Business & Bullshit (Part 2)
Are unintentional lies still lies?
If you've been following along with the blog for a while, you'll remember one of my first posts, Business & Bullshit (click if you need a refresher).
In that article, I wrote about how I felt I didn't learn anything during my MBA program. I expressed my frustration with formalized education, my irritation at my institution, and my anger toward myself for bullshitting my way through the curriculum.
I know it's only been two months since I wrote that, but...
I've changed my mind.
I lied. It was unintentional, but I definitely lied.
It wasn't all bullshit.
In the two months since I wrote that article, I hard-launched my business. In doing so, I realized how much I'm flexing muscles I learned to use during that program.
Specifically, I've been pulling from material used in two classes: Digital Marketing and Principles of Leadership.
My final project for my Digital Marketing class was to create a brand. We had to make a presentation that included a SWOT analysis, environmental scan, brand value proposition, brand position, brand story, content strategy, content distribution plan, and more. I had the good sense to use this project as an opportunity to practice making a business plan for my hypothetical editing business.
Well, that business isn't so hypothetical anymore, and that little school project literally informs how I run my business now. Half of the information on my website is pulled directly from that presentation. It saved me countless hours of time, and I'm grateful for it every day.
Clearly, that wasn't bullshit.
The Table of Contents from my Digital Marketing final presentation
As for the Principles of Leadership class coming into play, that one has a little bit less of an obvious effect, but it's just as important.
This business, as of right now, is a one-woman-show. The only person I'm managing is myself. Fortunately, that class emphasized how important it is to effectively manage ourselves before we try to manage other people. We spent a lot of time reflecting on our own strengths, weaknesses, personalities and abilities. Plus, we learned a lot of stress-management techniques. I learned so much about myself during that class, and I find myself still practicing many of the strategies I learned for self-regulation, empathy, and self-awareness.
Clearly, that wasn't bullshit.
A page of a project from my Principles of Leadership class
Don't misunderstand me, I still bullshitted my way through much of that program. But it wasn't all bullshit. I learned a lot. No, I won't use all of it—I won't even use most of it. But I'm going to take the bad with the good, and acknowledge how much I really did end up getting out of that degree.
So, consider this post my formal apology to my Digital Marketing and Principles of Leadership professors. I'm sorry I said my whole degree was bullshit. I'm a liar. I take it back.
Thank you for everything.
What's the most important thing you took away from your formal schooling? What do you use the most?