Most Successful College Drop Outs in History

[Fergal]

Read this article (http://www.retireat21.com/blog/the-most-successful-college-dropouts-in-history/) with caution! Whilst it can be inspiring to read that hugely successful people like Bill Gates and Michael Dell dropped out of college early, we don't get to hear about the countless more that didn't get to reach their potential, partly because they dropped out.

I've never believed that a college education was the most important determinant of career and business life, but it can help to get you started on the first rung of the ladder.

[Nazreen]

I think that many of these college dropouts who are now very successful didn't drop out of school because of low grades but because they already wanted to engage or build their businesses. Most also didn't drop out of school until their businesses were already successful and that they chose their business instead of school. Thanks for the warning Fergal.

Schooling is still very important and it should be noted that dropping out of school is not a prerequisite to being successful. It should be the other way around.. which is, being successful can be a prerequisite to dropping out of school.

[Fergal]

That's a great point Nazreen, there is a big difference between dropping out because you have something that you are passionate about and want to do and dropping out because you are giving up.

[scifi]

Education gives you a platform to build your personality & self confidence to face the world..these college drop outs have belief that their passion & dream has equipped them with these features..that's why they choose their own path.. some are born while others are built..these are born ones..!!!;):rolleyes:

[wussa]

In economics you call this opportunity lost(I'm no eco student, say I may be mistaken). However those people tend to drop out when they have something in mind not to drop out for fun. They knew if they drop out at that time they have a better chance of succeeding. Example: Oprah

[Fergal]

In economics you call this opportunity lost(I'm no eco student, say I may be mistaken)...

I think the phrase you were looking for Wussa is "opportunity cost" - it refers to the cost of doing something in terms of what you could have gained by doing something else. In this case, the opportunity cost of leaving college to set up a business, would be the degree and other benefits you could have received by finishing college.

[wussa]

I think the phrase you were looking for Wussa is "opportunity cost" - it refers to the cost of doing something in terms of what you could have gained by doing something else. In this case, the opportunity cost of leaving college to set up a business, would be the degree and other benefits you could have received by finishing college.

I said I was not an eco student :D
I think I miss typed that one though.:rolleyes:

[Violet]

I think with men like gates, he had the opportunity right there for a business chance. If you think you would have the chance to create your own business, you would have to take that risk. You could always go back to school and finish up your education.

[Fergal]

Sports people and artists or actors who plan on leaving school / college to pursue their dream, often come under pressure to stay. But like you, I feel that they might be better leaving and giving it a go, and as you say they can always go back to school in later years, if it doesn't work out.

If they have talent for sports or the arts it would be a shame not to use it, at a young age. With sport in particular, it might be too late when they finish college. Obviously sport scholarship are a great opportunity for anyone that can get one.

[DEADMAN]

As the world speeds, Education is wanted in more quality level. That means higher education certificates.

At times at Nepal, passed in Grade 10 was supposed to be higher ranking. But those are past times. And today, we need college level that means Grade 11/12 certificates to find a better job now. If you don't have, you've to work on low salary.

[Fergal]

I've heard it said that a Masters is the new Degree. More and more university graduates are continuing their education to Masters level. In my view they might benefit from getting some work experience (if they can) before doing a Masters. Experience of the work place should give them greater clarification as to the area they would like to specialize in for their Masters.

[scifi]

Yeah it is a fact that we need a degree to get a job, but experience & calibre is something that can help you climb even the tallest mountain.... As today also, though in small scenario people with diplomas in Civil engineering ( which is smaller to degree) get even better salary than people with degree in their hands..these two are the major factors that along with diploma +experience + calibre>>>>>Degree...
However it is also the fact that degree+calibre>>>>>>>diploma..!!!D

[devilbatista]

I think they dropped out their study because they thought work was more important for them than study (in that situation). It's like own thread's question What is more important: Work or Education? (http://www.businessadviceforum.com/showthread.php?t=2490). Here, the work was more important. So, they earned their living and some became the richest man in the world.

However, in the link. I see lots of male faces But I didn't even see a single women face there. It was something disappointing. It shows women backwardness.

[Nazreen]

However, in the link. I see lots of male faces But I didn't even see a single women face there. It was something disappointing. It shows women backwardness.

I beg to differ Devilbatista. The list only contains the top 30 most successful college dropouts. I would believe that further down the line, you will see successful women college dropouts too.

[Fergal]

Things are changing for the better. Future lists will feature women in the top 30. The list also has a strong IT bias. Although there are a small number of very successful women in IT, IMHO IT is generally not a career that attracts a lot of women. Would you agree?

[devilbatista]

I beg to differ Devilbatista. The list only contains the top 30 most successful college dropouts. I would believe that further down the line, you will see successful women college dropouts too.

Keeping the fact, that you are a woman too Nazreen. I don't actually see a single woman there at the list. It's the list of 2008 and till that year there were no women. But we hope for the coming years. I am not offensive to women but I was explaining the fact which might be be bitter as you are woman too Nazreen as Truth is bitter. :)

Anyways, In near future, we might experience pages like that getting some woman on the list.

[Fergal]

Examples of women who have been very successful in the IT industry include Meg Whitman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meg_Whitman) & Carly Fiorina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carly_Fiorina).

[devilbatista]

It's feels good to know that women are successful in the IT industry. Thanks for sharing Fergal. Who knows, There might be more successful women than men in near future. :)

[Fergal]

...Who knows, There might be more successful women than men in near future. :)

Perhaps there already are, it depends on how you define success ;)

[DEADMAN]

Anyways, I believe Most Successful College also remains in the fortune of the person, not only dropouts at all.

Nowadays, you need more qualified education certificates to get job opportunity. But unlike as those college dropout, You need to know.

- A simple idea can make you millionaire. So dropping college won't worth anything untill you've something creative and new in your vein which includes your fortune as well.

[Fergal]

...- A simple idea can make you millionaire...

If you implement it correctly, but the idea itself will be of no value unless you take action :)

[DEADMAN]

I agree with you Fergal.

But sometimes, idea doesn't work at all. So, I believe not only action should be taken but it should be taken with proper time and with correct marketing knowledge. Many ideas fail, lacking the proper handling to carry out them.

[Fergal]

...But sometimes, idea doesn't work at all. So, I believe not only action should be taken but it should be taken with proper time and with correct marketing knowledge. Many ideas fail, lacking the proper handling to carry out them.


Which do you think is better;



A brilliant idea poorly executed or
A poor idea brilliantly executed?

[pendelton]

Option 2, the execution is what matters. I have seen some ideas I thought were really lame take off like a wild fire.

[Fergal]

...I have seen some ideas I thought were really lame take off like a wild fire.

And other people who have brilliant ideas just don't seem to be able to make them work, only to have them implemented by someone else with great success.

[Nazreen]

Which do you think is better;


A brilliant idea poorly executed or
A poor idea brilliantly executed?


It would be good if the brilliant idea was also brilliantly executed but since that option is not in the list, I would also go for option 2 - A poor idea brilliantly executed. Execution is what really matters and some people will choke when the time comes to implement the idea. But what's even worse is having an idea, brilliant or not, and not implementing them.

[devilbatista]

Perhaps there already are, it depends on how you define success ;)

I don't think so Fergal. There are still some countries where women are still backwards. Looking at my country, Men are still at front then women. But the change is occuring. And Hopefully there will be equality.

[Fergal]

Devilbatista, my point was that success is not all about money, careers and business. Creating a happy peaceful home is an amazing success. There are millions of women the world over who have are successful in this way. Perhaps they are all more successful than an internationally recognized business person with an unhappy home.

[devilbatista]

Devilbatista, my point was that success is not all about money, careers and business. Creating a happy peaceful home is an amazing success. There are millions of women the world over who have are successful in this way. Perhaps they are all more successful than an internationally recognized business person with an unhappy home.

If you meant in that way, then yes there are millions and millions of women like that in this world. But in the case of name and fame, as you said money, business, career women are still progressing.

I agree with you Fergal. Success is not all about money and business. It's also about earning healthy and happy life.

[chica]

Many people can be successful without a piece of paper that says for 2/4+ years you sat in around 5 classes each semester. I personally think that in normal circumstances, you need a college degree to make a nice amount of money. Although wasn't it Mark Twain that said he didn't let schooling interfere with his education?

I must say, freelance writing has proven to be more "educational" than any college class I have taken.

[Fergal]

...I must say, freelance writing has proven to be more "educational" than any college class I have taken.

Is that because of what you learned, researching various different topics on behalf of your clients?