December 11th We need more like Steve Jobs Rex Harrison in “My Fair Lady” crooned, “Why can’t a woman be more like a man”? No correlation but, “Oh why can’t the educational system in this country turn out more students like Steve Jobs”? Here’s a man who chimed, “Stay Hungry - Stay Foolish”. Steve Jobs without the benefit of a University Degree, was able to create a powerhouse of an organization like Apple, without the “alphabet soup” of letters behind his name. It’s not that Jobs saw little value of an education. Quite the contrary. He rallied what he learned within the educational system to fuel his own destiny and entrepreneurial vision. Imagine -- in a business or engineering program taking a class in calligraphy? Steve Jobs did and it made Apple a different kind of technology driven company. He followed his heart and set upon a course toward a vision that would have been set aside or lost in the atmosphere of a rigid educational program. Every successful entrepreneur knows when it’s show time and for Steve Jobs he was on the money! It mattered little whether he had a BS or MBA. My point is that our educational system teaches people how to go to work for others; instead of developing the type of entrepreneurial skills and confidence levels it takes to create an iconic powerhouse of a company. Our educational system turns out armies of book taught theorists who will never start a company. Yes they can be excellent managers of companies, but it seems that few have a vision to better the world we live in and the confidence to take the leap as Steve Jobs did. When the first settlers landed at Plymouth Rock, they couldn’t  seek employment with the likes of General Motors, IBM, or Bank of America.  Without lettered degrees, they embarked on making something happen for themselves and their families; later fought the British as underdogs and formed a nation for others who would desire a better life. Without letters the early settlers hammered out a great nation and like Steve Jobs, created wonders for all the world to see. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that a college degree is no value. After all,  there a lot of smarts to be absorbed in college and a lot college educated and lettered people running this country. But somehow their vision isn’t ringing well with those who are of the 99 percent.  We need more entrepreneurial risk-takers like Steve Jobs. L.P Copyright 2011 mentorLOGIC All rights reserved The Oracle Speaks