This afternoon, I reclined on the couch and read a new book cover-to-cover. I even took a nap about halfway through. The book was free thanks to the public library and I had the time to finish it thanks to summer vacation. Grateful for libraries, books, recommendations for books from friends, and free time.
On a side note, the book was awesome and I highly recommend it. “Be the Hero” by Noah Blumenthal. A great, quick, read that will help you change the way you look at your own life and situation. It extends the idea of a positive attitude into the stories we tell ourselves about other people, our situations, and our selves. I found it empowering.
I was grateful to see that the most recent issues of Miami University’s alumni magazine, the Miamian, featured my work with Project Japale Goune in the Snapshots of Service article. Woot Woot.
Today is my first Monday of summer break, or self-employment, or freedom from thoughts of homework – depending on how you look at it. I woke up, drank coffee, and wrote letters and cards to friends and felt so grateful for the break from school. My first year as an MBA student was both exhilarating and exhausting (mostly exhausting), confidence-boosting and humbling (mostly humbling), enriching and impoverishing (most impoverishing). All year, I asked myself “Why did I come back to school again?”
One of my goals for the summer is to take time to reflect on that why and focus on all the good things that my MBA education has brought me. I’m starting that goal today.
I am grateful for the following gifts from my MBA education:
a social circle that grew like it was on steroids. so many friends. so many parties. so much laughter.
understanding the Time Value of Money
running buddies
an introduction to racquetball
understanding how to grow a business
harnessing the power within Excel for decision making
good excuse to buy more suits and professional clothes
the opportunity to contribute to writing a $1.5 million grant writing for International Education
the opportunity to plan a successful trip with the Entrepreneurship students to Chicago
an expanded vocabulary. Words I didn’t know how to use correctly simply a year ago: assets, liabilities, stock holder’s equity, exit plan, leverage, net present value, EBITDA, kaizen, blue ocean strategy, SWOT analysis, pivot table, and many more,
understanding how to maximize the tools in Quickbooks for my own business
education tax credits
practice writing haikus with Facebook friends the eves of exams
actually understanding what it would take to start a business (instead of going forward blindly as I did the last time around)
confirmation that I am a solid writer
confirmation that Diène is supportive and understanding and awesome in social situations
getting to spend my days in Grainger Hall – so luxurious compared to my liberal arts facilities in undergraduate
having time to listen to podcasts on the bus rides to school
living on the academic calendar. summers off. love it.
Knock on wood, I’m on a roll. Two runs in three days. If there is enough advil and rest between now and Tuesday, I may get back in the game with my running buddies and make it three. The best part is that all I can think about while I run is writing. Things to write on my blog. Love stories. Confessions. Sultry fiction that takes place on the racquetball court. MBA-inspired corporate thrillers (is this even a genre?) Speeches. Toasts. And of course, lists of things to be grateful for:
the pair of ducks that have nested in my neighbor’s yard
sore legs from running; resisting the urge to Aleve®
a few racquetball victories; more and more games on the books
forming consulting companies with classmates
the way a fresh coat of nail polish makes your hands look so pretty all day long
Today, I tore the plastic weather covering off the windows and let Spring in! A beautiful early Wisconsin spring day is always something to be grateful for.
An expression of gratitude for all that is good in my life.