Reaching your goal in three stages

For years, I had wanted to do an MBA.  I had made an attempt some years back; but I had given up one month into the term. While I had good reasons for dropping out of the course, as I reminisce those days, I can frankly say that my will was not as strong as my excuse then. There will always be reasons and I am sure there are valid ones, yet I also believe that if one is committed to achieve a set goal, then circumstances tend to align.

As I remember last Friday, I realized that there was something different that made me finally do the MBA and accomplish it. Let me share the three stages I went through.

1. Decision

The first stage which may sound easy is to make a decision, but it has to be a firm one. It was no longer that I wanted an MBA but that I had to have an MBA.. I decided to make it a number one priority. From that moment, everything else seemed to align. I searched and found what I believe was the right university according to my set criteria.  I did not want to be away from my family for a year or so and based on my online past experience, I thought I would not stick to it. Finally, I chose a program that was in between. I was blessed to find one that was the right fit.  As Ralph Waldo said: 

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

2. Commitment

The MBA was quite challenging. A combination of circumstances ranging from a transition in my professional life and getting re-accustomed to studying made it more difficult. No matter the challenges I met along the road though, I remained committed but I was also flexible. For instance, I had to take one semester off and postponed it for a later period. As a result I graduated almost a year later than my initial classmates. Nevertheless I remained committed and I excelled. In hindsight that situation and the break worked to my advantage.  I learned the below:

“Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” Tony Robbins

3.  Determination. 

As months passed by facing tough tests and exams, lots of challenges abounded. By then, my determination was not only to complete the MBA but as a parent, I wanted to set an example for my children by aiming for the best performance. I had attended a previous graduation and learned about Delta Mu Delta and was determined to get it.  Faced with working in different countries, juggling between different time zones and looking for exam proctors in foreign cities, it was a challenging endeavor, but I kept the resolve.  Eventually, I reached it!

I love this quote by Ralph Bunche which illustrates it well:

“To make our way, we must have firm resolve, persistence, tenacity. We must gear ourselves to work hard all the way. We can never let up.”

This journey has taught me a great deal. It's been a great teacher. So here is my call:

When you have an idea or a goal in mind, it is likely to remain just an idea if nothing more is done. But once you make a decision to pursue that goal; that you commit to it and you resolve not to settle for anything less, then your chances of success will increase tremendously.  That’s been my experience and I believe it can happen to anyone else. 

 DECIDE. COMMIT. RESOLVE