Final Course

It has been a year since I decided to be crazy and begin my Masters in Entertainment Business. Why you ask? Well, why not? The opportunity was there, and I decided to take it. Many people, including my parents, have asked me what will I do when I graduate. "Are you getting a job?" This question seems to be the theme of many conversations. No, I am not getting a job. I have a job; I own my own business, and I am almost 40 so stop asking. I do not think many of my close friends even understand what this means. Owning your own business may seem like a breeze because you do not have to answer to any corporate thugs, but it can be all consuming. Jeremy and I love living as our own bosses, but this also means we are responsible for every part of our business. It also means we never close. There is no closing time. We can't leave the office because everywhere is our office.

I have literally completed work, and course work from Las Vegas, Disneyland, the beach, a cruise ship, the seat of my bands tour bus, back stage at Alice Cooper. You name it, I have probably been completing course work or work for a gig at that location. I have learned many valuable lessons over the course of my Masters program which will make me a better business owner, a more effective communicator,more reliable and efficient, great at time management, and a more employable person in general. I'd like to take this moment to reflect on my journey and offer advice to anyone entering into a graduate program. #1. You can do this; there are no excuses. Seriously, if I can do this anyone can. I have maintained a household, raised a teenager and for three years of my schooling since 2010 also bartended 40 hours a week. The wonder of online courses is you can take them anywhere with you! Amazingly, if you have a smart phone, much work can be completely from that devise! It is an amazing new world we live in.

#2. Ignore the naysayers; and there will always be naysayers. There was a time where I was one of these horrid people. I did not think furthering my education would do anything for me. While I may never be a millionaire, I feel better. I went back to school, and completed six years of education for myself, and to set an example for my son. I did not do this for anyone else. This does not mean I am not hurt by the naysayers; I do get hurt from time to time. I have close friends and relatives slam higher education, and slam obtaining degrees in my presence. While this stings, I have to forgive and forget and remember I am have not done this for their approval. #3. Time management. You will figure this out. You will figure out what works for you. Sometimes 2am will work for you. Do not feel like you need set hours determined by some unseen force. The time management skills I have learned from being in school for six years are irreplaceable.

Now, let's talk about what scares me. I'm graduating in less than three weeks. I will now have a plethora of time on my hands. I worry about the need to be busy,and the need to fill my time. I worry about getting bored and frustrated by not feeling that sense of accomplishment. With each document I submitted during my courses I felt a sense of accomplishment. Once that is over, where will I pull my sense of accomplishment? I hope to push myself to grow the business, to obtain more clients, and help others along the way as they begin or continue on the journey I am about to complete. I am proud of myself, and I do not expect others to understand or offer congratulations. I did not do this for attention, I did it for my own sense of self. "You've got to trust your instinct, And let go of regret, You've got to bet on yourself now star,'Cause that's your best bet".