Lessons from an MBA

I recently completed an MBA and when I reflected on what helped me get through it, persistence, resilience and determination were the first three things that came to mind, but having support from those closest to me was just as important.

Persistence

I’ve always been stubborn, but studying for a Masters degree taught me how to use this stubbornness and persist when it got hard. There were times when I resented having to study every weekend and miss social engagements. I resented taking my laptop and textbooks on holiday and studying when I really wanted to switch off. However, I knew I had to do the work if I wanted to succeed and if I stopped being persistent, the chances of failing would increase.

Resilience

My studies didn’t always go according to plan. When I started, I was aiming to graduate with distinction, but I failed my second exam which meant this was no longer possible. I was so disappointed, but I used this failure to work out what I needed to do to make sure I didn’t fail any other part of the course. I worked out what went wrong and adapted to ensure it didn’t happen again.

One of the reasons I failed that exam was that I was going through a very stressful time at work and I was struggling to focus when I was trying to study. I didn’t take enough care of myself and I kept pushing myself when it would have been far more sensible to take a break from my studies until work calmed down. However, I thought I could do it all until I learned the hard way that I couldn’t. I use this lesson whenever life gets stressful. It has made me more resilient and it helps to slow me down and remind me to take breaks.

Determination

One of the things that attracted me to an MBA was the wide range of subjects as I felt this would give me knowledge that would be useful in any workplace. However, this meant I had to work particularly hard to pass my weaker subjects. There were times when I doubted I’d get to the finish line and I had to push through and believe in myself. No matter how hard it got, I needed to be determined to get to the end. When I struggled, I used to visualise myself at my graduation ceremony and imagine how it would feel to be given my degree certificate.

Support

The support from those around you cannot be underestimated. Embarking on something that is a huge time and financial commitment doesn’t just affect your own life, it affects the people closest to you. Having their support makes it a whole lot easier. I was fortunate that my husband knew how important this was to me and supported me all the way, including placing meals in front of me to make sure I ate in the run up to exams. He also went away for weekends to give me peace to study, although this may not have been a particular hardship for him!

Be realistic

If you’re considering taking on a major course of study, think about it carefully. Most people study MBAs for a promotion or a pay rise. I knew I’d get neither, but I did it because I love learning and I wanted a challenge. It certainly gave me that!

Think about the financial cost and the amount of time you’ll need to spend studying and how this will affect your life. Think about why you want to do it. What will you get from it? How will it impact the people closest to you? Will it be worth it?

An MBA is not for the faint hearted, but getting my final results gave me one of the best feelings of achievement I’ve ever experienced. It also taught me so much, not just about academic study or the workplace, but about myself. These are valuable lessons I’ll use for the rest of my life.

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