UIC MBA Chicago Entrepreneur Blog Past, present, and future plans in the life of an entrepreneur and former Chicago UIC MBA student.

I officially switched over to a Sigg Reuseable water bottle over a year ago.  I use to drink plastic bottle waters like you wouldn’t believe.  In a week, it wouldn’t be unusual for me to go through at least a case of 24.  How could you not love them?  They’re convenient to bring around, easy to throw away or recycle and they’re cheap!

One day last year when I realized I didn’t throw away my recycling bin and it had been accumulating for over 2 weeks, I took a look and was shocked to see so many empty plastic water bottles.  I decided then and there that I would switch over to a reusable water bottle.  After research on Amazon.com (greatest site ever), I went with the Sigg over the imitation brands and more established brands like Kleen Kanteen.

Sigg Bottle

Fact:

- I’ve probably saved at least 500 - 1000 water bottles since that time.

- That equates to about $300 savings in one year span.  The Sigg cost about $20 shipped.

- 86% of water bottles take up to 1000 years to biodegrade

- Producing, packaging and transporting a liter of bottled water requires between 1,100 and 2,000 times more energy on average than treating and delivering the same amount of tap water

- When plastic bottles get heated in the sun, you might be drinking harmful toxins.

- As a rule of thumb, scientists say that you can fill a PET bottle ¼ of the way with oil to symbolize how much energy goes into every bottle.

Now, I don’t know what 1000 bottles stacked together looks like, but I imagine something like this:

Water Bottle waste in landfill

In conclusion, save yourself some money and do something good for the earth.

Posted under Uncategorized

UIC MBAA board members at Chicago Care Event

Posted under UIC MBA Liautaud

Bam!  I finally compiled my list of favorite places to eat under $15.  As a student, it’s difficult to justify paying high prices for a gourmet meal.  Sometimes, the best meals are often the ones that cost the least.   I also decided to stay within Chicago to limit the choices since most of my readers are around UIC area. (Pictures are not mine!  They were taken from other websites)  In no particular order:

-Sultan’s Market - 2057 W North Ave and 2521 N Clark St

Amazing falafel sandwichs and Chicken Shawarma.  Hefty portions!

- Giordano’s Pizza - Multiple Locations - 815 W Van Buren St (Closest to UIC)

What trip to Chicago could be complete without Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza?

-Cho Sun Ok - 4200 N Lincoln Ave

This might cost a little more than $15 but it’s amazing.  You only go for one item there, cha dol bae gi (unmarinated thin sliced beef).  Afterwards, they take all the side dishes and make you a fried rice.

Ba Le -5018 N Broadway   and Tank Noodle 4953 N Broadway (across the street)

My, oh my.  The pho at tank is out of this world.  Finish it off with a #1 Ba Le special sandwich right across the street. (Probably not a good idea to eat both in one sitting)

-Meli’s Cafe - 301 S Halsted St

Perhaps my favorite breakfast place in the city and I’ve been to them all.  Homemade jam and butter with fresh squeezed orange juice.  (Warning - it gets very busy on the weekends)

-Hot Doug’s - 3324 N California Ave

This place needs no introduction.  On Anthony Bourdain’s list of top ten places to eat before you die.  Lines do get ridiculous at over a hour wait.  Try duck fat french fries on the weekend.

-Maxwell’s and Jim Polish - 1250 S Union Ave

This is a perfect midnight snack if you’ve been out drinking.  Open all night and under $3.  Try the Polish or Pork Chop sandwich.

-Oparts Thai - Multiple Locations - 1906 S State St (Closest to UIC)

When I’m craving Thai food, there’s nothing more authentic.

Opart

-Great Seas -3254 W Lawrence Ave

Again, one specialty, cheap insanely delicious chicken wings.  If you’re up to the challenge, there’s a wall of people who have eaten the most wings in one sitting.  I think it was up to 90 last time I saw.

-Cafecito -26 East Congress Pkwy

Pulled pork, ham and cheese in one sandwich, only in your dreams!  And here it is: (voted best Cubano in Chicago):

-Portillo’s - Multiple Locations - 100 W Ontario St

Great mix of all types of food.  Try the Italian Beef or Hot Dog.

-Ed’s Potsticker House -3139 S Halsted St

One of the few places in Chicago to get Shou Long Bao (steamed soup dumplings)

Well, that rounds up my list.  I could have added higher priced restaurants but I wanted to keep things simple.  Enjoy the list and you’ll probably bump into me at one of these places!

Posted under Chicago Cheap Eat

Thanks to Adam for the link:

Posted under Entrepreneur

The woodstock of capitalism.. how I loved thee the first time I went.  Second time around, not so much fun.  Every year, the attendance record is broken.  I believe this year, the crowd was over 35,000 people.  Last year when I went, it was a new experience.  I met best selling author Tim Ferriss, had Bill Gates walk right by me, and got a ton of free candy (they gave out all the candy you could grab because of their share in Mars and Wrigley last year).  This year, the 7.5 hour drive to and from Omaha, Nebraska just didn’t seem as fun anymore.  Here are some of the notes I remembered from the trip:

• “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bushes” -Buffet loved using this quote.  Don’t be greedy.  The money in your hand can be used to reinvest instead of trying to think of ways to make double that.
• When asked about about MBA education, Buffet responded that the two essentials courses to take would be how to value a company and a class on efficient markets.
• When Wells Fargo was down around $9/share, Buffet told a visiting MBA class that if he were to invest all his net worth into one stock, that would be it.  Today, it’s around $23.
• Buffet had very high praise for the Jamie Dimon’s letter to shareholders.  I have included a link for the lazy:  http://investor.shareholder.com/jpmorganchase/annual.cfm
• When asked whether Warren Buffet himself was Berkshire’s competitive advantage, he responded that the culture and management he has instilled is the advantage.  No company will be able to duplicate.

2009 Berkshire Meeting

Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger

2009 Berkshire Convention

Posted under Berkshire Hathaway