Professional

Leadership and Feedback

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This has been a very interesting week.  Work is getting tougher and tougher as we approach a major deadline but I’m enjoying it tremendously.  However, there are a number of challenges in our project that need to be addressed.

Surprisingly, we had a forum where our executive leadership allowed us to discuss our problems.  I thought it was a great idea.  However, there were two unexpected outcomes:
– I discovered that there were people suffering from the same challenges who had not been vocal about it before.  This was very reassuring.
– The people who had been vocal about problems did not want to speak up.  This was incredibly disconcerting.

I asked my question to leadership and they addressed it as well as they could.  It seemed like they were recording my thoughts for future action.  This made me happy.  However, right after the meeting, I felt worried.  Many of my peers felt like the forum was not the right place to discuss certain problems and that specific questions would be “career limiting moves”.

I feel like I made the right decision in voicing my concerns but I appreciate the challenge that executives face when searching for feedback.  How do you create an environment where concerns can be heard while people do not feel threatened? .

Personal, Travel

What I’ve Enjoyed Most about South Korea…

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I was at a new year’s day party a few days ago, and someone asked me what I enjoyed most about  my two weeks in Korea visiting my  family. A standard question like  that usually has a boilerplate answer.  However, on this occasion, I realized  that no standard answer would  apply:

  • The people? Not since Tonga did  I meet a population that was  so friendly but so difficult to  communicate with. Outside of my parent’s multinational apartment complex, it was a challenge to  connect with anyone.  You could not get around with just English.
  • The food? I didn’t enjoy any of the  traditional Korean cuisine. I thought  Korean barbeque and soju were unique but I had a hard time  with anything else. This has never happened to me before!!
  • The city? I think Seoul is amazing.  It reminds me of Wellington in New Zealand  as it is surrounded by beautiful  mountains. The public transportation  is fantastic and there were tons of great galleries. However,  the narrow alleyways and the  amazing density of people above  and below the ground made me  claustrophobic.

What I really enjoyed most was being my family on vacation in another country.  We used to vacation together all the time when I was growing up; however, our last family vacation was twelve years ago.   Even though I could feel all of us returning to our old roles in the “Koorse family unit”, I realized how much I missed us sharing an adventure together.

New Year’s Day was incredible.  I was swarmed by thousands of people in front of the bell towers!  My claustrophobia hit me very hard but I needed to be huddled with the masses to stay warm on that ridiculously cold night.  The fireworks were going off inside the crowd but surprisingly no one seemed to care.  At one point, I joined a  group that was chanting and I followed along. .  In ten minutes, we were surrounded by police.  Unfortunately, I don’t think my crowd was yelling holiday wishes.  Fortunately, no one was hurt and I learned a valuable lesson.

Personal, Political, Travel

Story so Far…

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There are advantages and disadvantages to long intervals between blog posts.  You have a lot more to write about but there is a lot more to remember.  Regular posting is a good habit… one that you feel guilty about when you skip sessions.   I intend to play catch up with this post.  Details will be missed and stories will be forgotten but I’ll be back on track.
Here’s a brief timeline on what I’ve been up to:

  • Auctions – It felt like I was at an auction every weekend in October.  The Seattle Works Auction (SWANK) was fantastic this year.  We also attended a great auction for the Queen Anne Help Line which is an organization that I’ve been actively helping out this year.  Great people, great food, and great items + credit card = plenty of charitable contributions.  Coupled with the Gates Foundation’s generous 3:1 match on donations up to $10,000, I felt like a true investor in the community and its incredible non-profit programs.
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  • Birthday #29 – One year closer to the big 3-0. I wasn’t filled with panic like I was last year, but I definitely feel more like an adult now.  For better or worse. This was a memorable birthday!  I had some great carrot cake (sometimes a cake must not be judged by how it tastes but by the story of how it was created and why 🙂 ).  Thanks Megs!
  • A Texas Halloween – We had auctions at work to dress each other.  I purchased a few people to wear Texas T-Shirts to work.  That weekend, Texas suffered its only loss of the season against Texas Tech.  I was purchased as well and dressed up as Pedro from Napolean Dynamite.  
  • Trip to Vancouver – Vancouver is a beautiful city.  I went there for a conference but spent some extra time checking out the area.  We went to a Canucks game, explored the downtown areas, and hung out at the parks.  It is definitely worth a second visit!
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  • The Election of Barack Obama – It was hard for me not to vote for the only Republican presidential candidate that I’ve ever admired but the election turned McCain into a caricature of himself.  He called himself a maverick but adopted the principles of the far right.  I hope that someday he can return to the glory of his first few decades in the senate where he was a champion for the people regardless of the party.  I’m excited that Barack Obama is our next president!  While I don’t know how he will manage the “inbox from hell”, symbolically he represents tremendous hope and change for this country.  I’m excited that we finally have a great orator in the White House!  As for Palin, I sincerely hope she is not the future of the Republican Party.  She was great for Tina Fey’s career, but was a serious detriment to McCain’s ticket.  The voters she attracted to the ticket were offset by voters like me… people who realized how much McCain was selling out on his principles to win.  That’s all I will say about that.
  • Seaplanes and the Glass Museum – Megs and I took an entire day to enjoy some of the bounty from the auctions.  We took a seaplane over Seattle and then went to Tacoma to visit the Glass Museum.  It was a lot of fun and the weather was great!
  • Vacation in Cancun – Megs and I found a ridiculous last minute deal to Cancun and we spent a few days there before Thanksgiving.  We enjoyed some time at an All-Expenses Paid Resort, exploring the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, and kayaking in the sunshine.  Life is good!  We almost didn’t make our flight back home but that is a story for another day.
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  • Thanksgiving in Austin – I went to Austin to celebrate Thanksgiving with my little sister.  She surprised me with an awesome meal and a chance to see the Longhorns beat the tar out of the Aggies.  It was incredible!  We spent time  working out and discussing movies, TV shows, and Twilight.  I can’t wait to spend more time with her and my parents in Korea this Christmas!
  • Losing the ‘Fro – I finally got a haircut after five months of growth and deferred my attempt to re-dread my hair. It was getting a little too unprofessional and hard to manage.  I’m glad I can still grow hair though 🙂
  • Texas gets BCSed – The Longhorns have had only one loss this season.  Texas Tech beat them on a last second touchdown in Lubbock.  For all intents and purposes, this was the most miraculous play of the entire college football season.  However, due to a ridiculous set of formulas known as the BCS, they will not go to the championship game.  That honor will go instead to Oklahoma… a team Texas beat 45-35 on a neutral field.  I hope Oklahoma gets blown out by Florida and Texas destroys the Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl.  Poor Colt McCoy will probably also lose the Heisman now despite being the heart and soul of an amazing team.  Maybe he’ll be back next year to avenge this tragedy.
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  • Apartment Move – I moved down the hall to another apartment with a view of the water.  It’s much smaller than my old apartment, but nothing beats looking out the window for views of Lake Union.  I won’t be seeing July 4th from a house boat ever again but I will enjoy a distant view of the fireworks.
More details on each may be coming over the next few weeks.  However, feel free to check out the photos and their descriptions!
This is also the one year anniversary of several events that led to where I am now.  At the time, they were excruciatingly painful; now, they feel like they were blessings in disguise.  Every harrowing event in my life has led to bigger and better things.  I must have a guardian angel!
Time to focus on my MBA applications.  I love my job and the economy is in turmoil but I must keep my options open.
Personal, Political, Professional

Two More Weeks

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It’s been a busy two weeks since my last post!

  • A friend and I met with Mayor Nickels for lunch in his office.  He was incredibly charismatic and charming.  Highlights included his thoughts about his time at the Democratic National Convention and his ideas on the light rail.
  • Texas has won its first four games by ridiculous margins.  Is this the year?  It’s burnt orange Friday for me every week till the end of the season.
  • My work is going well, but I definitely feel more like a consultant than a full time Gates employee.  However, there are occasions when I realize how amazing it is to be part of such an incredible organization.  Two weeks ago we had a going away party for Patti (our current CEO) and I loved the energy.  We’re changing the world here!
  • The financial crisis is insane.  Washington Mutual closing down?  While I’m not a McCain hater or supporter at this point (I admired him so much during his first 25 years as a maverick… not as much now), he mentioned a spending freeze during the debates.  That’s a huge deal… . I’m not sure if I would agree with what he’d freeze though.
  • Watched the entire fourth season of House.  It is a great show.  It seems to follow the same story line formula for each episode, but I really enjoy how they mix it up occasionally.
It’s still sunny in Seattle.  I’m under the weather today so I can’t enjoy it as much, but life is good.
Hobbies, Personal

Salsa, Sunshine, and Stanford

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I started salsa lessons earlier this week.  As expected, I’ve forgotten all my lessons from a few years ago.  My novice companion is completely embarrassing me on the dance floor.  She’s picking up the moves so fast, it’s ridiculous.  It’s going to take a lot more work for me to do this.  AGAIN.  I couldn’t be more delighted. This is where my perseverance intersects with my lack of shame.  This is me at my best.

It’s still sunny in Seattle.  Usually the changing of the weather here has a huge impact on my mood.  Will this year be different?  I certainly hope so.

It’s also the time of the year when I need to plan for the future.  Last year, I made the mistake of deciding on business school but only applying to Stanford.  I still think an MBA is in my future, but I will apply to more schools.  I do want to come back to the Gates Foundation when I’m finished.

I watched a couple of movies this week: the critically acclaimed Pan’s Labyrinth and the manic Mission Impossible 3.  I disliked both of them.  MI3 was a waste of time… an episode of Alias without likeable characters or an overarching story line.  Pan’s Labyrinth deserved its accolades. It is brilliantly written and well-acted.  It reminded me of Mystic River… never has a brilliant movie felt more abusive.  It’s advertised as a fairy tale but it was more of a historical piece mixed in with the delusions of a young girl in misery.  MI3 was easily forgettable.  Pan’s Labyrinth is not and I would not have seen it if I knew what I was in for.

I’ve replaced my addiction to reading with a Netflix subscription.  That’s what a new 52″ HDTV will do to you.

Personal, Travel

Running Away from Seattle

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I had an awesome week at work.  I sacrificed Labor Day Weekend to change the entire approach of a presentation and it was worth it.  The presentation went well and instead of feeling like the third backup quarterback of a Super Bowl Contender, I’m finally front and center. 

However, I needed to get away.  My restlessness had increased to a point where I was having a hard time focusing.  I shared my feelings with a special friend and we decided to make an impromptu excursion to the Olympic Peninsula.  We “ran away”!

It was amazing.  We spent Friday night at a dive bar with live music and a old lion named “Bob”.  We played an awful round of pool and discovered that another world could exist a ferry ride away from Seattle.  I had a few lessons in driving with a manual brake instead of automatic.  The weather was perfect as we hiked for six hours in the Hoh Rainforest.  When we looked for a restaurant to replenish our calorie deficit, we discovered a gem of a burger shop called Bellas.  They served us massive burgers, non-alcoholic margaritas, and plastic vampire teeth on the side!

I discovered an important lesson this weekend:  to have a great time, it’s not where you run away to but who you run away with that counts.  What a paradigm shift!  I’m looking forward to our next escape!

Personal

A Busy Few Weeks!

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Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging.  I’ve had a busy few weeks:

  • My sister visited me from Austin, Texas.  We had such an awesome time!  We hung out downtown.  We watched a bunch of movies off of her netflix queue.  We watched “The Dark Knight” on an iMAX screen.
  • Work has been hectic.  I have a presentation on Tuesday that will make or break me, and I don’t feel ready for it
  • Two betas of workoutrageous are complete.  They went well, but there is definitely a challenge in getting people to be emotionally invested in the competition.

The election cycle is in full swing and the biggest surprise in the Republican VP pick – Sarah Palin.  McCain throws a hell mary pass.

Football season has just started.  Hook ’em horns!
Hobbies, Personal

Two Incredible Achievements in Entertainment

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This past week, I had a chance to see both The Dark Knight and complete Metal Gear Solid 4.  I doubt that I will ever see two mediums of entertainment achieve such greatness ever again.

The Dark Knight was spectacular.  Rarely have I ever felt like a movie about superheroes could transcend the lines between good and evil.  Christopher Nolan took Batman to new heights and Heath Ledger set the bar for villainy.  The body count in this film is tremendous and some of the deaths are mind-blowing.  However, the film goes far beyond its shock value and weaves a message of epic proportions.   Its a long movie but every minute counts.  I’ve rarely been this engaged with a film. 

I also completed Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid 4 for the PS3.  It’s a masterpiece!  Despite a convoluted, heavy handed story, it redefines the standards for virtual entertainment.  The graphics are gorgeous and the gameplay is deep and challenging.  The execution was perfect. 

If I was looking for an escape from my work and my life, I found it this week in my entertainment.   I almost feel like I need to grab a good book to top this off… I’m on a winning streak!

Personal

Furnished by IKEA!

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I’ve finally got most of my furniture from IKEA. My place looks pretty nice… it’s the first time in four years that I’ve put my own personal touches on an apartment.  The 52″ LCD Panel TV is a bit excessive but I can’t resist a bargain from Ben.

I’m starting to realize that not all furniture from IKEA is created equal. A large portion of my furniture belongs to their Norvald line. I don’t know what Norvald means, but after today I feel it is synonymous with piss poor quality control and stupid directions. While I now have a Norvald table and four chairs, I also have calloused hands and a hatred of all wood faux black. On the other hand, my new leather Vreta couch (sofa bed) just makes me happy.

I love the way my apartment looks, but I still can’t get rid of this restless feeling. After moving all this furniture into my place, I can’t help wonder what I’ll do when I’m back on the road. Is this the beginning of the end for my carry-on bag lifestyle? Will I adopt a puppy next?

At least I’m ready for my sister’s visit next month….

Personal

The Dark Knight

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I’m a huge fan of comic books.  I learned about my culture a long time ago by reading Amar Chitra Katas… Indian comic books that have illustrated versions of all the major Indian holy texts.   While comic books may not always cover important topics, they do a great job of boiling down the major concerns of the moment.  Between all the battles between heroes and villains, you get a great snapshot of people’s fears, ideals, and struggles. 

This “texture” is often lost when a comic book character goes to the big screen.  While comic books regularly push the medium by tackling difficult subjects, their big screen versions are hit and miss.  There is a simple formula they follow – the origin story, an examination of what makes a hero, and then a third movie that ruins any appeal the characters ever had. 

The Batman franchise was rebooted three years ago with Batman Begins.  This was necessary because someone screwed up the original movie incarnation of Batman.  Christopher Nolan, one of my favorite directors of all time (see Memento!), changed the entire origin story of Batman.  He used lesser known villains and less gadgetry to create a Batman for the modern age… similar to what Frank Miller did for the Batman comics books 20 years ago.  The result was a movie that was spectacular and fun.  Batman was cool again.

This past week, the sequel was released – The Dark Knight.  From all accounts, this movie sounds like it is the best comic book movie of all time.   It may be one of the best movies released this year.   I don’t think I’ve been this excited to watch a film in a long time. 

Given the unusual circumstances behind the movie, I expected it to be heavily hyped.  What i didn’t expect was all the rave reviews.  A comic book movie with “texture”… is it really possible?

Sandeep Koorse's Blog