Delay is Not Denial - The Importance of Strategic Planning

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Some years back, I was done with my second degree and I spoke to my ex about furthering for a doctorate. I had expected that he would support me with no hesitation but boy was I wrong as he vehemently refused.

Not that he refused directly but then after I had informed him of my interest about advancing educationally, he said, "you haven't even collected your masters certificate and you are already pushing for a PhD." I really didn't need a no or you can't do this for an answer.

The writing on the wall was clear and truthfully, I felt really bad with how he reacted and like he noticed, he sat me down and gave me a good counseling. While he spoke, I listened with an open mind so that after the conversation I won't be biased or sentimental in my judgement and final decision.

Well, according to my ex, supporting me wasn't an issue but then it becomes a problem when I keep acquiring all these certificates without actually making adequate use of them.

At the time, I had never been employed as I started my second degree program barely a year after I had graduated from the first. The goal was to reach the highest level of educational attainment while still in my 20s of which I had the needed support and that motivated me to keep at it. So when I saw my ex Withdraw his support, it felt like he was against my growth.

However, this feeling soon subsided when he made me understand that educational certificates are investments that needed to yield returns. According to him, the value of acquiring such degrees/certificates is not in the frenzy of being tagged with academic titles but the returns of investment I'm able to achieve by being employed.

He went on to inform me how it would make more sense for me to secure a job first with my second degree, get the working experience and start earning. That way, the value of the certificate is felt or seen when I'm able to earn enough with it to further my education.

Honestly, I didn't get it at first but regardless I did as he said. I got a job and started building my resumé. it's been almost a decade and it's now I'm experiencing the impact of that advice. Reflecting back to how I started my career, that break from education to work was a needed gap to facilitate all my wins and achievements.

Infact, I'd call it a progress gap because if it hadn't happened, it would have been quite challenging getting employed at a much later year with no existing work experience. I would have even been unfortunate, and ended up like some people in my country with all the educational qualifications but no good job because they started their career late.

This experience formed a structure for me. From the first day I was employed, I was able to set a target for myself that within a certain year gap from education, I should have achieved something substantial to send me back to school as that was still a goal I had hoped to achieved.

You see there is a saying where I'm from that delay is not denial. Sometimes we get so caught up in pursuing one thing that we lose out on so many beautiful opportunities. Personally, if I don't take a break between plans to deviate and do something else still in line with my goals, I lose sight of the bigger picture.

That being said, breaking off ones streak with a promise to get back at it is not procastination but strategizing to maximize. After all he who runs away leaves to fight another day lol.

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