1001 Talent Street

Suddenly this night I recalled a trip to Atlantic City. During a back-house tour, a senior manager of Borgata Hotel showed us the inside operation of the best casino in eastern coast.

Dozens of waitress and other staff were walking through the simple but not plain hallway. The free cafeteria was full of nice food. In the spacious lounge, some people were playing chess or watching ball games and news on the large LCD TV or simply resting their eyes on the beautiful view out of the huge window. Some others were checking emails on the computers in an internet corner... People smiled to this strange group when passed by us and several of them were asked by the manager to say something. Everything there was so neat and well organized. You could definitely tell how efficient they were together.

BTW, in this luxury hotel, some secret suites were not open to the public. Those rooms were equipped with the best of the best things and would cost USD 10K for half a day. Of course, there were back-doors and elevators from the parking to the suites directly.

But the most impressive thing to me was not those for-celebrity suites. Do you know what sign on the door of customer service center, more than 20 staff were answering phones there, in the back-house? Yes, you got it. That was 1001 Talent Street.

think or feel

People think or feel?

People feel, not think. - Rochelle (Shelly) Lazarus, Chairman & CEO, Ogilvy & Mather Inc.

My questions are,
what kind of people feel while the others think? And vice versa?
when people feel? And think?
how we can be better off, to think or to feel?
why we are encouraged to think but rarely urged to feel?

how many cases

To prepare interviews with consulting companies, how many cases shall we crack to be well prepared?

For me, the problem is, three is enough to get me fed up. Hope I won't ruin too much of the reputation of our school.

Job and Hobby

Another four hours were "wasted" on my hobby while nothing has been done for a very difficult interview on next Tuesday. Some people have prepared for it since the passed summer.

I went to Lincoln Center for "Carmen" on Wednesday night and a music salon in I-House on Thursday night. Frankly the salon appeared more attractive to me. Young musicians from across the world performed all kinds of instruments and dance right in front of the audience, in 5 meters. They played a great deal of fun and creativity, which I think the two most important parts of life. The International House is actually International Musician House. So many gifted young musicians across the world live in this building. I wish I can share my experience here with the people I love.

lesson from sales management

The professor is fantastic, a real master of driving sales. Some valuable points from him:

1. Right compensation structure is the key for success of sales.
2. Sales presentations happen in audience's mind.
3. Talk what decision makers ask for, rather than walking through slides.
4. Team players must help pull attention of audience to the presenter.
5. Focus on providing solution, instead of introducing products, for clients.
6. The purpose of meeting is to get action for next step - how and when to push forward. Try to make it in details, such as "meet here again, at 10am on next Tuesday, to decide the actual budget". Once this agreement is made, shut up and go home. No more slides.
7. Never "hope" - it is too soft- at the end of presentation.
8. When necessary, turn off the screen and walk to the center of the room to get the attention.

......

shut off the camera

A distingished guest speaker came to our class taking about the on-going issues of a very huge business in the US. When being asked to comment on current strategy and management of this company, he smiled and looked around. The young girl who was operating the camera immediately said, "I can shut off the camera if you want." Then the talk started hitting the most interesting part.

consultant

three quotes

1. When you really want to do something but have nothing to do, you become consultant. - guest speaker, Robert Siegel, Chairman, Lacoste USA.

2. COO is doing nothing so you hire a consultant and let him say "fire the COO". - Edward Zimmerman, Prof. VC Seminar.

3. The oldest one. Consultant is the one who borrows your watch, tell you the time and won't return it.

Consulting industry is, however, still the second largest employer, next to Banks, for Columbia MBAs.

In Chinese, smart and hardworking people - 参谋 (brainman)。

Even so, to be paid well and get some training, I am trying to get in, as many of my classmates are. :(

Buffet, Phelps, and Bhagwati

What would be the five most dangerous words in business?

"everybody else is doing it", Warren Buffett told managers at his Berkshire Hathaway group. - FT, Oct. 10, 2006

Edmund S. Phelps, the first solo winner of Nobel in Economics since 1999 when Robert A. Mundell, another Columbia professor was rewarded for his analysis of monetary and fiscal policy in relation to exchange rates. Both two have made and are still making trenmendous impact on today's world economy. Theory of Mundell raised the unified currency in Europe while the intertemporal tradeoffs in macroeconomic policy described by Phelps became guideline for the whole world to deal with inflation and unemployment. Phelps is 73 now and will continue teaching. "I am a workaholic," he said in Law Library yesterday.


Another Columbia professor, Jagdish Bhagwati, who was born in India, was disappointed, again. He has been one of the hottest candidate for a few years. He worked primarily on globalization and free trade. Interestingly, Phelps was also the hottest for Nobel in 2003 and 2001. Joseph E. Stiglitz, another Columbia professor, shared Nobel with George A. Akerlof and A. Michael Spence in 2001.

google: content or search?

there are some news about Google in last week

1. Google won't make any major investments in original content, choosing instead to keep its focus on Internet search, a top executive from the Web powerhouse said Tuesday, Oct. 3 2006

2. Google launches literacy project. Oct. 4 2006. to put together its books, video, mapping and blogging services to help teachers and educational organizations share reading resources

3. Google is in talks with YouTube. This is not new actually.

So, what is truly going on there?

Nobel vs Ranking by Recruiter

One week before the Nobel winning, Columbia was ranked No. 4 by recruiters in the US.
Students published a simple and small advertising - "CBS No.4, Harvard No.14" on Bottom Line, the b-school newspaper.

六月二日，晴

汉城，仁川国际机场。不算太大（回到北京我知道首都机场大约有它三分之一大），时间还早，也不拥挤，整洁、宽敞、明亮。这里中文是路牌语言之一，免税店里有亲切的中华烟，好多韩国特产都似曾相识，中文《机场指南》与英文和韩文并列，广播里甚至传来了十七、八年前电影《成吉思汗》主题曲的韩文版（有多少美丽的姑娘们都想嫁给他呀，都想做他新娘…）。

问讯处姑娘的普通话比我好多了，连待人接物都是地道的中国作派。若不是奇怪有中国人在这里服务，不会知道人家只在北京呆了一年。汗颜。

韩战，五十年前那场夺人心志、丧人魂魄的裂金碎玉之战，似乎甚少留下仇懑愤恨，除了朝鲜我们不知道以外。这世界变化快。

五月三十一日，阴，南风2-3级

Face Off（变脸）! 相信你一定看过这部吴宇森执导的好莱坞影片并且沉醉于尼古拉斯凯奇Nicolas Cage和约翰屈伏塔John Travolta的肆意才情，要不你至少知道川剧的变脸。肯塔基的路易维尔大学医学院前几天宣布可以进行大面积面部移植手术。这所学校有肢体移植的光辉历史。因为各种原因毁容的患者看到了希望。

问题是，联邦政府禁止实施这种手术，因为它可能导致身份识别的困难和混乱。

调查说2003年全美有八百七十万人接受了整容手术，较2002年上升了33%，花费九十四亿美金。

事情发展得有点像基因治疗和生物工程了。基因玉米，允许；基因药物，可以；激素类药，当然可以；生长激素，绝对需要；植入某种基因让我们活上200岁，更高更快更强（Swifter, Higher, Stronger）更健康？点头以前你必须想一想，再努力想一想！

五月三十日，多云

老将复辟的年代，三十有二的桑托罗法网第一轮就创了网球史上比赛用时的新纪录：6小时35分。草地选手亨曼在职业生涯的晚期老树发新芽，一路高歌猛进。2001年受伤后一落千丈的库尔滕卷土重来直落三盘击败了技术全面天下无双的头号种子选手费德勒，已连夺温布尔登和澳网两座大满贯的费德勒，刚刚终结了科里亚红土34连胜的费德勒。男单前十号种子已去了大半，而前几轮淘汰阿加西，罗迪克等人的年轻黑马也已纷纷落马。除了科里亚，未来的天王巨星就还有休伊特和纳尔班迪安在不知疲倦地前进。

自从罗迪克翻身落马宣告美国男单全军覆没之后，电视转播就成了大威小威、卡普里亚蒂和达文波特的天下，全力聚焦美国妞的女单之路，库尔滕费德勒打得天翻地覆也罢。想起以前奥运会体操、跳水比赛，十名以外的美国运动员比赛，解说员”Unbelievable! Incredible!（难以置信）”之声不绝于耳，对拿冠军的别国运动员却是百般挑剔，稍有失误便冷嘲热讽。一些美国国内职业联赛决赛冠以“世界冠军系列赛”，一些美国XXX学会的年会也就是全球峰会。

对美国人来说，自家后院的事就是天下大事，在北京人嘴里天下大事都不过是自家后院的事。但偏偏是纽约而不是北京成就了现代最灿烂的城市经济和城市文化。

我无从知道也无从推测是如此心态产生了如此成就还是如此成就养成了如此心态。多年前一个朋友说埋头耕作吧，当你直起身来麦田就豁然开朗了。更多年前老祖宗批判了“闭门造车”，还说“它山之石可以攻玉”。领先时仍然要埋头苦干，来不得“宁要自家的草不要邻居的苗”，象我这样的落后分子，恐怕还得不时左顾右盼一阵，触类旁通也罢，拿来主义也罢，以夷制夷也罢，旁边麦田里有什么好的，要合理合法，不要客气，就怕我又懒又馋又怕麻烦 。

五月二十七日，阴转晴

天气终于好转，法网继续爆冷。罗兰·加洛斯球场没有冷门就不成其为罗兰·加洛斯了。1989年17岁零3个月的张德培就是这里在加冕，成为最年轻的大满贯男单冠军。

不同的是以往被爆冷的多是老将，今年则是不分大小，年老年少统统一锅烩了。第一轮是阿加西和舒特勒，昨天是风头正劲的罗迪克（也许法国观众实在不喜欢美国人，美国男单选手第二轮没结束就已全部出局）和海宁倒在非种子选手拍下，今天是卫冕冠军，红土国王胡安·卡洛斯·费雷罗黯然离开。不过还有年轻还带点羞涩的艺术大师费德勒、永不投降的休伊特、曾经历禁赛折磨的科里亚和俄罗斯“沙皇”萨芬。

不顾腕伤未愈，费雷罗为了观众而战，是值得尊重的。就象只拿过一次大满贯冠军的张德培，他每一分都全力以赴的球风和谦谦君子形象是法国观众的最爱，14年间尽管状态起伏，渐渐巅峰不再，比赛间歇法国少女年轻的尖叫声，“Michael!” 总是此起彼伏。2003年张德培坚持参赛以在退役前最后一次答谢观众，组委会安排他在中心场地比赛，并专门为他举办退役仪式，全场起立，送给他不停歇的掌声。

也有球风顽强但不讨好的，休伊特就是一个。有的人讨厌他死守底线的打法，抱怨他颠覆了网球的传统，对法国观众来说，更糟糕的是他对对手咄咄逼人，对判罚锱铢必较。

不管是法网还是伊拉克战争，观众总是幸福的，也不管市场竞争的胜利者如何荣耀，顾客不会输。让我们看看谁为观众制造下一个冷门。

五月二十六日，阴有小雨

今天这里天气不好，巴黎不错，女单一号海宁和男单二号罗迪克双双爆冷出局，倒是川妹子郑洁轻松闯关，第三轮对阵淘汰海宁的意大利姑娘Garbin.

今天晚上的Everybody Loves Raymond 好像是这一季（第七季）最后一集。（另外几部特别受欢迎的情景喜剧，已经播了十年的Friends（六人行？）、Sex and City （欲望都市, 6年）和Frasier今年全部封镜了（11年）。Sigh.）

Raymond的哥哥，一度被怀疑是同性恋，离异独居的Robbert终于要结婚了，婚礼上正要宣读誓言，妈妈Marie突然站出来打断牧师，可爱地絮叨起来，Raymond和牧师都绝望地在台阶上坐了下来。Marie问Robbert他正迎娶的妻子娘家对他印象如何，是否已接受他。Robbert啼笑皆非地答道，It is not your business! Marie愤怒地反驳，You are my son! You are my business! …

Raymond在宴会的祝酒辞中半认真地调侃Marie, You got the business sold.

从什么时候起孩子就长大了父母应该不再据为己有，而是已经sold? 还是孩子一诞生就是独立的生命，父母不过是在其初期代为管理？中国父母可能这么想的不多。

一桩新的生意，或是一项新的业务以全新的商业模式开始，从什么时候开始应该象孩子离开父母一样离开创始人或母公司？这是一个老问题。

后记：巧了，昨天晚上最后一句扯到新业务新模式需要机构独立的问题，今早起来看到评论说新疆的德隆系出了控股机构纠缠不清的问题，平常不太关注国内股市，好像这已经是旧闻了。 May 27, 2004

五月二十四日，阴有小雨

今天从一条南北向的高速连上一条东西向的高速，沿狭窄的ramp划了大大一个弧线，几乎是完整的一个圆。I hate it.

就在ramp上突然想到，能不能让车变形，完美地契合道路的弧度？既然车能变形，受撞击的时候就可以吸收大部分冲击的能量，象拳击手套一样打不坏？如果可以吸收能量，能不能把吸收的能量输向车上的燃料电池，转为驱动汽车的电能？那么有一天，当你看到油表指针滑落红线以下，附近又没有加油站可用，你会不会打开车窗，向邻道的大胡子老兄疯狂地大叫：撞我一下！撞我——

It may not be possible. Cause we have better and cheaper solution.

顺便说一下，87号公路从纽约州Albany到加拿大这一段警车特别多，昨天晚上看到两辆Ghost同一地点同一时间抓了四辆结伴车中的两辆，居然连跟车都不罩！还有好多警车埋伏在隐蔽处，路过的要小心了。

五月二十一日，晴

北美最古的街，最大的天主教堂，清教徒最早登陆的地方， McGill大学，还有“享有盛誉的”黑帮Hell Angel（地狱天使）的总部，都在这里，说法语的魁北克省的Montreal。

这里的特产，比枫糖和冰酒 (Ice Wine)更有名的是仪态万方的美女，盛产时装模特。我弟弟分析是法国后裔与各国移民杂交的结果。

与美国城市不同， Montreal没有如林高楼，也没有五光十色的广告牌，比较安静，冬天一过就是热烈的夏带着春的柔和，明媚不失沉郁。Montreal人说，终于是夏天了，冬季里冻僵的轮胎解放了。

纵是这活跃的好天气，从皇家山（Royal Mountain）上往下看， Montreal 市区最显眼最漂亮的是1976年奥运会留下来的奥林匹亚体育场，白色，可开合顶篷，二十八年前绝对引领建筑和科技风潮，今天在一大片古旧的红砖楼中仍是那么卓尔不群。

但是这座仍然时髦的高科技的可开合顶篷，经不起每年6个月的漫长冬季的考验。皑皑白雪一积在顶篷上，沉甸甸的维修费用就成了Montreal挥之不去的梦魇，年复一年，二十八年前的市政当局始终让魁北克人民记忆犹新。

这栋漂亮的伤疤，每个冬天准时淌血。

五月二十日，阴转雨

穿过美加边境开车到蒙特利尔(Montreal)，看地图约需五个半小时，我用了七个小时，其中过边检、海关十分钟，到Montreal时大雨倾盆，看不见路牌不认识路牌猜错了路牌走错了路一个小时。早学一点法语多好。书到用时方恨少。

可气的是在纽约州中了一辆“Ghost”警车的暗算，吃超速罚单用了二十五分钟，那个装模作样的警察居然一边抄车牌一边说，”Thanks God, we have the technology”! (指雷达测速器)

2004

五月十九日，阴

格雷格（Greg）今天终于宣布要结婚了，择日举行婚礼。这几天我们一直在等这个消息。格雷格有一米九高，修长而不瘦弱，随意的穿着异常协调，让人怀疑是精心搭配的结果，淡黄的一茬头发仿佛半圈光晕。虽然已经开创和奠定了一个全新的学术领域，但十年简单执着的博士、博士后生涯使他看上去仍象二十七八年纪，不浮躁不颓废不虚张声势不老气横秋，毫不夸张地说，他优雅得炫目。若你去他家聚会，一年之后再见，他会丝毫不差地把合你口味的东西放到你面前。确实有做科学家的理由。

杰夫的妈妈也特别高兴。杰夫是个工程师，从身材、气质上看简直就是格雷格的双胞胎兄弟。他们俩在一起具体有多少年我不知道，我周围的朋友自从认识格雷格，他们就在一起。格雷格总是这样介绍杰夫，“Jeff, my partner.(杰夫，我的同居伙伴)” 毫不避讳。大家也都觉得很正常，他们看起来都那么顺眼，舒服。

现在他们要成为合法的”Partners for life” 了，送什么好呢？这是个难题。

2004

五月十七日，晴

哈佛和麻省理工两两相望在波士顿的剑桥。波士顿的历史遗迹基本上排列在其 “自由之路（Freedom Trail，独立战争纪念，市政府专门在人行道上划出红线来引导）”上，剑桥则是现代波士顿的“自由堡垒(liberal bastion) ”。

午夜起这里排起一条手牵手的大队，不壮观，不巍峨，不庄严，不令人崇敬（咫尺之间还有抗议的人群和标语），但是幸福，欢乐，喜悦，甚至让我想起敲锣打鼓的“解放区的天”。这条队不在哈佛也不在麻省理工或者附近任何一所鼎鼎大名的学院，它在剑桥市政厅门前。

今天马萨诸萨州开始为同性婚姻颁发证书，许多已共同生活数十年的同性伴侣由法庭主持交换誓词，宣布从此“互为伴侣（partners for life）”。

"为什么你们为了一纸证书斗争得如此激烈？"第一对取得证书的同性夫妻面对CNN的镜头平静从容：“这不（只）是一个合法（取得合法身份和其它受法律保护的权利，财产、继承等）的问题，同性夫妻和异性夫妻一样生来平等，有被平等对待的自由。”
按：过去二三十年里同性恋者经过多次不算艰苦卓绝也轰轰烈烈的斗争，取得了一些作为同居者或家庭成员的权利，如财产继承、获得赔偿等，但从未真正被正式确认合法婚姻。目前的布什为首的联邦政府是坚决反对同性婚姻的。一些同性恋者希望年底总统大选的结果能对他们有一定帮助。

something old

二零零四年五月十六日，阴

下午从一条河边过，不小心看到好大阵仗。东北部的名校，从新英格兰地区到马里兰，甚至威斯康星，什么哈佛、MIT、宾夕法里亚、普林斯顿、耶鲁、康乃尔、哥伦比亚、达特茅斯等等聚集于此参加一个划船比赛。凑热闹的当然还少不了海军学院，岸边一溜排开数十顶大帐篷，高大的划船队员晃来晃去，喇叭随时传送比赛情况，人群在赛艇经过时爆发出一阵又一阵欢呼，声浪沿着河岸向远处传播。

好像这种几乎没有大明星的纯粹集体运动在国内高校也开始出现了。

Be cool, even Nobel prize just arrived.

Edmund S. Phelps wins Nobel in Economics today.

This is the 3rd Nobel in Economics won by Columbia faculty in seven years.

The last two are Joseph E. Stiglitz in 2001 and Robert A. Mundell in 1999.

Dean Hubbard announced this news at the beginning of our class and mentioned main accomplishment of Phelps - there is no real trade off between low interest and unemployment. Very short. The whole school appears quite cool. Nothing looks different in the whole campus from any other common day.