And Now for Something Completely Different: BJK+MBA

And Now for Something Completely Different...

I was working in film development in Hollywood - which was par for the course as I'd been working in entertainment in some form or another since I graduated college in 2000. I've worked as an actor, model, standup, writer, director, producer, assistant, grip, script coordinator, reporter, reviewer and creative consultant. I had been moderately successful, which impressed friends back in Boston, and meant absolutely nothing in LA. Along the way I had also carved out some solid business acumen working in sales and marketing - both for myself (as a sole proprietorship) and for global corporations (like, Corporate Executive Board). Having been raised in an entrepreneurial family, I had always had an interest in problem solving and a knack for business.

I had recently finished UCLA's graduate screenwriting program and had also received a promotion at work (elevating me to creative executive)! I had also landed a new literary manager and agent - and yet, something was missing...

DEBT.

I just wasn't in enough debt! How could I call myself an American if I wasn't leveraged to the extreme? That's when I realized I needed more education, because nothing is sexier than a man with no money and several useless letters tacked onto the end of his name: Brendon John Kelly, BA, BS, MFA, MBA, PhD, MD, DDS / (bank account = $0). Thankfully, I was already married, so there's that...

So, I presented my case to my wife and we soon agreed that both of us should actually go back to school (because, yes I married someone just like me) - she to Le Cordon Bleu (the #1 culinary educator) and me to Babson College (the #1 ranked MBA for entrepreneurship) and us to the poor house (#1 destination for student loan defaulters).

Okay, okay, I'm exaggerating... Sort of. Factor in risk/reward, educational assets, debt financing and a disgustingly optimistic outlook of our future and you'll begin to understand our decision. At least, I hope you will - and if you do, call me at 3am when I wake up screaming and explain it to me.

So here I am! 6 months into a two year program. The workload is more than I expected (duh!) and there's also a lot of math involved in everything (who knew?), but overall I am enjoying this process. What I'm not enjoying is my total lack of 'free time' - which was already a joke. Now between work, school, writing (both screenwriting and journalism) and startup ventures, I am left with -20 hours/week. Luckily I can borrow against sleeping and my marriage - and how could that possibly go wrong?

This initial post may or may not be indicative of where this blog is heading, but you know, whatever you can do or dream, begin it, because... something about boldness and magic... and maybe there's a unicorn in that quote... you get the idea.

Off to work on finance and law - because that is my life today - and right now, I am okay with that.