MB-Eish: Part 17: 12

**"Eish" is a South African slang term expressing surprise, dismay, anger or frustration.** 

As I mentioned two years ago, I have joined the droves of engineers who have sold out to the dark side: Banking (and more recently, the elite league of the dark side: Asset Management). To make myself more comfortable in my new, murky surrounds I have decided to do an MBA part-time. This is the seventeenth in a series of posts about my MBA experience.




So... 12 days to go.

I have taken annual leave for the next two weeks to finish this baby off. Already yesterday, my first day off, I did nearly as much as I've managed in the last two weekends. And things are starting to make sense! I can't wait to start analyzing and writing this up when I'm finally finished fishing for figures in sustainability reports! Nothing like focus, pajamas and lots of junk food to get things going. Flickers of light, the light of good ideas in the middle of the night... or is that just the dawn?..Of course when I get back there's a week of sleepless nights waiting for me while I finish the work that's on hold... but no time to think about that now. That, my friends, is a post for another day. 

To take stock of the situation, I am a month behind schedule. I have finished 20% of my data gathering and yet by now I'm meant to be awaiting feedback on my first draft. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. 

Actually, that's not true. 

By now I know to laugh. Nervously, uncontrollably, the louder the better! Tears are for sissies. Tears are for people who have slack time in their gantt charts. Tears are for people who have time to entertain Panic. 

Although according to my research supervisor who I met with this morning this is "normal". And yet there are people in the class who have this thing done and dusted. Then again he did say he usually supervises the stragglers who don't have supervisors lined up months ahead of time, so maybe I'm on the bell curve for the slow group. 

I need to do a month's worth of work in a week, and Panic is going to slow me down. It is time to send Panic a-packin'. Panic has lit a fire under my behind and out of the ashes, the beautiful... the mysterious... the mesmerizing... the magical... Inspiration has emerged. 

Dear Panic

Shakespeare said "all the world's a stage". On that stage yours is but an opening monologue. Thank you for playing your part so dutifully, but it is time to end that scene, as the real star of the show has just floated silently into the spotlight at stage left: Inspiration.

I can't take my eyes off her and she has but whispered her opening line. 

Now, now.. don't fret, my dear. Don't let this get you down. I'm sure you will have your shot at a reappearance in a week or two, but until then I'm listening to the leading lady.

Yours (but not for the next twelve days),
Inspired Femgineer

Mwah