So, who really needs a college degree?
In my own personal opinion, not many.
"Book smarts" may be good, but often times, wisdom and creativity are not part of the educational experience. Based on my own college experience from 30 years ago, I could count on one hand the professors who encouraged thinking outside of the box, let alone critical thinking. In fact the professors who were the most dogmatic in their ideologies (especially philosophy and political science) were those who you would think would be the most encouraging. Instead, college was more often than not a time "towing the line".
Even in business courses, entrepreneurship was not encouraged. It's not that it was discouraged, but it was definitely not encouraged. As students we told that we should look a good large institution to work for and plug in and work up the corporate or institutional ladder. The amusing side to all of this was that whenever corporate "suits" and local entrepreneurs would come to speak to us senior, the bulk of the banter and post-event discussion was decidedly geared toward the entrepreneur. There is something exciting and daring about being an entrepreneur. We are almost captains of our own destinies.
I like and appreciate "self-made" people. Especially more so in light of President Obama's slam against entrepreneurs and other self-starters: "You didn't build that..."
Self-starters, inventors and visionaries have always led the way. They are innovators. In a sense, the needed "societal infrastructure" comes AFTER the great invention or innovation; i.e. cars, light bulbs, phonographs, etc.
You've heard of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, but what about Larry Ellison or Amancio Ortega or Richard Branson. They may not be household names, but their work - their dreams - touch many of us on a daily basis.
Here's a good but short expose of 5 college dropouts who, through their own hard work, innovation, vision and perseverance, not only made themselves financially wealthy, but they dramatically added to the overall wealth of society as a whole.
"Mark Twain once said, 'I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.' For most of us, formal education is critical to achieving success, but the following five entrepreneurs heeded Twain's words and abandoned the schoolbooks to seize their opportunity for incredible fortune."
Continue reading at the link below...
