor to receive tenure at Harvard Law and Harvard Business School at the same time.  Very smart guy, but very understandable.  I should be able to negotiate my way through that TSA checkpoint next time!  

Another professor today was a tree hugger that referred to people in our business as "bird murderers."  We had to have a conversation about that after class, and he assured me that before he became a vegetarian, he loved eating Chick-fil-A.  I encouraged him to order wraps and salads minus chicken, but please don't call us bird murderers, after all, we are saving Cows!

Still experiencing lots of interesting folks, but everyday is an adventure!

Thanks for all the prayers -- I really do feel lifted -- God is good, all the time, in every way --

Until next time,

Blessings, Peace and Love,

Dee Ann