So Marjie, who is I am sure an enthusiastic reader of my blog asked me if I had any advice for an MBA student. Well there’s really a lot to say and only so much time to say it but let’s start with the important stuff. First, stay at it. I know how terribly hard it can be to finish a degree as a working professional, especially something as positively demanding as an MBA program. The MBA is a valuable credential for a reason, they generally do not just hand these things out like Dum-Dums to just anyone and everyone despite the concern some business journals have over the popularity of the degree. An MBA is a challenging task whereby the earner will be hit with a battery of varying types of work at the graduate level which will test almost the full range of intellectual capability. Let’s see, there’s quantitative skills, qualitative skills, critical thinking, critical reading and research, there’s well written and produced documents using word processors all the way to complex databases using spreadsheets crunching numbers. Communication skills are an absolute necessity but one is also expected to be self motivated and driven to where they can work alone if need be. An MBA will learn how to focus on the big picture without losing sight of the details and will learn and be subjected to almost every facet of business without necessarily delving deep into any one area. An MBA means that the earner generally has a smorgasbord of skills, a high adaptability to work across multiple disciplines and posses the single most important aspect to any profession, academic or otherwise, an ability to learn. An MBA is valuable because “the” MBA (as in you) are valuable. Don’t forget that.
Given all of this it is natural that fatigue, failure, despair or even flat out frustration can haunt the halls or in this case the PC screens of many a “B” school. So my advice is don’t lose sight of why you are earning your degree. Moreover don’t forget who you are earning your degree for. The MBA is not a degree I recommend for persons who simply want a feeling of self fulfillment at earning a grad degree, perhaps any other degree would be better for that but an MBA is almost assuredly to have something that the student will be required to do that is both frustrating and “un-fun”. The MBA is not a luxury item, it is an investment.
MBA’s are taught a system of thinking. They are taught how to draw back and see things objectively. They are taught how to view both the humanist side and the business side of at times complex matters. As an MBA you are more valuable to an employer, your family, any organizations you work with, society in general… Etc.
So I know this doesn’t sound as much like advice as it does encouragement and I suppose that’s the point. My advice to all MBA students is the same as that of Winston Churchill’s at one time “never, never, never, never give up”. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Oh and thanks everyone for the words of encouragement on my new career. I start on the 16th of this month! More on that later.