Pursuing a Masters of Business Administration
The decision to pursue my Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree started out as a requirement to be successful in my field of study. It quickly evolved into a desire to achieve a personal goal. Whereas in undergraduate school, the emphasis was on completing a MBA or sitting for the CPA exam. As an Accounting major, there did not appear to be too many options after graduation. As I was preparing for graduation, my brother was admonishing me to continue to Graduate School. At the time I viewed him as a father figure to me. Ordinarily, I listened to everything he had advised me to do. Unfortunately, this time I did not. I was not focus on continuing my education and had no desire at that time to pursue a secondary degree. My thought process quickly changed as I entered the workforce.
Goals do not need to be assigned, as people also set goals on their own. Self-set goals, however, are often influence by others, for example, when goals are conjointly set (e.g. in participative decision-making and employee involvement; Wilpert, 1994), or when goals are adopted from highly respected models (e.g. adopting standards for self-reward; Mischel & Liebert, 1966). Cantor & Fleeson (1994) point out that social context cues, such as normative expectations of the social community, also influence goal selection.
I am a very determined and goal-oriented individual. Like most people, I have written and re-written my five and 10 year-plan time and time again. I have been discouraged in my lifetime as many others. Situations and obstacles have not gone my way. I have placed my desires and dreams to the back burner as a result my marriage, my children, and our financial situation. In the midst of it all, I still felt a void. I felt as though I was losing myself and placing everyone needs and wants before my own.
As my household situation changed, my husband and I are separated, my need and desire to regain my self-worth returned. Intimidation, fear and lack of self-esteem can alter ones determination. I have rewritten my five year-plan and have become more focused than ever before to see my MBA degree come to fruition. It will be the first of many desires to come. The inner man feels as though, when I conquer this, there is unquestionably nothing that I put my mind to that will not come to pass. Goal-directed behavior is persistent (Goal Setting and Goal Striving, Oettingen and Gollwitzer).
The Jungian 16-Type Personality
According to University of Phoenix Jungian Personality Self-Assessment Library (2007), I was evaluated as INTJ. The “What’s My Jungian 16-Type Personality,” considered me as skeptical, critical, independent, determined, and often stubborn. The possible career choices were business analyst, environmental planner, lawyer, reporter, engineer, or scientist (University of Phoenix Jungian Personality Self-Assessment Library, 2007). It has stated that INTJs apply the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing this personality type from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake (Heiss, 2005,"Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging"). We are by nature perfectionist, the most independent of all 16 personalities.
Construct and Support an Argument
Why an MBA? The MBA is a postgraduate degree awarded to students who have mastered the study of business. The MBA degree is thought to be one of the most prestigious and sought after degrees in the world (Schweitzer, About.com Guide).
Why now? One of the main reasons to attend school is to increase ones salary potential and advance ones career. An MBA degree is almost a necessity in today’s business world.
I have been thrust into the realm of single parenting. One could argue that I am neglecting my family responsibilities, my motherly duties. One could also argue that I may be selfish and self-centered. The escalation of commitment that refers to staying with a decision even when there is clear evidence that it is wrong, could be the argument of a hostile reader but not viable.
What is the issue? The issue is pursuing a graduate degree after significant time loss thus neglecting my motherhood and job responsibilities.
The claim – As stated in the research on the Jungian 16-Type Personality the question of “Does It Work?” must be answered. I am a perfectionist! As revealed I am very stubborn and independent. According to Jungian, I am determined to trust my vision of the possibilities, regardless of what others think. The perception of me will not always be the reality. It is a common stereotype that woman in the corporate world do not hold a strong presence. The terms self-fulfilling prophecy, have evolved to characterize that an individual behavior is determine by other people’s expectations (Perception and Individual Decision Making, pg. 154).
Goals in the achievement domain can either focus on finding how capable one is (performance goals) or on learning how to carry out the task (learning goals). The content of set goals is influence by needs, wishes, and higher order goals. Ryan, Sheldon, Kasser, & Deci (1996) argue, for example that the content of people’s goals reflects their needs. These possible selves should give people ideas on what kind of personal goals they may strive for.
An MBA is a career accelerator across a number of industries and MBA graduates can usually command higher salaries. It gives you leverage in achieving a better balance between work and life outside work. As a single mother it is imperative that I do not apply the “do as I say, not as I do” theory with my children. I am the motivational speaker on education at my church. My dedication and commitment to education is escalating as a result of our youth.
Obtaining my MBA will only make me a better mother. It will make me a better me. The financial gain will give my children the opportunities that I did not have. Will it be a struggle yes but I declare my independence!