NON-BUSINESS LESSONS BUSINESS SCHOOL TAUGHT ME
I still vividly remember my senior year of high school, all my friends dreaming of becoming doctors, with plans to follow this dream starting with a Science Degree. I still don’t know exactly how I knew it, but somehow at 16 I just knew my path would begin through taking the road less traveled from my high school: Business School.
When everyone else was taking Chemistry or Home Ec as electives high school electives, there I was, taking Accounting. There was something so appealing to me about becoming a businesswoman. Smart, powerful, ambitious; business seemed to encompass all those things that I wanted to be so it just seemed to fit. Looking back now, I don’t fully know how I just knew that I should pursue business when I was so young, naive, and unaware of what it all entailed, but I’m grateful I did as it’s given me boundless opportunities and choice with what I want to do for the rest of my life, and I’ve barely even started my career!
Now aside from how to read an income statement, develop a SWOT, analyze a case, and create a marketing plan, I’ve learned some pretty valuable things over the past 4 years in business school (and I still have 1 to go… victory lap anyone?!). Some of these things from my courses, but most of them from outside the classroom. These pieces of knowledge have been essential to what I’ve accomplished, and to my goals for future accomplishments, and I’m confident they can do the same for you too, no matter what you’re studying, or not studying.
These pieces of knowledge have been essential to what I’ve accomplished, and to my goals for future accomplishments, and I’m confident they can do the same for you too, no matter what you’re studying, or not studying.
1. YOUR NETWORK IS KEY
The first thing you’ll learn in business school (at least Asper anyways) is the importance of a network, and they’re not wrong when they tell you that. Once you come to realize that networking is a whole lot more than that first ever, awkward AF small talk at a “networking” event, you’ll understand why this is so essential to being successful in both your education, your career, and even your personal life. The connections I have made throughout my time in school with both peers and business professionals equally have become literal lifelines in creating meaningful connections with people who I’m able to utilize or who are able to utilize me. And by utilize I mean use as a sounding a board, as a reference, or even through connections in getting a job.
2. GPA IS NOT EVERYTHING
I started university at the top of my high school class, but university was a major wake up call! Your academic standing in high school is absolutely not a representation of your academic stance in university. I have a GPA that I’m proud of, but it’s not a 4.0! And that is more than okay with me, because the extra time I’ve had from not being hung up on a 4.0 or 4.5 GPA have been so much more valuable to me than a couple GPA points would have been. I’ve been able to get involved in student council, in case competitions, volunteering, and relevant job experience. All of these things have given me a leg up in my post-graduation career path, more so than a boosted GPA would! Take advantage of having time to get involved in ways other than your studies. There are so many student groups, so many competition opportunities to win travel and cash (take it from me, I won a trip to NYC AND $1000 cash for a Case Competition… see more on that here), and so many things to get involved with in the community based on the things you’re passionate about. I’ve never once had an interviewer say to me “Oh, well you don’t have a 4.0…” as the additional experience I do have by far outweigh my lack of a perfect GPA. All of these experiences are so crucial to becoming well-rounded and simply a higher-quality human! Which leads me to my next point…
3. EVEN IRRELEVANT EXPERIENCE CAN BE RELEVANT
You know… like working as a server for all your high school years and then realizing SHIT, I’m applying for real-life jobs and I only have restaurant experience. Well ya know what? The skills you learned from working in a restaurant can totally be transferable to your career. Customer service, oral communication, time-management, working under pressure etc. All of these things can be relevant to your new job, whatever that may be! So if you’re studying accounting, don’t think that taking on a volunteer Communications Coordinator role for a charity is useless. Everyone wants an auditor who can communicate well, right? EVERYTHING you do that teaches you something, adds to your list of can-do’s, or builds character, is relevant. It only adds even further to the person you are!
4. YOUR REPUTATION PRECEDES YOU
Maybe it’s just from being in a ~somewhat~ small faculty (it’s not even that small…) or due to the fact that everyone spends all day everyday in the same building, but the world is small and the business community is even smaller. Especially in Winnipeg. Whatever you do, or don’t do, gets noticed. And repeated. So simply, don’t be shady, and don’t be a bad person. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve (for good reason) judged someone before meeting them because of the long list of things I’d been told about them by others. Your reputation precedes you in the real world, and my time in university has proved that to be very true! While this can be a bad thing (if your reputation is poor), it can also be great thing! If you’re known as being reliable, smart, dedicated, passionate, etc. the list goes on… then it will benefit you as people will immediately think the best of you. So to get to the point of this one, make sure you’re comfortable with the choices you make being what people perceive you as. BE GOOD THINGS!
5. GET COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE
I mentioned this in my 22 Things I’ve Learned by 22 post but I cannot stress it enough. The most valuable parts of my education and the growth I’ve seen in myself have been a direct result of putting myself in terrifying, new, uncomfortable situations! How can you grow if you aren’t thrusted out into the sun, no matter how blinding it may be. Too often we’re afraid of being uncomfortable or vulnerable in situations, so we just avoid them entirely. But you never know until you try! And you can’t succeed if you don’t try. Some of my biggest growth opportunities have come from taking chances on things I was scared or uncomfortable to do. The payoff will always be worth it – whether a success story or a life lesson, doing things that seem crazy or way out of your comfort zone are the keys to developing yourself either professionally or personally!
6. IT’S OKAY TO SAY NO TO THINGS
I’ve been asked on more than one occasion “how do you have time for everything?” and the truth is, I don’t have time for everything! Which is why I do a lot, but I don’t do everything! The way that I stay sane and able to manage everything I have going on is by saying no to some things. While it’s important to go outside of your comfort zone and take advantage of opportunities presented to you, you have to realize you can’t do it all! Be selective in the things you take on, and ensure you’re fully committed to what you agree to. Because the times you get in trouble (and end up damaging your reputation…) are typically the times you take something on and realize you don’t have the time or energy to put in the effort you agreed to put in. I’ve learned that I can’t do it all, so I might as well be selective about what I do to ensure I do it to the best of my ability and can be proud of myself for what I’ve done.
8. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SMARTER THAN YOU
If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re probably in the wrong room. Who wants to be the smartest in the room? If you’re the smartest, you’re not learning. If you’re not learning, you’re not progressing. And being in your 20’s is the ideal time to progress, and grow, and become the best version of yourself. So surround yourself with groups of people who can teach you things and challenge you to think differently. I’ve come to realize how much you can learn from just listening to people and having insightful conversations with people who think differently than you do. Be around people who better you and raise you higher, not who drag you down to levels you don’t want to be at.
These are just a few of the numerous realizations I’ve come to have throughout my business degree. While I learned each of these things studying commerce, that’s not to say they are irrelevant for other industries or career paths. In fact, I believe they’re relevant for everyone, regardless of your career as they’re simply general life hacks that will get you further in any aspect, whether that’s your career, your relationships, or your personal growth goals. The lessons I’ve learned in business school go WAY beyond the balance sheet.
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