I am pleased and delighted to report that my formal education was completely useless. I was taught how to think and not how to learn a living. That latter function fell to my first employer. When I look back, I was absolutely and completely naive and unprepared for the world of work. It was a rude awakening. However, after a while, I achieved a synthesis between the ability to think and the ability to apply thought to earn a living.

Sadly, modern education is either vacuous in standard or vocational in intent. It is dishonest in its claims to prepare people for the world of work and requires modern employers to first disabuse their new recruits of any notion that they have some use before going on to teach them how to be useful. By any criteria the modern education system has effectively given up. People are no longer encouraged into science, engineering or other disciplines which have general usefulness. They are largely incompetent when it comes to anything involving the manipulation of numbers and their written English is dire.

posted October 27, 2008

One important skill I learned was how to perform in-depth research, market surveys,etc.

Other than that, most of what I learned about being an entrepreneur required personal study outside of my formal education and talking to other seasoned entrepreneurs.

-Dorethia
www.connercoaching.com

posted October 27, 2008

Hi Chad!

Honestly, formal education taught me how to problem solve -- however, I learned much more in the "real world" (as they call it). I ended up leaving early to follow my path in business.

I ended up starting my own business in the early 1990's, worked extremely hard at having a company based on ownership, responsibility, and accountability -- and sold it in 2000 (basically retiring very young!)

Have a nice day,

Charly
ISGFL

Links:

• http://www.isgfl.com
• http://www.webstarterkit.com
• http://thebigpicture.isgfl.com

posted October 27, 2008

I went to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Today I'm the CEO of a nationally known company. Much happened between.

Regardless of where you go to school, it's your first real contact with the outside world. Expectations and goals are set, results have to be achieved to get the diploma. You learn about success and failure depending on the effort you put in.

It teaches you dicipline and organization. It doesn't guarantee success of any kind. No school does.

Success is up to you. A couple of notable college drop outs include Bill Gates and Michael Dell. Both have done well.

If I was to recommend a key element of a college education, it's an internship, paid or unpaid in your field.

Universities also need to think more in terms of real world experience for their instructors, professors and the like. I know many top flight executives, people of proven accomplishment and success who would love to teach as a cap to a successful career.

What's stopping them? Not having advanced degrees.

Think about it. Bill Gates or Michael Dell wouldn't qualify to teach at a University under normal standards. Can you imagine what they could share with the next generation or business leaders?

So my choice of college didn't matter, nor my major. I tried several fields before I found out what I liked doing best. Entrepreneurship.

But college did lay out a foundation of organization and dicipline.

posted October 28, 2008

My formal education prepared me for work in MNC situations, using MNC related case studies and leadership skills for existing teams. Very little I could use to be prepared for as a small business owner. However, as a sickening optimist, I believe formal education definitely sets a very good foundation to be a successful entrepreneur. Choice of college counts only if you're enrolled in an elite university. Otherwise, it doesn't really matter much. The biggest motivation for many is for the paper anyway. Every college will have some very good lecturers that you'll never forget, and some arrogantly rubbish. (.^_^.)

posted October 28, 2008

Hi Chad,

I was fortunate to be able to add Entrepreneurship on to my Marketing Undergrad under the hospices of the Great Dr. Jeffrey Cornwall while at the University of St. Thomas.

I always had an inclination for business, but never really knew which direction. After going through the Entrepreneurship program with Jeff, I had developed several business concepts as well as having written and presented one complete business plan as well as several other Marketing plans (a few for existing businesses). As a few others have mentioned, learning the proper way to Research was a fundemental tool to learn throughout my business education. Probably the most usual concept was learning to adapt. Entrepreneurs in particular need to be flexible, be able to problem solve, and come up with creative ways to overcome challenges.

I am happy to say my education served me well as my family and I now own and operate a top rated independent fine wine shop in Orlando, FL. My wife and I recently started our own business in Stuart, FL as well as being founding members of the Young Professionals of Martin County. As life would have it, I recently began teaching Marketing & Management (& Entrepreurship) at our local high school. Since this is a Vocational Academy, i was able to take the position without having a teaching degree. I am now in the process of guiding my 'keystone class' students in developing three business plans for a competition being sponsored by our local College. I believe educating our youth (High School & College) to the benefits of Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship is one of the keys to revive our communities and economy...

Cheers!

posted October 28, 2008

Chad,

Another great question!

I earned my degree in Political Science, so the connection between my degree and my business is thin at first glance. While the connection is indirect, I am convinced that I am better off for having gone through the education process.

The critical thinking skills, the project management skills and the research and writing skills have proven to be great assets in my professional life.

Ultimately the value placed on the schools I attended or my major rests in the minds of my clients. For some, it is very important. The marque value of being able to say that I attended USC is far more impressive than the time I spent at CSUSB

Ironically, I felt that I received a better education from CSUSB but that matters very little to others.

I think that some attempt at a higher education should be a requirement for those who want to go into business. Not because of the specific lessons taught in class but because the experience helps build character.

For me that was the most valuable benefit of my formal education.

Thanks,

Jason

posted October 28, 2008

My formal education has been valuable, but the fact is no one can teach you how to run your own business. I've run a few small things in my time, and what I've discovered is that the skills I need most are time management and cash.

School doesn't help much with cash (unless you meet a lot of generous millionaires in college), and time management is barely taught or studied in school

posted October 29, 2008

entrepreneurship is not something you learn, you either have it or you do not, many people of this standing have no education at all, they just do what comes natural to them, make money and more money. I would say being practical and street wise with lots of common sense is fundamental to being successful along with leadership qualities.

Education is an acedemic achievement end of story, it proves not very much at all, if you haven't the abilities to be successful. Education can always be employed for the management and structure of Business.. A degree, MBA isn't worth the paper its printed on in this day and age.

posted October 30, 2008

I studied Graphic Design at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where their philosophy behind education is "Learn by doing." I had several opportunities in college to apply the skills I was learning, through part-time jobs and community-relevant project.

Now I am a partner at a web design & development agency (Pelago), where I've been able to apply the "Learn by doing" philosophy to client projects, and to our flagship web-based project management tool (Intervals).

Links:

• http://www.pelagodesign.com

posted November 3, 2008