It has been a little over a month since I finished my MBA program and it has given me some time to reflect. Getting my MBA has been a goal of mine for about 7 years and to say it has been a journey has been an understatement.
I started this adventure in pre-pandemic times with lofty goals. I was excited to learn, get new skills, meet new classmates, and network with others all in the hopes of getting a new, let’s be real, higher-paying job. Then, like the rest of the world, the pandemic hit and put a halt to everything. Classes went virtual which we all know doesn’t provide the same experience. Most of the time I didn’t even get to meet any of my classmates and all networking events were cancelled. Yet, I still did it with possibly the most anticlimactic, pre-recorded graduation ceremony to celebrate.
This past month has been busy, but I have caught myself thinking “now, what?” I am enjoying yet trying to navigate how to properly fill my time. I have been go, go, go for nearly 3 years and now I am attempting to relax, explore, and be productive all at the same time. Then, I started checking out how much I am going to have to pay for student loans. That sparked all the creeping thoughts to crawl back in.
“I just spent all that money and time to be in the same place job-wise.”
“I wish I knew the pandemic was going to happen because I would have done it differently.”
That can be draining so I put a reminder note in my phone that anyone who has hit this same place like me.
Break Your Goals Into Smaller Goals
My MBA was just one piece of the puzzle. I wanted a stronger business foundation so I could get a brand-related marketing job. This job would hopefully be a pay increase which would allow me to pay off debt, eventually buy my own home, and travel more. I just laid it out in a simple, overarching way, but you can break it down into very minute tasks. For example, I can make a goal to reach out to five people a week to network or apply to three jobs a week. I like to hit my marks so breaking it down into smaller pieces allows me to keep focus on what I can do instead of the what if’s.
Success Isn’t Tied To One Thing: It’s All About Persistence
Getting my degree was huge accomplishment, but it doesn’t equal success. If it were easy, everyone would do it! I saw something recently that most bloggers quit after 6 months because they don’t see that return right away. It’s a perfect example for any stage of life. If you persist and give it your all, things will fall your way. Everything happens for a reason and good things come to those who wait. It may be a cliché, but I wholeheartedly believe in that.
You Aren’t Just Your Accomplishments
If I asked my family and friends to describe me, I doubt that “MBA graduate” would be mentioned. That’s because it’s an achievement, not a quality, and I am okay with that. I prefer to hear compassionate, kind, funny, and sassy because that’s what makes me, me! Just remember we are so much more than titles, degrees, salaries, and status. What truly matters is how your family and friends view you.
So if you have hit one of your big goals and it’s a bit anticlimactic, you are not alone.
You are where you are supposed to be.
Xoxo
Janelle
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