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Want to be successful in life? Most people would advise you to finish your education at the undergraduate level, at the very least. Some would even press you to go for a graduate degree. Most of the time, this inclination is a great one, but many folks seem to ignore one fact conveniently. Dozens of the world’s most praised and successful leaders never finished formal schooling. Here are seven practical lessons you can learn from highly successful high school dropouts.
1. School doesn’t offer much practical experience
It’s no secret that school doesn’t exactly excel in offering authentic, hands-on experience. For decades now, the idea and reality of institutionalized education have specialized in adding tons of information to your brain. Albert Einstein left high school at age 15, being disgusted with how rote and mechanical the teaching style was. He became one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century!
2. School may not offer the kind of opportunity or information you need
The guy who founded Tumblr, David Karp, was 16 when he dropped out of high school to work on his passion. He said honestly that not just any high schooler should be quitting school. As a counterpoint, Karp mentioned to the Associated Press in 2013 that his classes weren’t providing what he needed at the time. After a solid amount of discipline and a healthy dose of passion later, Karp sold Tumblr to Yahoo for $1.1 billion.
3. Pay attention to your passion because it often shows up at a young age
The now-acclaimed director Peter Jackson never actually finished high school, either. Right around age nine, he was already making films out of the pure love of it. A few years later, at age 16, he found a job at a newspaper company and used his spare money to fuel his filmmaking. If Jackson hadn’t been so keen about what he loved early on, his life might have experienced a different trajectory. Watch out for your passion when you’re young!
4. If school is supremely dull for you, this may be for a reason
It has become common knowledge that entrepreneurial juggernauts such as Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates never completed a college degree. However, few people know that the equally-recognizable Peter Jennings of newscasting fame never even finished high school. Jennings reported being bored with high school in the earliest stages and left high school as a sophomore. Thanks to his father being a news anchor, this helped young Jennings get his career started.
5. You can use hardship for your benefit
When George Eastman’s father died early, Eastman was forced to work to help the family. While still 14 years old, he was working as an office boy, but he also found a love for photography. This eagerness, combined with his artistry, took off sooner rather than later, and he found himself with a hugely successful company called Kodak shortly after that.
6. If you want to drop out, have a solid plan and look for the right people
Haruhisa Okamura left high school at age 16, becoming a door-to-door salesman, and found a lot of success with this. So much so that he was quickly seen as one of the most valuable employees in his company. He didn’t stop here, though, as he recognized the powerful opportunities in emerging technology. Even though he triumphed later as the successful founder of Adways, he spent five years searching for a team that could compensate for his weak spots in programming and computer science. Sometimes, the only way to get where you want is with the right people!
7. Persistence is the most powerful asset you can uphold
Walt Disney, one of the most talked-about and studied figures of the last century, has his own incredible story about leaving school and embracing entrepreneurship. After quitting high school at age 16, Disney tried to enlist in the Army but was turned away. He then drove ambulances for a short while, ending this to start the Walt Disney Company just before he turned 23. Disney then persisted tirelessly through rejections and a seeming lack of momentum before his company eventually secured the funding for Alice’s Wonderland. Dreams can and do come true, and you must stick with the hard times long enough!
