Opera 9.2 fan!

I was looking for XP tweaks for my old desktop system. Want to run MatLab on it while I use my laptop for other applications. While browsing, I found this interesting read on FireFox Myths.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/FirefoxMyths.html

I haven't used v2.0 myself, but v1.5 was fairly disappointing. Switched to Opera a couple hours ago, and I love it. It's Firefox, except it's much much faster! Sites that used to take me 15 seconds to load now take me 4 tops.

http://www.opera.com/

Only annoying thing is remembering all my passwords and bookmarks. Guess I'm forced to use a social bookmarking site now :P

google/youtube

Goo-tube wants to take over the world now, and they seem to be well on their way. With the piless in cash Google has sitting around, it can buy whatever it wants. Just recently I was reading in the Wall Street Journal and on digg.com about how Google is setting up deals with print advertising, and radio advertising.

I'm surprised Google hasn't bought like.com yet, and try to make image advertising more relevant.

Kudos to youtube founders for getting out right before traffic flatlined.

tech ideas

It's 2006, and I'm still thinking of ideas like it's 1999. I've only started brainstorming, and I've come up with some fantastic ideas. Too bad they're about 3 years too late.

That's the typical way of thinking, but when one opportunity is taken away, there are others that open up. Take Google for example. They are a huge influence in the internet right now, and they're doing all the big things right. However, there are smaller niche things that people can still dominate in. And, with the power of leverage and interconnectivity over the internet, you can explode pretty quickly.

Just look at meebo.com ; a start up with 3 people and 6k in credit cards. This story is being told over and over again. Using the power of numbers, low overhead, and a good idea can get you mass eyeballs and revenue that you couldn't even imagine.

a lot of catching up to do

I've mostly been posting on [jhuteam], a group of jhu buddies that still have stuck together post college.

After a bit of thinking, I think it'd help people to actually read some of my insights, instead of just limiting the audience to jhuteam. Guys, I love ya, but there's a greater good that needs to be done.

So in the next couple weeks, I'll be posting original thought, and some old stuff from jhuteam.

management consulting

during the summer, beginning in july, i decided i wanted to become a management consultant, with a specific interest in strategy business consulting.

there are many great things about being a consultant that appeal to me at this stage.

first off, i know how to make money, but money is not what i need right now. i need experience and good mentors. consulting will give me exposure to different industries, and access to top level business leaders. yes, i could get this type of experience other ways, but with consulting, i think it's the biggest payoff to time committed.

second, i'd like to leave my options open. there are so many things i'm interested in, but not particularly passionate about. as an entrepreneur, i feel that my ability to enter the corporate world is closing. not really sure if i like that or not. this could probably be a book full of the different considerations that could possibly affect the decision.

third, i'm not exactly a polished diamond. my ability to communicate my thoughts i think is above average, and so is my ability to think rationally under extreme pressure. but it could be a lot better, and being around other people that communicate their thoughts very explicitly will help me through submersion.

fourth, by working with other smart, passionate people, i will be able to set myself up for my next big venture, and also enjoy myself, doing something new every day.

while everyone's reasons may be different for their interest in management consulting, but there are quite a few applicants, and relatively few job offers. when seeking advice on how to apply, the career counselors told me that my GPA of 3.55, which qualified me for biomedical engineering honor society, was probably too low to make the first cut. But, once I got an interview, I knew that I would be able to shine by showing them my intellectual horsepower.

Bain will accept ~30-35 associate consultants for the 2007 class. I'm guessing that's how McKinsey and BCG recruit as well. However, there are literally thousands of new graduates that want to work at these prestigious places. Interesting work, great contacts, pretty ok pay, great work environment, no prior knowledge or skills necessary, and the list goes on.

at hopkins, i'm guessing there were 80-100 applicants, 28 1st round interviews, 4-5 2nd round interviews. i didn't even hear anything from mckinsey or BCG, which i assume is because of "low" GPA.

so now i'm at the 2nd round interview with Bain. the only thing i need to overcome is my nervousness around potentially senior staff. when i have that piece down, then i will most likely get the job.