Do it For Yourself: Forget everyone else

One thing has driven me my whole life, and caused a considerable amount of anxeity: What do/will other people think about me? When this thought process occupies much of your waking hours, it takes a toll on your self-confidence. You try to build confidence, but there is always a wrecking ball knocking down what you've spent so much time trying to build up-self confidence.

So rather than try to make this project into something that tries to get that recognition from others (which is where I think I was going, even if subconsciously), I just want to let this space be a place where I can gain inspiration and learn. Things seems to work best when we just relax and go with the flow per se (as long as that stream flows down a tributary of your choosing).

Thought-Leaders

Lately, I have been reading/studying certain inspiring business manifesto's at ChangeThis. My favorites are The Bootstrapper's Bible and 25 Ways to Distinguish Yourself.

These manifesto's are written by thought-leaders whom offer considerable knowledge and insight. It's the perfect foundation on which I can build my education. We should all have manifesto's, if even for ourselves. Something tangible, evidence of what we value, and an anchor when things become uncertain.

Education is not a solitary process, it takes collaboration and exchange of ideas. So in connection with my Building Blocks post, I am in the process of engaging thought-leaders to teach a mini-course, either in the form of a one-time/recurring guest blog posts on a subject of their expertise.

Building Blocks

So, I have the idea. Now the real works starts: making the idea real.

It is a bit overwhelming, taking charge of your education/future. But it is exciting.

At first, I wanted to carefully lay out a plan, build a complex wholly integrated media website. Then, I realized I do not know how to do any of that stuff. Overplanning and over-thinking leads me to a sort of paralysis.

So, I think the best way to start is to just start. I want this blog to be a place where academics and industry professionals converge. I want to learn from the thought-leaders of the business world, whether that means academia or industry. That's possibility excites me.

My mission: find a thought-leader who is willing to share his/her knowledge and learn from them, documenting the process here so others can learn too.

Free Vs. HomeGrown

Rather than "The Free MBA Project", perhaps "HomeGrown MBA". Free has certain connotations, free of effort, free of cost (opportunity costs to be precise), free of investment (your time).

No matter the name, the idea is what truly matters. The idea is simple: an unpretentious, and relevant business education with which you can do what you never thought you could.

The Greatest Barrier to Entry: Fear

Fear. We stay in jobs which make us miserable because we fear the unexplored. We fear doing the same job different ways because of what colleagues may say. We fear using our own ideas because they may not be good enough. Or we may expend the effort, and fail. But, may be if we try, we can learn and give our ideas the credence they deserve. And perhaps, make a living using our ideas. Rather than settling, doing something out of fear.

Does size really matter?

So I am employed by one of the BIG Four accounting firms. In my college accounting classes we were led to believe the big four were the pinnacle of the accounting world. So like all good students, I secured an internship which then led to the job offer and the rest is history.

After spending two years in this larger than life world, I am starting to believe my professors and mentors were operating under the outdated paradigm "bigger is better", which I agreed with until I stumbled across an interesting post by Seth Godin's blog about smaller being the new big.

In the business world to move your career ahead we focus on going for the position at the large company, or getting into the big name business school.

Well, that's just the opposite of the Free MBA project. Let's flip the mainstream paradigm of how to achieve success, and success itself, on its head. More can be learned from this project with lower cost (and opportunity cost), than attending the traditional MBA program.

For instance, at this point my blog is (i) vague, (ii) has little content, and (iii) i know little about this "blogging" thing. But, I will investment my time, and through trial and error, the content will improve, and I will learn.

So, let's get small with big plans.

Mission Statement

Well, at some point, we all need to invest our time and energy into something worthy of our efforts. At this point in my life, I haven't found that job or hobby which I feel a sense of passion towards. So, I have created that sense of passion and enthusiasm within this space. So, this blog has a purpose for me, and hopefully I will be able to create something of value for others (see the "value" post).

Free MBA Project Mission:
To extend the benefits of a world-class MBA education to anyone willing to invest the time, regardless of means.

Be warned..mission subject to...better wording..