Too cool for school

I was reading the November 18th, 2007 Sunday Times business insert entitled "Enterprising Britain" and saw the article called "Don't be too cool for school". The article was written by David Molian, visiting fellow at the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurial Performance and Economics at the Cranfield School of Management. At the end of the article, David asked readers to join the debate through the Timesonline website. I felt so compelled by the topic that today's blog is my input into this debate.

Sunday Times Blog
I have always been skeptical about business schools. It wasn't until my first entrepreneurial empire collapsed that I realised pure energy would only get me so far. I needed some legal, financial and marketing skills. As a result, I completed a bachelors degree in business. As I climbed the corporate ladder, I saw how those base skills made my presentations, pitches and ability to deliver more effective, so I did an MBA. The challenges I face in business are rarely solved by the "textbook answer". However, the tools I learned at uni give me a framework in which to think about and resolve those challenges. If I had to sum it up, I would say there are three parts to business success: training, practice and practical experience. Business school give you the first two. Work the last.

Regards,

Barry Larson
http://www.arbutusridge.co.uk/
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