Life takes over GMAT...

Attending weddings, receptions; Work-related late night problem solving; Playing Table Tennis, Lawn Tennis; Roaming around Passport office; Catching up(read: night outs) with old friends who are in town... you get the essence - life takes over GMAT :)

Irony is that when I had lot of time, I didn't utilize it properly. Now when I actually need time, I just can't have it :) There's got to be a name for this phenomena. 

A genius scored only 710 in GMAT...

Today, my dear friend took GMAT without much preparation and scored (only)710. This is the guy whose intellect inspires me. He didn't do justice to himself with that score; he is definitely 800 material. This is the guy who cracked IIT entrance without preparation. This is the guy who got 750 in GMAT prep without preparation. But then everyone has his or her own priorities. In my book, a score of 710 for a doting husband and father is equivalent to 750. All the best mate. You truly amaze me.

Work-GMAT balance

Let me first confess that GMAT gets to you. In the beginning, I just can't stop thinking about GMAT. All I want to do is study for GMAT. It's hard not to prepare for GMAT all the time. But, at the end of the day, GMAT is just a means to an end. Work is much more important.

When I started the GMAT preparation, I made it a point to keep my work & GMAT preparation separate, and not to neglect the work. I have a great boss and he is very supportive of my MBA plans from the start (yes, I am one of the few lucky guys). He is supportive to the extent that he offered me to reduce my work load(yes, you read that right). Worst thing I could do, during the whole MBA application process, is straining my relationship with him. So I compartmentalized work and GMAT. And boy, am I happy! I am much more efficient at work now as I am utilizing my time optimally. And you know what, my boss was saying the other day that I don't seem like putting enough time into my GMAT preparation :) See, the beauty of compartmentalization!