Reggie Bautista P.S. It's good to hear from you, Guatam. How have you been? Have you started your new job yet? I've been reading the McKinsey Quarterly since I found out you were going to be working there, and I've enjoyed it a lot.
Me: Hi Reggie. I'm around, but have been rather turned off by what's been going on on the list. I haven't unsubscribed yet, but I can't claim to be reading carefully either. I have been very well, on the whole. I'm wrapping up my job at the Kennedy School and about to head off to Dartmouth for 4 weeks of training. Then on to NYC in September to join The Firm (yes, people really call it that - I can't help but start laughing every time I hear it). Things are phenomenally busy at work as I'm basically training this year's team on how to do what I've spent the last year doing - and I'm the only one in the office who was involved in this project last year, so it's just me. That's the other reason I've been quiet. Well, and the third reason is I'm spending a lot of time in the gym, I guess, but that's optional, instead of a product of circumstance :-) I'm no longer roughly spherical as I was last year, although I can't claim to be exactly "thin" either. I have gotten a real taste at how out of shape I used to be, however, as I've had to go suit shopping the last few days and had the managers of three stores inform me that I now have to buy custom made :-( So everyone who wonders why I'm consulting - it's either that or go naked, and I haven't spent enough time in the gym to get away with that yet :-) Let's see, what else is going on...I've been learning to sail, and spending almost every weekend out on the Charles River. It's an enormous amount of fun - I wish I'd started years earlier. I really can't believe how much I've changed since I went to college. My hobbies then were probably reading, and, well, reading. Now it's sailing, weightlifting, baseball (and reading). I would never have imagined that even two years ago, much less five. The first time you do a jib in high winds and see the boom SWISH! over your head - that's really exciting. Just great. Any of the New Yorkers on the list - is there any sort of community boating in New York City? I've heard not from everyone I've asked, but I do hope otherwise. I'm touched to hear that my joining McK inspired you to read the Quarterly. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on it. At some point in my career there I very much hope to write for them, of course. Do you have a particular interest in management that lead you to read it? I actually didn't start reading it until _after_ I decided to join, but I have to admit that it's much more interesting than I ever thought a business publication would be. What have you been up to? Let's get some other thread going - something more interesting than various rants. What's going on in your life? Anything big happening? Gautam
