NYU STERN ESSAYS: MICHAEL SCOTT #3

When Michael went to New York to learn more about Stern School of Business and Columbia Business school as we saw in his research in the last blog, he decided that in addition to the M7s, he wanted to utilize the One time Feedback plan he received as an offer from MBA Conquerors for NYU Stern and boy did he decide to write the MBA Essays that definitely told us a lot about him.

Let's start with the Essay prompts that helped Michael show Stern what his world looks like!

Introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. The Pick Six is a way to share more about the qualities you will bring to the Stern community, beyond your professional and academic achievements. Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements:

• A brief introduction or overview of your "Pick Six" (no more than 3 sentences).

• Six images that help illustrate your interests, values, motivations, perspective and/or personality.

• A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you.

Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.

With these 6 pictures, I want to introduce you to my world that has been a greater part of my life than just my work. Every single person in this picture has been an integral part of my life and their willingness to adapt to the changing environment in our lives has made me the man I am today. I hope you get to see what I see when I talk about my relationships with people around me.

My co-worker, Pam Halpert, a talented artist drew our office in her art show. This picture is important for two reasons- first, I knew Pam thought I wouldn't know but I knew how much it meant that we showed up, second, this art show led to the business idea that I am currently working on.

This gif is where the whole staff came together to collaborate and show our love for the members of our office at their wedding. The reason I love this one so much is because I always aspire to create and work in a culture where we can celebrate each other's special day and make them feel that they work in a place where people have each other's back.

This picture is special because when I started Michael Scott Paper Company, two of my previous employees joined me and showed their support- this is the moment when we made our first sale.

The excitement wouldn't do justice to our regular Dundies awards that our office staff gets for a remarkable work they have done over the years. It is special because we get to celebrate what made us unique.

During a major crisis when one of our employees was hospitalized for a disease she was diagnosed with, our awareness campaign attracted our office employees for the marathon run where we gave away the funds raised for the cause to Elizabeth, who went back and got her degree.

Nine Million Nine Hundred and Eighty thousand minutes, they actually sat down and did the math- so was the song they prepared to bid me goodbye after my 19 years at Dunder Mifflin Scranton. This memory was special because while I wanted to think people did things in our office because they had to, this instance confirmed that they did things because they loved it here.

Nostalgia aside, I chose these pictures because for past few years, this has been my world. As I embark on this new world filled with excitement of not knowing what's next, I know that it won't be any less adventurous than what we did in the past.

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Coming to the next Essay, we all know from Brainstorming session at MBA Conquerors that Michael welcomes change as an opportunity and turn things around. (This is just an example please don't use it- much loosely written)

Change: _________ it(350 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____ it. Fill in the blank with a word of your choice. Why does this word resonate with you? How will you embrace your own personal tagline while at Stern? Examples:

• Change: Dare it.

• Change: Dream it.

• Change: Drive it.

• Change: Empower it.

• Change: Manifest it.

• Change: [Any word of your choice] it.

Change: Enjoy it

Embracing change and enjoying the ride have been at the heart of my journey over the years. Whether it was navigating the whirlwind of mergers at Dunder Mifflin, diving into a new adventure every day, or starting a fresh venture, the excitement always comes from the people I get to share it with.

When we kicked off Michael Scott Paper Company, it wasn’t just about diving into the unknown. It was about bringing along my incredible co-workers, Pam and Ryan. They joined me not just because they weren’t afraid of change, but because they believed in the promise I made—that every day would be as thrilling as it was when we were all together at Dunder Mifflin. We knew it was going to be a huge commitment and a challenge, but we also knew the market inside out. After all, if Scranton was the best branch, it was because of our unique culture that saw each day as a new opportunity.

Starting out without capital, we made it a point to savor every moment and celebrate every little victory. Like when Pam landed her first sales call—everyone was in the same room, and her enthusiasm was contagious. It wasn’t just her win; it felt like a victory for the whole company. Our ability to live in the moment and keep that spirit of celebration turned out to be a game-changer, leading us to be acquired by Dunder Mifflin Inc.

Now, as I step into this new chapter with an MBA, I’m ready to bring that same excitement and attitude. Every challenge will be an opportunity, and with a team that knows how to have fun while working together, I’m confident we’ll embrace every part of the journey with the same enthusiasm. That’s the Michael Scott way.

CREATOR'S COMMENTARY

The thought process to follow while creating the essays-