MBA Before College

How about learning the essential principles and concepts of an executive MBA program before college? How about starting a business in college—or even high school? Why? Because the concept “job” as we know it will soon be outdated, especially for today’s children. 9-5 will not make us safe and secure any more. Formal college education will not guarantee us jobs either. In 1960, the top employers were high-wage companies like GM, AT&T, and GE. Today, the top employers are low-wage companies like Walmart, Yum (Taco Bell, KFC, et al.), and McDonald’s. More and more college graduates are debt-ridden, cannot afford the cost of living, and come back home to live with their parents. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We all have a unique gift that can change the world profoundly. Steve Jobs advised us, “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you truly want to become.”

Why learn MBA concept before college?

All of us have inherited gifts and the potential to succeed on our own terms. I hope this book can plant a seed for high school and college students who want to live purposeful lives, even embarking
on their own hero’s journey to “change the world in a profound way.” The earlier we take charge of our own lives, the more likely we are to make a meaningful contribution to the world. We are intrinsically happier and more peaceful when we live purposeful, authentic, and fulfilling lives.

I wrote this book for my children to teach them what I have learned in my MBA program. During the three years I studied in the online executive MBA program at the Jack Welch Management Institute, I frequently had blissful “aha moments” in learning knowledge and wisdom from Jack Welch, his professors, the world’s leading CEOs on our Experts of Practice panel, and from the business books I read. Those frequent eureka moments sparked many insights and discoveries.

I also reflected on the seven different companies I worked for throughout my career, from a Fortune 50 global company to a small startup, and recognized why some of them were successful, while others were failing. I realized that most businesses failed because of people-related problems: failure of leadership, hiring the wrong people, failing to manage cash flow, failing to understand customers, failing to anticipate disruptions, and failing to adapt to change. As the old saying goes, “Businesses don’t fail, people fail businesses.”

I often shared my learning with my husband William, and he’d reply, “We need to teach our children and let them know this wisdom now before they get into college and business. That’s your best return for the investment in the MBA program.” Initially I neglected his advice until one day I “woke up” while listening to my favorite marketing luminary Seth Godin on Dave Ramsey’s podcast. Godin said that every student should start a business during his or her four years at college.

Then the messages kept coming. While I was watching Louise Hay’s film You Can Heal Your Life, I became totally mesmerized by the message from Doreen Virtue, the author and motivational speaker. She said that we are entering the time of manifestation and cooperation, a time during which people will stop going to jobs that don’t matter, stop making meaningless objects that do not matter, and stop spending money on things because they feel empty inside. We will be following our personal passions, working together on our collective passions and in the process adding more meaning to all our lives.

I follow many successful entrepreneurs and media-preneurs— those who find their success via online and social media—through their books, blogs, videos, and business podcasts. Doreen Virtue’s theme has been often repeated: in order for us to fulfill our passion and add meaning to our lives in this new age, we must find ways to lead ourselves from within. One of the most obvious ways to do this is to start our own businesses, big or small, for profit or non-profit, to make a difference in the world, instead of working for others in low energy jobs.

I decided to teach my then 12-year-old son Ian and 10-yearold daughter Amy the leadership, business, and people management principles taught in my MBA program. I wanted them to have the knowledge and tools so that when they start their own businesses, they will be wiser, make good business and people decisions, and reduce or avoid the same mistakes others made. Even if they did not understand all the principles at that young age with no real-life experience, I wanted them to know the tools and wisdom that exist. Once they are aware of these, they can continue their development on their own or with the help of mentors. Kids have so much brain capacity that when they want to learn, they can learn at an amazing rate.