When people ask me what I do, and the letter “BA” comes out loud and proud. With a tone of interest “Oh, bachelor of arts,..” No business analyst. “Oh”, with a tone of dismay. I continue with “I basically help companies computerized with their business.” — With a tone of excitement “Oh, you know computers! Do you think it’s worth upgrading to Windows 11?”

So, now I sit here trying to justify what is it that we do. In reality, this is common a question that gets asked by a lot of students even when they graduate. We showcase to students that the core of a BA is someone who seeks to understand why something is done that way. Sound simple? Well, let’s detach the first four-letter of analyst. Now is being anal a requirement of this role? Not necessaryily, but it does come with the territory of the role - another story for another time.

I’m battling which story to tell you, talking to my partner while going for a drive in a rain for his birthday eve. trying to find do I start with my first thought of what being a BA; with my own definition, or do I go with a horror story where I was about to get spit on, verses where I first realized I was doing a BA job. Here’s the interesting part - I’m BAing (yes that’s a word), what I should be talking about BA with you all. Oy.

You’re wondering what story am I going to detail, maybe I do not have any stories, or maybe there are so many to choose from. First impression is everything, we heard, yet I have not seen it as a bumper sticker. That line forces to me to think a first date experience where you want to make sure you’re wearing the perfect attire. You go through everything you own and wonder why own this and why you have nothing to wear, even though you just went through 12 outfit changes. So I am sitting there thinking about which story would align here and using the pro and con method to see if that is the right story to choose. Being a BA is like that, where you are constantly evaluating whether the choices you’re making is the correct one.

Let’s talk about how a kid taught me what a BA is. <homeless shelter>, <not knowing where he is going>, <feels this is normal>, <knows that he wants to take care of his mom>, <

CTA at the end; Look out next article.

Do you want to smell smart? Wear sandlewood.