In illustrating the spirit of his vibrant surroundings, Ernest Hemmingway once described the “mad, whirling carnival” he saw around him in Spain. As an American studying at Madrid’s IE Business School I will be documenting my experience with this blog, dedicated to that theme.


For friends and family, you can find frequent updates on my life and adventures by checking back here regularly. For anyone else, I hope you find my posts on business school and life in Spain interesting.

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

to be continued...

Hello and thanks for checking out my blog about business school and living in Spain. If these topics brought you here feel free to pursue my posts and learn from my adventure.

If you came here rather to check up on me, well them I am flattered, and I welcome you to visit my new blog:
http://fromthestraits.wordpress.com/

Thanks all and I hope to see each of you soon!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Our lives as ∆X*∆P ≥ h/(4*p)

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Ok, this post is about my MBA classmate. From whom I learned so much.


I will take a few paragraphs to fully develop my point, so I bag for your patience as you read. I promise I will indeed come to a logical conclusion.

In quantum physics there exists a theory called the Uncertainty Principal. This principle was first published by Werner Heisenberg in 1927 and is thus known as the “Heisenberg Principle of Uncertainty” (mathematically, ∆X * ∆P ≥ h / (4*p)). In short - and insufficiently described by yours truly - it details the fact that object (and their component parts of electrons, protons and neutrons) can never be precisely positioned in terms of both location and direction simultaneously. This means that if we manage to measure an object's precise location, equally precise direction or momentum cannot be determined (and vise versa). Thus it is said that energy bares the same relation to time as momentum does to space.


The rational behind this phenomenon is that as we attempt to locate an object – logically by shining light on it - we fundamentally influence it in space and time (we are after all knocking it around with electromagnetic photons). Moving a bit deeper we know our component parts (electrons, protons, and neutrons) sometimes exist as particles (as is predicted by Einstein’s Theory of Relativity) and sometimes as waves. These parts move in-and-out of observability – from particles to waves of energy, and back.

Ok I know, I know, this is super abstract and bordering on the realm of “1960’s-acid-trip-science-professor”, so I will shortly make a more grounded connection to our real lives.


In Spain we were about 300 young people learning new skills from professors and more importantly each other. We were physically located together, improving our futures through education and global connection. We moved from 70+ countries to live and study together in Madrid. We occupied the same physical space and interacted (over a brief period of time) with each other in the hope of positively influencing each others' collective future directions.


To the outside observer, we individually carry roughly the same mass and move day-to-day in roughly the same directions. According to the theory of relativity we were 300 bundles of wave energy occupying roughly the same space, moving in roughly the same direction. Heisenberg-style observes might have attempted to measure my, or any of my classmates’, location and they could achieve a high degree of accuracy. However if they attempted to measure my, or any of my classmates’, direction they would probably not have a clue where we are all headed.


This is OUR uncertainty principle.


This year we occupied roughly the same physical space. Next year we will not. We will move in different directions, be it north, south, east, or west. This cannot be measured accurately at this time. Our directions are infinite and undefined.


But be us waves of energy or physical particles, for one year we occupied the same physical space… and for that I am eternally grateful.


Looking out upon my fellow IE classmates I hope to track your directions over time, however uncertain they may be.


You are all waves of energy… and of that I am quite certain.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Exploring Social Media Marketing Best Practices

In looking at social media as a marketing platform we find the old rules (remember the 4Ps) don't necessarily capture how we should approach new opportunities. Remember after all this is community based marketing. We must focus on connecting people with people and people with information. It must be relevant and value-added. Pushing product can be achieved only after we foster a community.


- Please excuse the brevity and typos. Posting from my iPhone

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The newly renovated Palacio Cibeles, Madrid


















Unveiled this week, the Banco España renovation reestablishes the building as one of the most beautiful in Madrid.

- Please excuse the brevity and typos. Posting from my iPhone

Location:Calle de María de Molina,Madrid,Spain

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Social media marketing with BBVA

Taking a look at marketing within social media networks with the head of BBVA digital marketing.

Interesting discussions in "who" should market on social networks (lots of debate there), how, and which function should represent community managers.

Of course the consumer marketing potential in web 2.0 is huge, but b2b companies have yet to "crack the code" on the effective use of social media.




- Please excuse the brevity and typos. Posting from my iPhone

Location:Calle de José Abascal,Madrid,Spain

Friday, March 18, 2011

Considering new ways we consume our media

In the week that the New York Times begins charging subscription fees for heavy users (+20 articles opened per month), it is interesting to consider the many forms we will consume media, news, and opinion in our near future.


Below is an interesting way to see digital media in terms of community appeal.


- Please excuse the brevity and typos. Posting from my iPhone

Location:Calle de Serrano,Madrid,Spain

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Goudi's Masterpiece in Progress - Segrada Familia

Some photos from a recent visit to Barcelona... Pretty unbelievable huh!

























- Please excuse the brevity and typos. Posting from my iPhone