Success is something you think you should have so that the
world approves of you. In today’s world, the route to success is divided into
three parts:
1.
You work your way to success
2.
You lick your way to success
3.
You sleep your way to success
I had the notion that MBA would propel my
career to greater heights. It’d definitely do that but the trade off in return
is something huge. And it’s not the regular you don’t get to sleep, you have
nine subjects per semester, you have assignments kind of banter. It is way
beyond all that. You suddenly find yourself in a bevy of strange, unknown
people you know nothing about. The first few months would be all about
adaptability and fitting in. If you’re lucky, you find a group to eat, hangout
and watch movies with. If you’re luckier, you make your own group and induct
people into it. Else, you’re just a minority, someone who doesn’t fit in or
doesn’t want to fit in.
The next few months would be all about
getting to know each other. ‘Networking’ as per the B school norm. You network because you never know who might
come in handy in near future. You form opinions, make friends, have conflicts,
appear for exams and get the hang of a B school. Once the storm sets in, you
figure out who your real friends, who your fake friends are, who is out and out
plastic and who is truly genuine.
Personally, my journey has been a learning
experience like no other. I had to leave my comfort zone, my people and Hyderabadi biryani all in the name of
success. If I wouldn't have been here, I wouldn't have known how it feels to be
let down by an alleged friend, how there’s always more than what meets the eye,
how it feels to be under constant scrutiny, how first impressions are lasting
impressions, how people behave under tremendous pressure, what it feels to be
in the middle of a rat race and how a dog eats a dog.
MBA is
not only a shortcut to success, it is also a transformative journey of personal
growth. A journey that helps you rediscover your own self. But the real
question is, is it really worth the trade off?
