PRAGUE POST #1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Things are going great on all fronts. Ingrid & I nicely settled down in Prague, McKinsey job is in line with expectations and our shirt business is moving forward too. I am reliving HBS times via my brother Milan who is now getting his MBA at INSEAD.
BACK TO PRAGUE - APARTMENT
I did my best to apply learnings from HBS operations course and got us an apartment in the very center, 50m (yards) from McKinsey building. Anything closer to the office would have to be a conference room. I chose our place over really cool apartments like the one right on the Old Town Square in the 14th century Tynsky Temple, but so far, optimizing logistics pays off big time.
All of 3 bedrooms have castle view. You are very much welcomed to visit. However, I have to worn you that a smashing Russian commando will spend New Year's Eve party in our apartment so you should hurry up if you care about the ambience. ;-)
MCKINSEY
Procter & Gamble used to be pretty secretive, but after I read my McKinsey confidentiality contract, I am not even sure I can say that I work here ;-). That said, caliber of partners, structured thinking, excellent systems and fast pace reassured me that I will have a pretty steep learning for a couple of years. Importantly, I like impact and these guys seem to be pretty serious about it. They are also pretty serious about putting in the hours - my boss is supposed to be part-time and we already pulled some 80+ hour weeks which makes me wonder what the full time looks like. Still the weekends are free so far, so no complains.
FAMILY
Both Ingrid & my brother Milan were promoted to Associate Director at Deloitte Financial Advisory in Slovakia. Ingrid started a Central-European/US project with US Steal. However, so far, she has spent every weekend in Prague so on the time spent together, we are indexing about 350 vs. year ago when she was in London and I was at HBS. We have great time in Prague including ski weekends in Austria and family weekends in Slovakia.
Milan is enjoying his time at INSEAD. Our parties at HBS were pretty good, but INSEAD guys seam to do at least as well - at minimum in marketing them. Check out some of their self-made promotion videos www.villecerf.com/ video.html or www.montmelian.org/ - the video link is under the pics on the party homepage. I am not sure if they have time left for anything else, but Milan fortunately already managed to get a nice PE job in London also thanks to advise from some of you (thanks Stefan & Brian).
ERGONI.COM SHIRTS
We reached an important milestone. Finally we have more customers than founding partners ;-). Marc Lau & I have spent half of the summer in Bombay. It is going slowly (there are only so many hours left after 70-80 hour weeks) but it is going & we are still pretty excited about it. The quality of our shirts finally reached a level at which we are happy to roll out. If you want to have a laugh, you can go to www.ergoni.com. We will soon have a new look of the website, so don't laugh too hard. Although funny-looking, the website is functional and US-based brave guys (we only ship to US/UK/Czech/Slovak so far) can order a shirt – we have a coupon "friend" which will get you down to $29 dollars for the first shirt. Please don't order more than one shirt for your & our safety (seriously). Also, for a moment, please DON'T pass this link – we are still in a testing phase.
PRAGUE POST #2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Single again, I am increasingly enjoying Prague and McKinsey. When time left, I enjoy challenges of a new bachelor life, work on Ergoni, do mentoring, salsa and play accordion.
Single again, I am increasingly enjoying Prague and McKinsey. When time left, I enjoy challenges of a new bachelor life, work on Ergoni, do mentoring, salsa and play accordion.
BACHELORHOOD
The toughest and at the same time the important decision of last year was becoming single again. Although, I believe Ingrid is a great person and I still miss her, I am convinced that each of us is better off on our own. I also have to admit that I do enjoy bachelorhood with new challenges it brings.
The toughest and at the same time the important decision of last year was becoming single again. Although, I believe Ingrid is a great person and I still miss her, I am convinced that each of us is better off on our own. I also have to admit that I do enjoy bachelorhood with new challenges it brings.
McKINSEY
I am increasingly enjoying McKinsey. Although there is no time left on week-days for private life, weekends are mostly free. Importantly, I feel I am learning, which is always a good sign ;). I published my first article in Euro (Economist of Czech Republic ;-) on pricing and I am looking into opportunities in PE practice within McKinsey. Although PE is becoming tougher place to be in, I would like to stay close to it. What really strikes me about PE vs. public companies is superior value-add from active/rigorous ownership and long-term focus. McKinsey does both strategic due diligence (2-3 weeks target company evaluation) and 100-day studies (first 100-day strategy for a newly-acquired company).
I am increasingly enjoying McKinsey. Although there is no time left on week-days for private life, weekends are mostly free. Importantly, I feel I am learning, which is always a good sign ;). I published my first article in Euro (Economist of Czech Republic ;-) on pricing and I am looking into opportunities in PE practice within McKinsey. Although PE is becoming tougher place to be in, I would like to stay close to it. What really strikes me about PE vs. public companies is superior value-add from active/rigorous ownership and long-term focus. McKinsey does both strategic due diligence (2-3 weeks target company evaluation) and 100-day studies (first 100-day strategy for a newly-acquired company).
ERGONI
Though we have almost no time left for it, Ergoni is slowly getting better and better. Make sure you visit www.ergoni.com improved quality greatly and have amazing non-iron shirts by now – Brooks Brother fabrics made to measure with personalized label at hard to beat price of $39 (for you $29 with the "friend" coupon). The order takes 3 minutes and my personal guarantee you will LOVE the quality and fit of your new Ergoni shirt. ;-)
Though we have almost no time left for it, Ergoni is slowly getting better and better. Make sure you visit www.ergoni.com improved quality greatly and have amazing non-iron shirts by now – Brooks Brother fabrics made to measure with personalized label at hard to beat price of $39 (for you $29 with the "friend" coupon). The order takes 3 minutes and my personal guarantee you will LOVE the quality and fit of your new Ergoni shirt. ;-)
MENTORING, MUSIC, SALSA
After finishing INSEAD, my brother Milan has started with Advent - Private Equity shop here in Prague. It is great to have him around after years of being apart. We have started a small scholarship and mentoring at our alma mater City University in Slovakia. I also mentor couple of talented guys here in Prague which I find quite fulfilling.
I still play accordion when time allows. My last performance on McKinsey retreat was in front of ~500 people. It was pretty international - Slovak representing Czech office with a German guy representing Hungarian office, singing and playing Slovak folk songs together in Crete. Of course, I had my special Slovak folk costume on and of course it was a big success J. I bet Slota - a crazy leader of Slovak National Party – would be proud of me ;-)
Talking music, I also started dancing Salsa with private trainer – Angolan guy who is an amazing dancer. After a month of training, my friend and I went to Salsa club. Seeing all those pros on the dance floor, it took a lot of our trainer's pep talk and quite a few drinks to start dancing. I noticed quite a few mathematician-type freaks dance salsa because once you learn the moves, it can partially cover your deficit in dancing talent. So I guess it might be the right place for me. ;-)
CZECHO-SLOVAK ADRENALINE CRAZE
I have to attach video of these two Czech maniacs, who decided to ski down the second highest peak of Slovakia. Tomas Kraus, the world champ in ski cross, made a bet afterwards that he can do the same thing in summer without snow too. The result is this crazy video which is now also featured on Nike global extreme site. I will have to learn some tricks from these guys. I was writing these lines in Solden, where I managed to twist my right shoulder – on the same slope I dislocated my left shoulder last year- to note I am skiing on snow ;-)
http://xman.idnes.cz/video-jak-sjel-kraus-lomnicak-bez-snehu-d9d-/xman-adrenalin.asp?c=A071025_132305_xman-adrenalin_ptp
Last but not least, I really love to live in Prague - glamorous city you should consider visiting. Last year I had over 40 visitors who stayed at my place, so I guess I qualify as an experienced Prague guide by now.
PRAGUE POST #3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Still alive and kicking (kickboxing too :), I have had a fantastic last year both on and off-the-job. Got promoted in November to an engagement manager, enjoyed mentoring young talents, getting active in Prague Harvard club, playing accordion, and facing pleasures of a single life. I just returned from an amazing month road trip in Middle East - enjoying my 3 months off. Life is great! :)
McKINSEY
I am enjoying McKinsey increasingly more - especially now on 3-month leave of absence :))) As an engagement manager leading small team, it is even much more fun than ever before. I also enjoyed getting into PE commercial due diligence projects as they do give a high-level investor look at the business that I was missing before. I should be finishing my 1-year PE rotation soon, but would like to further focus on PE and consumer goods/marketing.
MENTORING AND HARVARD CLUB
As I believe in multiplication effect, I truly enjoy mentoring young talents in my region. This includes helping them to get into HBS and INSEAD or providing financial support via joint scholarship with my bro at our alma mater in Slovakia. I am already now looking forward to teaching when I retire as this is one of the things I have a lot of passion for.
Over the last year, I got quite involved in organizing events for Harvard Club in Prague where I serve on the board. Apart from getting to know great people locally, we did some cool events like HBS Centennial lecture in Prague or Harvard/INSEAD sushi extravaganza where we made an elementary mistake of competing with INSEAD folks in karaoke with quite catastrophic results. What shall I say; the next event will be probably with Columbia. :)
ACCORDION
I must have been a gypsy in my previous life as I can’t get enough of playing gypsy songs. What’s worse, I not only play but also sing them. Security guide got so alarmed during my recent singing performance in McKinsey garage that he came horrified to check who was attacked :) Music fascinates me so much that I even started playing from music sheets again after 15 years to learn tango from Al Pacino's Scent of Woman - Por Una Cabeza. I love it. When I grow up, I am going to play like this lil girl - Libertango that she plays will still take a bit of time to learn though :)
link (there are better players but she looks better than most ;-)
SINGLE LIFE
Looking back, although thoroughly enjoying it, I might have spent a bit too much time on challenges of single life this year. Other that I organized a couple of crazy-wild parties (including stag party for HBS buddies), I cannot write too much about it. ;-))) Perhaps, only that after 2 wild years, I plan spending less time on this and maybe even getting a bit more serious in the coming years. We shall see. ;-)
ROAD TRIP TO MIDDLE EAST
As EM job is all-consuming, I took 3-month (March-May ‘09) leave-of-absence from McKinsey to do things I always wanted to do - including a road trip to Middle East. Originally, I did it mostly for my mom, as she loved the previous trips to Asia and Central America, but I was surprised how refreshing this experience was to me.
https://picasaweb.google.com/rastislav.kulich/MiddleEast#
Visiting 7 new countries and driving total of ~10,000km was demanding but surely worth it. I will never forget floating like a cork in Dead Sea, riding a camel in Wadi Rum desert, diving in Red Sea, puffing water pipe in laid-back Damascus, climbing stunning rocks of Petra in Jordan, getting ankles wet in natural Pamukkale spas or staying in limestone caves of Goreme in Turkey. Each of these experiences took my breath away. But most importantly, I will remember warm-hearted people who stunned me with their hospitality as well as love for life and changed my view of Arab people forever.
I have visited over 50 countries by now, but I have never witnessed anything like the ultimate shopping of Istanbul Grand Bazaar with over 4000 shops and sales guys who could give negotiation lessons at HBS. They can pretend heart attack without a blink of an eye and don’t hesitate to call in parents when times get tough. Needless to say, I have spent over $5000 on shopping and had to put down back-seats of my Audi wagon to be able to drive it all home. ;-)
5 THINGS I LOVED
Here are couple of things I loved this year that you might enjoy too:
• Brian Tracy: Eat That Frog (audiobook about importance of discipline and prioritizing)
• Modigliani (movie about passion and the biggest rival of Picasso)
• Mongol (movie about facing adversity)
• No excuse breakdancing
• Wingsuit adrenaline diving
PRAGUE
Nobody knows how long I will still stay here, so guys please come and take advantage of central 3-bedroom with castle views and if-nothing-else at least an experienced guide by now (close to 100 visitors over past 3 years). You will fall in love with this magical city - personal guarantees ;-)
I have to attach video of these two Czech maniacs, who decided to ski down the second highest peak of Slovakia. Tomas Kraus, the world champ in ski cross, made a bet afterwards that he can do the same thing in summer without snow too. The result is this crazy video which is now also featured on Nike global extreme site. I will have to learn some tricks from these guys. I was writing these lines in Solden, where I managed to twist my right shoulder – on the same slope I dislocated my left shoulder last year- to note I am skiing on snow ;-)
http://xman.idnes.cz/video-jak-sjel-kraus-lomnicak-bez-snehu-d9d-/xman-adrenalin.asp?c=A071025_132305_xman-adrenalin_ptp
Last but not least, I really love to live in Prague - glamorous city you should consider visiting. Last year I had over 40 visitors who stayed at my place, so I guess I qualify as an experienced Prague guide by now.
PRAGUE POST #3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Still alive and kicking (kickboxing too :), I have had a fantastic last year both on and off-the-job. Got promoted in November to an engagement manager, enjoyed mentoring young talents, getting active in Prague Harvard club, playing accordion, and facing pleasures of a single life. I just returned from an amazing month road trip in Middle East - enjoying my 3 months off. Life is great! :)
McKINSEY
I am enjoying McKinsey increasingly more - especially now on 3-month leave of absence :))) As an engagement manager leading small team, it is even much more fun than ever before. I also enjoyed getting into PE commercial due diligence projects as they do give a high-level investor look at the business that I was missing before. I should be finishing my 1-year PE rotation soon, but would like to further focus on PE and consumer goods/marketing.
MENTORING AND HARVARD CLUB
As I believe in multiplication effect, I truly enjoy mentoring young talents in my region. This includes helping them to get into HBS and INSEAD or providing financial support via joint scholarship with my bro at our alma mater in Slovakia. I am already now looking forward to teaching when I retire as this is one of the things I have a lot of passion for.
Over the last year, I got quite involved in organizing events for Harvard Club in Prague where I serve on the board. Apart from getting to know great people locally, we did some cool events like HBS Centennial lecture in Prague or Harvard/INSEAD sushi extravaganza where we made an elementary mistake of competing with INSEAD folks in karaoke with quite catastrophic results. What shall I say; the next event will be probably with Columbia. :)
ACCORDION
I must have been a gypsy in my previous life as I can’t get enough of playing gypsy songs. What’s worse, I not only play but also sing them. Security guide got so alarmed during my recent singing performance in McKinsey garage that he came horrified to check who was attacked :) Music fascinates me so much that I even started playing from music sheets again after 15 years to learn tango from Al Pacino's Scent of Woman - Por Una Cabeza. I love it. When I grow up, I am going to play like this lil girl - Libertango that she plays will still take a bit of time to learn though :)
link (there are better players but she looks better than most ;-)
SINGLE LIFE
Looking back, although thoroughly enjoying it, I might have spent a bit too much time on challenges of single life this year. Other that I organized a couple of crazy-wild parties (including stag party for HBS buddies), I cannot write too much about it. ;-))) Perhaps, only that after 2 wild years, I plan spending less time on this and maybe even getting a bit more serious in the coming years. We shall see. ;-)
ROAD TRIP TO MIDDLE EAST
https://picasaweb.google.com/rastislav.kulich/MiddleEast#
Visiting 7 new countries and driving total of ~10,000km was demanding but surely worth it. I will never forget floating like a cork in Dead Sea, riding a camel in Wadi Rum desert, diving in Red Sea, puffing water pipe in laid-back Damascus, climbing stunning rocks of Petra in Jordan, getting ankles wet in natural Pamukkale spas or staying in limestone caves of Goreme in Turkey. Each of these experiences took my breath away. But most importantly, I will remember warm-hearted people who stunned me with their hospitality as well as love for life and changed my view of Arab people forever.
5 THINGS I LOVED
Here are couple of things I loved this year that you might enjoy too:
• Brian Tracy: Eat That Frog (audiobook about importance of discipline and prioritizing)
• Modigliani (movie about passion and the biggest rival of Picasso)
• Mongol (movie about facing adversity)
• No excuse breakdancing
• Wingsuit adrenaline diving
PRAGUE
Nobody knows how long I will still stay here, so guys please come and take advantage of central 3-bedroom with castle views and if-nothing-else at least an experienced guide by now (close to 100 visitors over past 3 years). You will fall in love with this magical city - personal guarantees ;-)
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