Yearly Archives: 2012

I can’t fit everything that I need to do in a day. Ahhh.

I still have 1,000 photos from Costa Rica and 500 odds and ends photos from the entire summer that I need to filter through, edit, and post on Etsy for sale. I’m starting to submit bits and pieces of my MBA applications – transcripts, essays, letters of recommendations, etc. I’m still studying every single day – I set a timer for every question now, training myself to complete them under time pressure. I have Etsy orders to package and ship out. I have to make time for people I love. I have a physical photography portfolio to build because I want to go cold calling downtown to get wholesale orders. Ideas are in motion but execution is moving at a snail’s pace because time is scarce. I need a clone!

I received an order for one of my helicopter prints today and the customer left a note saying:

“My son was a helicopter pilot and did a lot of flying in the R-44. He died in an aviation accident on 6/12/12. This means a lot to us.“

Neat, right? Gives me the warm and fuzz. :)

Queen’s University has heard my cry and their marketing department was quick to reach out and resolve the situation. There really isn’t much that can be done to alter a first impression but I can appreciate the efforts of marketing to tirelessly protect and keep a brand untarnished. I’m a marketer, too. It’s unfortunate that there is so much that is out of our control. Brand perception is formed with every single touch point that it embarks with the customer. And we sometimes overlook the people part. Take a restaurant for instance: the manager, the chef, the server, down to the hostess shapes the brand, although we have little or no influence over those interactions. I’m going off on a marketing tangent so let me stop. The bottom line is that I appreciate the marketing effort and in fairness, wanted to recognize that effort on here, following my post of anguish yesterday.

I’ve booked off a week and a day in October to go on a GMAT lockdown. That is to study around the clock for eight consecutive days in the place of a trip to San Francisco – a big sacrifice this year that breaks my heart a little bit.

Here’s a pair of iguanas challenging each other to a duel.

I attended the QS World MBA Tour event yesterday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and had a chance to meet one on one with admissions teams from Rotman School of Business (University of Toronto), Schulich School of Business (York University), Richard Ivey School of Business (University of Western Ontario), and Queen’s School of Business (Queen’s University). I quickly fell in love with Rotman, Ivey, and Schulich, and will likely apply to all three schools.

Queen’s on the other hand, quickly left a sour taste in my mouth. So sour that I am now writing a few lines here to broadcast my distaste for them so that it is documented somewhere on the internet. After all, the internet makes an excellent vehicle for the spread of (negative) opinions. The gentleman I spoke with, who was sadly the Director of the MBA program himself was disrespectful and condescending and operated like an arrogant fool. I was turned off by the school within 15 minutes of speaking with this so-called ‘Director’ and am now struggling to understand how the school has entrusted him with their MBA program. And worst yet, placed him in a customer-facing environment (customers in this case, are potential applicants and candidates who are deciding on the best institution to invest $70,000 with. In business, we call them prospects.) Is this not a business and is that truly how you represent your brand? It was like a tutorial on how to destroy your brand in 15 minutes. Or, maybe to give the benefit of the doubt, perhaps the man was bitter about working on a Saturday. In any case, Mr. Director, it’s time to get off your high horse and ease up on that false illusion of prestige in your head. It doesn’t matter how great the school may truly be (and I’ll never have the slightest desire to find out). If they’ve chosen to have individuals like this man represent the face of the school, then negative, unwanted perception will inevitably develop and spread and we all know that perception is very much reality. I hate to break it to you but Ivey, Schulich, and Rotman have you beat, starting with just the very basics of operating with humility and treating potential candidates and applicants with the utmost respect. In fact, Schulich took it one step further by positioning themselves to be privileged to have our interest in their program. For what it’s worth, thank you to the representatives from Rotman, Ivey, and Schulich for an informative and pleasant experience.

Back to photography. Another one of those crazy large spiders in Costa Rica with heavy duty webs that practically require scissors to destroy! Happy Sunday!

Timon is a Meerkat, in case you didn’t know. Forever and ever, Timon was just Timon to me. I had no idea what he was until I had a reason to look him up one day for captioning purposes for my photography.

I’m about to head out for dinner with my favourite girl in the world. She’s one of the special few whom I can have a truly stimulating conversation with. I love a great conversation.

HOMESENSE purchased 300 copies of 4 of my images through the art publisher / distributor that I signed with in July. 300!!! Eeeeep!!! Makes my Etsy shop look like a baby! I’m ecstatic and don’t really believe it. Thanks to my love for opening this door. He has earned his official title as Director of Sales at Charlene Precious Vintage Photography. ;)

They have kind faces, influenced mostly by their kind eyes. Much like horses.

I have to say that GMAT math problems are becoming pleasant. Studying is dreadful but enjoyable at the same time. The fear and anxiety are subsiding and every question brings an element of excitement because now you know that your mind is capable after months of practice. Each problem that I solve (that I once was unable to solve), makes me want to belt out the hallelujah chorus. Ironically, this is sounding more like a horror story than anything. Getting excited over math problems should be a crime.

I took a break from the Circle of Life series during this post because I got too excited to post my surf photos. But now I’d like to finish showcasing the series, so let’s get back to it! This is an owl with crazy eyes.

I also joined Pinterest today but won’t be sharing my page just yet until I get all my photos “pinned” up and looking pretty. :)

The way to go back strong into another work week is to have a hearty weekend. I love my life.

I just wanted to quote the song because it’s kind of appropriate. Happy September & happy Saturday to all!