With absolute joy and relief, I am proud to have completed my MBA at Sam Houston State University. It’s been something that’s been on my mind for several years, and during the start of the pandemic, I finally pulled the trigger. Even though I’ve been a business owner for about 15 years, I knew there were still things I could learn.
If you’re thinking of pursuing an MBA, here are some takeaways from my MBA experience.
Work for a few years after completing your undergraduate degree
I have always heard it’s better to get in the workforce for a few years instead of going directly into an MBA program, and now I see why. The material that you learn will make more sense because you understand the context of it in a work environment.
For example, I’ve been making hiring decisions for more than 10 years. As a result, I was able to quickly grasp the concepts of my staffing class, and I’m also now applying those concepts to our staffing process.
I waited almost 20 years to return to school, and that’s probably a bit much. I think 5-10 years out, depending on your responsibilities and seniority level, makes sense.
Set up your time management processes first
When you work full time, have to shuttle kids around, teach and attend events (e.g., conferences, networking, etc.), going to school is definitely an exercise in time management. I encountered countless classmates who were unable to juggle all that they had going on in their lives.
I typically did 3-5 hours of studying/school work on Sundays, followed by 2-4 hours per night Monday through Wednesday, with Thursday and Saturday added as needed. On weeknights, I ate dinner in front of the computer and took breaks by doing chores or dad duties. I wanted to make sure I didn’t neglect my family or work, which meant I needed to sacrifice things like watching TV, playing video games or reading novels.
For software, I used calendar (Google), time tracking (Toggl) and note taking (OneNote) programs, among others.
Here are some articles I wrote on time management: Part 1 Active Rest and Part 2 Apps.
Prepare to be the team leader
The dynamics of working in groups haven’t changed. For example, you will encounter people who don’t try/care, people who are incompetent and people who are never available. I found that at times, you have to take a leadership role, with tasks such as setting meeting times, setting meeting agendas, facilitating assignments, creating outlines and ensuring assignments are turned in on time.
I have always felt that some people are meant to lead, and others are meant to be led. If one of your goals in getting an MBA is to move up the org chart, then you have to be ready to be the leader of your group.