I applied to graduate business school today. What have I done? I completed an MBA while 8 mo pregnant with my son. Now, just as I am going to have another child, I have enrolled in a Master's of Finance program. Am I losing my mind?
Most likely. But it is a better alternative than letting my mind turn to mush. I have been working for my husband and his company for 3.5 years and have done about as much as I am able to do right now. I need to add some tools to my toolbelt, to use a very tired corporate America cliche. Unfortunately, it is an appropriate description of what is required. It's either that or resign my position to someone who will be able to help take this company to the next level.
I had left a position in business development in an energy company, amidst the corporate accounting disasters heralded by the implosion of Enron, in order to join my husband's company. Husband owns it with my father in law. They had grown this company from a small drywall subcontractor operating out of father in law's kitchen to a general contractor mainly servicing the government, particularly the Army Corps of Engineers. Any company that grows generally experiences growing pains. Their company had more than its share. My predecessor enabled the company's third party accountant to steal money, the CFO himself was spending in excess of $6,000/mo on credit cards and paying the bills himself. There were no checks and balances. The detail did not match the books.
Within 9 months of joining, we had our first real accounting audit, according to GAAP. The company realized a net $3 million negative swing in equity. That hurt. So the last 3 years has been spent in shoring up the equity position, plowing every last dime back into the company. The owners have taken nothing out. The employees have been well compensated and the bonus structure has been retooled to compensate based on performance. I analyze the numbers and I know the system works.
Today, we have cash. A lot of cash. And it needs to be invested. Wisely. This is a bit beyond my current capabilities and understanding. After all, I am engineer by training. The MBA only let me pretend to be something other than an engineer. Now I need to morph into a real finance person. It's kind of scary, to be honest. This is outside my comfort zone and even slighly outside my interest zone.
All change is scary, right? Change is inevitable. So I go to school and I try to learn. I am excited but wary. Can my 37 yo mind keep up with the brighter minds of the early 20's?
Most likely. But it is a better alternative than letting my mind turn to mush. I have been working for my husband and his company for 3.5 years and have done about as much as I am able to do right now. I need to add some tools to my toolbelt, to use a very tired corporate America cliche. Unfortunately, it is an appropriate description of what is required. It's either that or resign my position to someone who will be able to help take this company to the next level.
I had left a position in business development in an energy company, amidst the corporate accounting disasters heralded by the implosion of Enron, in order to join my husband's company. Husband owns it with my father in law. They had grown this company from a small drywall subcontractor operating out of father in law's kitchen to a general contractor mainly servicing the government, particularly the Army Corps of Engineers. Any company that grows generally experiences growing pains. Their company had more than its share. My predecessor enabled the company's third party accountant to steal money, the CFO himself was spending in excess of $6,000/mo on credit cards and paying the bills himself. There were no checks and balances. The detail did not match the books.
Within 9 months of joining, we had our first real accounting audit, according to GAAP. The company realized a net $3 million negative swing in equity. That hurt. So the last 3 years has been spent in shoring up the equity position, plowing every last dime back into the company. The owners have taken nothing out. The employees have been well compensated and the bonus structure has been retooled to compensate based on performance. I analyze the numbers and I know the system works.
Today, we have cash. A lot of cash. And it needs to be invested. Wisely. This is a bit beyond my current capabilities and understanding. After all, I am engineer by training. The MBA only let me pretend to be something other than an engineer. Now I need to morph into a real finance person. It's kind of scary, to be honest. This is outside my comfort zone and even slighly outside my interest zone.
All change is scary, right? Change is inevitable. So I go to school and I try to learn. I am excited but wary. Can my 37 yo mind keep up with the brighter minds of the early 20's?
4 Comments:
Way to go, T! I have no doubt that you'll do well, and maybe show those 20-somethings a trick or two...
I think it's a great idea!
Good luck! I think it's fabulous.
Holy cow! You rock!
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