How many of your goals are actually yours versus what you think an “impressive” or “successful” person is supposed to want?
Most of the people I work with are high achievers who have been rewarded their entire lives for doing what impressive people are supposed to do. You probably know it well. The template that says, “Follow these steps and you’ll be successful and admired by your peers.” So they chase straight As, the best internships, and the most prestigious jobs they can, all without thinking about if it’s what they actually want.
I like to call this borrowed ambition.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with pursuing excellence. The problem is when you let other people’s definition of success completely dictate your choices.
In addition to working with MBA applicants, I also work with Executive MBA candidates. It’s a completely different world. Instead of wanting to get ahead in their careers, the majority of EMBA candidates I work with feel stuck. They feel like they pursued all the right steps but are now 40 years old, burnt out, and totally unfulfilled. They tell me they’ve “made it” but feel empty. They have the title, the salary, the respect and can’t understand why none of it matters.
Working with these types of candidates reshaped my approach to consulting for my full-time MBA candidates. Yes, we will focus on getting you in, but what if, instead of just focusing on obtaining one more proverbial trophy, we could spend the time digging deep into what makes you tick and what really matters to you. After all, it’s easier to make a radical career shift at 27 than it is at 47.
Where to Start
Uncovering your true ambitions is complex work, but here’s where you can start.
Ask yourself:
- If I got my “dream job” but no one ever knew about it (no LinkedIn post, no telling family, no one to impress), would I still want it?
- Can I describe a specific day working in that future job and feel excited about it? Or does my vision stop at the title?
- Who am I picturing telling about this achievement? If that person disappeared, would I still want it?
Borrowed goals collapse under these questions. The real ones hold up.
If we’re lucky, we only have 4,000 weeks on Earth. Spending them chasing someone else’s ambitions is a waste we can’t afford.
So if you’d like help uncovering what your true ambitions are and how an MBA can fit into those, start your MBA consulting journey with one of Leland’s hundreds of pre-screened MBA consultants. Ranging from former admissions directors to current students, Leland has a consultant that fits your need (and budget!).
Remember, an impressive goal you don’t really want will make you miserable faster than an ‘unimpressive’ goal that’s actually yours.
