Personal Progress Thread

[DavidGood]

Pencils Down! Mission accomplished! 

I have satisfied all requirements for my Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration—Management & Leadership (BABA—M&L), along with minors in Management Information Systems (MIS) and Project Management (PM). My last final was graded on Wednesday, and I’m pleased to share that I completed this chapter with a 4.0 GPA. While that wasn’t the original mission, I had to go for it once I saw it was within reach.

As a self-made business owner, I’m now pivoting to the world of the employed. It might seem like an unusual transition, but it suits my lifestyle, goals, and temperament. I analyzed what would limit my opportunities for executive roles and competitive salaries, and the answer was obvious: credentials. Securing interviews for quality positions without a bachelor’s degree is like crossing the Alps without a coat—possible but unnecessarily difficult.

Six months ago, I started this process with one certification. Today, I hold five certifications and a soon-to-be-conferred degree from UMPI.

Was there growth along the way? Absolutely.
• I refined my writing skills.
• I formalized the knowledge I’d previously applied in project management.
• I gained new analytical tools and perspectives.
• Came up to speed on terminology in all areas.

The most important lesson? My ability to create what Steve Jobs famously called a “reality distortion field” remains intact. Almost anything is possible with visualization, positivity, grit, a solid work ethic, and a little support.

Next Missions:
1. Secure a position in the corporate world.
2. Begin a Master’s in Organizational Leadership (starting Summer I, 2025).

Thanks to everyone here and on Discord for the advice, encouragement, and support throughout this process. I have been mainly on Discord due to the interactive nature of the communications there, but the degree plans here proved invaluable.

Courses Completed:
• MAT 140: Mathematics for Business
• BUS 200: Intermediate Business Computing
• BUS 220: Managerial Accounting
• BUS 240: Change Management
• BUS 325: Financial Management
• BUS 260: Leadership
• BUS 244: Management Information Systems
• BUS 321: Human Resource Management
• BUS 330: Marketing Management
• BUS 335: Organizational Behavior
• BUS 415: Operations Management (transfer credit)
• BUS 440: Business Analytics
• BUS 469: Strategic Professional Communication
• BUS 489: Business Policy & Strategy
• BUS 245: Programming for Managers (transfer credit)
• BUS 345: Database Management (transfer credit)
• BUS 400: Professional Management Applications (transfer credit)
• BUS 343: Project Risk and Cost Management (PM Minor)