The MBA Archway

The very first task we were given when the MBA program started on 7 January was to build an archway over the door leading into the auditorium where we have all our classes. We were 90 people and had 90 minutes to do it, so you can imagine how chaotic it all seemed when everybody jumped into action at once. I have to say that I was very impressed with the result. I had never thought it would be possible to be both creative and get everything planned, coordinated and constructed between so many people in so little time. It was amazing to see the archway come together bit by bit. You could almost see it grow.

I was carrying my camera, so I took a lot of pictures and some video clips. I have over the past couple of months worked on getting my photos organized and learning how to share the photos, include them in blogs, make webalbums and so forth. Doing this had made me curious about whether I could make a small movie also. Now that I had both the photos and the video clips from the building of the archway I decided to give it a try. You can see the result below. Not bad for a beginner if you ask me. It is incredibly easy to do this on the iMovie program that comes with a Macintosh computer. The program imports all the photos and videos automatically. You then just cut it the way you want it, drag-and-drop the music and the text into place and you've got yourself a movie.


Tip: Click in the lower right corner of the video if you want to see it in full screen.

Inspiration Steve Jobs!

Steve Jobs, founder and CEO of Apple Computers, has been through the roller coaster of life. Adopted as a kid, dropped out of college, founded Apple, grew it into a multi-billion dollar company, kicked out of the company, brought back 10 years later when it was about to go bankrupt, turned it around, changed the music industry with iTunes and has lately given the mobile phone industry a serious wake-up call with the iPhone.

He keeps inspiring me with the way he gets his people to create new things that change the world. When you listen to his speech from the 2005 Standford graduation you know why he is who he is. I listen to it from time to time, when I feel I need to give myself a 'kick in the rear'.

His points are very clear:

1. Follow you heart and trust that things will be alright down the road.

2. Do what you love. If you haven't found it: Keep looking and don't settle! Don't settle!

3. Remember that you are going to die. Only then do you see what is really important!

Once you go MAC, you never go back!

I bought a MAC some six months ago. 

MACs are something that students, artists and all those creative types use. Using a MAC would mean isolating yourself together with the other MAC geeks and not be able to share files or anything else with the rest of the (PC) world. Or so I thought.

Then I coincidentally dropped into the new MAC store i Aalborg, where I ran into the most enthusiastic salesman I have ever met. He was definitely one of the MAC geeks. It seemed to be a religion for him. Hee was fully convinced that he was selling the best product in the world and his only problem was to get me to understand that. I couldn't help smiling when he during his sales speech said 'Once you go MAC, you never go back!'

Anyway, the short story is that I walked out of there with a Macbook under my arm. Of course, there was some frustration as I after a lifetime of PC usage had to get used to the MAC ways. But....... I have to say that the MAC ways gets under your skin much faster than the PC ways. It is just so EASY and INTUITIVE. Everything installs itself automatically and you don't need a programmers degree to keep it running. And then there is of course all the 'touchy-feely' stuff that those 'create types' like. I have to admit that I am starting to like it as well, so the guy in the shop might be right. I will probably never go back.

Apple are very aware that they are the young, smart and creative guy in the class, whereas the PCs are the dusty, old, boring guy in the suit. So why not draw up those lines even harder. They have done so in a series of commercials. It cannot be a coincidence that the PC guy looks so much like Bill Gates.

You can watch the whole series here