Do you formal education to be successful?

**Driven_Magazine** · 09-29-2009 03:17 PM

Our parents tell us to go to school get a good education, so you can get a good job. But what about the Billionaires that never went or dropped out? Are they just a select few or can everyone do that?

I personally think they are a select few and everyone is not made to be a entrepreneur. what you do you think?

**Mega B** · 09-29-2009 03:30 PM

I left school many years ago with the most basic education going,i have to admit i admire people who do go on and better them selves education wise.This is only my opinion is a high class education required to succeed in business my answer would be No.

**Driven_Magazine** · 09-29-2009 05:43 PM

I agree! If you look at the most successful entrepreneurs they did not have formal education, but the important fact is they never stop learning. They contintue their education, through trail and error and reading publications that benefit them in their industry.

**GlobalWealth** · 10-01-2009 06:09 AM

I don't think a formal education is necessary for some careers, but it is necessary for others. I personally don't want a chiropractor giving me an adjustment without formal training. But an education, is absolutely required for any level of success, just not necessarily formal. Reading good books written by authors who are a qualified source of information and associating with the right kind of people are excellent sources of education. Training classes for specific interests like "how to read financial statements" or "public speaking" are also great ways to educate yourself. Finding a mentor and forming a mastermind group is also a great way to increase your knowledge.

**byrneof** · 10-01-2009 10:53 AM

I think success is more about mindset. You must realize that you can fail and learn. For Entrepreneurship, formal education is not a major factor. Hard work and determination is. Experience trumps education in Entrepreneurship.

**brogers614** · 10-01-2009 11:07 AM

i think going to school is importnant because you always need a back up plan if you fall flat on your face.

**killer2021** · 10-02-2009 06:12 AM

Originally Posted by brogers614

i think going to school is importnant because you always need a back up plan if you fall flat on your face.

Nope, thats a lie. For most people college is a complete waste of time and money! Only go if you are going to be a doctor, lawyer, or other occupation that specifically requires you to go. What this means is that most people would be BETTER off not going to college. Why? Because they would spend their time working (making money) and they wouldn't be spending thousands in books, tuition and other pointless fees.

I believe the statistic is that 75% of people who go to college never even end up working in their field of study 7 years after graduation. In other words, they prepared for an occupation in which they were never going to be in. I hardly call that a back up plan.

**brogers614** · 10-02-2009 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by killer2021

Nope, thats a lie. For most people college is a complete waste of time and money! Only go if you are going to be a doctor, lawyer, or other occupation that specifically requires you to go. What this means is that most people would be BETTER off not going to college. Why? Because they would spend their time working (making money) and they wouldn't be spending thousands in books, tuition and other pointless fees.

I believe the statistic is that 75% of people who go to college never even end up working in their field of study 7 years after graduation. In other words, they prepared for an occupation in which they were never going to be in. I hardly call that a back up plan.

Wrong… I will give you an example....lets say there are 2 people Jim and Bob both have equal experience both are applying for the same job, Jim has a degree and Bob doesn’t . Who is going to get the job?

A degree demonstrates more then just what you are studing it demonstrates that a person took the responsibility, time and effort to better themselves, the in most cases you are correct the degree doesn’t matter but it proves that you are capable individual

**rillida** · 10-06-2009 08:10 AM

Ya,
Your success doesn't necessarily depend on your FORMAL EDUCATION but that doesn't mean you just drop out of college for nothing.
Formal education helps us in many ways. It gives knowledge about many things that you can't learn otherwise.
If you can't get it its alright but don't leave it on purpose.

**rogercbryan** · 10-06-2009 10:44 AM

If not just to be successful it would at least help you to learn how to use correct grammar in your title... the answer is still 100% with out a doubt yes you need formal education to be successful.

**GlobalWealth** · 10-06-2009 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by rogercbryan

If not just to be successful it would at lease help you learn how to use correct grammar in your title... the answer is still 100% with out a doubt yes you need formal education to be successful.

Before being critical, you may want to check your own grammar at "lease" once before posting and "with out" being condescending.

And this is one of the more ignorant posts I have read on this forum. To make a statment that "100% with out..." is just plain foolish. My guess is you are either too young to understand how the world works, or you have a formal education and need justification for your overinflated ego. Either path is ignorance.

For starters, define success. Success for some is teaching young children how to read. For others it is saving lives. Others want free time to travel or spend with family and friends. Many define success as wealth. At what number does money become wealth? For some it is $500,000, $1,000,000, or even $1,000,000,000. If you define success as wealth above $1b, does that make me a failure to only have $10m?

Would you classify Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Mary Kay Ash, or Walt Disney as failures? None of them had a formal education. Frank Lloyd Wright never made it to high school. Thomas Edison never made it out of first grade. All failures by your determination.

Have you achieved the success of any of these people? Will you? Even if you have or will, does that make their success insigificant.

**jonathanfigaro** · 10-06-2009 09:53 PM

Self education is the only education you need. Education doesn't end in the classroom, if you believe this its more than likely your flat broke going no where fast. The great leader of our past time have showed us continuous learning is the only way to reach the stars.So go rack open a book, sit back relax and sip on some good stuff. ( smile). Open up your conscious mind by feeding your brain with greatness.

And maybe you too one day can be great.

**pboychuk** · 10-06-2009 10:49 PM

I think college is the biggest waste of time, both economically and intellectually, unless you are going to be a professional all the other undergrad. degrees are just bogus.. I have take 80 of 127 credit hours needed to graduate, but I will be dropping out next semester. I have been told numerous times, why not just finish and get the degree so you have it in your back pocket. But to me a piece of paper is all it will ever be worth. I can barely sit through a class as the subject matter is so far from reality, aged and worthless.

The only good thing I got out of college is the determination and foresight to refuse to ever work for anyone but myself.

Sure if you want to get a job, go to college, you would be stupid not to, but unless you need specialty skills to run your business that cannot be outsourced, than college will most likely be a waste of time and money.

Also, who wants a backup plan? Are you going to work the same knowing your livelihood depends on the crops you plant? than you would work having an insurance policy if you fail?

**rogercbryan** · 10-07-2009 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by GlobalWealth

Before being critical, you may want to check your own grammar at "lease" once before posting and "with out" being condescending.

And this is one of the more ignorant posts I have read on this forum. To make a statment that "100% with out..." is just plain foolish. My guess is you are either too young to understand how the world works, or you have a formal education and need justification for your overinflated ego. Either path is ignorance.

For starters, define success. Success for some is teaching young children how to read. For others it is saving lives. Others want free time to travel or spend with family and friends. Many define success as wealth. At what number does money become wealth? For some it is $500,000, $1,000,000, or even $1,000,000,000. If you define success as wealth above $1b, does that make me a failure to only have $10m?

Would you classify Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Mary Kay Ash, or Walt Disney as failures? None of them had a formal education. Frank Lloyd Wright never made it to high school. Thomas Edison never made it out of first grade. All failures by your determination.

Have you achieved the success of any of these people? Will you? Even if you have or will, does that make their success insigificant.

Bill Gates: Harvard
Mary Kay Ash: University of Houston
Walt Disney: United States Marine Corps

Check your info...

When it comes to being young... check my posts... I have a bit more experience then you are acknowledging

When it comes to spelling like Richard Branson I'm dyslexic (documented) so I have to agree that if I'm going to question someone elses grammar I should check my own.

When it comes to education instead of giving me a list of ONE successful person who did not go to college why don't you create a list of the CEO's of every fortune 500 company and see how many do not have formal education. I think at last count it was like 9 or 11....

So hmmmm... does formal education help????

Any by the way... you're a jack ass!

**rogercbryan** · 10-07-2009 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by pboychuk

I think college is the biggest waste of time, both economically and intellectually, unless you are going to be a professional all the other undergrad. degrees are just bogus.. I have take 80 of 127 credit hours needed to graduate, but I will be dropping out next semester. I have been told numerous times, why not just finish and get the degree so you have it in your back pocket. But to me a piece of paper is all it will ever be worth. I can barely sit through a class as the subject matter is so far from reality, aged and worthless.

It's only a waste of time until you need the skills that they teach.

The only good thing I got out of college is the determination and foresight to refuse to ever work for anyone but myself.

Determination is good... the skills are more valuable..

Sure if you want to get a job, go to college, you would be stupid not to, but unless you need specialty skills to run your business that cannot be outsourced, than college will most likely be a waste of time and money.

It's not the specialty skills... its the every day skills that you need

Also, who wants a backup plan? Are you going to work the same knowing your livelihood depends on the crops you plant? than you would work having an insurance policy if you fail?

I agree here... no need for a back up (at first)... go 100% into what you are doing or don't go at all. I still remember April 3rd, 2007 when I quit my day job to start my company... now a little over 2 years later I have two multi-million dollar companies (vehicle brokerage & bookstore) with a third one finally picking up steam (transportation and logistics).

Many people fail to see what the real lesson is when it comes to going to college. It isn't all about what you learn in class. It's about the discipline you develop by going to class... living on your own... completing assignments... having true freedom for the first time. These are the skills that most wanna be entrepreneurs are missing. With out these basic life skills it is hard to start let a lone grow a company.