On Formal Schooling
A non conformist I had become. It is easy for me to see different angles, the uncommon views. I am also not afraid to walk the unfamiliar route. And it would work to my advantage when I delve into the mundane world of business. In business one has to see new opportunities, unserved market, the school of fish in the blue ocean. However, I have less desire to catch all the fishes; I am more of a learner who would love to know where those fishes are, or how to catch those fishes.
Dropping out of school is dificult to justify. It is easy to cite Bill Gates, one heck of a drop out. But Bill has something that most people don’t have to start with. He was born to a wealthy family. His father was a top notch lawyer, and his mother is a banker, so is his grandfather who was a national bank president. But when you have no other resources but your brain and brawn, dropping out of school closer is far from a wise decision.
In life, in sports, or in business; it is easier to start by leveraging several resources like financial capital, connection, skills, training, education or natural talent. But I will never say that it is not possible to still make it. Because even with limited resources, which would mean a slow start, a start is a start. That a wild fire always begins with a spark.
Did I made the right decision? Would I advice my kids to follow my footstep? Considering our differences in temperament and enfluences, up bringing and changes in environment; honestly, I would not advice them to follow my steps.
Self study has a limited potential. It is more difficult, and is prone to misdirection. It is more of a trian and error type, where so much time and effort are being wasted. In business parlance; it might be effective but it is obviously inefficient.
On the contrary, the formal schooling method offers a more focus learning module. More knowledge is being acquired in shorter time. The school environment also offers the opportunity to developed organizational, people skills which in the modern times is prevalent working paradigm. How often do we hear the phrase; ‘the sum of all its parts is greater than the whole,’ ‘In unioun there is strength,’ ‘Together we could achieve more.’
Gone were days when the encyclopedic mind of one man would hold the key. People don’t think alone these days, they do brainstorming. They do research as a team. They do business as a group. Lone ranger has long been buried.
