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The Virtual ChenWhat is real? How do you define real? 20/08/2009 New York in Light, Paris in Night (zz from Andy)I have to admit that though I adore Paris, I love New York more as long as I am young.
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我在赶些什么？我耗尽青春用尽全力，拼命追求身外之物，结果我真的比别人有钱、有名吗？更重要的，我真的因此而快乐吗？远方有广阔的地平线，为何我还在原地摇过时的呼拉圈？
纽约和巴黎，代表了我人生的两个面向。纽约是白天，巴黎是黑夜。纽约是前半生，巴黎是下半场。
三十五岁之前，我认定纽约是世上最棒的城市。我在加州念研究所，毕业后迫不及待地去纽约工作。一做五年，快乐似神仙。我爱纽约的原因跟很多人一样：她是二十世纪以来世界文化的中心。丰富、方便。靠着地铁和出租车，你可以穿越时间，前后各跑数百年。人类最新和最旧、最好和最坏的东西，纽约都看得见。
所以在纽约时，我把握每分每秒去体会。白天，我在金融机构做事，一天十小时。晚上下了班，去NYU学电影，一坐四小时。在那二十多岁的年纪，忙碌是唯一有意义的生活方式。活着，就是要把自己榨干，把自己居住的城市，内外翻转过来。
这种想法并不是到纽约才有的。其实从小开始，台湾人就过着纽约生活。纽约生活，充满新教徒的打拚精神和资本主义的求胜意志。相信人要借着不断努力，克服万难、打败竞争。活着的目的，是更大、更多、更富裕、更有名。权力与财富，是纽约人的两个上帝。而能帮你走进天堂的鞋，就是事业、事业、事业。
在这种弱肉强食的生活方式，为了保持领先，每个人都在赶时间、抢资源。进了电梯，明明已经按了楼层的钮，那灯也亮了，偏偏还要再按几下，彷佛这样就可以快一点。出了公司，明明已经下班了，却还要不停讲手机，摇控每一个环节。在纽约，为达目的，可以不择手段，甚至赶尽杀绝。在纽约，没有坏人，只有失败者。
台湾，是不是也变成这样？
每一件事，都变成工作。上班当然是工作，下班后的应酬也是工作。有人谈恋爱是在工作，甚至到酒店喝酒、KTV狂欢，脸上都杀气腾腾，准备拚个你死我活。
我曾热烈拥抱这种生活，并着迷于这种因为烧烤成功而冒出的焦虑。这种焦虑让我坐在椅子边缘，以便迅速地跳起来闪躲明枪暗箭。这种警觉性让我练就了酒量和胆量、抗压性和厚脸皮。但也养成了偏执和倔强、优越感和势利眼。在纽约时我深信：能在这里活下来的，都是可敬的对手。黯然离开的，统统是输家。人生任何事，绝对要坚持到底。半途而废的，必定有隐疾。在这不睡的城市，每天我醒来，带着人定胜天的活力，跟着法兰克辛纳屈唱〈纽约‧纽约〉：「如果你能在纽约成功，你可以在任何地方成功！」是的，在纽约，现代的罗马竞技场，我要和别人，以及己，比出高低。
这套想法，在我三十五岁以后，慢慢改变。 第一件动摇我想法的，是父亲的过世。我父亲一生奉公守法、与人为善。毫无不良嗜好，身体健康地像城堡。七十二岁时，他得了癌症、引发中风，经历了所有的痛苦和羞辱。他一生辛勤工作、努力存钱、坚信现在的苦可以换得更好的明天。我们也相信一分耕耘、一分收获，用在纽约拚事业的精神照顾他。但两年的治疗兵败如山倒，最后他还是走了。父亲逝世的那天，我的价值系统崩溃了。我一路走来引以为傲的「纽约精神」，没想到这么脆弱。
不止在病床，也在职场。当我在企业越爬越高，才发现「资本主义」在职场中也未必灵验。上过班的都知道，很少公司真的是「开放市场」、「公平竞争」。大部分的同事都觉得你不是朋友、就是敌人。职场上伟大的，未必会成功。成功的，有时很渺小。很多人一辈子为公司鞠躬尽瘁，最后得到一支纪念笔。那些卷款潜逃的，反而变成传奇。。
慢慢的，我体会到：世上有一种比「善有善报、恶有恶报」更高、更复杂的公平。人生有另一种比「功成名就」更幽微、更持久的乐趣。那是冲冲冲的美式资本主义，所无法解释的。
我能在哪里找到那种公平和乐趣呢？我想过西藏、不丹、非洲、纽西兰。然后，我注意到法国。
住纽约时，法国是嘲讽的对象。身为经济、科技、和军事强权的美国，谈起法国总是忍不住调侃一番。法国是没落的贵族，值得崇拜的人都已作古。法国人傲慢，高税率，让每个人都很慵懒。动不动就罢工，连酒庄主人都要走上街头。
搬回台湾后，普罗旺斯、托斯卡尼突然流行。我看了法兰西斯‧梅思的《美丽的托斯卡尼》，其中一句话打动了我：「在加州，时间像呼拉圈。我扭个不停，却停在原地。在托斯卡尼，我可以在地中海的阳光下，提着一篮李子，逍遥地走一整天。」
是啊！我在赶些什么？我耗尽青春用尽全力，拼命追求身外之物，结果我真的比别人有钱、有名吗？更重要的，我真的因此而快乐吗？远方有广阔的地平线，为何我还在原地摇过时的呼拉圈？
当我重新学习法国，我发现法国和美国代表两种截然不同的生活方式。美国人追求人定胜天，凡事要逆流而上。法国人讲究和平共存，凡事顺势而为。纽约有很多一百层的摩天大楼，巴黎的房子都是三百年的古迹。纽约不断创新，巴黎永远有怀旧的气息。巴黎人在咖啡厅聊天，纽约人在咖啡厅用计算机。纽约有人潮，巴黎有味道。纽约有钞票，巴黎有蛋糕。
不论是政府或个人，法国人都把精神投注在食、衣、住、行等「身内之物」。就让美国去做老大哥吧。要征服太空、要打伊拉克、要调高利率、要发明新科技，都随他去。法国人甘愿偏安大西洋，抽烟、喝酒、看足球、搞时尚。当美国人忙出了胃溃疡，法国人又吃了一罐鹅肝酱。
讲到吃，法国有三百种起司、光是波尔多就有五十七个酒的产区。晚上六点朝咖啡厅门口一坐，一杯红酒就可以聊三个小时。九点再去吃晚餐，一直吃到隔天凌晨。他们在吃上所花的时间，跟我们上班时数一样。但讽刺的是：他们没有「All You Can Eat」。
吃很重要，但也要会挑时间，朋友介绍我去试一家法国餐厅，提醒我他们礼拜二、四晚上休息。「为什么？」我问。他说：「因为主厨要回家看足球。」
聪明的主厨懂法律。法国法律规定一周工作最多三十五小时，大部分的人一年有五周的假期。而美国人把加班当作自己有价值的表示，度假时还拿着手机回E-mail。法国人比美国人会玩。每年六月的巴黎音乐节，从午后到深夜，几百场露天音乐会在各处同时举行，人多到地铁都暂停收费。每年十月的「白夜」，平日入夜就打烊的店面，彻夜营业到清晨七点。每年夏天，巴黎市政府在塞纳河右岸布置了三段、总长一．八公里的人工海滩。细砂、吊床、躺椅、棕榈树，自然海滩有的景致这里都有，让没有钱去海边度假的民众，也可以享受到海滩风光。 当然，法国这么深厚的文化，不可能只从吃喝玩乐而来。美国人读书，为了考证照。法国人读书，为了搞情调。每年十月的读书节，大城市的火车站内，民众轮流上台朗诵诗句。书店营业到天明，整晚有现场演奏的乐曲。「美食书展」选在铜臭味最重的证券交易所举办。小镇书展的书直接「长」在树上，读者必须爬到树上，把书摘下来品尝。
一直跟着美国走的台湾人，会心动吗？
我心动了。十一月我到巴黎，一位法国朋友来接待我。临走前我问他：「明天你要干嘛？」
「我要去银行。」
「然后呢？」我问。
「我不懂你的意思……」
对我来说，「去银行」是吃完午饭后跑去办的小事。对法国人来说，这是他一天全部的行程。法国人总是专心而缓慢的，每天把一件小事做好。
这样的生活，对美国或台湾人来说，实在是太颓废了。的确也是。法国失业率接近10%，高税率让雇主宁愿打烊休息，免得帮员工缴税。巴黎闹区纸醉金迷，但郊区的少数民族却没有工作机会。这些都是黑暗面，但对于每日被强光烤焦的台湾人，阴暗也许提供了喘息空间。生命的终点都一样，有钱人的丧礼只是比较多人上香。不断的追赶只是提前冲向谢幕，为什么不把时间花在慢慢为生命暖场？你不需要一辈子鞠躬尽瘁、死而后已。你可以偶尔伸伸懒腰、安步当车。我从巴黎回来，台北并没有改变。关了两周的手机再度响起，一通电话找不到我的人会连续狂call十通。和朋友见面，他很关心地问我：「好了，你现在工作也辞了、欧洲也去了，接下来有什么projects？」
「Projects」？多么纽约的字眼。
我真想说：「好好生活，不就是人生最大的project？」但我知道在熙来攘往的台北街头，在不到四十岁的年纪，这样说太矫情了。况且，我今天之所以有钱有闲享受法式生活，不也正因为我曾在美式生活中得到很多利益？我仍热爱工作、热爱纽约，但已不用像二十岁时一样亦步亦趋、寸步不离。
所以我说：「我还是会早起，白天努力写作。但到了晚上，我想关掉手机。」
世界少了我，其实无所谓。但我少了我，还剩什么？ 19/06/2009 TOEFL for my referenceTOEFLFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (or TOEFL, pronounced "toe-full") evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting. It is an admission requirement for non-native English speakers at many English-speaking colleges and universities. Additionally, institutions such as government agencies, licensing bodies, businesses, or scholarship programs may require this test. A TOEFL score is valid for two years and then will no longer be officially reported since a candidate's language proficiency could have significantly changed since the date of the test. Colleges and universities usually consider only the most recent TOEFL score. The TOEFL test is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is administered worldwide. The test was first administered in 1964 and has since been taken by more than 23 million students. Policies governing the TOEFL program are formulated with advice from a 16-member board. Board members are affiliated with undergraduate and graduate schools, 2-year institutions and public or private agencies with an interest in international education. Other members are specialists in the field of English as a foreign or second language. The TOEFL Committee of Examiners is composed of 12 specialists in linguistics, language testing, teaching or research. Its main responsibility is to advise on TOEFL test content. The committee helps ensure the test is a valid measure of English language proficiency reflecting current trends and methodologies.
[edit] Formats and contents[edit] Internet-Based TestSince its introduction in late 2005, the Internet-Based test (iBT) has progressively replaced both the computer-based (CBT) and paper-based (PBT) tests, although paper-based testing is still used in select areas. The iBT has been introduced in phases, with the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy in 2005 and the rest of the world in 2006, with test centers added regularly. The CBT was discontinued in September 2006 and these scores are no longer valid. Although initially, the demand for test seats was higher than availability, and candidates had to wait for months, it is now possible to take the test within one to four weeks in most countries.[1] The four-hour test consists of four sections, each measuring one of the basic language skills (while some tasks require integrating multiple skills) and all tasks focus on language used in an academic, higher-education environment. Note-taking is allowed during the iBT. The test cannot be taken more than once a week.
It should be noted that one of the sections of the test will include extra, uncounted material. Educational Testing Service includes extra material in order to pilot test questions for future test forms. When test-takers are given a longer section, they should give equal effort to all of the questions because they do not know which question will count and which will be considered extra. For example, if there are four reading passages instead of three, then three of those passages will count and one of the passages will not be counted. Any of the four passages could be the uncounted one. [edit] Paper-Based TestIn areas where the iBT is not available, a paper-based test (PBT) is given. Test takers must register in advance either online or by using the registration form provided in the Supplemental Paper TOEFL Bulletin. They should register in advance of the given deadlines to ensure a place because the test centers have limited seating and may fill up early. Tests are administered on fixed dates 6 times each year. The test is 3 hours long and all test sections can be taken on the same day. Students can take the test as many times as they wish. However, colleges and universities usually consider only the most recent score.
[edit] Test Scores[edit] Internet-Based Test
[edit] Paper-Based Test
Most colleges use TOEFL scores as only one factor in their admission process. A sampling of required TOEFL admissions scores shows that a total score of 74.2 for undergraduate admissions and 82.6 for graduate admissions may be required. It is recommended that students check with their prospective institutions directly to understand TOEFL admissions requirements. ETS has released tables to convert between iBT, CBT and PBT scores. [edit] Registration
[edit] References[edit] Further reading
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOEFL" 24/02/2009 Just recalled another piece of funStill on that pile of shit...I flushed some tens of millions (in CNY) of payables last week. Right after the flush, I surprisingly found a HUGE RED SHINING acne on the right tip of my nose, which made me look like a clown...
Another coworker of mine flushed a similar amount on another company several days ago. His nose begins to shine today.
Conclusion: think before flush.
BTW, I am expecting another flush before annual report filing with a same amount in different currency...
Oops. A piece of funI'm doing year end audit now and the client's accounting book looks some sort of total pile of shit. One of my coworker asked 'how shall I suppose to do with that'?
'In the face of shit, we flush.' said I. 07/02/2009 GMAT for my referenceGraduate Management Admission Test From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT, pronounced G-mat) is a computer adaptive standardized test in the English language for measuring aptitude to succeed academically in graduate business studies. Business schools commonly use the test as one of many selection criteria for admission into an MBA program. It is given at various locations around the world. Throughout North America and in many international locations, the GMAT is administered only via computer. In those international locations where an extensive network of computers has not yet been established, the GMAT is offered either at temporary computer-based testing centers on a limited schedule or as a paper-based test (given once or twice a year) at local testing centers. As of 2007, the fee to take the test is U.S. $250 worldwide.[1]
The Test The exam measures basic verbal, mathematical and analytical writing skills that the examinee has developed over a long period of time in his/her education and work. Test takers are given 3.5 hours to answer questions in each of the three tested areas, and there are also two 5-minute breaks; in general, the test takes about four hours to complete. Scores are valid for five years (at most institutions) from the date the test taker sits for the exam until the date of matriculation (i.e. acceptance, not until the date of application). The Stanford University Graduate School of Business website offers a "test results calculator" [1] useful for determining the expiration date of test scores. The maximum score that can be achieved on the exam is 800. Over the past 3 years, the mean score has been 535.2.[2]
The verbal section consists of 41 multiple choice questions, which must be answered within 75 minutes. There are three types of questions: sentence correction, critical reasoning and reading comprehension. The verbal section is scored from 0 to 60 points. Over the past 3 years, the mean has been 27.8/60; scores above 44 and below 9 are rare.[2][3]
This tests grammar and expression. Sentence correction items consist of a sentence, all or part of which has been underlined, with five associated answer choices. The test taker must choose the best way of rendering the underlined part. This question type tests the ability to recognize standard Written English. The task is to evaluate the grammar, logic, and effectiveness of a given sentence and to choose the best of several suggested revisions. Choice (A) repeats the original; the other answer choices vary. It tests the ability to recognize correct and effective expression. It follows the requirements of Standard Written English: grammar, word choice and sentence construction. The goal is to choose the answer that results in the clearest, most exact sentence and does not change the meaning of the original sentence.
This tests logical thinking. Critical thinking items present an argument that the test taker is asked to analyze. Questions may ask test takers to draw a conclusion, to identify assumptions, or to recognize strengths or weaknesses in the argument. It presents brief statements or arguments and ask to evaluate the form or content of the statement or argument. Questions of this type ask the examinee to analyze and evaluate the reasoning in short paragraphs or passages. For some questions, all of the answer choices may conceivably be answers to the question asked. The examinee should select the best answer to the question, that is, an answer that does not require making assumptions that violate common sense standards by being implausible, redundant, irrelevant, or inconsistent.
This tests the ability to read critically. Reading comprehension questions relate to a passage that is provided for the examinee to read. The passage can be about almost anything, and the questions about it test how well the examinee understands the passage and the information in it. As the name implies, it tests the ability of the examinee to understand the substance and logical structure of a written selection. The GMAT uses reading passages of approximately 200 to 350 words, covering topics from social sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, and business. Each passage has three or more questions based on its content. The questions ask about the main point of the passage, about what the author specifically states, about what can be logically inferred from the passage, and about the author's attitude or tone.
The quantitative section consists of 37 multiple choice questions, which must be answered within 75 minutes. There are two types of questions: problem solving and data sufficiency. The quantitative section is scored from 0 to 60 points. Over the past 3 years, the mean score has been 35.6/60; scores above 50 and below 7 are rare.[2][4]
Most international MBA programs take only the quantitative section into account, as the degrees they offer will not be taught in English. These areas normally demand a higher quantitative score and ignore the verbal sections.
This tests the quantitative reasoning ability. Problem-solving questions present multiple-choice problems in arithmetic, basic algebra, and elementary geometry. The task is to solve the problems and choose the correct answer from among five answer choices. Some problems will be plain mathematical calculations; the rest will be presented as real life word problems that will require mathematical solutions. Numbers: All numbers used are real numbers. Figures: The diagrams and figures that accompany these questions are for the purpose of providing useful information in answering the questions. Unless it is stated that a specific figure is not drawn to scale, the diagrams and figures are drawn as accurately as possible. All figures are in a plane unless otherwise indicated.
This tests the quantitative reasoning ability using an unusual set of directions. The examinee is given a question with two associated statements that provide information that might be useful in answering the question. The examinee then must determine whether either statement alone is sufficient to answer the question; whether both are needed to answer the question; or whether there is not enough information given to answer the question. Data sufficiency is a unique type of math question created especially for the GMAT. Each item consists of the questions itself followed by two numbered statements. The examinee must decide whether the statements — either individually or in combination — provide enough information to answer the question. (A) If statement 1 alone is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient. (B) If statement 2 alone is sufficient to answer the question, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient. (C) If both statements together are needed to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient. (D) If either statement by itself is sufficient to answer the question. (E) If not enough facts are given to answer the question.
The Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) section of the test consists of two essays. In the first, the student must analyze an argument and in the second the student must analyze an issue. Each essay must be written within 30 minutes and is scored on a scale of 0-6. The essay is read by two readers who each mark the essay with a grade from 0-6, in 0.5 point increments with a mean score of 4.1. If the two scores are within one point of each other, they are averaged. If there is more than one point difference, the essays are read by a third reader.[5] The first reader is Intellimetric, a proprietary computer program developed by Vantage Learning, which analyzes creative writing and syntax of more than 50 linguistic and structural features.[6] The second and third readers are humans, who evaluate the quality of the examinee's ideas and his or her ability to organize, develop and express ideas with relevant support. While mastery of the conventions of written English factor into scoring, minor errors are expected, and evaluators are trained to be sensitive to examinees whose first language is not English.[5] Most business schools do not weigh the AWA as heavily as the verbal and quantitative sections of the test. Some schools ignore the AWA altogether.[citation needed] Each of the two essays in the Analytical Writing part of the test is graded on a scale of 0 (the minimum) to 6 (the maximum):
The "Total Score", comprising the quantitative and verbal sections, is exclusive of the analytical writing assessment (AWA), and ranges from 200 to 800. About two-thirds of test takers score between 400 and 600. The score distribution resembles a bell curve with a standard deviation of approximately 100 points, meaning that the test is designed for 68% of examinees to score between 400 and 600, while the median score was originally designed to be near 500. The 2005/2006 mean score was 533.[7] The quantitative and verbal sections comprise a computer-adaptive test. The first question may be difficult. The next few questions in each section may be around the 500 level. If the examinee answers correctly, the next questions are harder. If the examinee answers incorrectly, the next questions are easier. The questions are pulled from a large pool of questions and delivered depending on the student's running score. These questions are regularly updated to prevent them from being compromised by students recording questions. The final score is not based solely on the last question the examinee answers (i.e. - the level of difficulty of questions reached through the computer-adaptive presentation of questions). The algorithm used to build a score is more complicated than that. The examinee can make a silly mistake and answer incorrectly and the computer will recognize that item as an anomaly. If the examinee misses the first question his score will not necessarily fall in the bottom half of the range. Also, questions left blank (that is, those not reached) hurt the examinee more than questions answered incorrectly. This is a major contrast to the SAT, which has a wrong-answer penalty. Each test section also includes several experimental questions, which do not count toward the examinee's score, but are included to judge the appropriateness of the item for future administrations. Verbal and Quantitative Section scores range from 0 to 60. Analytical Writing Assessment scores range from 0 to 6 and represent the average of the ratings from the two GMAT essays. The essays are scored differently from the Verbal and Quantitative sections and are not included in the total score.
Required Scores Most schools do not publish a minimum acceptable score or detailed statistics about the scores achieved by applicants. However, schools do generally publish the average and median score of their latest intake, which can be used as a guide. At nearly all of the top business schools that are commonly listed in popular magazines and ranking services, the scores will average in the upper 600s or low 700s. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, commonly regarded as one of the top business schools in the U.S., reports an average score of 715;[8] Harvard Business School, another top tier U.S. business school, reports a 2006 average of 707. Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management reports an average GMAT of 700, with approximately 75 percent of enrolled students scoring between 650 and 740.[9] At the Indian School of Business the class of 2009 reports an average score of 714.[10] INSEAD, a leading global business school with a highly multinational student body, reports a 2005 average of 705.[11] It may be possible to overcome a low test score with impressive real world accomplishments, good undergraduate performance, outstanding references and/or connections, particularly strong application essays, or coming from an underrepresented group.
Registration and preparation The test taker can register in either of the following two ways:
To schedule a test, an appointment must be made at one of the designated test centers. While it is possible to make the appointment even just a few days before you would like to take the test, it is better to schedule a few weeks in advance to ensure an appointment that is convenient for the student. Third party companies have different test preparation options available, which may include self-study using GMAT books, classroom GMAT preparation courses (live or online), online preparation courses, or private tutoring.
01/02/2009 A late NIU year!I finally got my computer all fixed at the last minute of new year holiday and at last spent almost half a day going through the bulging inbox. Fact is during the bloody pre-new-year reporting week I somehow bought my computer a drink and apparently she got easily drunk, which made me both glad and mad when she revives: the glad part is I at once received piles of updates and new year greetings, which was so much more a pleasure comparing to piece-by-piece drop in, especially when Gangding's dating notice flickered in MSN; while the mad part is all what I received was so late that I surely missed several fancy gatherings...
Anyway, late or not, the new year comes as was scheduled! 2008 was a truely remarkable year for the world as it witnessed Olympics, elections, disasters, wars, and the vanish of three top financial institutions; and for me as an individual, 2008 did play a part: I finally got what Harry Lewis meant 'slow down' and started to think of making choices, hard choices, between doing more things and leaving some possibilities aside. 2009 is about the time to really explore the unknown possibilities. I have a feeling that it gotta be fun.
Market is down, I am not~ 15/09/2008 Living in stormI can even imagine the head lines of todays' WSJ: LEH Collapses, Merill Sold... What a day!
It took only six months to turn the Five Banks on Street to Two and I am shocked how dramatic the volatility could be for finance world. My friends in the surviving firms are starting to 'take a chance' to visit their offices: the smell of anxiety is increasingly obvious in the air.
The street is suffering from an unprecedented storm. Well, a 150+ years' history does not provide shield for that, umbrellas do.
30/08/2008 One year aroundIt's been really a while since I last time came here...maybe nearly a year I guess. Many things happened, many people knew, many minds changed.
I wanna first say I am still at where I were a year before since many of my friends greet me over messenger with 'Have you left the audit firm?'... In this year, honestly, I did not do something special or magnificent. Well, costing the firm some $150k in budgeting may take into count, I'm afraid. Life in an audit firm is more like vacation than what I had in consulting firms. Logically, I do not have to push myself all day long and I am blessed to slow the world down to allow me some niche to actually do some think on my own mind.
Recently I found the marrow of life is just to make some sense even if I am in a total mess of non-sense. That is basically what I really learnt in my first post-college year.
I have no idea of what I am talking about. 20/03/2008 News feeds from ChenWell, it's been pretty a while since I last time left a mark here. Things happened during that time and now I have two pieces of news.
Here comes the good news: I am more detailed, which means there is less possiblity for me to make stupid mistakes. Life as an auditor involves huge amounts of checking and reviewing, which are always accompanied by break-downs, sum-ups, and cross references. Thus precision and prudence are among the top priorities for a daily auditor. It is so good to get everything mathematically right, as Frank once told me 'sense of numbers is the very mother of all business disciplines'. And by the way, my Excel skill also got improved. Although not so fancy as what I can do to slides, spreadsheets can be fancy anyway.
The bad news is I am sort of over-detailed. Over-detail suffers, at a first thought, structured thinking. Often I find myself talking endlessly with clients on some tiny issues while do not focus on the subsequent impacts. Here I talked about impacts, actually I am working in an industry does not expect impacts on results (impacts from auditors always have some linkage with frauds and financial scandals). Things got to change.
To be continued... 21/01/2008 Words before something really comesA couple of hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin shared with the world the secret of his success. Never leave that till tomorrow, he said, which you can do today. This is the man who discovered electricity. You think more people would listen to what he had to say. I don't know why we put things off, but if I had to guess, I'd have to say it has a lot to do with fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, sometimes the fear is just of making a decision, because what if you're wrong? What if you're making a mistake you can't undo? The early bird catches the worm. A stitch in time saves nine. He who hesitates is lost. We can't pretend we hadn't been told. We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn poets urging us to seize the day. Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore. Until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin really meant. That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beat the hell out of never trying.
-Dr. Meredith Grey 20/11/2007 Let's case!We have a client named Chen Lin. He wants to be a consultant but currently working for an accounting frim. He has some consulting sense but not enough for a qualified management consultant. Now he wants know what should he do in his career choice.
Here follows something you should take care when attacking the problem:
What do you think? 18/11/2007 Consulting consulting consultingOops, I did it again.
I was applying to some sort of consulting firms these days for a second time, wanting to achieve a prison break in real life. But as I said, life itself is a huge joke that blessed me a nearer point of view and at that exact time shut the door again. Logically, it should be pretty much sad indeed to be turned down while actully I felt a little bit relieved. This feeling is strange to me: does it mean I am going to give up consulting? I asked myself hundreds of times yesterday and everytime I got a firm NO.
In interviews this year, I saw many familliar faces who are running here and there around accross the city, being eager to get a consulting job. Some of them can be easily satisfied by receiving a call or get gloomy by losing one. Some are trying hard to memorize the so-called frameworks and feel happy when apply one of them into a real interview while for most of time, they found their cases not that textbook. Some are doing everything he or she can to gather 'byway info' from every company that bears a consulting name. Others? Just passers-by. Me? I got a better view of the business logic in the whole process but lost grace in the latest part.
That part of my life is called 'in pursuit of happiness'.
As the happiness I was pursuing sliped by, I must find something else. Henry said the utmost goal of life is the happiness at present time, not in the unpredictable future. I believed that too. 11/10/2007 zz from Run: Sense在刘润的地盘上看到一片对于sense这种东西的精确描述，一冲动就把它偷过来了：太有sense了！
说一个自以为优秀的男人没有Sense，就象说一个自以为精致的女人没有taste一样，是致命的。天啊，你看吧，女人会用微笑来掩护，用语言来战斗，用目光来突袭，觉得“我”没有taste的人才是没有taste。而男人，则会把你蔑视到蒸发，但是依然微笑着，绅士般的一摊手：“whatever”，觉得“我”没有sense的人那才叫没有sense。 Sense好像很难翻译，有点判断力的意思，有点直觉的意思，还有点经验论的意思。但是“没有sense”很好理解，就是“你这个木鱼脑袋”，“你怎么就这么不懂事呢”，“侬哪能嘎许拎不清”，“拜托你有点判断力好不好”。 在侦探届，最有sense的男人可能是福尔摩斯。举世闻名的大侦探福尔摩斯，第一次遇见他未来的助手华生时说了一句话。这句话成为后来150年推理史上最经典、最石破天惊的一句话：
我当时一看就知道你是从阿富汗来的。由于长久以来的习惯，一系列的思索飞也似地掠过我的脑际，因此在我得出结论时，竟未觉察得出结论所经的步骤。但是，这中间是有着一定的步骤的。在你这件事上，我的推理过程是这样的：‘这一位先生，具有医务工作者的风度，但却是一副军人气概。那么，显见他是个军医。他是刚从热带回来，因为他脸色黝黑，但是，从他手腕的皮肤黑白分明看来，这并不是他原来的肤色。他面容憔悴，这就清楚地说明他是久病初愈而又历尽了艰苦。他左臂受过伤，现在动作品来还有些僵硬不便。试问，一个英国的军医在热带地方历尽艰苦，并且臂部负过伤，这能在什么地方呢？自然只有在阿富汗了。’这一连串的思想，历时不到一秒钟，因此我便脱口说出你是从阿富汗来的…… － 福尔摩斯，十九世纪
“历时不到1秒钟”，把所有的判断过程变成一个黑盒，“未觉察得出结论所经的步骤”而脱口得出结论，这种被本能化了的“洞察力”是一种sense。 在管理界，杰克·韦尔奇是很有sense的。他把这种sense叫做“直觉”。
例如，你正在考虑投资于一幢新的办公楼，但是参观那个城市的时候，你看见四处吊车林立。别人告诉你，这个项目的各种投资测算结果都是绝对完美的，但你经历过类似的场面，你知道，很快就会出现办公用房的过剩，这个“完美”的投资至少要打六折。你并没有确实的证据，但你的本能告诉你的确如此。 那你就必须取消这项投资政策，而不惜得罪其他人。 有时，在进行人员挑选的时候直觉也会发挥作用。你遇到了一名候选人，他拥有所有正面的评价：他的履历是完美的—名牌学校毕业，经历丰富，他的面试让人印象深刻—有力的握手、坦率的视觉接触、巧妙的提问等等。然而，有些说不清楚的事情让你不放心。可能他跳槽的次数太多了—在短短几年时间里，他换了太多的职位，却没有提供让人可以接受的解释；或者他似乎有点精力过剩；或者以前某个老板对他说了些好听的话，但是听起来仿佛有点言不由衷。 此时，你的直觉又在说话了：不要雇用那个人。 － 杰克·韦尔奇，二十一世纪
直觉，就是一种“模式识别”现象。“有的事情你已经多次遇到了，因此这次再发生的时候，你能感觉到会发生什么后果……你被选做一名领导，是因为你阅历丰富，做对事情的时候更多。因此，要学会倾听自己的直觉，它会告诉你某些东西。”这种被直觉化了的“判断力”是一种sense。 某种意义上说，SENSE，是 “被本能化了的洞察力”和“被直觉化了的判断力”。 如果说管理学的知识、基于数据的决策是剑法，那么sense就是心法。同样一套最普通的小擒拿手，练过易筋经心法的大师使出来，就是会不一样，甚至比九阴真经还要威猛，地动天摇（注：相关“术语”，请参考金庸武侠系列）。 美女老师来给我们上“管理决策行为”，对她、对我们都是一种极大的挑战。老师问：“你们上过‘数据模型和决策’（DMD）课，那有没有做过那道题？就是那道、那道、就是、就是……”这位可爱的美女老师一着急，怎么也说不出来是哪道题。我很想帮一下她，一用力，于是DMD的上百道题中有忽然一道题非常清晰的浮现在我的脑中，我回答：“做过”。哄堂大笑，老师也很好笑：“我还没说是哪道题，你怎么就说做过？”我说了我脑海中的那题，这下老师从好笑变为惊讶了：“对的，对的，但是，你是怎么知道我要说这一题的？”我说：“我就是知道了。” 原来，Sense还可以救美。 07/10/2007 Pathway to Big Four - PS partI received a strange mail today addressing PwC Hong Kong, which looks like the following:
Now I know why I received no reply from that place last year.
Sorry, E&Y. Your IT is obviously not the worst. 05/09/2007 I call it long sentenceI was shocked at a news that one of my favourite supervisors left my favourite firm, which happens to be leading my favourite industry, last week and was disappointed that my favourite firm turned me down for a second time out of nearly no decent reasons, but for some particular reason I started to doubt if I am competitive enough to be in my favourite firm, or even my favourite industry.
Someone is telling me that she is giving up some kind of mess coz she is now thinking of leaving today while I seem to remember that it is the same person who tried to persuade me of staying in that mess several months ago and the real joke point is I myself is trying to make some sense to the whole non-sense mess really hard now, hoping that pile of mess does not set any obstacles in my messy future, despite the fact that I have always been hating that pile of mess.
Well, what did I say? |
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