Three Key Lessons of the Mays MBA Program

As the first term of the MBA program draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the many lessons that I have learned over the past few months. Of these lessons, I can think of three that have made the biggest contribution to my success in the program.

Effective Teams are Essential to Success

Fortunately, I was assigned to work on a team with a great group of people. Although we have very different personalities, we have learned to appreciate healthy debate and focus on the overall success of our group. Also, my team developed a “divide and conquer” approach where one person took primary responsibility for a set of assignments, gathered input from the group, and managed the effort to successfully complete the work. Our approach led to high grades on our assignments that would have been difficult to achieve through individual effort. I look forward to maintaining relationships with all of them long after we complete the MBA program.

Don’t Let the Opposition Cloud the Goal

Athletes must always know the location of the goal. Whether it is the basketball hoop, the uprights in the end zone, or the soccer net, a successful player always knows the location of the goal despite a cloud of opposing players. Similarly, a successful MBA student always keeps in mind the ultimate goal of the program: find a job commensurate with the skills gained in the curriculum. However, career management can easily take a back seat to the flurry and intensity of the academic requirements of the program. The BUAD 620 class has helped me to maintain focus on my career by forcing me to hone essential job search skills such as résumé writing, interviewing, and developing professional presence.

Take Care of Home and Home Will Take Care of You

The time commitment of the MBA program makes it difficult to spend time with my wife and three children. I often leave my house before my family wakes up and return home once they have gone to bed. However, I always keep at least one day free during the week to fully engage with my family and remind them that they still have a husband and a dad. Although that day could be spent making progress on the myriad (and seemingly never-ending) MBA assignments, I find that I am a better student when I spend uninterrupted time with my family. A kiss from my wife, a hug from my kids, or simply sitting down to eat together makes it easier to return to Wehner and endure the demands of lectures, homework assignments, quizzes, and exams.

By continuing to implement the lessons of collaborate to success, focus on the end goal, and take care of home, I am confident that I will achieve true success in the MBA program that extends far beyond the classroom. These principles will also serve me very well in my post-MBA life.