I’m thrilled that I’ve recently graduated from DeGroote’s Blended Learning Part-Time MBA program! This journey has been incredibly rewarding and I’d like to take a moment to reflect on some key lessons I learned along the way.
Balancing a full-time job and raising two young daughters while pursuing my MBA was no small feat. Through this experience, I discovered that many business school concepts also serve as valuable life lessons. Here are a few of my favorites that I wish I had known earlier.
Law of diminishing returns
Perfectionists listen up! After a certain point, adding more effort or resources gives you less and less extra benefit. Already put nine hours into that stellar report? One more hour might make it shine brighter, but 20 additional hours are likely not worth it.
Opportunity cost
When you choose to do one thing over another, you have to give something up. You cannot be equally present on a weeknight virtual tutorial and at your daughter’s soccer game. Choose wisely for the night and commit. Some trade-offs are tough, and some are sweet.
Capacity cushion
Maintain extra capacity beyond existing demand to handle sudden increases, disruptions and uncertainties. This is not a waste. These are the reserves you’ll need later to push for that change, go for that goal, or just have enough juice to get a babysitter on a Friday night.
Synergy
Everyone’s favourite buzz word contains a truth about group work that my grade school kids have figured out. When you combine the effort of a group of people it produces a better result than if each person worked individually. The lesson in group work is about finding ways to make everything better because you have a buddy, not despite it.
Net present value
Need a way to figure out if an investment is worth it? This concept does just that by comparing the value of money today to its value in the future, accounting for things like interest and risk. Pursuing my MBA was an investment in myself and what I can contribute to my community, but not just that. Some day in the future, when my girls are grown, I hope they look back on the net outcome and know that it is never too late to increase how much you value yourself.
No post about graduating would be complete without thanking my incredible partner, Mark, and my supportive family for cheering me on every step of the way. This journey has been filled with challenges, growth, and countless learning experiences. I look forward to leveraging my MBA experience to drive impactful change and inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter the challenges.
Here’s to new beginnings and exciting opportunities ahead!
