Does Anyone Here Have an MBA?

Yeah, at business school, I don't think I have heard of one person discuss trying to make money through internet marketing. There are some entrepreneurs, but most people are just heading back into the corporate world (with, of course, with higher incomes).

I don't see myself being an employee at a big corporation anymore (been there done that), so I wanted to see if anyone else with an MBA had also disregarded the typical corporate post-MBA path to pursue IM or other non-traditional MBA fields.

Austin, huh? You should connect with my dad Million Design Group - website design, SEO and internet marketing services

He does web services and design in Austin.

Anyway, I'm sure an MBA helps, but I got my undergrad in Marketing Management from the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University and I learned more in one month on the Warrior Forum than I did from 4 years of intense education.

Well...not that intense .

I just can't imagine what more an MBA would do for me...unless I work for someone else?

The ONLY reason I'd get my MBA is for the networking opportunities...Either way I'd rather spend that money on tools for my business

Yes, I earned my MBA in 2003'

Has it helped in IM? Yes and no. I personally do not believe you can point to one thing over the life of your higher educational endeavors to become an expert in one area, especially something as broad as an MBA. It's more of an intangible. It's the culmination of time spent studying and applying business practices in the "real world" where the benefits are truly realized.

I would agree with this synopsis...
"The MBA has been totally 'useless' as far as the 'type' of knowledge required for I.M. but totally invaluable in being able to understand what is important to learn and what is not. It has also been invaluable in understanding that there isn't one solution but many."

That said though, I would always recommend to somebody that higher education as a means of self improvement and enriching your career is a good thing, something "they can never take away from you." And, I'm glad I have it.

Hi Justin,

I obtained my MBA from the Cardiff Business School at the University of Wales, many years ago. I was not a young man when I began my studies and was thus well versed in the world of 'work' and of 'life experience'.

Strange as it may seem to younger readers of this post, the more mature 'students' seemed to obtain better results in the individual 'challenges' than did the new under graduates.

When it came to the team event projects however, the contributions of everyone, regardless of age or experience were invaluable.

Many of the older people and more experienced people who were studying with me used to refer to the MBA (tongue in cheek) as a Master of Bugger All. The main reason being that most were already professionally qualified in a particular field (think niche - such as law or accounting) and that is where their income came from. An MBA is a more general degree (think perhaps IM!)

While I did not agree with the above sentiment, an MBA is, after all, a qualification designed to cover many aspects of business, including strategic planning, business planning, marketing, operations management, project management, people skills, business statistics, financial management and a multitude of other important topics.

No one can master all of these.

Everyone that I ever spoke to on the course (it was of two years duration) said that it was the most intensive and difficult course that they had ever undertaken. I can't disagree with that.

So to conclude my ramblings.

The two most important things that I gained from my MBA, all those years ago were:

- You gain enough knowledge to be an asset to your chosen business/corporation, but only by being able to recognise and identify areas where you need to call in (commission) a professional who specialises in the area(s) of the business that you have identified as needing attention. You don't attempt to take direct action yourself unless appropriately qualified and experienced.

- Keep in touch with all of the contacts and friends that you have made during the course of your studies. All will have different skill levels, personalities, contacts and so on and will find careers throughout industry, business and commerce. Some may become invaluable to you (and you to them) as you develop your chosen career.

This is just my personal experience Justin and I hope that you read it.

Please don't forget though that although learning is important, taking action to earn from what you learn is equally important.

Good luck with your studies and your chosen business/career.

Regards,
Jeff Henshaw.