There is cryptic crosswords complex. There is quantum mechanics complex. And then, there is US College Admission complex, which leaves the other two in the dust in terms of its byzantine requirements. Growing up in Australia, university admissions were straightforward. You did 6 subjects in your last two years, completed your exams, were given a…

My colleague and I are working on a new project today, mapping out the competitor landscape. Did we make much progress? Not on paper. A huge amount of time was spent scoping out the project, deciding our starting points, our end points, and our plan of attack. There was a lot of talking, not much…

I caught up with some old colleagues today from my time back at Kiwibank. The fifth largest bank in a tiny country where 90% of financial services are provided by the Big Four, Kiwibank nevertheless gave me some fun times, a steady paycheck, a few lessons, and most importantly, some good mates. It was originally…

A few weeks ago, a guy I used to work with told me some wonderful news; after putting his head down, focusing, and applying himself, he was accepted into medical school. It’s a massive achievement, and I admire the bravery to go at 30. It’s easy for someone older to consider 30 “still so young”,…

A reason I write this blog is to keep a record of my life, cataloguing the ugly, the bland, the banal, the bad, and the unfortunate. Hopefully, I also get the chance to capture the good as well. Today was one of those days. Down in Queenstown, with four of my favourite people, means that…

For the past few years, I have been working on nailing one dish: roast chicken with potatoes, carrots, and broccolini. There is a reason why chefs around the world consider it the meal they’re most likely to cook for those they love at home. When done well, it really is a magical dish. And while…