Go…no wait!
November 22, 06 by BharaniThe human life is so short…but the human brain is capable of conceiving unimaginable levels of dreams and imagery in that short span of time. Few of those dreams transform into ambitions…in other words ‘long-term goals’. It is natural for people to set short-term goals, which will eventually lead them to successful realization of their long-term goals. It is even more natural among B-school grads…
When I wrote an essay to answer the post-mba career goals related question in the ISB application form, I clearly set aside short-term goals and long-term goals. I look at it now and I realize that I am more or less on track, except for few specifics. But, I must admit that I have gone through a lot of plan-changes during the last 1.5 years. The main reason for that is the new information that reaches the brain every new day, testing my rationale and challenging my aspirations.
Of late, I am facing a BIG question. When is the time to take the BIG STEP? and of course freebie questions like: If I have to set up my own venture, are there different ways to achieve the end-goal? If so what are they?
I have absolutely, 100 percent, realized that nothing less than entrepreneurship is going to test the MBA skills. Nothing less than my own-venture will deserve the hard-work that I am willing to put. But, there is a problem. The problem that is prevalent among many Indian youth. Courage to take that first RISKY step. Lack of momentum to go off-tangent.
I have decided that I should keep working on my ideas during my personal off-time. May be I am ambitious…May be it’s just a rush-of-blood. Giving the ideas a definite shape is the only to way to ascertain if it is just a case of “May-be” or really a “Must-be”. And to my satisifaction, I am slowly regaining the lost discipline back. Now that, 3 to 4 of my friends have started their own ventures, I should observe their progress and learn from them. For the time being, I will build up and nurture the entrepreneurial mind-set.
I just have a feeling that the world around me is conspiring towards me. I am going to believe the golden words of Alchemist now.
“When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true” - Alchemist.
eu Says: 22.11.06 at 8:24 pm
I was reading this just today and thought it was exactly what I needed to read.Might do you some good too.
eu Says: 22.11.06 at 8:25 pm
Argh looks like the link thing didnt work. Sowwie here goes.
http://gaizabonts.wordpress.com/2006/11/17/risk-factor/
Karthik Ramachandran Says: 23.11.06 at 5:40 am
Nothing less than entrepreneurship will test the MBA skills. I think you’re spot on there.
Monk Says: 23.11.06 at 9:55 am
hmmm… I’m still trying to figure out the difference between ’skills’ and ‘common sense’ which for some reason gets termed ‘MBA’ skills.
Ramki Says: 23.11.06 at 10:05 am
SK, I believe that during the MBA, ‘commonsense’ is what gets reinforced. But, the job of the people trying to do it becomes difficult if someone lacks it altogether.
And I don’t agree that only entrepreneurship will help test MBA skills. Whatever you learnt should help you do things slightly better irrepsective of what you are doing. It is just that we wait for the correct oppurtunity to do things rather than trying things at every oppurtunity possible.
For ex: In any product company the sales and marketing team will wait for the perfect product, which engineering can never make and engineering will complain that sales and marketing are not doing a good job in selling what they are making. Just look for oppurtunities.
Jeeva Says: 23.11.06 at 1:04 pm
My MBA skills are tested every day at home, at work, at the underground train station, when I am on phone with my parents, when my friends crib about their job, when my stupid MBA friends create “that” hype about their new job, when I understand the news behind the news on samachar.com, when I try to guess what is going on in your mind when you post this blog and of course when I successfully guess how an ISB colleague would comment!!! Romba pesitaen da.. mannuchuko.
Bharani Says: 23.11.06 at 7:00 pm
Thanks EU for the link…interesting perspective.
I was just trying to say that setting up own venture will test the business and management skills overall.(covering all aspects of business like Marketing, sales, finance, operations, etc.,).
Bharani Says: 23.11.06 at 7:06 pm
Monk: I somehow find it strange that common sense is missing among some MBA grads! So I don\\\’t completely buy your suggestion of terming skills as common sense..Common sense is something unique to the individual… What\\\’s your take on that?
Ramki: Read my point in the previous comment.
Jeeva: Romba pesitta da!
Karthik…want to add something?
Monk Says: 24.11.06 at 4:49 am
ha ha…
Big B: if it is idiosyncratic… we can knock of ‘common’ and just have ’sense’…
… and the fact that it is missing in some people irrespective of their knowledge is totally different judgement… and I agree with that.
My only contention is with people (yeah the same ‘MBA’ grads)… who ‘believe’ that doing it gives the skill which others lack… it is their assumed arrogance that kills me.
Ramki is correct in saying it is not ‘where you do’ but ‘how you do’ that matters !
Karthik Says: 24.11.06 at 3:41 pm
Ramki, to put Bharani’s point differently, the ultimate test for an MBA is entrepreneurship. It’s true that your MBA skills can be used to improve any kind of work but the point is which work will use up most of your MBA skills.
Monk Says: 25.11.06 at 6:43 am
to put it the other way… MBAs just complicate things to justify the reason for their existence…
Bharani Says: 26.11.06 at 7:24 pm
I am not sure about others. But Monk, I agree with your statement “MBAs just complicate things to justify the reason for their existence”…I think, I too fall under that category! I realized this recently…and I am trying not to complicate things even unconsciously. The sooner one realizes this, the better it is for him/her.
But let’s not generalize…these perceptions are always based on individual observations.
Monk Says: 27.11.06 at 4:37 am
dude… my comments were not directed in your direction… just observations which I wanted to share. why are you getting defensive buddy?
Bharani Says: 27.11.06 at 4:44 am
That was NOT a defensive comment. That was an honest acceptance. I don’t know what gave you that impression.
Bharani Says: 27.11.06 at 4:48 am
Monk…off-topic…I will give a call tonight..need to discuss something.
Monk Says: 27.11.06 at 7:37 am
sure…
what is “discuss something”?… I dont know how ‘casual’ search engine in BharatMatrimony works !
Rajat Says: 02.12.06 at 9:16 am
Felt the same thing about the risk. But it becomes easier when you are not employed. I guess we value the opportunity cost way too much and stay glued to the 3 x 3 cubicle..