Have you been watching “Undercover Boss” on CBS? I’m a sucker for shows about business, and haven’t missed an episode yet.

Undercover Boss follows CEOs of major corporations posing as entry-level workers to see what it’s really like on the front lines of their organizations. I love the premise of the show, but the execution misses the mark.

Each episode follows the same pattern: revelation that entry-level jobs are hard, inspiration from individual workers, determination to fix an immediate problem, and dedication to the people that helped the CEO along the way. It’s human interest; I guess that’s what sells on prime time.

I’m more curious about the systems that make these giants work. I want to know about the supply chain, integrating machinery and people, creating and communicating new policies, etc. Meeting the super happy guy that smiles throughout the dirtiest of jobs is great, but give me something more. Let me see how things are actually going to change for the entire organization, not just for the individuals fortunate enough to be on the show.

The biggest missed opportunity to date happened in the Hooters episode. They showcased a woman that worked her way up from being a Hooters girl (i.e. waitress) to management. She had excellent rapport with her staff; she could relate because she had done their job, and her store seemed to be well run. The take-away from her story was that management equals stress. Follow-up revealed she took a “less stressful job” within the organization, and the CEO started an initiative to encourage balance between personal and professional lives.

That message infuriates me. It makes Hooters look every bit as sexist as most people think they are. Rather than presenting a success story of a waitress growing into a manager; they show a woman that can’t handle the responsibility. Rather than supporting her, and giving her the tools to be a successful manager, they tell her it’s too stressful, and give her another job. The message to Hooters girls – there is no future for you here.

On Sunday March 7, 2010, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosts the 82nd annual Academy Awards®, or the Oscars as it’s nicknamed after the golden statuette winners receive. The event promises lots of celebrities, lots of high fashion and more than a few surprises. Click here to see the list of nominees.

Those of us not lucky enough to score a ticket to the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles have the perfect opportunity to throw a cocktail party at home. Here are some tips for hosting your own Oscar Night:

Wear: Cocktail attire. It’s fun to get dressed up every now and then, and it totally works with the theme of the Oscars.

Eat: Fancy appetizers like these “10 Elegant Appetizer” ideas from The Food Network. They all look delicious, but the Shrimp with Chile-Cilantro Rub looks out of this world.

Drink: Hollywood Martinis or one of the 3,000 other drinks found on That’s the Spirit.

Watch: Alex Baldwin & Steve Martin co-host the awards on ABC at 5pm PT / 8pm ET. Catch the stars arriving a couple of hours before on The Red Carpet pre-show.

Play: The new Oscars Games on the official show website. Registering takes a minute, but the games look fun from Trivia to predicting the winners.

I often profess my love for Audible.com as listening to business books has become one of my favorite pastimes. After finishing “The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It” by Michael E. Gerber, I can’t stop thinking about one of the themes of the book, the Success Trinity. Gerber doesn’t actually call it that, but I think it’s cool.

He says it takes three players to create a successful business: the Entrepreneur, the Manager, and the Technician. The Entrepreneur is the big picture person. They live in the future dreaming about possibilities. The Manager takes the Entrepreneur’s vision, and breaks it down into doable systems. They live in the past, examining what works and how they can make it better. Then, technicians actually do the work. They live in the present, running the systems to realize the vision.

Think about that, and think about how you like to work.

I love to dream; my husband says I can take any idea and see how to turn it into a business. I also love to create systems, and derive immense satisfaction from creating solid checklists. I do not, however, like to do the work. I get so bored so quickly.

Realizing this has been life changing for me. As the only employee of my business, I have to be all three parts of the Trinity. I’ve started telling myself, “Be the Technician for 2 hours. Accomplish x, y, and z, and you can go back to dreaming and creating systems.” And it works!

The stars align for a celebratory hat trick with three holidays on the horizon.

Start planning your finances – You are still not really done until you figure how are you going to fund your MBA. Start filling the FAFSA, I20 and other essential forms. Start scouting for scholarships and student loans.

Start thinking about your Visa and where you’re going to live – If you are relocating to a new country like me, you should also start planning for your visa and housing options. Start networking with the current students in the Target University and also with the fellow admits who are headed to the same place. Always keep your eye and heart open for the possible future roommate and/or classmate.

It’s not too early to start working on your intended career – No matter what your career goals said, it’s time to start getting the clear career focus. Shortlist the intended careers and more specific job functions. Ask career services to put you in touch with students and any recent alum who have made the same transition you hope to make. It’s a great time to start the professional networking. You can do informational interviews with the Alums, industry experts, and current students to get more focus and clarity. If you graduated long time back, time to get back to the study mode. You can take Quant refresher classes, sharpen your excel, and presentation skills.

Open up yourself to the world of Business – Start reading business blogs, keep yourself updated with the business world happenings. Increase your perspective about business, management, and leadership. It’s not a bad idea to read the management best sellers like Freakonomics, The Black Swan, Rich dad Poor dad, How to win etc.