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Today’s Read

Overview

Philip Delves Broughton wasn’t your typical MBA student. He was a journalist, used to covering world events—not balance sheets. But one day, he decided to walk away from journalism and embark on an MBA adventure at Harvard Business School (HBS), one of the most prestigious (and expensive) business schools in the world.

His goal? To find out what an MBA actually teaches you.

Most people assume an MBA unlocks some secret knowledge about success. Broughton wanted to test that assumption. This book is his personal journal of lessons learned, flaws exposed, and myths debunked. Get the book here.

How Do You Actually Learn at HBS?

At Harvard, you don’t sit in a lecture hall and take notes. Instead, every lesson is built around a case study—a real-life business problem with no single correct answer.

The Case Study Method

Here’s how it works:

• You’re given a business scenario—a struggling company, a leadership dilemma, a financial crisis.

• You analyze the case, using whatever data is available (which is never enough).

• In class, you debate possible solutions, defending your logic.

The professor rarely tells you the “right” answer. Because in real life, there isn’t one.

Example: You might get a case study about Starbucks expanding into China. Should they go aggressive or slow? Cater to local tastes or keep their Western brand identity? The debate gets heated—because no one knows for sure what will work.

This method forces you to:

• Think like a decision-maker under uncertainty.

• Make choices with imperfect data (which is how real business works).

• Learn that confidence matters as much as correctness.

The Core Business Lessons

HBS isn’t just about learning finance or strategy. It’s about shaping how you think and act in business. Here are the most powerful takeaways:

1. Leadership is About Perception

At HBS, leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers—it’s about inspiring confidence, setting direction, and managing perception.

• A professor once told the class: “Even if you don’t know, act like you do.”

• Leaders shape reality by framing the narrative. How people perceive your decisions is as important as the decisions themselves.

Example: Steve Jobs was a master at this. Apple wasn’t always technologically ahead, but Jobs sold a vision so compelling that people believed in the company’s superiority.

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2. Strategy is About Trade-offs

You can’t have it all. Strategy is deciding what NOT to do.

• Every successful company makes choices that limit its options—but strengthen its brand.

• Example: Southwest Airlines decided to fly only one type of plane (Boeing 737s). Limiting variety made operations simpler and costs lower, giving them a competitive edge.

This is where many businesses fail. They try to be everything to everyone—and end up with no clear advantage.

3. Finance is the Language of Business

Even if you’re not a numbers person, you must understand:

• Profit vs. cash flow (many businesses make “profits” on paper but run out of cash).

• How to read financial statements (if you can’t, someone will take advantage of you).

• The cost of capital (if borrowing money costs 10% but your business grows at 5%, you’re losing).

Many startups raise millions but burn through cash because they don’t control spending. Understanding finance is the difference between survival and bankruptcy.

4. The Power of Persuasion & Negotiation

HBS drills into you that business is not just about having the best product or idea. It’s about convincing others—investors, customers, employees—to believe in your vision.

• A professor once told the class: “You are always selling something.”

• Whether it’s a product, an idea, or yourself, you must know how to sell convincingly.

Example: Tesla wasn’t profitable for years, but Elon Musk sold the vision of a clean energy future so well that investors kept funding it.

What HBS Doesn’t Teach You (But Should)

Broughton points out that HBS is brilliant at training corporate executives, but it falls short in some crucial areas:

1. How to Build a Business from Scratch

HBS loves business plans, models, and strategy, but starting a company is about:

• Getting your first paying customer.

• Testing an idea with real users, not just projections.

• Dealing with chaos, uncertainty, and rejection.

Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson never got MBAs. They built businesses by doing, not planning.

2. The Reality of Failure

At HBS, failure is a case study—analyzed from a safe distance.

In real life, failure means:

• Running out of money.

• Letting employees go.

• Watching your idea collapse despite your best efforts.

3. Happiness & Work-Life Balance

HBS students chase money, status, and high-powered careers. But does it actually make them happy?

Broughton noticed that many classmates were stressed, anxious, and unfulfilled.

• They took jobs they didn’t love because they paid well.

• They prioritized titles over meaningful work.

• Many burned out after years of relentless ambition.

Lesson: Success is not just about making money—it’s about building a life you enjoy.

So, Is an MBA Worth It?

Broughton leaves this open-ended.

• If you want to be a CEO or high-level executive: HBS gives you confidence, connections, and a strong foundation in business fundamentals.

• If you want to start your own business: The best way to learn entrepreneurship is by actually doing it.

• If you’re looking for meaning or fulfillment: Business school won’t give you that. You have to define success on your own terms.

Putting It All Together

The biggest myth about an MBA? That it’s a magic key to success.

HBS creates confidence, but confidence is not the same as competence. Many grads leave feeling unstoppable—only to realize that the real world doesn’t operate like a classroom.

The truth? Success isn’t about frameworks or strategies—it’s about taking action.

And that? No degree can teach you.

Happy reading and remember to TAKE ACTION! There’s more to learn in the next one! Same day, same time! See ya.

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I'm Vicente from Portugal, a master's student in architecture with a passion for entrepreneurship. I share my journey, lessons, and monthly reports from my newsletter business on 𝕏. Follow me for valuable insights! Join me for insights and behind-the-scenes reports, and let’s chat there!