THE END IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE PROCESS

On the 25th of October, my close friend Tolulope sent a random thoughtful whatsapp message. “Gaz, how are you?” I was about to quickly respond with the usual “I am awesome!” but I held back. Why the resistance, I wondered. 

I wasn’t exactly awesome. My life was about to change or at least take a major turn. 

That morning, I got an email with my matriculation number. Wow, this is actually real. I am doing my MBA. Finally!

Before my thoughts could drift any further, I responded “ Tolu, I am in an actual school” I’m not sure how I feel about it. Things seem to be moving really fast. Did I expect it? YES. Was I really really ready? Very questionable. 

She laughed, and said, don’t worry Gaz, you’d be just fine. 

Those words felt like cold water over my skin. I knew I needed to be encouraged, but I didn’t know that I needed it that much. 

In that short message from my friend, Tolu, I was reassured that everything was going to be just fine. I have waited so long to do my MBA. I knew the day was coming. It is here and I am going to embrace all of it. 

On the 24th of October, 2023 I embarked on an incredible educational journey at the prestigious Lagos Business School. My 2023 affirmation of being an MBA graduate would be a reality soon. 

We started out with some brush up classes which I got enrolled for late. I found that rather interesting and really necessary. I imagined that there were many students like me who weren’t exactly prepared to go back to school or had to combine full-time work with being in school. The preparation was the exact heads-up we needed that this is no joke. Or as my data analytics facilitator put it “This is LBS, not Nigeria. Welcome to LBS”

It has been 2 weeks of reawakening and rediscovery. Amidst the busy schedules, long case studies and group meetings I have found some time to reflect on the lessons I have gotten in the past 2 weeks since I started my classes. 

COMPOUND LEARNING : Despite officially starting a formal school setting, I am a voracious learner and a teacher at heart. I love reading, writing and learning new things. Be it from workshops, courses, conferences or short training. Having this background has contributed immensely to my ability to easily navigate through the rigorous curriculum. I have, to a reasonable degree, learnt how to learn. Applying that knowledge has helped me read, assimilate and process information faster. 

SET YOUR INTENTION: A night before my first day in class, I spent some time setting my intentions for the MBA program. It was important to me to not just think about why this is important to me but to ensure I write it down. That exercise deepened my convictions and commitment to stay the long haul. No quick fixes here. 

LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS : This speaks to the importance of practicing presence, purpose, power and possibilities. I am reminded that I must broaden my perspective and approach everything with an open mind. Indeed, the diamond I seek may not be in the obvious. The end is just as important as the process. 

One thing I am most certain about is that I am going to embrace the entire process of the MBA program. I will fail forward. I will allow myself to be seen, heard, and possibly laughed at. I will serve and share the light I carry with everyone I come in contact with. I will stay committed and on course. And most importantly, I will stay dependent on God, my only source.