I was ready to defer MBA studies on 18 September 2024, but grit got me through.

It was the two week mark into the first subject, Leadership (AGSM6131), and I’m under a fair amount of pressure and stress. A sick teenager studying year 12; navigating a hospitality roster when staff become unavailable; exiting said hospitality business; a lung infection; a fortnight of insomnia; and a thirteen year old daughter who doesn’t understand, “Mum is sick, let me be.”

💡Tapping into the concept of active learning, academic networks, friendships and family support, I got through it.

💪🏻 I reached out to my study group and received compassion, insight and support. This is exactly what I need when I’m building behavioural goals.

💪🏻 I noticed past-self behaviour, and found an alternative. She would have deferred. But my future-self would eat the frog. So, I struck while the iron was hot, and started the assessment. A deep feeling of nausea washed over my stomach – I literally wanted to vomit. Now, anything else I do for that assessment is momentum. I find starting is always the hardest part.

💪🏻 I tuned into the AGSM @ UNSW Business School Time Saving Study Skills webinar, and received much needed inspiration to keep on keeping on. I appreciate the candid storytelling approach Jeremy Grace uses. He always uplifts my spirits.

💪🏻 Checking into negative character traits of perfectionism and imposter syndrome, and the motivations for studying an MBA, I reflected deeply on what I need to do the most: work smarter, and sustainably. Use time wisely. And track progress.

Then, this post appeared on Brené Brown’s LinkedIn page, a serendipitous, aha 💡 moment indeed:

And this quote from James Clear (n.d.), on effort and progress, ties Brown and Grant’s wisdom together:

“Two years, not two months.

“The visible progress you’re hoping for usually comes slower than you’d like. Even with consistent effort it can take a long time before progress feels significant. It might be a year of writing and editing before the book really starts to come together. You may need two years of recovery from a major injury before you notice just how far you’ve come. It may take two years of yoga before you realize how flexible you have become.

“Take a deep breath, stop worrying about immediate results, and settle into a nice routine.”

🧐 What are you working on now, that is the sum of many parts, rather than an obvious big thing? Share in the comments below.