Learning from Our Mistakes
As you navigate the MBA application process, you will undoubtedly be doing a lot of bragging. After all, the business schools need to know about your accomplishments and successes. If you don’t tell them, who will? What most applicants don’t expect is that they will also have to be open about their mistakes and their failures. Many applicants do not know how to approach questions about aspects of their past they are not so proud of, and do not know how to guide their recommenders who are also asked about weaknesses or “developmental needs.” The truth is that this part of your application is extremely important. Self awareness is key to professional success and thus, critical to your applications. The best way to approach these questions: Honestly, with maturity and wisdom. Failing is not only okay, it is necessary, as long as you can show that you have leared from failure and moved on.
A recent BusinessWeek article about Warren Buffet, the most famous investor in the US, illustrates why failing, and awareness of how and why it happened is so important. The article speaks for itself, so take a look at how to fail with style!
