Bob Lewis
Columnist

Another request for the “right” MBA program

analysis
Sep 14, 20072 mins

Dear Bob ...I am B.Tech & 10 yrs experience in Plant management of FMCG companies and working as General Manager . I want to get a MBA for better business development careers in goof organistaions . Which MBA will be better for me . Marketing , Finance or Supply Chain .- Career PlannerDear Planner ...Suggestion: Before you think about an MBA, first take a course or two in general writing skills. I'm not sayi

Dear Bob …

I am B.Tech & 10 yrs experience in Plant management of FMCG companies and working as General Manager .

I want to get a MBA for better business development careers in goof organistaions .

Which MBA will be better for me .

Marketing , Finance or Supply Chain .

– Career Planner

Dear Planner …

Suggestion: Before you think about an MBA, first take a course or two in general writing skills. I’m not saying this to be offensive or snide, but to help. If the way you expressed your question is indicative of your overall writing skills, an MBA will not overcome your inability to accurately express your thinking in the kinds of documents managers are expected to be able to produce.

Once you have that out of the way, it will be time to think about the question you asked.

Luckily for me, there’s no right answer. If you choose a path based on current employment market conditions, you’ll inevitably be disappointed at the results. First, you’ll be choosing a path without thinking about who you are. And second, the employment market can and does change on a regular basis.

I’m not the first to endorse the “three circles” approach. It’s the right way for you to think about this question. The three circles are: (1) What you enjoy doing; (2) what you’re good at doing; and (3) what someone is willing to pay you to do. Your career is where the three circles intersect.

In this case you’re asking which of the three fields best serves circle #3. The answer is, all of them. Companies are willing to pay good money for people who do any of the three well. So you can’t make a good decision based on circle #3.

The question you have to answer is which of these you’ll most enjoy doing and for which of them you have the most aptitude. I can’t answer that question for you.

Luckily, you’re in a great position to answer it for yourself.

– Bob

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