Living in the Moment

Wake up. Go to work. Then catch the metro to school. Have classes. Meet for some group projects and do my assignments. Get on the metro back home. Do some more work. Check my emails. And then sleep. Don't forget to insert "eating" two times somewhere there. That pretty much sums my weekdays and I'm sure its similar for most of us. In the professional world, "work" replaces school and classes. But the point is our day is so regimented that we barely have time to think and reflect. It's really no one's fault that life's that way. Businesses have deadlines to meet and need employees to work their butts off. In school you have to do your homework in order to pass.

Now let's treat all these as constants (as we know we can't change constants). The only variable we can change is ourselves and our approach to these constants. Our approach to life determines everything. Often times, people fail to enjoy the moment and just experience the now. Living in the moment means just taking each day and situation as it comes (whether it be good, bad or ugly) and having a positive outlook on things. This means appreciating our employees, classmates, colleagues, family and the people around us. 

This is the mantra that I adopted about a year ago and I encourage you to adopt that same philosophy. During whatever monotonous task that you do, appreciate the moment and always be grateful for what it is. To end off, I'll quote one of my colleagues' response whenever she is asked how she's doing. She always replies "just living the dream".

More Than Just Blocks

Ernest Maier. The name doesn't tell you much about the company, right? That's because it's more than a company, it's a family of employees who work together for each other and the customers. Located in Bladensburg, MD and specializing in masonry block manufacturing, Ernest Maier sells more than just blocks.

As an intern, I am currently working on developing a business plan for a trading partnership in emerging markets. The classes I've been taking at the MSBA program have been very helpful as I've had to research new markets, plot charts and graphs, as well as do PEST and SWOT analysis among other things. One of the things I like about the company is its small size and great flexibility. This is because I not only work during "office hours" but also during weekends and virtually anytime. How is this fun you may ask? The great flexibility allows me to work on my own during my free time and then communicate back and forth with my partner and also my boss.

Did I talk about my boss and CEO of the company, Mr Quinn, with whom I share the same office space with? No kidding. Not something you see in many companies these days. Mr Quinn is a Notre Dame alum too and one of the best bosses to have. I first met him in August when Professor McHie and I met with Mr Quinn when Senator Cardin was visiting during his Made in Maryland tour. More on that here: http://blog.msba.cua.edu/2013/09/msba-intern-attends-town-hall-meeting.html

My Story

Some five years ago, way over on the other side of the Atlantic, a 17-year old boy was deciding on where to go to for college. A year later, he ended up making his way to a small town in cold northern Indiana called South Bend. With no idea of what exactly he was heading into - the harsh Midwest winters and no knowledge of American football - this young boy was ready for the challenge. Challenging though it was, he was one not to give up and he was ready for the ride.

What a ride it was! The rigorous engineering curriculum, the harsh cold winters, adapting to a new culture and environment, and being thousands of miles away from home. The joy of going to The Grotto, seeing the image of Touchdown Jesus, making long-lasting friends and creating memories along the way. Oh and how could you forget: yelling "GO IRISH" at the top of my voice every Saturday. I had been converted to a fan of American Football. And not just of the sport, but in particular of the brand that is the 'Notre Dame Fighting Irish'. It was the best four years of my life and I was glad to have had it the way I did.

In the summer of 2013, I decided to "take my talents" (in the words of Lebron) to the nation's capital. I decided I was ready for yet another challenge. I needed to complement my engineering degree by pursuing a master's degree in Business Analysis at The Catholic University of America. ,ng curriculum, the turgid y, he was one not to give up. American in a small town in No