I did a good job! :)

I finally gave my presentation today, the sum of probably over 150 hours of hard work, staying up late at night, going home in the afternoons for 2-3 hr naps and then waking up to stay up through the next working day . . . all to create a 30 min presentation on Asian investment opportunities for a roomful of 15 people, many whom I met for the first time.

It was well received! Not only did I get a round of applause but I had people coming up to me afterwards talking to me (a lowly intern) and telling me to keep in touch with them. It was fun!

I guess I am trying to capture between yawns just why this feels so good so that I can hopefully feel more of it. I guess its a combination of exceeding my own expectations, bringing out the best in myself and delivering. That last word means a lot to me these days because it takes some imagination to be able to “envision” a goal but to actually execute it and overcome ones fears along the way . . . that’s a different matter altogether.

The critical thing is that I feel a sense of accomplishment, a sense that I did a good job in something I set my mind to. I didn’t need to do this in order to complete my job, it was totally my own initiative to ask for this research project, work as hard as I did and deliver the results at the end.

Of course, it helps that Dave and Ashish, both people I respect and admire (and am even intimidated by to some extent) complimented me as well as all of my mentors here supporting me along the way. Today I feel really fortunate to have met these wonderful people, proud to have done some hard work and surprised at myself in a good way that I was able to deliver the way I did. Best of all, this was REALLY FUN!!