The ROI of an eMBA

Why on earth would you do an MBA - well, that's for me to know and for you to discover. We will be dealing with modules such as accounting, finance, business economics, technology, marketing, operations, managing change,  strategy and entrepreneurship over the next two years.  That's long you might think but actually, it's not.  Not if you look at it from the perspective of a lifelong learning experience.

Learning has always been one of the fundamental drives in both my personal and professional lives. I do not see this MBA as an assignment but as an experience.... a journey with no destination actually.  And because there are so many beautiful sayings with the word journey in it, I want to share some of these with my fellow students.  We're seventeen of us - most are in their early Thirties, like Soulsister - mother of two, sings jazz and works in the hospital.  Then we have Boyscout - works as a sales engineer and is a natural born leader.  Oh yeah, then there's Boy Wonder - who already managed an internet company at the age of 12 and is the youngest in class (roaring Twenties).  Here we go with the first batch of "journey" mantras that you can use for your next reflection moment:

Life to me is a journey - you never know what may be your next destination. (D. Russell)
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. (Lao Tzu)
Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home. (Matsuo Basho)

Now, whom else have we got in class? Well there's Donald trump, works as a project manager in the health care industry and loves to cook. Mr. Oiseau is a lobbying ornithologist - early Thirties and quite introverted (but we're working on that). Beckham works in insurance and is a passionate soccer fan.  Then there's Miss Moneypenny, a caring mother of two who's always in for a dinner party. I mean, in the possible event of us throwing a party: we have cooks, musicians, party makers and cocktail shakers - that's gonna be a real bash.

And if we ever get on the wrong train, we still have Dr. Phil, our trusted adviser and counselor - married with children and whose mantra always makes me laugh: "a dirty mind is a joy forever".  Now, if you ask me - this is the ROI of my MBA - it is not a monetary thing, it is not a prestige thing, it's about going with these people on a journey where we focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. (Greg Anderson).   Remember that we are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey. (Stephen R. Covey) and to close with the famous words of philosopher Captain Jean Luc Picard: Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.
And now it is time to boldly go where no one has ever gone before: the first take home exam on Integrated Performance Management, BSC, Management accounting and control.... Beam me up Scotty.