This.

I'm fortunate to have a boyfriend who prays for me and prays with me. I remember during our very first date, he was the one who initiated to pray before we eat. Right then and there, I knew... he is for keeps. :)

Credits to the owner of the picture

Enough bending over backwards for people who don't deserve it.

Change

If there is one word that best describes my MBA journey, that word is “change”. When I applied for MBA exactly four years ago, I am not fully aware of what I am getting myself into. All I know is that I wanted to take a graduate course. I was just healing my broken heart then. Just what I have said in my previous post, my reasons for taking MBA were silly albeit fathomable. I wanted to keep myself busy. I was in my confused state and I don’t know where to begin.

One of my closest guy friend actually gave me the idea. I came to him to pour my heart out. During that time, he’s taking his MBA at UP (my alma mater as well). He nonchalantly told me, “Alam mo, bored ka diba? Bakit di ka na lang mag-aral kesa yung nagiiyak ka dyan?” (That’s how brutally frank he is. Lol) I realized it’s a brilliant idea. I’ve been wanting to go back to school but I have no reasons nor motivation not until I had my heart broken.

I actually wanted to study in UP but after much deliberation, I figured out that studying in UP is not practical because my work is in Makati and UP is in QC. I wanted to try ADMU (It was my dream school since I was in college but the guy who broke my heart was from ADMU, hence, I don’t even bother to apply there. Lol. I know I’m silly.) So I chose to be green rather than be blue (literally and figuratively haha).

Fast forward to the time I finally stepped on DLSU school grounds, I was like a giddy kid. I realized I missed studying. More than that, I missed my old self – the Patricia who is always eager to learn and who loves trying out new things. I lost myself in the process (when I let my heart do the thinking) and I have forgotten how to love myself then. I was in my lowest point of my life and it did not help that somebody made me feel inferior. Studying made me realize that indeed, life has more to offer. I lost the one I loved but I found something greater.

Studying in La Salle is so different from UP. First, I never experienced having to fall in line during the enrollment. Back in college, I have to wait for hours just to enroll for one subject. In La Salle, I was enrolled in a matter of minutes. Also, we were spoon-fed with information. Not that I am complaining though, it was just that I am used to self-study. I learned a lot from my professors and from my classmates. There came a point where I enjoyed being in school rather than being at work. Having to pay for my own tuition also made a difference. I learned the value of money. I would actually get irritated when classes were cancelled and when our professor would dismiss the class early.

In graduate school, things were different. In college, I would compete with my classmates (well, not really, I was not really grade conscious then hehe). But in graduate school, I would compete with myself. I have to make the most out of everything because I needed to get my money’s worth. I remember having to take 5 additional subjects because my undergrad course is not business. I felt that it was a waste of time and money. But in doing so, I met a lot of wonderful people and I learned a lot.

There were also times that I get distracted and felt too tired to continue. In three years, I changed jobs. With that, my workload became heavier and sometimes most of the time, my work schedule would be in conflict with school. I would think “What the heck, so what if I acquired that 3-letter word? What’s the point of having to tire myself?” Friends would tell me that they were amazed on how I manage to juggle work, school, love life, family time, business and lakwatsa. I honestly don’t know how I was able to pull that off. There were times that I wanted to give up and I envy my friends who travel to different places. I, however, cannot join them.  I cancelled two trips eventhough I already paid for the airfare (Korea and Japan) all because it coincided with my exams. Hays. There were also times that I would have to decline dinners with friends because I have to finish something for school and I would tell them “Promise, babawi ako pag graduate ko. Ang hirap ng working student eh.” These and a lot more of sacrifices (such as lack of sleep and exercise) are the things that I have to endure.

The peak of my graduate school experience was during last term. I was already having problems on how I can manage my workload and school. At the back of my mind, I really wanted to finish it. Konti na lang eh, ngayon pa ba ko bibitaw? But at the same time, I was just too tired and uninspired. With the help of my family, friends and supportive boyfriend, I continued on. 

For the past three months, I was so drained writing my thesis. I was actually surprised I was able to finish it. When our thesis adviser finally endorsed us for defense, I was overjoyed. I am closer to getting that MBA. It was so near yet so far. The week before the defense was Holy Week. I felt then that buong Holy Week ay Biyernes Santo. I locked myself in my room for days in preparation for the defense. I studied, memorized, read my paper, asked for tips from alumni and supported my co-defenders. I badly wanted to finish and to pass my defense that I only leave my room when I needed to eat and to take a bath. During Easter Sunday, I practiced to Marion my presentation.

On the day of the defense, I was the last defender. My 7 classmates who were scheduled ahead of me already passed the defense. I don’t feel pressured and nervous during that day. But what I felt was extreme exhaustion. I just wanted to get it over and done with.

The people who stayed up until 8pm just to wait for me finish my thesis defense. Love you guys! 

Luckily, I passed my defense. I was so speechless and in deep gratitude. Finally, I am done with my MBA.

Was it worth it? How did it change me?

Looking back, it was not all about getting that three-letter word. It was the journey that came with it. Did I change? Definitely. I started the journey feeling frustrated. It was during the early 2012 that I’ve never felt so alone. The world has never seemed so disheartening. I jumped into this opportunity thinking that a new environment would help me change my perspective – that being busy would help me heal my broken heart. Honestly, it did. But never did I imagine that it will bring out the best in me. I learned to love myself more and I excelled academically (something that I did not pay attention to in college because I'm more of an "extra-curricular person" lels). Along with it, a lot of opportunities opened for me – may it be on changing my career path or jobs. I actually felt that I am somewhat successful.

I now believe that the Universe indeed has its way of making up to me – in the most unlikely of times and ways. I learned to appreciate life better after being able to meet a lot of people (some of them even became my close friends) who share the same passion on learning as I am. I also had a chance to meet awesome professors that I now look up to. They inspired me to be a good Lasallian business graduate – a person who needs to have a heart in doing business. We were always reminded by our professors that an important objective of business is to help others. Moreover, I acquired knowledge I think I won’t be able to learn had I not taken up MBA. I’m indeed blessed. Thank you, Universe. Who would have thought I’d be thanking you when four years ago I was actually cursing you for putting me into a mess?

I am graduating and grad-waiting. I am ready to take yet another wonderful journey after my MBA. As I have told my friends, #thesisbeforemisis accomplished. Now, I am preparing for the M-R-S. Yay! J It will yet be another journey before that because I have yet to travel, to buy a property and to look for a job that will truly make me fulfilled and happy. And I’m almost there. Can’t wait for another three-letter word (and a surname) attached to my name. *grins*

I guess change can be exciting, eh?

Random Acts of Love

I am a sucker for romantic guys. I love giving surprises (and being surprised as well). Marion was the type of guy who does random acts of sweetness everyday and I make sure that I tell him that I appreciate it SO MUCH.

Last week, my heart totally melted. Last Friday, I just came from my Vietnam business trip and it was his last day at Toyota. It was our mensiversary as well. I told him I'll see him on Saturday instead because my flight was delayed and I wanted to catch some sleep. On Saturday, I woke up really late. He called me to ask what time I wanted to go out and I told him that I'm still tired. He volunteered to go to our house to pick me up. By lunch time, I was still on my bed when Marion arrived at our house. He was beaming when he told me that he missed me. Awww. He even brought flowers.

This guy. Hay. How can I not fall in love with him over and over again?

P.S.
I really think I've got a good guy here. He told me how humbled he is that a lot of people went to his 3 (not just one!) despedidas. To his exact words, "Baby, alam mo ba natutuwa ako...ang saya saya ko...kasi pati security, waiter..alam mo yun.. nagyaya pa sila talaga lumabas kasama ko. Eh wala lang... Natutuwa ko na nakasama ko rin mga simpleng tao." (He was pertaining to the 2nd despedida organized by one of their guards for him.) I told him "Baby, mabait ka kasi. Kita mo... even mga guards love ka. Yung VP ng Toyota, talagang nag punta pa sa despedida mo. Ibig sabihin, mabait sila sayo kasi mabait ka rin."

Don't Quit Your Job to Chase Your Dream (Do This Instead) by Jeff Goins

Not long ago, my friend Bryan quit his corporate job working as a technical writer for a Fortune 500 company in order to do something new. 

On his last day, everyone in the office expressed a mix of envy and surprise. They couldn’t believe he was leaving, that he was making such a big jump. But the truth is Bryan had been planning this moment for 10 years.

Take a long, hard look at many of the business books on your shelf, listen to a self-help guru wax nostalgic on her own career story, or visit with an old college friend who’s done really well for himself, and you’ll likely hear the same phrase over and over: “I took the leap.”

This is the phrase we love to repeat when talking about big success. It’s a tale of risk and reward, one we hear constantly from the mouths of wealthy entrepreneurs, big-name movie stars, and successful artists. But it’s a lie.

BIG BREAKS COME SLOW

I was recently asked on a podcast how I became a full-time writer. The host wanted to know what my big break was. 

“There wasn’t one,” I said, “no big thing. Just a bunch of small things over time.” For the longest time, this embarrassed me. I had no Jerry Maguire moment, no dramatic declaration to the world that changed everything. But once I started looking more honestly at success, I realized how the slow-and-steady strategy might be more the norm than we realize.

“I had no Jerry Maguire moment, no dramatic declaration to the world that changed everything.”

In 1975, Bill Gates founded Microsoft. But it wasn’t until six years later that he landed a contract with IBM. Then, it took another five years after that for the company to go public, making Gates a multimillionaire, resulting in his so-called “overnight success.”

For Steve Jobs, it took even longer. With Steve Wozniak, he started Apple Computer in 1976 but didn’t make a splash until 1984, with the release of the Macintosh. Then there was his eventual ousting and comeback — all before his business became the global giant it is today.

A third well-known tech history, just for good measure: Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin found success slow in coming, too. They started the company in 1996, and it wasn’t until eight years later that their search engine beat past competitors, leading Google to finally go public with a market capitalization of $23 billion.

This is consistent with what researcher K. Anders Ericsson calls his theory of “deliberate practice” and the “10,000-hour rule” Malcolm Gladwell subsequently popularized. In his research, Ericsson argued that for someone to become an expert in their field, they need at least 10,000 hours of practice. In other words, before you quit your job or make your next career transition, take your time building the skills you’ll need to do that job well.

“Before you quit your job or make your next career transition, take your time building the skills you’ll need to do that job well.”

HOW BIG CHANGES GO WRONG

Yet these days — perhaps more than ever with the relentless rise of breakout tech startups and the ease of starting an online business — we’re still obsessed with the leap. 

Why? Because that seems to be what we’re seeing all around us: We assume great careers happen because one extraordinary person makes a big bet that pays off. That’s not how it actually works most of the time.

“The slow-and-steady strategy might be more the norm than we realize.”

Dr. Robert Maurer, author of One Small Step Can Change Your Life, argues that we love the idea of the big change, even to our own detriment. But this isn’t the way most innovation happens. One reason why is that our brains are hardwired to reject big change. Here’s how he explains it in an interview:

The brain responds to big challenges by triggering the amygdala, the fear center in the brain. If the challenge is perceived as too great, if the person stumbles, the fear becomes crippling and the person gives up, often with despair or self-criticism. If the steps are small, the fear mechanism is quiet, and the brain develops new habits from the repetition of small steps.

Maurer advocates using kaizen, the Japanese process of continuous, gradual improvement. Instead of trying to lose weight, work out for one minute a day, then two, then three, and so on. Over time, something small can turn into something large and sustainable. 

As Aristotle famously remarked, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” If you do something long enough — anything, really — it becomes habitual.

INSTEAD OF MAKING THE LEAP

So how can you put Maurer’s advice into practice? 

First, start small — really small. Most people think that in order to start something great, they’ve got to go big. But that’s not true. Every day, people pursuing their dreams make this mistake. They shoot for the moon without taking the first step. And as a result, they fail.

Second, build the habit over time. Everything from yoga to auto mechanics takes practice. And the more you work at it, the more effortless it will become. Habits make everything easier and each of us better.

“Habits make everything easier and each of us better.”

Finally, keep in mind that as you build the skill, you increase demand for it. And eventually, what you have is not a precarious leap but a steady bridge that you’ve slowly, deliberately constructed over time. No, it probably won’t make for a good story for Hollywood. But it’s much more likely to last.

His cup of tea. My cup of tea.

I promised my supportive boyfriend that I'll make up to him as soon as I finished my MBA. For the past term, our dates are mostly in coffee shops infront of a laptop. He never complained; in fact, he offered support by reviewing my paper, giving out suggestions on how to present and treating me with my fave food (or to a massage just to calm me because I'm having jitters). Now that I am already done with school requirements, I'm glad to fulfill my #girlfriendduties once again.

We have different interests and we are complete opposites. I am just amazed how we complement each other. I am spontaneous and I don't like planning things because I mostly decide based on feelings. He, on the other hand, is the more rigid one. He likes to have his plans laid out. Because of him, I learned how to plan for a trip! Lol. On the other hand, I can also invite him randomly anywhere.

Because I'll be leaving next week, we promise to have the weekend by ourselves. He was actually joking me, "Yey! Finally may totoong date na tayo." We were supposed to go to Baguio but didn't pursue it because he doesn't want me to be tired before my trip.

Instead, he asked me if I can join him at a Manila International Auto Show. He was like a giddy kid in awe of the cars on display. He loved watching the car demos while I loved seeing him smile. Not that I don't like cars. It's just that I am not as passionate as him about it.

Sinama niya talaga ko para may taga-picture siya :)

We also tried the Sip and Gogh at Eastwood. It was my idea because I missed painting. He was not as excited as me but he is willing to try it. The funny thing is, he enjoyed painting more than I did. Haha! He was so competitive that when the paint started dripping, he panicked and I heard him say "leche" so many times. Hahaha! We are actually happy with the outcome. We would love to try it out again. Finally, we already have our very first display for our own house. :)

Lost for Words

❤Thank you to all my prayer warriors and to all who supported me throughout this journey. The sleepless nights and tears are all worth it. Finally... Patricia Marie A. Ermitanio, MBA 

It has been a week since I passed my defense. I wasn't able to immediately write about it because I've been catching up on a lot of things -- sleep (I finally had the best-est sleep after n months), work ( I was on leave on Holy Wednesday and two days after Holy week) and friends (Yay! I can now go out with my friends after being "AWOL"). I am actually overwhelmed on what just happened that I cannot put them into words. I am just happy. I wanted to write the whole thing because I hope to remember the tiniest details on how I went through it -- from the sleepless nights to how I was able to finish with flying colors. The moment my panelists said the magic words "Congratulations. You passed.", it felt exactly like this: nabunutan ako ng tinik buto sa puso. lol. It might seem OA for others and probably only my classmates can relate to that feeling but that's exactly how it is. My defense was on Tuesday but I was in school even the day before to support my other classmates who will be having their defense on that day. And it feels draining. It feels exhausting having to encourage others while cheering for yourself as well. We are each others' support buddies. I'm glad my MBA journey is not only about the things I've learned but on the friendships I've built as well. I'm equally overjoyed when I learned my friends passed the defense and felt crushed whenever someone would fail. Unfortunately, 15 out of 20 defenders only made it. My five other classmates would have to take the thesis writing and defense again next term.

I would like to thank everyone who supported, cheered, and prayed for me on this journey. It was not easy but it was fulfilling. This is a true test of determination and perseverance. I cannot deny the fact that I wanted to quit early on but quitting was never my option. I've always been a fighter in everything (in work, love and school) -- when I really really want something, I'd do anything for it. Indeed, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it. It has been my mantra the moment I started writing my thesis. The moment has still not fully sank in me. I still have to adjust doing nothing on a Sunday. Wohoo! Graduation will still be on June but I am thankful. I will still have to acknowledge all the people behind me. I shall write about it soon. Thank you, Papa Jesus for letting me check one on my bucket list.