I’m writing this article to share the experiences that I encountered in college while running a startup. Though I have completed college and now hold a degree in English, my latter years of college were quite interesting.
Ok, so my first 2 years of college — in terms of academics and having the school spirit — were great. I had a whole different state of mind then. Determined to become a history Ph. D, Computer Engineer and/or Naturopathic Doctor.
I was the typical over-achiever, straight A, teacher’s pet, student who wanted nothing more than to get the good grades and sail off to that dream job of mine. But everything change starting my 3rd year of college when I rekindled my love affair with entrepreneurship and started to focus more and more on creating a startup and less on my studies.
It all happened so abruptly: one day my life was revolving around my school work and another day my life was deep into the world of entrepreneurship. Everything was changing and my energies were now focused on my business.
Instead of maintaining a strict attendance in my classes, I skipped to attend business meetings. Instead of reading the assignments, I spent time creating business plans and writing down ideas. Instead of studying, I found myself spending most of my time overseeing the development of my online Internet venture.
After a full year of running my business and simultaneously taking 18 credits per semester, I began developing a hatred for school. School was becoming a weight on my shoulders and I felt that it was holding me back from really pushing forward with my venture.
Sure, I stilled loved the social aspect of college as I always have, but the thought of spending 3 hours studying for a test on British Literature instead of running my company became so depressing. At one point, It got so bad that I even considered leaving school.
But I don’t think that would have been the smartest move since I was almost done with my degree. However, that same school spirit and desire to excel academically was quickly fading as I got deeper and deeper into my startup.
My straight A’s started to turn into Bs, Cs and a few As here and there. It wasn’t that the work was hard — quite the opposite. It’s just that everything became so trivial to me and I would continue to ask myself “how in the world is this going to help me become a successful entrepreneur?”
I started to see that 90% of the things that I learned from school couldn’t really help me become a successful entrepreneur in any way, shape, or form. My professors would constantly speak about “getting jobs” but never once mentioning anything about self-employment.
As a student, I was being groomed to become a hard working “employee” who would be destined to take orders for the rest of my life. And, of course, that didn’t sit well with me at all.
I knew that my college career would never be the same for the remaining time that I had until graduation. There was no looking back for me and though I did successfully complete college — and with decent grades, btw — my last 2 years were awfully painful and I was in a constant state of anxiety trying to graduate as soon as possible by taking the maximum amount of credits allowed per semester/summer classes.
This article was written to make young entrepreneurs hate college or want to stop doing their school work to focus more on their business. I simply wanted to share my experiences.
So the question is: have any of you young entrepreneurs that are still in college going through a similar experience? If so, how are you coping with it?
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Hmm, at the moment Im still in full-time education. But the main difference is that I enjoy getting to know more about the world we live in. Economics for me is my favourite subject (maybe because the word “entrepreneur” is used so much), but really its because its so up to date with the real world. Topics like French and Maths also seem to help me with my online work (I number crunch all the time, and I recently met a contact from France).
So I think the real solution here, is to find ways in which school CAN help develop your entrepreneurial spirit. Maybe, instead of focusing on that killer History essay, focus on how doing the essay will develop your writing skills (useful for blogging), and may help to broaden your historical knowledge (useful in showing your knowledge to potential investors to give a crude example).
No doubt: college — the social aspect more than anything — had SO much to do with my development as an entrepreneur — so much. Looking back, I should have been a full buisness major, because I loved my economics, investing, and marketing classes. I decided to switch to an English major when I decided to become an entrepreneur — by that time, it was too late to switch majors.
Yeah that is unfortunate, but at least that English major helped you to pick up those vital speaking, writing and textual skills that you’re using so much today. I can’t wait though to do Economics at Uni – so much exciting stuff to learn!
Yup, it all worked out in the end. Having an English major has definitely helped me with my writing and speaking skills.
School annoys me. Although most of the business courses I’m taking right now are applicable to my business… I recognized that they’re more based on theories rather than application.
I’m find with attending class, the lectures are interesting. But do I really have to study for a stupid exam? It takes soo much timeeeeeeee!!!
Since you definitely know your English, maybe you should get out of that hateful mindset developed in a traditional college, institutions which are travesties of intellectual exaltation, and opt for an adult online university for your Masters, just for a change.
I hated the boring classes I took when I was young on a traditional college campus (I’m more of the highly creative, disruptive type, rather than the “teacher’s pet”), and the drone-like professors didn’t help, but now I’m doing surprising well in the online setting of the University of Phoenix, where there are lots of young and older adults working at 9-to-5 jobs, but also the occasional entrepreneur like myself. In fact, I’m doing so well that in April 2007 I will graduate, and probably with honors.
The work in my BS in Information Technology program can be very challenging at times, even frustrating, but you are not treated like a child, and you learn a lot from other adult students as well through the newsgroups. It’s a totally different environment than your pedagogical college environment.
You don’t have too many choices as far as degrees go (I wish I could have studied Maths instead of IT, for example), but they do cover the Business, Technology, Health Care, Education, and Social and Behavioral Science fields pretty well:
http://www.uopxonline.com/programs.asp
You could also get into a good but non-traditional distance learning college or university to study Naturopathy. These adult-oriented schools don’t necessarily have Uncle Sam’s stamp of approval, but I find he’s overrated anyway. I recommend Trinity College of Natural Health either to become a traditional Naturopath, or simply for personal health culture edification:
http://www.trinityschool.org/h.....elcome.php
Anything you decide to do, don’t hang on to anti-intellectual attitudes, or you will struggle in this lifetime and in your next. Learning nowadays is a lifelong journey, and almost a necessity in this fast-changing world. Don’t let your mind rust.
Getting an education is not supposed to be fun, but straitjackets are not an absolute requirement either. You can get an accredited education that will cost you a small fortune, and not necessarily guarantee you a job, or you can get an unaccredited degree cheeply, and give Uncle Sam and traditionalists the middle finger.
The world is in your hands. Heck, I even built a world with my own hands to be perfectly honest, so there is absolutely nothing stopping you today, except a few bad attitudes you should get rid of anyway. Good luck.
I am definitely going through this right now, even to the point where I have also considered to leave. I am currently in my 3rd year ( out of 5 ), so I don’t want to throw away all that past work when the end is in sight.
What I have found to help is spending more and more of my free-time with my professors picking their brains. I take the classes I need to in order to graduate. And then spend my extra time one-on-one with professors asking questions and getting more information on the real world away from the courses.
I find this helps me learn as well as keep me interested. Also doesn’t hurt the grades to be on a first name basis with a professor.
Now I hate the school work at college just as much as anyone else…. but can you think of a better time in your life to explore what you want to do? There is no better time to try to start a business because you have everything to gain and nothing to lose. As to why should we not drop out and pursue our business? If it is a very successful business, that is always an option. The way I look at it is that I have the next 40 year of my life to build and sell businesses…. Why grow up any faster than we have to?
I hate the idea of working at a JOB or Just Over Broke as I like to call it.
I was in the same boat as you until I did drop out, took a few years to really find out what I wanted to do, then I went back to school and I am happy with my decision.
If I can have it my way I’ll never work at some hourly wage job again. I went back to school to study small business management/entrepreneur studies after dropping out of a computer networking program that I went to straight out high school. I realized that I didn’t want to be someone else’s bitch for the rest of my life and realized that I have to be pro-active and actually want to go to school and learn.
I think for the first time ever I enjoy school because I learn useful stuff that I can actually use while I am starting my own business.
Good luck to anyone else out there trying to find the way…I must say this blog is a great starting point.
Cheers, Luke
I think that school serves a vital use as a entrepreneur, part of which is the social aspect and the other is a “catalyst” that gets you moving to where you want to go in business, life or both.
I am in school part-time currently learning business. Having Computer Science under my belt is great but i feel that grabbing some business education cannot hurt.
Lectures can be a waste of time in general unless the course and content appeal to your interests.
I think that a good number of entrepreneurs love learning but the way learning takes place is different from that of a typical student. It’s more like “free-range” or “open” learning and you always follow what you are interested in and you do it on your own time and in your own ways.
Luc
Dennis: Indeed, school became very annoying for me at one point as well. Exactly, absorb all you can from your business classes. I actually enjoyed them as well — I liked to break their theory!!
Rev Dr Cesidio Tallini: Thanks for the excellent advice and insights. I don’t really have an hatred for school and academics, per se. I consider myself a raging intellectual and enjoy studying, reading hundreds of books, speaking to experts, professors, Dr.’s, learning new things, ect… However, I think that life’s real education begins “outside” the bubble of school — in the real world. School, to me, is filled with fluff and theory and doesn’t seldom addresses practical — or even necessary — issues. I have learned more in the past year (since graduating) than I ever have in my combined 23 three years of living. I’ve done more studying, more reading, and have actually enjoyed increasing my breadth of knowledge — on “my terms.”
Chris: Right on! Keep on pick the brains of your professors. I absolutely loved doing that! You’ll learn a lot that way. Stick it out and stay in school — the connections you make will be priceless resources for your business.
Andy: Totally agree. Being a student entrepreneur is a one in a lifetime opportunity and is the perfect breeding ground for starting and running a business.
Luke P: I love your attitude. For many, it may seem arrogant, but I can relate. If it’s your goal to not work for anyone else, then make it happen! There’s nothing wrong with the. I wish you the best and keep us in the loop of things.
Luc Arnold: Yup, entrepreneurs want to learn on their own terms. We don’t like to feel controlled. I hope that all is going well for you in school
Thank God someone finally wrote something like this. I’m only a Freshman and I’ve already considered dropping out numerous times, for the same reasons you listed above.
College doesn’t give you skills to take forward in life, it trains you to be a hard working corporate employee.
It’s good to know someone had the same feelings, and got through it all. I just hate all the wasted time I’m spending here getting a degree that’s really just a worthless sheet of paper, nothing more.
Nice post David! Glad you finally “woke” up and went the entrepreneurship route
You hit the proverbial nail on the head when you stated that “school teaches you how to become an employee”
As for myself, i never attended university. Because i developed a hatred for “traditional” learning and school starting in elementary.
Like anything college has its plus and minus’s.
One great thing about college is the social life…most people will never have that much fun ever again.
For business you really find out about peoples consumer habits.
Many business professors are also full-time consultants on the side…they can be a benefit.
I took a small business class and that class really helped me find funding for my company.
95% of society are not entrepreneur type of people. It is hard to find people like yourself especially at the university level most of those people are ” i want to live my life safe” type people.
Yeah College and Uni is a ton of fun… if you are thinking of dropping out maybe you need to just relax a bit. It really helps your social skills and exposes you to different things, people and ideas.
Most people want the “safe life” but for the entrepreneurs out there i say go to college or uni to find out more about yourself. That never hurts. That piece of paper is only worth what you put into it much like life or a business.
Cheers
Luc
elementskater: Firstly, I love the name. Not sure what it means, but I used to be a skateboarder and loved element gear
Yeah, aside from the great social benefits/connections you make and the few business classes that can be really awesome, college is more about “certification” (re: piece pf paper) than “education.”
Theo Tonca: Yeah, I did wake up. But, that’s not to say that people who are in college are doing th e wrong thing. It’s all about personal goals and what each one of us want to do with out live. Though my latter years were painful, I don’t regret going to college. In fact, without college, I’m not sure if I would have developed such an interest in helping students/young entrepreneurs. I guess things happen for a reason, eh.
Rasheed: Indeed, college is what you make it. If you play your cards right, you can get a lot out of college. There are trade-offs in everything in life and college is just another one of those things that can make or break and entrepreneur. It’s up to you. Yeah, I did have a ton of fun in college. I miss all the partying n’ such
Wow… Just Wow. I have been praying about my own college education a lot recently, and talk about confirmation! See, I’m trying to run my own startup, but I’m also attending Regent University’s online education program (which is very good as far as colleges go.) The problem is that I can’t devote the time needed to make my business successful while in school. My savings that I collected before entering college are slowly…..quickly dwindling despite having help from my Father who wants to see me make it through college (for which I am eternally grateful.)
But the thing is, I can’t seem live on my own (I am newly married) and be in school at the same time. So while praying and trying to seek the Lord’s direction on the matter I decided to take a break and try to really throw myself into my business and try to grow it. I have every intention of going back to school… But you know, if things get too busy… ~_^…. I wouldn’t complain about not finishing a degree. My time in school was great, but I share the sentiment of a few other of you here in that I learn more from reading books on my own than I ever learned in school. Last semester I read 5 textbooks in school, and I purchased and LEARNED about 8 outside of school on the side. School has been broadening in knowledge, but it hasn’t really been good for me or my business
.
Anyways, thank you very much David for your wonderful article, I enjoyed reading your own experience. I’m going to try and grow my business (which now means dutifully reading this website ~_^.)
God Bless,
-Dan
Daniel: You have the right attitude to succeed, definitely! Sometimes the right mixture of success comes from the pressure. The pressure to provide for your family and to make it no matter what obstacles are in you path. Stay on your entrepreneurial journey and give it everything you got — you’re going to make it.
Wow. I thought my school was the only one where professors care more about preparing you for a job interview than for things like starting your company and running your own life. I’m a junior computer science major right now, and I’ve started a company. I’ve spent less and less time on schoolwork as the years have gone by. Finally, this semester I decided to try to accommodate the idea of being in the startup phases of a startup and only registered for 4 classes vs. my usual 6 or 7. It’s been working out a lot better. I’m learning how to manage my time better thanks to having so much of it. This is especially true of doing company activity.
I’m actually glad I started a company during college though. My partner provides the capital, I provide the brainwork. Being in college is especially helpful since I’m not working any full-time job, so I’m able to divide my time how I need to.
Everybody should do something “off the wall” in college. Starting a business could be one thing. It’s fun! w00t.
College has been a very wierd thing for me. There are moment I hate it(exam time, anyone?) But largely, I don’t care much about the actual ongoings in the class.
At the same time, by forcing myself 8am classes, I have to force myself to be up. Apart from the occasional class, I see the rest of the day really as a long business day with the library sections as my cubicle.
This might shock most folks who have heard my rant about hating school: I don’t want to leave it. I have gotten almost every idea of mine while in a classroom during one of those wall staring times.
Wierd but that is me.
-Zaid
Tiffani: Awesome! Glad that you have begun your journey to success while in college — no better time. And I think that your degree may actually come in handy. Sometimes I wish that I studied CS in college. Keep up that attitude!
Zaid: Indeed… I, too, got plenty of ideas for startups while in college. It’s the perfect place to come up with brilliant ideas. Nice blog, btw.
I am a freshman in college and think about dropping out constantly. I have always wanted to start a buisness of my own. I have never liked school, im always thinking about the future in an innovative way I quess. I enjoyed reading everyones entrepreneurial thoughts and ideas.
Go with your gut, Gregg. If it’s telling you to dropout, then dropout and don’t look back.
Yea, I am almost done with nursing school and really want to quit, but i am 3 quarters from graduating. So right now, the plan is to graduate, nurse and run my business to pay off loans, quit nursing and just run my business.