Steve Jobs In Praise of Dropping Out

atlacatl writes "Wired reports on Steve Jobs giving a graduation speech: 'Jobs, 50, said he attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon but dropped out after only eight months because it was too expensive for his working-class family. He said his real education started when he "dropped in" on whatever classes interested him -- including calligraphy.' The irony: that most students were graduating. I wouldn't invite him for a high school graduation. Imagine all the 'hard' work teachers, parents and guidance counselors put into brainwashing every kid that he/she must go to University." (Jobs was speaking to the graduates at Stanford University.)

Reminds me of a satire article about Ellison

[z4ce]

This really reminds me of this article [satirewire.com]

Re:Bah

[grub]

He also dropped acid in his younger days. That a good thing too??

Worked For Me. :)

Re:Sure, a few people drop out because they are sm

[Anonymous Coward]

Larry Ellison (Oracle CEO) gave at Yale University to the Graduating class of 2000. What follows is a transcript of the speech delivered by Ellison at Yale University last month:

"Graduates of Yale University, I apologize if you have endured this type of prologue before, but I want you to do something for me. Please, take a good look around you. Look at the classmate on your left. Look at the classmate on your right. Now, consider this: five years from now, 10 years from now, even 30 thirty years from now, odds are the person on your left is going to be a loser. The person on your right, meanwhile, will also be a loser. And you, in the middle? What can you expect? Loser. Loserhood. Loser Cum Laude.

In fact, as I look out before me today, I don't see a thousand hopes for a bright tomorrow. I don't see a thousand future leaders in a thousand industries. I see a thousand losers. You're upset. That's understandable.

After all, how can I, Lawrence "Larry" Ellison, college dropout, have the audacity to spout such heresy to the graduating class of one of the nation's most prestigious institutions? I'll tell you why. Because I, Lawrence "Larry" Ellison, second richest man on the planet, am a college dropout, and you are not. Because Bill Gates, richest man on the planet-for now anyway-is a college dropout, and you are not. Because Paul Allen, the third richest man on the planet, dropped out of college, and you did not. And for good measure, because Michael Dell, No. 9 on the list and moving up fast, is a college dropout, and you, yet again, are not.

Hmm ... you're very upset. That's understandable. So let me stroke your egos for a moment by pointing out, quite sincerely, that your diplomas were not attained in vain. Most of you, I imagine, have spent four to five years here, and in many ways what you've learned and endured will serve you well in the years ahead. You've established good work habits. You've established a network of people that will help you down the road. And you've established what will be lifelong relationships with the word "therapy." All that of is good. For in truth, you will need that network. You will need those strong work habits.

You will need that therapy. You will need them because you didn't drop out, and so you will never be among the richest people in the world. Oh sure, you may, perhaps, work your way up to #10 or #11, like Steve Ballmer. But then,I don't have to tell you who he really works for, do I?

And for the record, he dropped out of grad school. Bit of a late bloomer.

Finally, I realize that many of you, and hopefully by now most of you,are wondering, "Is there anything I can do? Is there any hope for me at all?" Actually, no. It's too late. You've absorbed too much, think you know too much. You're not 19 anymore. You have a built-in cap, and I'm not referring to the mortarboards on your heads.

Hmm ... you're really very upset. That's understandable.

So perhaps this would be a good time to bring up the silver lining. Not for you, Class of '00. You are a write-off, so I'll let you slink off to your pathetic $200,000-a-year jobs, where your checks will be signed by former classmates who dropped out two years ago.

Instead, I want to give hope to any underclassmen here today. I say to you, and I can't stress this enough:

LEAVE. Pack your things and your ideas and don't come back. Drop out. Start up. For I can tell you that a cap and gown will keep you down just as surely as these security guards dragging me off this stage are keeping me dow..."

(At this point The Oracle CEO was ushered off stage.)

Re:Bah

[eh2o]

Actually LSD is a great stimulant(*). Good for unhindered creativity and cultivating an appreciation for the big picture. In other words, "Thinking different".

In fact, I'm suprised Mac OSX doesn't ship with a sheet of the stuff.

(* do not try this at home)

Re:Bah

[rubycodez]

see, he stopped dropping acid and ported NeXTStep to beige box 486, and now the Mac's going to Intel. Someone get that man some Mickey Mouse Blotter!

Re:Bah

[Anonymous Coward]

G.W. Bush did cocaine, barely got through school, was an alcoholic until the age of 40, ran multiple businesses into the ground, etc. etc.

Conclusion: If you want to be the President, start drinking, doing drugs, and getting really bad grades.

Re:Bah

[vwjeff]

He also dropped acid in his younger days. That a good thing too??

Well, that explains the original iMac.

Re:Sure, a few people drop out because they are sm

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not stupid....Your stupid

Re:Bah

[rampant mac]

"Well, that explains the original iMac."

Original? Bondi Blue? Try the Flower Power, man!

DO NOT EAT THE BROWN iMAC! DO NOT EAT THE BROWN iMAC!

Re:Bah

[martinX]

He is different from you and I am different from him and you are different from me.

Oh wow man I get it! I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.

goo goo gj00b :-}

Steve rocks. But...

[KrisCowboy]

When the likes of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were making wakes, the PC industry was still a baby and there were enough chances for everyone. Can a college drop-out still become a Steve Jobs in today's world? I bet you got to really really good at what you do to get that kind of opportunities.

Re:This is the problem with success stories

[DoctorHibbert]

Name one.

Re:Avoid ask.slashdot for a few days...

[weg]

If Steve applied for a job at his own company he probably would not even get interviewed.

Actually they even fired him a few years ago... they only hired him again after he had built up another tremendously successful company ;-) AND he only gets one buck per year, so you see: Dropping out doesn't pay off *g*

Re:Avoid ask.slashdot for a few days...

[commodoresloat]

I went over to the apple web site and did a few random searches for jobs there.

Me too; I kept winding up on this page [apple.com].

Re:Steve Jobs' experience was unique..

[jo_ham]

You must be new here.

Here at /., we leave informative, well-thought-out discussion at the door.

Now, what do you think of Apple's move to Intel. Four words or less, one of them must include the word "zealot".

Reality Check...

[John Seminal]

He told the graduates that few friends could see the value of learning calligraphy at the time but that painstaking attention to detail -- including mastering different "fonts" -- was what set Macintosh apart from its competitors.

"If I had never dropped out I might never have dropped in on that calligraphy," Jobs said.

Jobs also recounted founding Apple in his parent's basement and his tough times after being forced out of the company he founded when he was only 30.

All is well. I am right on track to greatness.

Re:Avoid ask.slashdot for a few days...

[WiFiBro]

Working as a pizza delivery boy is okay because it can be a great socialization experience. Learn to fend for yourself, learn there's no safety net if you screw up, and no one to keep you from screwing up, etc.

Re:In Defense of College

[Xiaran]

Why are there no apprenticeships, like in the middle ages? Why can't you apprentice yourself to a microbiologist when you get out of highschool (or even before!), and help them with their research as they teach you the necessities of their job?

OK... senior developer here. Have degrees in Electronics/Comms Engineering and Computer Science. Over ten years experience. Looking for a 'prentice. Preferably young, female, blonde, open minded and impressionable.

My son won't go to college

[jocknerd]

I've already decided that my 2 year old son won't go to college. Instead, he's going to be a 1st round draft pick in baseball. So instead of studying every night and doing homework, I'm going to have him in the backyard throwing a baseball. I'll do his homework.

His twin sister will go to college though. She's going to become a lawyer because he's going to need a really good agent.

Re:Nail, meet hammer.

[tomhudson]

There's no need for the "a".

We don't say "I'm going to eat a breakfast", or "I'm going to have a sex", or "I'm going to troll a slashdot".

If you name the university, then ok "I got to to Harvard".

And we certainly don't say "I got to to Harvard" unless we have a speech impediment ... or are trying to adapt to the Gentoo Keyboard ...

Re:Avoid ask.slashdot for a few days...

[Elranzer]

When I dropped out of College I moved to London, joined a rock band, travelled the World for free, got drunk for free and generally had a great time for about ten years. Then at 34, broke and bored, I realized I'd better get it together FAST. Luckily the internet was just starting to happen so I borrowed some money for a computer and started a business. If it hadn't have been for the internet I really don't know what I'd have done. I was lucky, I managed to brave the rapids, but not everyone can go with the flow and stay ahead of oblivion.

Is that you, Ronnie James Dio??