Please, please, please not this week. 🙂
I’m thinking you understand……
]]>We shall have to have a chat sooner than later. I really would like to have your input. I’m attending an open house for an executive MBA program tomorrow afternoon.
Eric
]]>Too coincidental. I’ve been doing this for abot the same amount of time you’ve been lawyering. In three weeks, I’m starting my MBA – and with a bit of luck, five years or so from now I’ll be more “Professor Trostle” and a lot less what I am now.
Regards,
Phil
]]>In any event, best of luck.
Mike
(Halfway through career # 2 and wondering what to do next.)
God willing and the creek don’t rise, I should be there Saturday.
Eric
]]>I feel your pain, brother. 🙂
Eric
]]>Some advice from a guy who should have listened to himself 45++ years ago. Do what you damn well want to do! If that means getting advance degrees, go for it. Who knows, with your great interest in and knowledge of the CW, and your obvious enthusiasm and energy, you could be the next generation’s Ed Bearss!!! ]]>
t know if that really matters.
Just a few years ago, I spoke with the dean of history at a local well-known university about my desire for a career change and my love of history. What he told me then was not encouraging. According to him, given my need to work full time, thus going to school part-time, it would be at least 6 – 9 years before I could get my masters and doctorate. He then stated that though no one would ever admit it, I would probably become the victim of age discrimination at that point. He also mentioned that after English professors, history professors, as a group, are the oldest instructors in the land. They simply never retire, so thereâ€s just not a lot of demand. Because of that, you now have history teachers with Ph. Dâ€s teaching at all levels and not just the university level. As a final shot, he told me that white male, American history is very passé right now and that all up and coming wannabeâ€s must focus on some other area, i.e., womenâ€s, ethnic, or Islamic studies.
So what to do? Itâ€s all quite confusing, yet we both know that somethingâ€s gotta give.
Thankfully, my wife is extremely supportive. In a lighter moment, sheâ€ll come up with her obvious answer. Just set aside the non-fiction and write the next “Killer Angels†or “Cold Mountain!†:-) Now why didnâ€t I think of that?
Paul]]>Reading your post this morning was like looking in the mirror. Substitute the phrase “insurance and financial services†for “law†and your rant could easily have been written by me. I too have pondered the higher degrees. Unfortunately for me, I’m two years older than you though I don’t know if that really matters.
Just a few years ago, I spoke with the dean of history at a local well-known university about my desire for a career change and my love of history. What he told me then was not encouraging. According to him, given my need to work full time, thus going to school part-time, it would be at least 6 – 9 years before I could get my masters and doctorate. He then stated that though no one would ever admit it, I would probably become the victim of age discrimination at that point. He also mentioned that after English professors, history professors, as a group, are the oldest instructors in the land. They simply never retire, so there’s just not a lot of demand. Because of that, you now have history teachers with Ph. D’s teaching at all levels and not just the university level. As a final shot, he told me that white male, American history is very passé right now and that all up and coming wannabe’s must focus on some other area, i.e., women’s, ethnic, or Islamic studies.
So what to do? It’s all quite confusing, yet we both know that something’s gotta give.
Thankfully, my wife is extremely supportive. In a lighter moment, she’ll come up with her obvious answer. Just set aside the non-fiction and write the next “Killer Angels†or “Cold Mountain!†🙂 Now why didn’t I think of that?
Paul
]]>Just today I noticed an article on MSN.com entitled “Is Getting an Executive MBA Past the Age of 50 Worth It?”
While it deals specifically with Executive MBA’s (i.e. an MBA for someone already in a senior executive position) and you haven’t hit 50 yet, you’re close enough. And if running your own practice doesn’t make you a “senior executive”, I don’t know what does. You can read the article yourself, but it does mention that an MBA can be a useful tool for someone contemplating a career change – and it mentions teaching as one of those potential changes.
I hope you find some useful elements in the article.
Best wishes from a slightly older business owner trying to figure out his own exit strategy.
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