It's Fall in Dallas. And it's 104 Degrees F.

I have a sinking feeling that the posting frequency is going to stay like this for a while. It's been three weeks since my last post and it feels much longer.

I am now through the second week of the Fall semester, Mod A (25% complete). This semester is quickly shaping up to be the most onerous thus far. Between work, school, family and referee assignments my schedule is full. At least it's the best season of the year.

* * * * *

I wrapped up the summer semester the first week in August leaving a healthy two week break before the next round of classes began. It wasn't that healthy.

These breaks can be your death knell. For many of us, after pushing for a long period without coming up for air, when the break does finally come, not only do you mentally check out, your body takes a break also. Your immune system goes AWOL. The slightest strain of anything in the air attacks you and sets you back for the entire break.

Of course, you have enough time to recover; however, this time I spent so much time physically recovering, I left no time for mental recovery. The most difficult thing after a break like this is getting motivated again. You see the same cases you have during undergraduate. You're still going over your core coursework that most likely is not all that interesting to you. And it's still nice outside. Again, for those of you who look down on the MBA, people that overcome this alone should develop at least some level of respect.

Bottom line: Avoid breaks if you can. Just suffocate yourself for two years. At least, that's what I'd prefer.

* * * * *

This semester's first module presents the final two core courses of the program; it's all electives and concentration coursework after this.

My schedule includes:

• Strategic Management; and
• Operations Management.

Both classes are decent capstones to the core coursework, but not remarkable. The assigned reading for Ops Management is "The Goal," which is required reading for nearly every undergraduate business student. I'm reading it for the fourth time. Still good, but basic.

The Ops course covers the following:

• Process Analysis and Improvement
• System Design
• Project Management
• Queue Management

This course will be common to every MBA program.

The Strategy course covers the usual as well:

• Industry Analysis (Porter's Five)
• Competitive Advantage
• The Value Chain
• Competitive Intelligence

Both courses are a good way to round out the first stage of the program. I'm just anxious to get them done.

Long Overdue Update

It's been nearly a month since I last posted. I will resume normal posting status in September once the Fall semester is in full swing.

A quick update about the last module in the summer semester:

I wrapped up Marketing Management and Corporate Finance this week with a take home final and an in class final, assigned respectively. This module was the most valuable series thus far in the program. The marketing course was case based and had the best mix of quantitative vs. qualitative instruction I've ever experienced.

Finance covered the core principles:

1. Time Value of Money
2. Net Present Value
3. Capital Budgeting
4. Stock Valuation
5. WACC
6. Etc.

The professor was a visiting lecturer. He was phenomenal. He returned to his home in Utah this week, and if you are studying at Utah in SLC, be sure to take Karl Lins as often as you can.

I'm still wrestling over which direction to take my strategy concentration: I can choose between Ops/Marketing Strategy or Finance Strategy. I have interest in both sides. I just don't have the time to adequately pursue each. I'd end up diluting them too much.

Maybe its time to do a decision tree for this.