Today was the day! I got a wonderful phone call from the admissions department at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business informing me I had been accepted to the Executive MBA program.

Class starts in August! I am really excited for this program. Everyone I have spoken with that has either attended, or known someone who has attended has absolutely loved it. I am really looking forward to the challenge.

I should receive my acceptance packet in the mail sometime int he next week and then I can process things for the Gi Bill.

My world is going to get  a lot busier in the next 2 years – but it will definitely be worth it.

Go Utes!

My wife and I attended the University of Utah Executive MBA program information session this week at the Little America Hotel. I got a chance to chat with current students, alumni and some of the faculty and staff from the program and I must say, I am very impressed. I was already sold on the program because of the international focus, but after hearing directly from current students about how awesome the experience is – I am more excited than ever.

I got my nomination form and letter of recommendation yesterday from my CEO and now I just need to tweak my resume a bit and then I will be submitting my app to the admissions department.

Go Utes!

I have decided to go back to school and pursue an MBA from the University of Utah, David Eccles School of Business.

I love marketing, I love business, but to take myself, and the company I work for to the next level, I need more experience and education, and I hope the journey through this esteemed program will help me gain that valuable insight and provide an opportunity for me to network and progress to the next level in corporate leadership.

As with any graduate degree program, getting accepted is the first step. I choose the University of Utah MBA program because of the focus on international business and the international field study option. I love working in the international arena and I hope this program strengthens the experience I already have, and hopefully it will open some new doors and some new countries!

I filled out my application online, and am currently revising  my outline for my application essay. I hate writing essays during application processes, but you gotta do what you gotta do right?

I decided to add a new category to my blog aside from the good old photography and rant related stuff to chronicle this journey toward an MBA… lets see where the next 30 months will take us shall we?

Next up: The post 9/11 Gi Bill!

The Turkey Bowl

Thanksgiving day started out with an epic three hour football game between all the studs in my ward and neighborhood. To say the very least it was a great time. With boys ranging from 12 years old on up to 50-ish – there was plenty of testosterone, and plenty of trash talk to go around – but sportsmanship was paramount, and everyone worked up a hearty appetite for the feasting later on in the day.

After the game, Jen and I drove up to Holladay to my parents’ home for Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone was there except for Sam and his family – they are still in new York and won’t be in town until closer to Christmas. Zane was in charge of the Turkey this year, which made a few naysayers nervous – but I have to admit – it was probably some of the best turkey I have ever had. The food was great – the company even better – and even Nolan’s Lemon Meringue Pie was good. (what can’t that kid do?)

Black Friday

11:00. Yep 11:00 PM. PM! That is when my wife left to go shopping – the turkey and potatoes were barely making their way into the large intestine and Jen and her sisters were taking to the town. Under normal circumstances, I would have suspected she was cheating on me – but this shopping tradition is anything but normal, and I kissed her good night and went to bed.
I woke up the next morning and stumbled out of bed. HOLY SHIT! Black Friday has a whole new meaning for me now. Black to describe the bruises and pain I felt in my legs, shoulders and stomach. I could barely walk – and sitting down for my morning pee was nearly impossible. After struggling to get down on the toilet seat – I then realized without those handicap bars getting back up was a nogo! After debating whether or not to call the relief society for help, I slowly and painfully managed to get back to my feet. Then came the excruciating chore of trying to get dressed – hamstrings knotting up like a telephone cord twisted to its max.

It wasn’t even 7:00 and I already had the day planned – sit on my butt and watch football and try not to move.

Utah vs. BYU

There were some great games on this weekend, but none did I look forward to more than the yearly conflict known as the Holy War (or for the kinder, gentler, more corporate pansies – The Deseret Dual) between the University of Utah and BYU. Utah came in with two losses – a heartbreaking season opener against Oregon and a humbling beat down to TCU. BYU had hefty losses to both Florida State and TCU.

The game was physical – helmets were ripped off, flags were thrown, bombs were dropped – and it took every once of Centrum for Seniors to get the Panguitch-based officiating crew through the game.

Bottom line – BYU won in OT. Bummer. But then the fireworks began. Then Max Hall held his post-game interview.

And I quote:

“I don’t like Utah. In fact, I hate them,” Hall said. “I hate everything about them. I hate their program. I hate their fans, I hate everything. … I think the whole university, their fans and their organization, is classless.”

Wow. I wonder if they are sold out of Winning for Dummies in the BYU book store.

Are you kidding me? It is actually a good thing as I will now use Max Hall as an example of bad sportsmanship and how not to act – on or off the field.

All in all it was a great weekend. And don’t get me wrong – it wasn’t all spent on football – we did manage to sneak in a showing of New Moon, but I am too embarrassed to talk about that. Edward creeps me out. Much to the dismay of my daughter, Grant and I are rooting for the werewolf.