Motivated Innovation

*formerly posted on the BGSU MBA blog in 2009 As a student in the full-time MBA program, you will get to go on at least one field trip.  Last Friday, the class of 2010 went to the headquarters of The Longaberger Company and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company .  Meanwhile, over the course of my program, my class (the class of 2009) went to places such as Dana Holding Corporation , the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland , and Avery Dennison Corporation . In addition to field trips as a part of the MBA program, we also went on trips through the MBA Student Association (MBASA).  While I personally was not able to attend the Detroit trip, I was able to go to both Chicago and Columbus .  Stops in these metropolitan areas included the Henry Ford Museum , the Chicago Mercantile Exchange , and Nationwide Arena . All of the opportunities to travel are pretty cool.  On my trips, I got to know some of my classmates better, met a bunch of people at the different companies, and learned a lot.  A

*formerly posted on the BGSU MBA blog in 2009 When taking Economics and Finance courses in my undergraduate studies, I began shaping a better understanding of personal finances.  In these courses, I learned about topics such as APRs and EARs, fiscal responsibility, and deficit spending.  Applying this to my personal financial situation, I knew that I wanted to always be responsible with my spending while also being willing to spend money to make useful purchases in advance or purchase/spend on necessities, such as education/school. Part of the personal finance equation is bargain hunting--i.e. looking for good deals at a lower than expected price.  Numerous students bargain hunt.  Graduate students typically bargain hunt.  I bargain hunt.  Some of my peers bargain hunt.  The desire to bargain hunt is both practical and satisfying.  By finding nicely priced goods and services, I can spend less and save money.  At the same time, I can put my critical thinking skills to use and see ju

*formerly posted on the BGSU MBA blog in 2009 Recently, the National Football League's season began.  Likewise, the new full-time cohort and my cohort began the Fall semester.  In both areas, there are sometimes simulations involved. I have participated in fantasy football before--maybe 3 times in my lifetime.  Twice, I partook in budget rotisserie leagues, which require participants to pick teams within a budget (a "salary cap" in sports terms) and then earn the best performance statistics possible.  Here, participants could have identical players on their teams as long as their team budgets permitted this.  Once, I participated in a drafted head-to-head league.  In this league, we took turns drafting players and then had our drafted teams earn the best performance statistics possible in head-to-head team competitions.  Here, participants could not have any identical players, which to me is more realistic. A couple weeks ago, the new cohort started the "Paper