I think that the B school admission process has already started improving me. When I first started writing about Columbia's "Capturing an opportunity" essay, I realized how just many opportunities I had at work even right now!
I realized that after the recent restructuring in our division, a lot of projects were in doldrums. I also noticed that the company was trying to get back to its start-up roots .. so it was easier for people like me, who had proven their technical worth, to step up. So, around 2 months back, I started taking initiative in getting those projects on track and in getting more involved about the future project plans. Just recently a project manager of a group left the company and to make it easier for top management to find his replacement, I informed them today morning that I feel that I could take up his position. I have just now been informed that I've been promoted as manager of that group. Moreover, I've been asked to inform the top management about the kind of profiles that I'd like to recruit to my team.
Needless to say, I would not have taken this initiative and approached this opportunity so aggressively if I had not started spending so much time thinking "B schools", essays, capturing opportunities, deeper meaning of entrepreneurship etc. So, thank you B schools for the first tangible benefit that you got me. On the other hand, I've just doubled my work by taking this opportunity. I have no idea how I am going to handle my essays now