When I was a kid my parents signed up my bro, Adrian, for the Boy Scouts.  Boy was I jealous.  I didn’t want to be in the Girl Scouts because really, what little tomboy wants to join a group where you are referred to as “Daisies” and “Brownies”?  Certainly not I.  So there I was, watching my bro get equipped for his adventures.  Wistfully looking over his shoulder as he stuffed a rattlesnake bite kit, tiny waterproof packs of toilet paper, and world’s most elaborate Swiss Army knife into his backpack.

The Boy Scout motto is ‘Be Prepared’.  I tagged along to enough of my brother’s events to internalize that motto early on.  So — except for my constant refusal to refill on gasoline until my car starts beeping an alarm at me — I try to be prepared in my every day.  I mean, I don’t have a year’s worth of dehydrated food lining my garage walls in case of an apocalypse, but I do try to be prepared for what life may bring.

This weekend, as I watched my NYC friends’ Facebook statuses about stocking up on food (then accidentally eating all the food and having to restock), buying extra water, even evacuating to higher ground, I was proud of their preparations.  Sure, Hurricane Irene hit New York City with all the fury of a sleepy kitty, but that’s neither here nor there.  The point is: they were prepared for the worst and had the worst hit, they would have been just fine.  Knowing that brings comfort to my heart this Monday morning.
In the years post-Hurricane Katrina, it has been easy to blame the US Government and FEMA and George Bush for the failures to protect the Gulf Coast, and then failing to adequately respond.  I’m not denying that there is plenty to blame them for, because there is.  I’m just saying that when the warnings come, it is on us, the populace, to prepare ourselves.  Those of us who can be prepared, owe it to our fellows who cannot to not be a burden on the social services.

Kudos to those New Yorkers who were prepared.  It may feel like it was overkill, but you can never be overprepared.  And just think, now you won’t have to go to the grocery store again any time soon.

While Irene did not cause the devastation that was expected in NYC, it has devastated large areas of the country.  Please support the Red Cross as it provides shelter and aid to our brothers up and down the East Coast.

Big hugs,

Tannya

This morning I overslept, drank a cold cup of day-old coffee, and dragged myself to the office. I look a hot mess. It happens. Luckily, I’m not the only one. Osiris ran out the door and forgot her shoes, so she is wearing flip flops. When I asked Mari how her weekend was, she just grunted at me and plopped into her desk chair.

Yup, it’s Monday folks. Some Mondays are all cheery and good, with picture perfect sunrises, steaming hot coffee, and clothes fresh from the dry cleaners. Other Mondays come after a weekend of painting until your hands hardly work (me), getting your car stolen (not me), or having your travel plans all fall apart (also not me). Today is the second kind of Monday.

But even when Mondays are kinda sucky, there is always something positive about starting a new week. Its full of promise, full of opportunity. There are customers to help, meetings to attend, and the hope that this week I might actually make it to the gym. Yes, Mondays can get off to a bad start, but they are always the start of something new and that is exciting.

I hope you survive this Monday, and that it kicks off a wonderful week.

With love,
Tannya

p.s. this blog is especially short because my hands REALLY hurt. Thanks to Lupita Mitz, Magda, and Jeff for being awesome friends and helping me paint. The place looks awesome.

Learning is fun. There, I said it. Does that make me a nerd? Sure, but we already knew that.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go back to Harvard for my five-year reunion. I expected a lot of drunken partying, but instead I was treated to a series of classes. Really, really, awesome classes.

I took this one class about how the workforce is changing and how the new generation is going to function entirely differently based on the fact that they grew up with cell phones in their hands practically since birth. (Business geek spasms of joy!)

Then I took this other class about how the performance of star employees is affected by a move from one firm to another, and when they are better off or worse off (almost always worse off, by the way). Jeff came with me and learned all about stem cells and health care reform and lord knows what else. After the reunion was over, we spent hours rehashing each class and re-reading the materials.

I tell you, nothing fires you up like spending a weekend in a classroom getting all up to date on new info and refreshed on stuff you were starting to forget. If you’re a giant screaming nerd, that is. Which I am. It was an awesome weekend.

And of course there were the drunken parties. Yes, even Harvard MBAs like to drink and party. It was great to see everyone, and catch up with old friends I’d lost track of.

Today its Monday and I’m back at my desk as I should be. I am re-energized, fired up, and ready to dive right back in to this thing we call QuikHelp.

My favorite class that I went to last weekend was taught by Prof. Bill George, who spoke about compassionate organizations and being an authentic leader. It really struck a chord with me because of the work we do here at QuikHelp. Sure, we’re a business, but we’re also focused on helping our community and providing access to the legal system for people who don’t otherwise have somewhere to go. you could say we’re a business with a higher purpose.

And with that, it’s off to work I go! Happy Monday!

With love,
Tannya

Two weeks from now I will be in Boston for the five-year reunion of my Harvard Business School MBA class. Boy, time sure flies when you’re working your tushie off!

This five-year milestone has me spending an inordinate amount of time on Facebook, stalking… er, catching up with my classmates. One word comes to mind: Wow. These people are everywhere! At companies old to the new, big and small. But what is particularly impressive is the number of entrepreneurs.

In the year before we graduated we, as a class, devoted an extraordinary amount of time to soul searching, company research, and networking in order to find that perfect job. I remember meeting company reps at 6a for breakfast to practice interviewing skills. Had I known I was going to chuck it all and start QuikHelp instead, I would have slept in!

But that is the nature of the entrepreneur. We throw ourselves at our goals, whether its building a business or getting that perfect job. Another trait of an entrepreneur is the constant promotion of the business. With that in mind, I introduce you to some of the ventures started by my classmates. I am so proud to count myself among these amazing folks, and to share their work with you:

Milli Millu — Gorgeous handbags by Mireia Llusia-Lindh (http://www.millimillu.com/our-story/)

mdhil — Provides basic healthcare information to the Indian consumer, by Nandu Madhava (http://www.mdhil.com/)

Plum District — Like Groupon, but for mommies, by Megan Gardner (http://www.plumdistrict.com/)

Panjiva — Finds, evaluates, and connects businesses with off-shore suppliers, by Josh Green (http://panjiva.com/)

And those are just the ones that come to mind before I’ve had my morning coffee!

To my HBS classmates, you guys are amazing and an inspiration. An entrepreneur is always looking for inspiration and for innovation, and you guys are source of both. Nourishment for the entrepreneurial heart, as it were.

I can’t wait to see you all in Boston in June.

With love,
Tannya