Nathanael Yellis

From an HBS article on pricing, under the heading "strategy:"

My classmates and I have heard the message often: Acton has a big workload.

I do not know if anyone that doesn't know me reads this, or if everyone that knows me has a foggy clue about what I'm up to these days. I hope to serve my readers (all two of you) by giving a brief update on the ongoing saga my life.

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.