30 Days of Ultimate Optimism: Finding Focus in the DBA Journey

Guest Blogger: Dr. Carolyn Adkerson, DBA

The Overwhelming Reality of the DBA Journey

Pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) isn’t just about research—it’s about endurance. There are deadlines, revisions, approvals, and life happening all at once. It feels like running a marathon while juggling.

I hit that moment of exhaustion on February 13. I had just returned from a week-long work boot camp, feeling good about my progress professionally, but then reality struck. I had a certification exam coming up, dissertation milestones stacking up, and countless logistics to manage. I was overwhelmed.

I turned to my husband and said, “I just need 30 days of ultimate optimism. If I tell you I think I can fly, tell me that I can fly.”

That became my mantra. I CAN fly. I CAN fly. Every time the pressure mounted, I repeated it like a lifeline. It wasn’t just about motivation; it was about survival.

The Power of Hyper-Focus: Tuning Out the Noise

When the weight of everything threatens to pull you under, focus is the only way forward. I had to shut out distractions and silence the doubts. The reality was simple: either I completed this dissertation, or I let it complete me.

Hyper-focus meant:
✅ Breaking tasks into manageable milestones.
✅ Carving out dedicated time to write—no excuses.
✅ Blocking negativity and replacing it with relentless self-belief.

Every time I felt like I was drowning, I reminded myself: I CAN fly.

It Takes a Team: The Strength of a Support Network

The night I felt most overwhelmed, I called a DBA graduate from two years ago. She wasted no time setting me straight:

"You need to focus. You will get this done. You ARE going to graduate."

Sometimes, we need someone else to remind us of our own strength.

Then I walked through the door, still emotionally drained. My mother took one look at me and simply asked, “What do you need?” That was all it took.

Support comes in many forms—a mentor’s push, a friend’s reality check, or a family member’s quiet encouragement. Without my team, I wouldn’t be here.

Life Happens—And You Keep Going

The thing about a DBA? Life doesn’t stop for it.

In my cohort alone, people have faced job losses, new babies, illnesses, and major life changes. And yet, they kept going.

We don’t finish because life is easy. We finish because we refuse to quit.

The Final Push: When Everything Clicks

Something shifted after that wake-up call. I went into overdrive—writing, editing, refining.

Ten days straight. Fueled by determination, a lot of hot Chai Teas, and sheer willpower.
And you know what? It was beautiful.

For the first time, I saw my research coming to life. The endless revisions, the frustration, the moments of doubt—it all started to make sense. The finish line was near. Approvals, formatting, logistics—it was still a process, but the hardest part was behind me. When I reflect on my journey—my application, my interview, my why—I can hardly believe that three years have passed and are now coming to an end.

You Can Be Done… or Still Wishing You Had Started

The truth is that time will pass either way. You can either be done or still wishing you had started.

So, if you’re in the middle of your DBA journey or just thinking about it, keep going! Find your mantra, lean on your people, and remind yourself every day:

🚀 I CAN fly. 🚀

And so can you.

Dr. Carolyn Adkerson, DBA, a Nashville native and third-year Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) candidate at Temple University, is a strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of 227 Advantage LLC. With over 15 years of experience in business development, marketing, and consulting, she specializes in empowering businesses through strategic partnerships and innovation. Her research explores entrepreneurship and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), reflecting her passion for equity and representation in sports, technology, and business. Beyond her work, Carolyn enjoys traveling, eating great food, and spending quality time with her husband, Steve, and their dog, Grizzly.