2 Life Skills B-schools Don't Teach
Here's a surprise. For probably the first time ever, an article titled 'What B-schools don't teach' ends up really conveying something! Open the cork!
Here are two points I whole-heartedly agree with:
I just couldn't agree more!Good health: Corporate waistlines are expanding almost as rapidly as company bottom lines. And between early morning flights and late night conference calls, no one seems to have the time to take care of their own bodies.
Perhaps B-schools should inculcate the habit of an hour in the gym every day. And the pursuit of a sport, say, every week.
Work-life balance: No man on his death-bed ever said "I wish I'd spent more time in the office." Watching your child grow up, spending time with loved ones, being there at those special moments in other people's lives - all these can probably give you as much joy as a deal clinched or a market share point gained.
"What would you do differently if you knew you had only six months to live?" We could all probably answer that one quite easily (spend more time with the family, play with the kids, take off on that vacation to the hills, write that book...). Alas, none of us really knows when precisely we have only six months to go.
Most articles titled 'What B-schools don't teach' are pure, certified crap. Some so-called hot-shot giving opinions such as 'B-schools don't teach leadership', 'B-schools don't teach the art of negotiation' is gibberish and write-for-the-sake-of-writing stuff. I just used to detest those articles. In my opinion, given the two years, there are somethings B-schools can teach, and some they don't - because they simply cannot. Leadership skills and negotation skills are some of those.
posted by Govar @ 5/17/2007 10:45:00 PM
16 comments
16 Comments:
people tell me that entrepreneurs should never enter B schools because it destroys their
entrepreneurial spirit. The reason being that all risks associated with business are highlighted to them. Is that true
Hey Maggi,
In my opinion, that would the primary reason that all entrepreneurs would need to attend B Schools in the first place. Once all the risks associated with business are highlighted to them, they can make much better informed decisions regarding their business venture.
There is probably no other place where all the aspects of a business such as Finance, Mktg, HR, Ops Management, etc are available for learning at a single place. A B School is probably a must for every entrepreneur in my opinion.
Cheers.......Jam
Hey Govar,
Good that you cross linked this artcile from Rediff on to your blog. Was planning to do it myself last week, but kinda slipped my mind.
Like you said, this is probably one article which made some sense in terms of what B Schools do not actually teach us. But then I guess some of these things no one can teach us, but we have to learn them ourselves.
Cheers........Jam
Maggi - As Jam said, those are good reasons why someone HAS to join a b-school, not the other way around.
@Jam: Yeah machi, this was a good article I found!
Yep, that's one true article.
Hey man, Have come to your blog (or any blog for that matter) after quite some time. Nice posts. The ones on the cars in particular took my attention.
Thanks Ram. nice to see you back in blogdom.
Reply to the question that you put in my blog -> neither, I'm just helping my brother in deciding on his car.
hey jam, govar
if thats true than how many entepreuners has iim generated in the last twenty years. Other than suresh babu ofcourse
Hey maggi,
Indian b-schools are a wierd crop on institutes across the world...IIMs admit too many freshers when compared to the Ivy league schools and these students come equipped with theoretical knowledge and that restricts the scope of students venturing on their own straight away. You look at the Ivy league schools, infact, they prefer admitting students with business ideas and incubate them during the two years spent there. Plus, most students come armed with huge work experience which allows them clarity on what they want to venture into.
Kevin
@ConfusedMaggi:
In addition to what's written above, the trend in India in general is to experiment and risk very less compared to the west. That's the reason why enterpreneurship per se is less in India. THis can be attributed to our culture - where there is a compulsive need to get married before 25/30 (depending on whether you are a girl or guy). Once you get married, you are most certainly expected a kid or two so as to not to qualify being a social stigma. Net-net, people at ripe 25-30 years of age take far lesser risks than in the west. I don't know if this is all good or bad, but just that this is the trend.
And as mentoined by Kevin above, the entry criteria is heavily skewed towards hard work and putting in hours solving exam papers - something 'kids' (freshers) have a lot more apritutde for. People with work ex rarely prepare so hard for the exams.
anonymous & go
HMM i totally agree with u guys iim should look at takin junta with work exp and help them in honing enterpreunial skills definetely will help india . India shining will not be a distant dream ....and
amen
unfortunately for a women 24 - 26 is considered and is proven biologically to be the most fertile period to have kids . Nature is so biased ....
Addressed me as Go. Somebody I know?
Anonymous?...Go knows who the legendary Kevin is [:P]
huh jus like that i dont know you at all. I read your blogs and i only know what you want us to know about you... guess thats what blogs are all about...
@ anonymous sorry baba will address you as kevin in heaven okay ciao
Anonymous said...
Hey maggi,
Indian b-schools are a wierd crop on institutes across the world...IIMs admit too many freshers when compared to the Ivy league schools and these students come equipped with theoretical knowledge and that restricts the scope of students venturing on their own straight away. You look at the Ivy league schools, infact, they prefer admitting students with business ideas and incubate them during the two years spent there. Plus, most students come armed with huge work experience which allows them clarity on what they want to venture into.
Kevin
i have been laughing the whole day . u were anonymous and u turned kevin in the end. i have tears in my eyes thanks budd
wah wah kevin u must be in 2nd heaven
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