Rich Karlgaard does it again with a great little piece in the May 22 Forbes entitled, "About That First Job." His Digital Rules Segment is my "must read first" every time I get the magazine...but this week's piece really spoke to me since I have 2 small kids. Since Karlgaard is so "connected and in the know" within technology and VC circles, apparently he gets the question all of the time at conference, "What career should my kid pursue?"
I leave the bulk of the article to your reading pleasure, but the bottom line is that Karlgaard says get your kids obsessed with reading and if you uncover a passion of theirs...absolutely immerse them in it and let it flourish. Also, think like an owner and use formal and informal mentors to accelerate your learning.
I couldn't agree more.
In my life, there was never a question of whether or not I'd go to college. Thanks to very dedicated and wonderful parents who valued education above all else, it was just a progression that happened and I participated happily. I have a different spin on things these days though. If my son or daughter were gifted with a passion for something that steered them away from post high school education, I'd support it fully. Our economy and our nation are increasingly about specialization and 4 years spent fighting the indoctrination of academia and boring non-essential classes do not support this vision.
As a 30-something, I don't head to classes about botany and calculus because they'll round me out. I attend focused seminars, learn from other successful people, and read books to achieve my goals.
There's plenty of time to get "rounded out" when you've attained your own personal level of satisfaction with yourself, your career, and your place in life.
I am doing my best as a dad to expose them to ownership, control of destiny, and leveraging others success to achieve the best in life. Sometimes they don't go along with that model (you know...both being under 4), but at a very early age, I believe they'll "get it". If they both end up as PhD'd University Professors who are obsessed with political science...I'm doomed.
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