In this blog post I started a list of behaviors that one should adopt in order to see success in their MBA program. As I mentioned previously, getting into an MBA program is a huge achievement, and you’ll want to maintain that level of success over the next few years in the program. Let’s delve into a few more techniques that will help you see success.
Compete Only With Yourself
This is a piece of advice that you should keep with you through your time in business school and beyond. Yes, a bit of friendly competition with classmates and colleagues is always a great motivator. But you should not be looking at your success as it exists in comparison to the other people in your program. The reality is that there will always be someone else who is seemingly “ahead” of you. Keep in mind that you and all of your MBA classmates were selected for a reason; you are just as qualified as anyone else. Each person in your program will have a different story, different abilities, and different strengths. If you’re going to do any comparing while during your studies, let the comparison be between the “you” at the start of your program and the “you” of the present moment.
Stay Focused
While it is important to keep an open mind while exploring your career options, and to maintain a positive work-life balance, it’s important to remain focused throughout your MBA experience. The worst thing you could do is get to school and then lose focus/ start making mistakes in your studies. Keep your goals (both short term & long term) in mind. Feel free to join multiple clubs in order to keep your career options open, but try to choose one that shows the most promise towards helping you achieve your end goals. When that club is determined, focus on moving up the ranks and obtaining a leadership position. Let all of your moves be calculated and full of purpose.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that your MBA will be about more than just your grades. Use your time in business school to grow your network and to find your true business-related passions.
Melissa Ko is the Managing Member of Covepoint Capital Advisors, LLC and serves as the Chief Investment Officer of its flagship, the Covepoint Emerging Markets Macro Fund. Please visit https://about.me/melissako, https://melissakoblog.wordpress.com/, http://melissakocovepoint.tumblr.com/, and http://www.slideshare.net/MelissaKo1 to learn more!