Meeting Room 16

One white board, Three markers (1 each of Red, Blue, Green), Two flatscreen desktops, One Table, Eight Chairs.

This is where I have been spending most of my days off late. Not that we have been working hard on the project. But, its also true that I have not really done much of the random stuff. Life's been a bit monotonous these days - Wake up in the morning, get ready, eat breakfast, come to Meeting Room 16, thrash ideas, a lunch break in-between, conference calls with industry experts across the world (i feel i will be expert after this project gets over as well, really not many people who know about this business as of now), go back home in the evening, watch movies/tv serials, sleep. A bit of guitar in-betweeen and some tennis, squash on a few days.

Something's not fair. Here's why:
1. 4 MBA students (almost full graduates) working for 5 days a week for 2 months: Total Money Earned - GBP 8000 @ GBP 1000 per person per month
2. 4 MBA Full Time Salaries working for 5 days a week for 2 months: Total Money Earned - GBP 36000 @ GBP 4500 per person per month

GBP 28000 is a huge difference. This is a cheap way of getting things done. People say that you should utilise this opportunity to put into practice business principles that we have learnt over the last one year. But then, if its just another learning opportunity, why are we expected to come up with recommendations which can be implemented straight away. And why does the project contract mention the following,

"The Consultants undertake to complete a Project and prepare findings for Lloyds TSB Bank on the manner in which Lloyds TSB should enter the carbon emissions market and launch a carbon emissions trading business, which shall include, but not be limited to, researching, listing and analysing potential opportunities in the market. The results of the Project shall be presented to the Company in the form of a business plan. Upon completion of the Engagement, the Company may in its sole discretion agree to pay to the Consultants a fee of an amount to be determined by the Company."

I don't really like the last part of the above script. That really means that we are not even sure if we will all get our supposed GBP 2000 - Another cheap trick to get the work done. The Business Projects Office should increase the minimum stipend for the students - after all, it is almost the time for all of us to take life into the fast lane.

But, on the brighter side, the project is really interesting and making us learn lot of things about the Carbon Market which is definitely going to be the focus of attention over the next 5-10 years.

Meeting Room 16 is likely to see the same faces for the next three weeks (including the weekends, maybe). We've got our interim presentation two days later - That should separate Milk from the Water :)) Ok, what I meant was dhoodh ka dhoodh aur paani ka paani hona! Is there a better way to translate that in English?