One day I was in a college class and the question came up: ‘Why do we go to school?”
The teacher picked a guy next to me, he stood up, and said the reasons were to elevate our minds and take us to a new level in our thinking.
She said very good and asked him to sit down. Then she pointed and me and said, “Michael, why are we school right now?”
My EXACT answer: “To make more money.”
The room broke into chuckles and the guy next to me just kind of glared. My teacher: “Explain.”
I said,
“Think about it: we’re working to get our degrees, to get better jobs, to make more money. We’re not paying all this money in student loans, making all these sacrifices to be ‘more enlightened.’ We’re here to have ‘a better future’ or make more money!”
Ironically, she agreed with me! As if she could otherwise? 
Small Biz Trends asked the same question that I’m asking: “Does Entrepreneurship Education Make People Better Entrepreneurs?” There were studies done and the answer was inconclusive. And I thought, “No!! Obviously schools don’t make better entrepreneurs…the ‘school of hard knocks does.’”
But then I heard about entrepreneurs who WERE going back to school to further their business careers
And it made me really have to rethink my position.
School: Is it Worth it?
It’s been questioned whether college is worth the price of admission. The problem with college are: it creates corporate drones, it doesn’t teach the way people learn, the info is rarely up-to date, and etc.
Seth Godin stated in an interview that the whole purpose of school is to create compliant workers.
In his words:
“…{school} came from industrialists and governments in search of compliant cogs. There was a shortage and so society invested in making more. More factory workers, more ordinary folks doing ordinary jobs. Placidly. The #2 pencil, the SAT, and the report card were invented by people in search of factory workers.”
And with student loan debt now exceeding regular debt you have to ask yourself: is it really worth it?
The True Purpose of Education
Personally, I believe in education…but not necessarily in schooling.
What???
Let me explain.
The word educate comes is derived from educere which means “bring out”, “bring forth what is within”, “bring out potential” and ducere, “to lead.”
So the REAL purpose of education was to bring out of you what was placed in side of you–talents, gifts, potentials, and so forth. So I’m with an education that helps me bring out of me all that was placed in me.
Back to Square One
So with all this mumbo jumbo the question remains: can you be a better entrepreneur with education?
I thought I had an answer but I really don’t but I would love to hear your take on it?
This post was written by...
Michael – who has written 77 posts on The Simple Strategies for Startups Blog.
Michael is the an author, blogger, and speaker, Why not give me a shout on Google
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Mike,
I'd have to agree with Seth: schooling does you make you better prepared for the world of work. It teaches you to be compliant, to stay in line, to obey orders, and etc. And not that these are bad…because without it you would have complete anarchy. Does it make better entrepreneurs? Yes and no.
Yes, because there are certain skills you'd need (ie accounting) to be effective. But no it doesn't really teach you how to think for yourself, spot trends, view the unknown, and etc. That's why most entrepreneurs dont really cut it in school…its not really in their makeup/
Good points George!
SO are you saying it could help you later on? If that's the case you ARE agreeing that schools can make you a better entrepreneur. Is that it?
I guess I am. I don't think solely makes entrepreneurs…but continued education does help…
I saw this on Digg and I figured I'd say my piece.
I don't think schools were created for entrepreneurs. In fact I agree with the philosophy of Robet Kiyosaki, "the school system is broken."
Its been broken for a while.
Great post!
I am such a fan of Robert Kiyosaki. And he's always said that the school system has been operating in the industrial age for a while. That's why I'm such a big fan of an entrepreneur: I had rather use my own blood, sweat, and tears building an asset of my own…and not someone else's.
Mike,
I would say that school creates more managers than leaders
Sam,
What exactly do you mean by that?
I am curious myself…
Well…there is a distinction between a leader and a manager. A leader sees the unknown, spots trends, will often fly in the face of conventional thinking. Managers are those who moves things from A to B, are organized, and good at getting tasks done. Schools produce managers. They produce people who know how to follow the rules.
That's what I meant
Great insight Sam!
I think that's why so many entrepreneurs don't fit into school…because they keep breaking rules. Personally I don't think anything is wrong with managers. I think you need both in a successful company.
Thanks for the input!
Mike I love the distinction you put between "education" and "schooling." I never knew what the original purpose of education was..I'm glad you really delved into it.
I never read that interview with Seth Godin and Michael Hyatt before…it was really eye opening.
Thanks for a great post!
I'm glad you enjoyed it Gregory.
I learned about the whole eductaion think while reading "Think and Grow Rich" and it always stayed with me. But I'm glad you enjoyed the post
I have a friend who owes over $100,000 in student loans. And his job is only paying him $45,000. He always asks if it was really worth it sacrificing the way he did.
We have no answer.
I know a friend who owes more…and she WISHES she would have dropped and started her own business. I say, "Why not do it now?" She says, she doesn't have the time…she always working :/
The current education system is geared toward generating more employees; however, I don't think it does a great job preparing them for the workplace. Trade schools teach a very practical skill set that is very useful to them when they graduate, but it doesn't give them the skills to advance their careers to higher levels. Colleges focus on teaching their students how to think while providing them with limited practical skills when their students hit the workforce. As a whole, neither trade schools or traditional colleges adequately prepare their students for the today's workforce.
As far as educating entrepreneurs goes, there is almost no preparation given by these institutions. The old saying, "those who can do and those who can't teach" comes to mind here. It's hard for those who have never been entrepreneurs to inspire and prepare future ones. This doesn't mean that this education is not something entrepreneurs should still seek out, but it does mean that they need to be savvy and supplement this education with self-study and preferably finding a mentor who will take you under their wing.
Absolutely Brad!
I think it was Jim Rohn who said, "Education will get you a job, self education will make you rich." The successful entrepreneur will always be a life long student. And so they will go back for courses, read books, listens to tapes…because they realize there's always more to learn.
Education has a purpose…I'm not so sure about higher education anymore
Hi Mike,
Another way to look at this is that the function of schools is to prepare students to navigate through the maze of life, eg to respect other’s opinion, to share, to work with others, to behave and so on…
It’s not all to do with ‘academic’ skills and especially business skills.
Whereas ‘education’ as you described above relates to intellectual and financial freedom.
Not sure all schools (at least not here in Europe) have the capacity, will or budget to do this.
Books like RK really do help. Chris Brogan is also very good, esp articles related to Escape Velocity.
Ivan
I think it was Jim Rohn who said, "Education will get you a job, self education will make you rich." It's the stuff we do after (or for that matter before) the degree that counts.
I'm all for self education…
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