Here we go again

So you know the feeling, when you've finally finished something you've been working on for forever. I mean like a project or something that has taken huge amounts of your time, you've been working on it for years and years. Striving and looking forward to the end result and finally one day it is done! You've completed it, you look at the end result and it was so worth it. You finally allow yourself to enjoy a sense of completion, to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes. And you say to yourself. I am done, it is complete, there is nothing left to do for my project........... but wait. It's not. No sadly after a little time goes by you realize there is just something missing. It is not quite complete. Maybe you built a table and then you realize it's not long enough and you need to put a leaf in the middle. Maybe your building a house and realize you should have put that mother-in-law suite on the back or added the RV parking. Maybe (my wife will appreciate this one) your making a quilt and you realize you needed a King size instead of a Queen size.

So do you get my point..... not really. OK I'll explain better. Last year in June after going to school with very few breaks from the time I was five years old. At the ripe young age of 29 I finished my MBA. I know what your saying, wow a master degree, that's pretty cool. Well I know I thought so too! A Masters degree, whodda thunk it! I was feeling pretty darn good about myself. But could I let that just sit, let myself bask in the being doneness of it all, no I had to start thinking again. For those of you out there who are done with school I would recommend not thinking anymore. That's what the educational process is for. You've paid you dues, you've done your time, let the cranium rest a little for Pete's sakes. I however for some reason could not allow myself to do that.
It started small, I had the chance during my Masters program to take an additional five classes and receive an emphasis in something like say accounting. An MBA with an Accounting emphasis. It would have said it on my degree, nice and pretty. I however opted not to at the time. I was ready to be done and five more classes would have been like creating my own cement shoes and throwing myself into the river and besides I was on the fast track moving up through management and I wouldn't really be dealing with accounting other then interpreting balance sheets and income statements right? It's not like I was in the accounting department or back office or something. Once I had my MBA though my wonderful employer recognizing the accomplishment was more then willing to put me over the Operations Department when the opportunity presented itself. Head of the department! I was feeling pretty good.

Then I started thinking, it technically wasn't in the "Accounting" department but my department handles many back office aspects that completely involve a sound understanding of accounting. And after talking to one of the senior managers I begin to understand that an accounting emphasis really helps out that resume. hmmmmmm

So I call up my school and explain my situation and I ask, so can I take those five classes now? Sure! they tell me! So how does that work I ask? Will they reprint my degree and show the accounting emphasis? Oh no was the immediate reply it doesn't work that way, you've already graduated. So will I get a certificate or something. Oh no was the reply again. You can just take the five classes. In my mind I see my shiny resume not as shiny anymore. Well that won't help like I thought I reply. Well you can always go for a second Masters degree in accounting. A second masters degree, I mulled it for a few seconds, intriguing but no. Undaunted the counselor gives it one last ditch effort. Or you can try a PHD. (light bulb goes off) My mind starts working, I am more then intrigued. But wait a minute a PHD, are you crazy! Four more years of school! More student loans! Sleep deprivation! Dr. Gundersen! wait, what was that last one? Dr. Gundersen, hmmm that sounds nice. Let's see what else. Resume is looking much brighter. Chances of being CEO someday looking up a bit. Hmmmmmmm

So I thought about it, (see what I mean about that thinking thing... just don't do it) and I thought some more. I prayed about it. I started looking into schools and degrees. Then I found The One. PHD in Management and Organizational Leadership. Doesn't it just say, look at me, I'm the next CEO! So to make a long story short (that was a joke, I think this is my longest posting ever and if you've actually read this far I'd like to say thank you and umm you may need to look into a hobby or something) I completed my admissions application Thursday night.

So in a nutshell.... here we go again. :)