My Arrival - Getting Started on my MBA

If I keep thinking that I've got to have a perfect concept to outline for everyone (or anyone) who might read this blog, I'll never get this started.  So, here goes, generally:

My purpose:

Chronicle my MBA experiences (of course, including some pictures - here's the main entrance to the school)

My audience:

Friends, family, and others interested in getting their MBA or INSEAD, in particular

My policy:

Write when I can, what I want, my way (typically stream-of-consciousness, followed by bullet points, pictures, and quirky phrases, ha!).  However, also including, responding, or not, to questions/suggestions/concerns

Otherwise, that's it.  I'll summarize the "real" beginning and move quickly to where I am today @ INSEAD. 

The "real" beginning is when you decide to get an MBA (51% of your brain says "go").  And then it's like a weed, once planted, that grows.  However, the speed that people decide why, when, and where differs dramatically and is totally personal.  (Also an important side-note, I definitely have to give a "Thanks" out to several people who pushed me, helped/informed me, and also listened when I swore this was a bad idea).  Even with great support and encouragement, for me, it felt like a slow tipping point, but finally one that I couldn't ignore.  There was a big push in my brain, maybe even a shove, at a point when I got sick of reading a popular tagline "MBA preferred."   For those of you who know where you see that, you know what I'm talking about...  Two words, that solidified that I needed an MBA to take my next big step - ex. broaden my business experiences and move toward greater responsibility/opportunity.   Once made, this decision was like a thorn in the back of my mind persistently prodding me to research schools, talk to alumni, and generally organize a "story" for applications.  Talk about stereotyping and categorizing myself - that's what the "story" becomes, despite my best efforts to be an individual.

So, what did I realize?  Lots, maybe even more than I needed.  But, yes, that's the idea.  After wrapping that up, I paired me with some schools (ex. fast-paced, diverse, challenging, fun) just like wine and cheese.  Finally, I went to work on those applications, and, voila, roughly $1,100 spent applying to four schools - which caps about $3,500 spent in total studying, testing, visiting, etc in preparation to spend even more actually going to school.  Ha! 

And without further adieu, I'm at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France - tagline - The Business School for the World.  And really, one of the top business schools in the world with some AWESOME classmates.  More fun on that...