Nathanael Yellis

Today's reading told me that success in class depends on active engagement, diligent preparation, and frequent reflection.

I completed the net worth exercise on Monday. I valued my accounts, short-term liabilities, and material goods quite easily. This morning, something new crossed the net worth radar. I ran a business while in college, selling bottled beverages from my dorm refrigerator. It started out as a way to recoup the cost of the fridge and raise a little cash to cover my laundry expenses. It turned into a way for me to test my sales skills. When I graduated, I attempted to sell the business's assets (fridge and inventory) and its brand. There were no takers. Today, someone wanted to buy the brand and my advertising copy skills. I created some unique print ads and a few emails every semester. I thought these things fun and they always netted a few sales. Apparently, to this buyer, my advertising copy was the valuable part of the business.

... then be willing to deliver your service!

Today I calculated my own net worth and read the first third of The Millionaire Next Door. The book is a great use of social science. Many of our society's conceptions of the wealthy are inaccurate; the authors use surveys and interviews to explain who the wealthy are and how they obtained and maintain their wealth.

This week was busy. Although I had relatively few assignments, each one seemed to take longer (and more sittings) than it should have. Other obligations seemed to mount as well.

Yesterday I finally had the chance to commence reading a book I purchased a few months ago, The Soul of a Business . Its a great first-person account of the challenge of being an entrepreneur. I am thoroughly enjoying his perspective and am learning through his account.

As I read through my current bit of coursework this morning, I came across a familiar word. Consulting. The article I read used it to define people's roles,...

This document described the many factors that influence the level and type of competition in an industry. Most of its descriptive analysis was intuitive and thus helpful...

Today my family was visited by relatives we hadn't seen in 10-12 years. They are an older couple and entertained the less busy folks around home with stories of their travels and grandchildren. I walked into the room and gave them a 1.5 minute update on my life before I went to work...