Audits, Allergies, Colds and Ibuprofen PM

I have been a bit worried the past three weeks about our ISO14001 Surveillance audit. It seems as though I have one audit after another and one project after another.

On March 3 I left a dinner party relatively early because I felt cold and just not good. I couldn't figure out if I was just feeling blue or was I fighting something. Sure enough I was fighting a cold. I continue to fight such cold.

So last night as I left work I remembered when we had our audit 6 months ago I was 10 minutes late for the start time due to allergies and a sinus headache. So I vowed I would be on time if not early and thought I better take some Tylenol PM to fall asleep and wake up on time.

I arrived at CVS and there was no Tylenol PM so I bought Ibuprofen PM. I got home by 8 and took it and found myself in bed by 8:45 pm and not sure when I fell asleep but it was way before 10.

I had planned to wake up at 4:45 but opted to do 5:30. However, I have a great co-worker who called me at 5:15 to make sure I was awake, which I was.

Well my throat was hurting a little in the morning but I went through my audit with flying colors. We are the last site he audits.

Ironically this is the first afternoon I have felt like I have more energy than I have the past two weeks. Remember a week ago I called in sick as I wanted to just sleep as I had a slight fever and aches and could hardly talk.

I am beginning to wonder does my stress trigger me to wear my immune system down and get sick before an audit? I would say yes. So my lesson learned from this audit (as I start a coughing fit) relax your team knows the stuff you put up on boards and talk about at the KPI meetings.

MBA for about 10K?

I have been working for my current employer for over 5 years. They have a great education assistance program. Had I started my MBA 4 years ago, I would have an MBA mostly paid by my employer and I would not owe them much if I chose to leave.

I have an opportunity to start the MBA program at UC Redlands this month or next and see it as an opportunity to do it and also making a committment to stay with my current employer for another 3 years at least. That is not a bad thing but it is a committment.

I started filling out the application online but I stopped where I had to write an essay about my work experience, education and goals. I know about my work experience and education but my professional goals? Ultimately I want an MBA so I can teach at a college and do that in the evenings or just do that in my retirement. Crazy huh?

The program costs $38,000 and my company will pay for a good chunk of it but I have to put the money in first and then be a diligent student get an A so I get 100% reimbursement. My MBA could potentially only cost me $ 10,000. However, I am still paying my student loans for my BA and it seems silly to incur more debt for my education or does it?

I don't expect a big pay increase with an MBA it is more of a personal goal. So give me your insights help me think of some new goals that maybe I just have not thought of on my own.