Week 133 of 186 (BMAL 785)

Whew, after a stressful six weeks, I can proudly say that ALL six tasks of BMAL 785 are approved, and things are about to get real starting next term.

For those that are just starting in BMAL 785, I urge you to take this advice very seriously:

• Read the White Paper/Guide very closely… Repeat!
• Follow the instructions in the White Paper/Guide exactly. I mean to the letter… For example, it gives you the wording for Task 1 to say–The specific problem is ________ relating to ______…
• Do not get discouraged by the edits from the professor. It took me four tries for Task 1, one attempt at Task 4, and three attempts at Task 6.
• The weekly discussion posts are not like any other course in the program. They are progress reports, and a lot of great info is there.
• Use the discussion posts to see where your colleagues are struggling. I bet you have some of the same issues as them. 
• Don’t be afraid to work ahead but don’t work ahead unless a task is approved. 
• Do not, and I mean do not, run a subsequent task through Grammarly after it has been approved. The approved task needs to stay exactly as it is approved. I mean, do not add one word even if you think you should. 
• Remember, this course is like a pre-season game for the big dance that is to come. 
• Also, remember that your doctorate project is still just a school project. Do not let it rule your world. You are going to change the world by doing this course. Treat it as such. 

Many of you have been reading my posts since you started BMAL 700, and thank you very much for doing so. There are hundreds of views a week on these posts.

By now, I assume you trust what I have to say, and I bet I haven’t steered you wrong yet. 

From my understanding, there is no other source like these posts on this blog, and I do this as a service to help guide my colleagues along the way. 

For my collogues in the BMAL 887 and subsequent project courses, you will be enrolled by the professor AFTER you pass the course preceding it. It is important to note that the Fall and Spring semesters are 16 weeks, and the Summer is 13 weeks, meaning you have three fewer weeks to work on Tasks than the standard semesters. 

BMAL 887 and Beyond

For 887 in particular, which I will start in January (J Term), I will be enrolled in the section–i.e., BMAL 887-J02, depending on my chair. I am hopeful that one of my choices is picked. I chose them strategically based on research interests and Dr. Kevin Bell in particular because he was my most challenging and picky professor in the DSL program. 

Remember you must be continuously enrolled once you start 887 onward. 

Here is my progress report for the week, and if you are inclined, you can read my approved Research Concept Paper toward the bottom of the page. 

Proposed topic

My topic is the transgenerational succession in the family business with a focus on leadership readiness.

Description of your progress during the past week

Apologies for this being a bit of an early post. I am headed to Seattle for round three of dental work and I have no idea how I will be feeling after the appointment. Thankfully after three attempts at Task 6 with minor edits, it was approved. I am sure, like all of you who are finished with this portion of the project, it was a relief! 

Description of any roadblocks you hit during the week and how you are working through them

No roadblocks except for a canceled flight to Seattle yesterday because they got an inch of snow down there and it put a halt, or roadblock, pun intended in the operations. 

Description of what you plan to accomplish next week

I am already thinking about the first task in 887 and I will be working over the holiday break to fine-tune my focus. A colleague of mine said, to think of this stage in the doctorate project journey as a whiteboard and it is my job to fill it up. 

Lastly, I am thankful that the pre-season is over and it is now time for the Big Dance! I look forward to starting the next course