Funny Business

When I was a student in the accounting program, my wife worked as an administrative assistant in the MBA program office. We couldnt afford a babysitter, so we scheduled all of our classes after 5 p.m. and traded childcare responsibilities. Many afternoons, I would bring our daughter to the MBA office just as my wifes workday was ending. I would hand off our daughter, give the two of them a quick kiss, and hurry to class.

One afternoon, Gary McKinnon, MBA program director at the time, watched our exchange. He smiled and said, You will find that children are the baton in the great relay race of life.

More than 30 years later, I remember those words. I realize he wasnt just describing that moment; he was describing an entire season of our lives.

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When I started the accounting masters program, the first semester was a 15-credit-hour core in which I was assigned to a group that would be completing assignments and projects together for the entire semester. I thought one of the girls in my group was the smartest person I had ever met, and she was pretty cute too.

A few weeks into the semester, our group met in the TNRB one evening, and that cute girl brought homemade peanut butter bars. I despise peanut butter, but I knew I had to try one and like it if there was any chance for us. I ate the bar and said it was delicious.

I must have done a pretty good acting job because a week later we went for ice cream after class. Soon after, we started dating. I confessed my visceral hatred of peanut butter a few weeks later, and she understood how big of a deal it was for me to eat the bars.

We were engaged before the end of the semester and have been married for 30 years.

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I took a course taught by Professor John Bingham. One day the topic was conflict management, though no one was thinking about conflict as students chatted while finding their seats.

Professor Bingham often engaged in small talk before beginning his lectures, but this day he was unusually quiet. He appeared frustrated and abruptly began class by reminding us about an upcoming exam. He announced that it would cover two chapters we had not discussed in class.

A large, muscular student immediately objected, insisting it was unfair to test us on material that had not been taught. The exchange escalated quickly, and the class watched in stunned silence. A few students quietly urged the student to stop, but Professor Bingham left, announcing that he was going to get the dean.

About 15 seconds later, he returned with a broad smile, applauding the student who had helped him stage the confrontation. The conflict had been planned to introduce the days lesson.

It was brilliant and unforgettable.

Professor Binghams creativitya trait shared by many BYU Marriott professorsmade complex business concepts memorable and impactful.

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While studying in the cubicle area of the Tanner Building, I stood up to stretch and nearly tripped over something behind me. To my surprise, it was another studentsound asleep on the floor. He didnt even stir as I awkwardly stepped around him. I couldnt decide whether to be concerned or impressed. Mostly, I admired his ability to get sleep in the middle of the Tanner Building.