********* Worry Audit Start*************************
I have a deadline before 8 pm.
I have to guide over 10,000 readers on how to write freely.
Would I be able to transfer at least one valuable advice to my readers?
Am I wasting my reader's time?
Would I be just another MBA Admissions Consultant polluting the internet with clichéd advice?
********* End of Worry Audit *************************
See - these are my thoughts and worries when I began writing the post.
An extreme technique to avoid procrastination and write freely is to do a 'worry audit' and write it down before your draft essay.
The emotional outburst is in the paper.
Now, what is the excuse?
Keep adding the worries above the 'End of Worry Audit' space if you can't address the question in the essay.
Don't stare at a blank screen.
Stare at the worry Audit.
Keep adding questions until you have nothing to worry.
MBA Application Essay Question: What is your greatest weakness?
The applicant began the story of how his father would require the brothers to fill the to-do list - right to a 30-minute interval, every night before sleep. He didn't address the essay on weakness. The story seemed interesting and was the anchor for evaluating his personality.
The great thing about writing exercises in MBA Application is that none of the anecdotes will go wasted. If you don't use it any of your top 5 MBA applications, it will be a therapeutic exercise on revealing your identity and values. Luckily, for the applicant, the weakness was real. You might be thinking this might be another 'strength disguised as weakness', but the applicant went on to reveal the monetary damage systematic thinking caused him.
Imagination stretches intuition. Preparation and methodological approach help you break down complex problems, but taking a risk - even where the upside is huge seemed to sweat the applicant. When information is asymmetrical and trends not clearly laid out, thinking beyond existing systems and 'way of doing' business need imagination.
Entrepreneurs have that.
The applicant, who works in Technology, didn’t have the skills. He had a great opportunity to buy a particularly popular cryptocurrency when the price was in single $ digit value. He hesitated. The essay, went on to describe his quest to broadening his intuition including an exercise that forced him to call an 'expert,' in a domain he had limited knowledge.
Yes – an actual phone call. No messaging or Whatsapp.
An Ambivert in personality, the applicant began repeating these acts of extroversion and built his understanding of a wide range of topics. His habit of reaching out to experts turned into one of the most popular podcasts on Technology and Lifestyle.
His weakness became the anchor for a new venture.
The story was within him. He reflected and went back to a moment in life that defined him as a person. By honestly capturing the origin of a habit, he unveiled one life choice after another, logically connecting all to one initiative that began as a way to address his weakness.
I have heard stories of applicants with fear of heights opting for bungee jumping, taking flying lessons, and even going for rock climbing.
Capturing vulnerability makes you real
Resume doesn't do that.
Recommendation letter glances over such moments.
Make your profile real by reflecting and writing freely.
Start with the worry audit if you can't capture relevant words.
Sit on your desk for 1-hour and keep writing, even if you can't address the essay question. Maybe, the anecdote will be useful for another essay.
Don't Stop. Keep Writing
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