Kent Finishes School

I can't believe the year is over. Just over a year ago at this time I was wondering if I had bit off more than I could chew. I was just a few weeks into an Executive MBA program. Basically, it pushes all the information into a year and adds some intense residencies. I had just returned from San Diego, where I met at the headquarters for Ken Blanchard. He is the author, speaker, businessman who put his name on the program through the Grand Canyon University. We returned to San Diego this summer for the final residence and to hold our celebration. I couldn't believe how the time had flown. I couldn't believe that I survived the finance and accounting classes. And I couldn't believe that I had finished a masters program. Apparently, it was a little difficult for others to believe I had such success. The man who recruited me, while recognizing me at the final party, said "I didn't know if would be able to survive the course. After all, he was a communications major." He is a friend of mine who worked with me in Little Rock so everyone thought he was joking since he, too, was in the communication industry. Later, while talking to him and thanking him for the recognition, he admitted he was only half joking. I knew it was true since I had confieded in him that I was petrified when I entered the program that I wouldn't be able to learn, and that I wouldn't be able to keep up with other "professionals," and that I would never make it through courses like accounting and finance. I told him that I was so nervous before the first residency that I was wondering if I could back out gracefully, and that I was so scared that I would get behind each week that I started my work a few days before and made sure my assignments were in a few days early. Doesn't sound like the old Kent, does it?! I learned a lesson many of you knew much earlier in life. If you get on your homework early, study hard, and get it in early, you get good grades. I quickly realized the pressure we put on our own children when we expect nothing but A's. As I got those first couple A's, I started to feel pressure to keep it up. Then I got A's in the next, and the next. Then came accounting. Many hours on the phone with the professor, many others in the office of our finance department manager at the station, and many more on the computer, I somehow pulled out an A in that class as well. Then finance, and the same thing. Then I realized I only had a few more classes to go and I needed to get A's in them too. I survived the pressure and was honored to receive the top GPA award for the graduating class. That's the above photo.

The photo on the right is with Ken Blanchard right before the departure.

Now that I have the degree, I have to figure out what to do with it. I'm in the process of finding a new career. I vacillate between wanting to find a position here (to capitalize on my name recognition) and wanting to move out west to be closer to family. Honestly, if I found a good job in the west I would jump on it quickly. However, I'm finding it very difficult to get any attention in markets (and businesses) in which I have no contacts. So most of my action has been in the Greensboro area. But even here, there isn't much movement. I guess my big problem is that I can't narrow my focus. I think I really would love to instruct. Whether it's college courses or training seminars, I love to help people learn. We had to develop a training module for the final residency and it was fun coming up with a rough draft module on office communication. Part of me would like to take that and develop it further. Then, one of the instructors at the last residency asked me to coach her in her on-camera performance. That got me wondering about that field. There's also the fascination with writing a book (but what to write about?) and public speaking. I've applied for numerous positions in public relations and corporate communications with a long-term desire to be in the business management arena. And then I've also dabbled a little in short videos. I'm in the process of shooting some videos for Remington guns. I'll be on-cam for some, and I'm helping produce others. So I'm rather schizophrenic in my plans. I wish I had someone who said "this is what you need to do, now do it." This whole choice thing is HARD!!!

Through all of the movement and non-movement, Yuu has been a rock. She's been very supportive of my efforts in school and has been very supportive of the family in my current situation.