Sometimes, it’s not for the ROI
|
Hi Reader, I’m about to start the last class of my MBA. It’s crazy to think that, 21 months after it all kicked off, I’ll officially be graduated in May. As I’m gearing up for the last push, I’ve been thinking about the tennis player, Mirra Andreeva. There’s this thing she does when she wins a tournament that I never see anyone else do. First, she thanks her family, coaches, and opponents. Here’s a snippet from that speech: “I know what I have been dealing with, and I just want to thank me for always believing in me…I want to thank me for never quitting and always dealing with the pressure…today it was not easy, but I chose to be there 100%, so I thank myself for that.” I just love it so much. She sees the work she puts in and she isn't going to let it go unacknowledged. That’s kind of how I’m feeling about my master’s coming to an end. I wouldn’t have finished the program without the support of my family, colleagues, and instructors. That support is huge. But at the end of the day…they weren't the ones doing it. I was. I was the one showing up when work, family life, and school all seemed to collide. I was the one pushing through in those tough moments. There were days that felt really hard, and I’m not going to say I never complained to my people. But hey, complaining is part of the journey! Also, hard is relative. The hard stuff is what makes us. If you’ve been thinking about going back to school or pursuing another big challenge, I say you should absolutely do it. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reason. Was going back to school “worth it” in a strictly financial business sense? I’m not sure yet, to be honest. But did it mean something to me? Absolutely. I didn’t do it for the ROI or for anyone else. I did it for myself. It was for the proof that I could and the growth I picked up along the way. So, yeah, I want to thank me. Maybe you should thank yourself too.
|
Hi! I'm Rachel, the Left Brain of Drio.
Hi Reader, I don’t usually work late, but when I do, it’s because I’m fully immersed in something, head down, earbuds in. Recently, I was up late working on WholeSite, the AI-assisted website building tool we’re developing. When I finally came home, I asked my husband if he wanted to see what I had been doing. I hadn’t actually told him much about WholeSite yet, so I gave him the spiel. I told him WholeSite will allow entrepreneurs to create a high-quality WordPress website on their own. It...
Hi Reader, July was filled with connection, learning, and meaningful impact. From exchanging ideas with entrepreneurs and global leaders to launching a refreshed digital experience for a mission-driven organization and staying ahead of important website security updates, the month offered valuable opportunities to grow, collaborate, and support the communities we serve. 🚀 Learning from DC-Area Startup Founders On July 16, Rachel attended the Korea Innovation Center Washington DC’s TeX...
Hi Reader, Walking into WordCamp Europe this summer felt like walking into high school as seniors. As usual, we knew many of the faces in the room, and we had experience on our side. The city was new (Kraków, Poland), but the energy was delightfully familiar. It’s like coming home to a community we’ve been with since freshman year. When you’re one of the “seniors,” you have wisdom to share with others who are earlier in their journey. We always love meeting people who are newer to the...