How Stanley H. Kaplan did it?

Lord Brar · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2005, 03:29 AM

The latest issue of Fortune Small Business carries this story about Stanley H. Kaplan, the founder of the famous test-prep company, Kaplan Inc., when he sold it to the Washington Post Co. in 1984.

One thing in this story which really caught my eye is this extract -

Quote:

Originally Posted by FSB

Maybe so, but we all know plenty of successful people who never got Ivy League degrees and never gained access to respected professions, but who managed to overcome the trauma of disappointing themselves and their parents. In fact, some of those folks might never have succeeded quite so spectacularly had their early lives taken a more prestigious turn. Stanley Kaplan, for example.

"Well," he finally concedes, "you?ve got a point there."

I personally feel that rather than the degrees, it is the ability and passion to do something which makes a person successful. What do you think about it?

Read the full story here.

outbuy · #2 (**permalink**) 07-04-2005, 01:32 PM

A degree is an education and background in a specific field.

Sometimes they will help you, more so in the 9-5. But it is very unlikely that these will help you in the entrepreneur sort of way, without the drive, vision, passion, guts, risk taking mentality that drives successful entrepreneurs and business owners.

Jay
Oubuy Procurement Solutions
www.outbuy.ca

glaucon · #3 (**permalink**) 07-05-2005, 02:05 AM

i have more respect for a self made man than i do a ivy leage chap. there are many who think because i come from X i can be successful which is just bad/false logic. and many dont understand what they are doing through school

Andrew · #4 (**permalink**) 07-05-2005, 04:57 PM

When you take the road of the establishment you will be guided down certain paths, when you strike out on your own there is no telling what could happen, there are no limits.

agmon · #5 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:59 AM

It is difficult going it on your own. A person who has a good education finds it easier to work for someone else than run his own business. It takes a lot of drive and determination to run your own business. Education is helpful in running a business, but not essental.

mhdoc · #6 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmon

... Education is helpful in running a business, but not essental.

I would make that "Formal education"; anyone who has run a business for a year or two has gotten quite an education

mhdoc

agmon · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2006, 09:22 AM

[quote=mhdoc]I would make that "Formal education"; anyone who has run a business for a year or two has gotten quite an education

mhdoc[/QUOTe

Yes, I agree. As a friend of mine refers to it as the school of hard knocks.

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