Please help in making big decision

[seeker5]

I just quit my job and I'm trying to figure out what to do now. I thought I'd ask for ways I can help make this decision. What are tools to decide this I haven't looked at yet? How can I make this decision in peace?

I've got until Thursday to decide. The two main choices are to focus on online biz through SBI! or go to MBA school starting in August. Maybe there are alternatives I haven't looked at.

I've done this analysis in a number of ways. The main drawback of full-time MBA school at UNLV is that I'm locked away for two years, and I'll graduate with $60K debt (right now I'm pretty much debt free). I know though I would have a lot of fun, and enjoy the atmosphere, the studying, the learning, the thinking, and all of that. It's exciting to think of going to business school. However, I don't really want to get a corporate job when I graduate.

The setting up an online business on the other hand, would be much more of a growth experience with me. I'd have to overcome a lot more fears, uncertainty, and I'd grow more as a person, that is. It would definitely keep me more on edge, and the risks are way higher, as are the potential benefits. In a way this choice makes me think of the scene in the movie 300 where the 12 year old kid, after years of training, is sent to the wilderness to fend off for themselves and fight wolves. Either they die, or if they survive the ordeal, they come back as true strong Sparta warriors. I feel the same way with this choice.


I've tried to do the "http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2007/07/how-to-make-smart-decisions-in-less-than-60-seconds/" and the answer is confusing. The answer comes out "MBA - that's who I am now". But who do I ultimately want to become? The kind of man who is self-employed and has multiple ways to contributing to the world and is truly free - that's the path of online business.

When I ask my intuition, I think (but I'm not sure as this is a highly emotional issue so fear plays into it) it says "Do Mba". Then later it says both choices as it is are bad. So I don't trust myself on this.

When I look at it as "which do I fear the most, and thus which will I grow the most in?" the answer is Online business. However, the risk is if I don't control my emotions strongly enough, then I could swirls into depression and worst if things don't work out - so in that sense the MBA choice would lead to becoming stronger emotionally if I keep this pace up.

When I look at who do I ultimately want to become? Well - both! I want to have both MBA education and experience and the online business. However it feels like a co-op out to do the MBA - the choosing of the easier, less growth path.

What do I ultimately want to be? I want to be my own man, not tied to any company, doing my own work, contributing to the world as I choose to. In that sense, the answer would be: go for online business to learn to be on your own being a self-employee instead of learning to be a good corporate employee from the MBA school.

Which seems most fun? MBA

Which seems more exciting in terms of results if I succeed? Online business

When I ask - how can I contribute the most to the world? The answer faintly says MBA if I don't analyze. However, if I analyze, then it seems overcoming my fears, becoming self-employed would allow me to contribute way more.

[1000feet]

What is the purpose of starting a business, for you? What is the purpose of getting an MBA, for you? Either of these can be exciting and rewarding on their own (if you never did anything with the knowledge and experience afterwards), but they're usually done for other reasons. Keep asking questions until you know what you really want.

[CStrunk]

I don't see why you couldn't do both. I think the online business would compliment your studies by serving as a direct "case study" sort of thing. Would it be too intensive to do both at the same time? Or the business part-time?

[WageMage]

Originally Posted by CStrunk

I don't see why you couldn't do both. I think the online business would compliment your studies by serving as a direct "case study" sort of thing. Would it be too intensive to do both at the same time? Or the business part-time?

I'm with CStrunk on this one - "if you come upon a fork on the road... take it"

[BamBam]

what kind of online buisness are you thinking about starting?

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by 1000feet

What is the purpose of starting a business, for you? What is the purpose of getting an MBA, for you? Either of these can be exciting and rewarding on their own (if you never did anything with the knowledge and experience afterwards), but they're usually done for other reasons. Keep asking questions until you know what you really want.

Cool! I'll do that! Thanks.

Originally Posted by CStrunk

I don't see why you couldn't do both. I think the online business would compliment your studies by serving as a direct "case study" sort of thing. Would it be too intensive to do both at the same time? Or the business part-time?

I don't feel I can do both at the same time. If I go to school, I could theorically set some time aside for the online business, but my number one priority would be going to be school since I'm paying a lot for it. I know with MBA, I'll be fully into it getting the highest grades, being active in all aspect of the MBA experience, etc. And the online business would get pushed aside when push comes to shove.

I also don't do so well when I have a bunch of different focuses at once. I tend to be more of the type who prefers to go very deeply into one area at a time.

[Holistic Star]

If neither option is 100% compelling, maybe there is a third option you have overlooked.

[Tayrak]

How about flipping a coin?

There should be a long pause after this question in order for it to work properly.

If your first thought is, but what if xx comes out heads, I'll have to do that? then you have your answer. One usually jumps out at you as your preference.

If it doesn't matter to you either way, then really do flip it.

Tayrak