Being in the position of writing a few chosen words after finishing my DBA (which I thought would never end), I found myself in the dilemma of trying to decide what to write in order to share all the relevant close-up details with future candidates about the DBA course.
For me, the DBA was a mixture of heaven and hell. I myself had chosen to undertake it, and personally, I never regret doing that. The course will give you the opportunity to be in a group of like minds with whom you can share ideas. You will engage with people from many different walks of life, cultures, and business backgrounds who have had diverse life experiences.
The DBA course is very time limited. In the very beginning, four years sounds like you have lots of time, but in reality, (when you start to write) you realize that is not so. Moreover, the time frames that you had before entering the DBA world will be significantly changed, and you will need to make major adjustments. Some privileges in terms of time that you had in your previous (non-DBA) life will be over. You will have to prioritize/juggle time spent with friends and family, at your job, and working on your DBA in that four-year period.
The process of writing itself will be a huge mix of ups and downs, good days and bad days, wins and losses, summers and winters, sunshine and rains, or, as I said above, heaven and hell. You will have to beat the ticking clock and face expectations, deadlines, your job, and various limitations. And, at the same time, you must respect and follow an academic style of writing.
The most critical element in this whole process is your mentor. Apart from your previous knowledge and business or academic experience, this person will guide you through the whole DBA process to accomplish your ultimate goal–getting your doctoral degree. Take your time and do a good analysis of potential mentors in relation to your topic. Do not forget your choice will be the person with whom you will spend most of your time for the next four years; in some cases, more time than with your family.
Finally, extended motivation is critical to the whole process, and down the road, you will develop skills to motivate yourself for longer periods of time. Do not overmotivate yourself at the very beginning because you are embarking on a process that will last for several years until you get your doctoral degree.
If you were to ask me would I do it again, the answer is simple—YES!
Dr. Slobodan Velinov
