MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
I have considered an MBA program since I graduated from Samford University in 2003 with a dual degree in Computer Science and German and a failed attempt at the Business Management curriculum. Economics with a professor known as Dr. Death my freshman year may have had something to do with the abrupt end of my relationship with the School of Business, but I bitterly digress. Honestly, to say I've considered an MBA is a stretch. I've more or less entertained the idea with not much traction for primarily two reasons. First of all, the combination of fixed cost (ie, tuition, books, etc) and opportunity costs have seemed to be pretty high. Secondly, I would guess at least 90% of my practical skills were learned outside the classroom.

THE TIPPING POINT
As I look back on the four plus years in the marketplace I'm a little surprised by the experiences I've had and I'm not referring to the guy that could speak Klingon. Here is a quick summary:

• I've worked for four companies from the largest privately held company in the US to a three person mobile content company.
• I've worked for a company the went public, one that raised capital and one that mistakenly added a zero to its income statement resulting in the involvement of laying off of 5 people within their first week on the job.
• I've worked on an used folding table in an industrial storefront near the airport and in a new Herman Miller Aeron chair in a premier business park both for the same company within 10 months.
• I've worked under managers with the last names Moon, Lee and Ip, and only one was Asian.
• I've worked on calls with executives from Fortune Global 500 companies to adult videostars (unbeknownst to me at the time).
• I've worked through 4 office moves for a total of 8 different offices.
• I've worked for three companies that doubled in size within 12 months and one that doubled then halfed within 2 weeks.
• I've worked 36 consecutive hours in the same office on my birthday.

SEEING WHAT'S NEXT?
How best can I use my time,resources and experiences to get from point A to point B? Point A being a technician with limited control on the factors that waste my time, drive me nuts and ultimately wane relevance and meaning. Deep down I desire challenge and independence, which is the opportunity to see if I have what it takes and of what I'm made. Ultimately, I want a chance. A chance to be part of something larger than me. A chance to make a difference. A chance to make an impact. A chance to make every breath count by pushing myself to limits of performance...to use 27 years of experience...to capitalize on stengths...to empower others. I want a chance to not only live, but to thrive.

THE ELEGANT SOLUTION
The Personal MBA (PMBA) hit a nerve with me. Read the Personal MBA Manifesto and you will understand why. What I realized late in college and certainly upon graduation is that an expensive peice of paper does not get you very far in the marketplace, especially if the marketplace does not recognize the issuer of the paper. On the other hand, personally performance is the driver. The ability to genuinely learn and think and interact will take you as far as you want to go in the direction of your choice. That is why I'm excited to begin this journey known as the Personal MBA. Along the way I will attempt to highlight the good, bad and ugly of this approach to continued education compared to its more expensive, more defined and more popular alternative.