Why do people prefer business over degree?

[MarjorieZimmermanGinger]

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?

In business, experience and relationships are essential. If both can be developed well, even without a college degree, we can still achieve success. Business requires patience and discipline, as starting a business is not easy, especially if someone has no background or almost no family is involved in business. Apart from the capital required, a business requires experience and relationships to increase business capacity become more grow.

•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

It all comes down to each individual because the only person who knows whether we choose business or getting a degree is ourselves. Everyone has the same opportunity to achieve success, but opportunities can vary, whether through business or academics. Only each individual knows these opportunities and how consistently they pursue one or the other after careful consideration.

[Kelward]

I've heard a lot millionaires and billionaires interviews where they admitted that the principles of getting rich is not taught in schools, if you want to become rich you have to think like the rich, when you do there is a high chance that you will become like them and you will employ people with degrees to work for you. In today's world degrees are necessary to equip yourself with specific knowledge to do specific jobs which you would become a professional at but to actually become rich you need to think beyond your degree and think like a business person, that is how you become rich. Some people will just skip a degree and directly think like the rich to become wealthy.

[Bit-Mj1014]

I used to think it had to be one or the other, but it really doesn't. If I could do it over again, I’d probably start a small side hustle while working a regular job or going to school part time. That way you don't starve if things go sideways, but you're still building real world skills. The truth is, no textbook can teach you how to sell or how to handle the stress of running a business you just have to learn by doing.

[Hewlet]

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?
•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

There is an edge that having a degree gives to you even when you are considering starting a business. it is looked at as options because the more you have more qualification, the more you are exposed to areas that can affect your financial life more positively. Again, when obtaining a degree, you are not just doing it it for the paper certification, you are also going for it for the sake of the knowledge that comes with it. if the certification is in the area you are establishing the business in, it becomes even easier to thrive in that niche.

An average billionaire might not have directly gotten his wealth from just obtaining his degree but when you go through his profile you will generally find that they have gotten a level of academic exposures that they still leverage on to expand their wealth.

[viljy]

Why do so many people prefer starting a business over getting a degree?
Because a successful business can bring much higher income, while a job after a degree usually has a fixed salary. A degree takes about 4 years and costs a lot. A business can start with small capital and might grow 4 times in those same 4 years. Plus, many graduates still struggle to find good jobs.

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?
•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

Or maybe people make this choice under the pressure of life circumstances? Higher education is expensive, and subsequent employment prospects are dim, so people prefer something more pragmatic - entrepreneurship. Of course, this does not guarantee success. But a higher education diploma doesn't guarantee anything either. Of course, I'm talking about average people, not those who have a Rothschild among their relatives...

[crwth]

In terms of strangers, not knowing who you are at first, I think that's where a degree is important. This is to show that you have actually learned about it and that you have the skills to do it.

It doesn't mean it's a requirement to start a business, but it gives you additional +points for actually having it.

This is especially magnified by the very famous people like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, etc., knowing that they have succeeded even if they didn't finish their degrees. What they didn't know was that there are thousands of businesses that have also failed.

It's very risky!

[Opiate32]

In terms of strangers, not knowing who you are at first, I think that's where a degree is important. This is to show that you have actually learned about it and that you have the skills to do it.

It doesn't mean it's a requirement to start a business, but it gives you additional +points for actually having it.

This is especially magnified by the very famous people like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, etc., knowing that they have succeeded even if they didn't finish their degrees. What they didn't know was that there are thousands of businesses that have also failed.

It's very risky!

Credibility is one of the biggest advantage a degree offer especially at the beginning. Investors, banks and even customers mostly trust formal qualification more when they have no other way to judge your ability.
Likewise credibility can also be earned through result. For example a  business owner with a strong track record and consistent delivery will eventually be judged more by his or her reputation than by academic qualifications. In many company as well, experience gradually replaces the need for any credentials but getting to that stage usually takes a long time.

So I don’t think it is really a choice between a degree and a business because a degree can make the starting point easier while a business success depends on whether you can continue to create value long after the certificate stops being the main thing people notice.

[Achalugo BTC]

I used to think it had to be one or the other, but it really doesn't. If I could do it over again, I’d probably start a small side hustle while working a regular job or going to school part time. That way you don't starve if things go sideways, but you're still building real world skills. The truth is, no textbook can teach you how to sell or how to handle the stress of running a business you just have to learn by doing.

Well, that's your own perspective... even if degree doesn't entirely give one what they may want in their lives, at least getting ideas on how to do the needful is important and it's true that not everything that one will learn or will be taught through textbooks because there some crucial parts that one can understand better through experiences, that is why people are always advised to invest in anything they are doing with a small amount of money at first, just so that if they experience any loss, they can be able to navigate through it.

[Cityhunter34]

Why do so many people prefer starting a business over getting a degree?
Because a successful business can bring much higher income, while a job after a degree usually has a fixed salary. A degree takes about 4 years and costs a lot. A business can start with small capital and might grow 4 times in those same 4 years. Plus, many graduates still struggle to find good jobs.

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?
•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

Without being told, we are meant to understand that the world is not always the way it used to be. So I think making plans for a good business is far safer than just pushing for degrees. Although I think it depends on financial status, because there are many people who are regretting why didn't learn a skill or business before going for degrees.

The fact is that nothing is working for them after spending many years in school. So it's necessary for us to always plan very well before pushing for degrees, because things don't work out the way we predict this time around.

[Egii Nna]

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?

Depends on the business. No matter the business you want to venture into you will have to Learn about it, which to get a skill or a business even without school you need to learn it for someone as an apprentice, atleast for 4-6 years, which is the almost the same time to get your degree.

But the difference here is that, the one that go to school to get his degree will learn more of the theoretical aspect of the business then the practical aspects, while the one that learn under a business man, as an apprentice will learn a little bit of the theoretical aspects and more practical knowledge. Which in business both are important, but the practical aspects is more important, as you will know how the market works and how to act on it.

•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

You can’t get your degree without money. So having a working business or skill before going for your degree is more important as you will find it easy to study, because business builds the brain of a person due to high pressure, which that will make you see the stress with degree as a little task.

When you have your business before the degree, you can still use the school as an opportunity to get more income, as you will find a small business idea that you can do within the school to get profit, mind you your brain is already developed in business, so it will alway be easy for you.

[Fiatless]

Why do so many people prefer starting a business over getting a degree?

You can transfer the ownership of your business to your heir or descendants. But nobody can inherit your certificate. Death renders the certificate worthless, but businesses can outlive their owners.

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?

There is a tribe in my country that has the highest number of successful business owners. Most of them don't attend colleges or universities. Their most popular form of education is apprenticeship. They gather necessary entrepreneurial skills through on-the-job training. Skills and experience are more important than university degrees in starting and running a successful business.

•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

Degrees could be useful. Some courses are essential to be successful in business. Conventional education also opens the minds of business owners to more opportunities and possibilities. I would like to get a college degree before starting a business if I have such an option. 

[red4slash]

Why do so many people prefer starting a business over getting a degree?
Because a successful business can bring much higher income, while a job after a degree usually has a fixed salary. A degree takes about 4 years and costs a lot. A business can start with small capital and might grow 4 times in those same 4 years. Plus, many graduates still struggle to find good jobs.

Your view from the beginning is wrong because you seem to think that with a bachelor's degree it is only to make ourselves as workers. Perhaps it is understandable if you look at the reality now but this view remains erroneous because since the beginning of education and a bachelor's degree is not as an initial benchmark that we only become workers but education is a way that we can learn formally (can also be non-formal) and a bachelor's degree is a sign that we have ended the process.

The current view on education is quite erroneous because job qualifications in some countries especially for developing or underdeveloped countries always make background and educational background as the main requirement.

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?

Actually for me for a bachelor's degree it is only as an option or a value addition only but for important or not it becomes flexible. The reason is clear if in the end a bachelor's degree becomes important then for now there will definitely be a lot of very successful business people in every country because for some countries now there are a lot of people who have earned a degree.

But that does not mean it is not important because when a business person has a good educational background at least they know about atitude in doing business (although not all are like that). So a bachelor's degree should not be the main benchmark but it can be a plus for those doing business.

•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

This question also depends on the situation, if indeed our focus is to do business then surely we will try to do business while pursuing a bachelor's degree because it can still be done even though we will lose a lot of time for fun but it can be proportional to the results.

But we know not everyone wants to do business, there are some things that can be realized when we have felt how hard life is that sometimes we are always looking for a comfort zone and for some people including me doing business is difficult so I don't make this as an initial focus.  Let's say I don't have the courage here, but forcing it without any desire from the beginning won't work well and will be a waste of time. So, instead of forcing ourselves to do business when our hearts are not in line, we will look for other alternatives not by doing business but according to what we want.

[Somegory]

Why do so many people prefer starting a business over getting a degree?
Because a successful business can bring much higher income, while a job after a degree usually has a fixed salary. A degree takes about 4 years and costs a lot. A business can start with small capital and might grow 4 times in those same 4 years. Plus, many graduates still struggle to find good jobs.

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?
•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

I don't know about other places but in my country there are now too many regrets among the graduates and degree holders for wasting money and effort on school, they are in tight spot where they can't even settle down on their own because they can't get a job.

Their mates who choose to start business after college have made something for themselves and they are living better than those who choose to go university and pursue a career.

Too many examples of such people in my country, although all countries have their problems but I am seeing even the Americans complaining about how taxes is draining them already so......do what you think is best for you.

[iv4n]

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?
•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

Well, there isn't a universal answer to this... I guess we need people on both sides. Not everyone is for running a business, and for sure, not everyone is capable of working for someone else. It all depends on your situation, the opportunities you have around, and most of all, the dreams you are chasing... if you are chasing anything at all.

So for some people, getting a degree is the right way... for others, starting a business looks like a better option. Those two things don't have to compete, you can have both... maybe you can find a perfect combination...

In the end, it's about finding the way (if you can) that suits you. In many ways, being happy & without stress on the job is like a privilege... Whether you choose a degree or a business. Stress is a killer, so be safe out there...

[citywise2]

Why do so many people prefer starting a business over getting a degree?
Because a successful business can bring much higher income, while a job after a degree usually has a fixed salary. A degree takes about 4 years and costs a lot. A business can start with small capital and might grow 4 times in those same 4 years. Plus, many graduates still struggle to find good jobs.

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?
•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

I don't think that is a general  case thesedays as people apparently do better in any area when they are first educated than when they are not. What you bring into a business when you are educated is profound and scales the business much faster than the donkey years it is sure to take without it. A graduate still struggling to find a job has obviously misplaced his priorities as you are not guaranteed of any job just because you are a graduate.

[Adams0001]

Both businesses and degrees are important and play different role in different fields but the power of education can never be overlooked despite whatever situation of the country. This situation is found in most underdeveloped countries where education is not valued and the people are forced into trades and businesses that pays the bill.

Business is good but a degree with a business is better, a degree is a measure of your hardwork and qualifications for a work. But to be exclusive, a degree holder is not always smarter than a casual businessman as most people are naturally intelligent with or without education.

Sure, and most people prefer to get the business first, then they can continue with their school and achieve a degree. Some people are seeing a degree as a waste of time when you spend four years chasing a degree and later lack a job and start to struggle. But when they chase the business first and they start getting profit on what they are selling, they can probably use the funds to sponsor themselves in the degree.

Nothing can be easy when there is not money to offer, but when you achieve the money first, the rest can be more easier to handle. Business is more important because when you have money as a businessman, education comes easy to handle, and people that are rich, they don’t have time for education anymore. They always look for where to get more money.

[Agbe]

Though what you said is correct but in years back, People were interested to acquire degree than doing business because as you finished school, jobs were there for you to work but as the current climate change, things are not like before again. Even after graduating from school and acquired the degree/certificate yet there is no job for more than 20 years so for that people started changing their orientations to business. Yes even with the degree certificate, business is better than government jobs because the profit you will make from your own business will be bigger than the job salary but that depends on the kind of business because not all businesses can give you good profit.

[danherbias07]

Since I am already too old to go back to school again, I might prefer having a business instead. You are right, though. It's the struggle to find a job even after finishing a 4-year course. Also, when it's a business, you manage your own time, and you don't have a boss. It's the customers that you will have to take care of.
I am one who struggled to find a job despite having a good education. I was stuck with a day job at the same company for many years, and I can say I didn't even get good savings afterwards. I see a lot of business-minded people who really improved their lives. But still, I think it will depend on how we adapt to becoming a business-minded person.

[Swordsoffreedom]

I've heard a lot millionaires and billionaires interviews where they admitted that the principles of getting rich is not taught in schools, if you want to become rich you have to think like the rich, when you do there is a high chance that you will become like them and you will employ people with degrees to work for you. In today's world degrees are necessary to equip yourself with specific knowledge to do specific jobs which you would become a professional at but to actually become rich you need to think beyond your degree and think like a business person, that is how you become rich. Some people will just skip a degree and directly think like the rich to become wealthy.

But what exactly are the principles of getting rich? Is there really a universal formula that anyone can simply follow to become wealthy?

I do not think any such principle or formula exist. Even if wealthy people shared the formula that helped them become successful with others, it does not mean those people would achieve the same result. So the issue isn't that schools don't teach it, but that there is no universal formula like that to teach.

Everyone has their own way and path to success. You can learn from successful people, but don't think that simply having the same mindset and copying them will make you rich too.

[goldkingcoiner]

Why do so many people prefer starting a business over getting a degree?
Because a successful business can bring much higher income, while a job after a degree usually has a fixed salary. A degree takes about 4 years and costs a lot. A business can start with small capital and might grow 4 times in those same 4 years. Plus, many graduates still struggle to find good jobs.

•Do you think a degree is important to run a business, or can skills and experience replace it?
•What would you choose: start a small business without a degree, or get a degree first and then start a business?

I think maybe some people think of degrees in the wrong way.

You do not need a degree to become smart or even a successful business owner. What you do need is knowledge. That is why you study for the degree. The degree itself is just a piece of paper which shows potential employers that you can prove that you achieved in gaining certain knowledge and skills from a reputable education provider. But this piece of paper is only important in certain situations. Most of them involve applying for a job. Growing a business requires no piece of paper. It just requires the knowledge, no matter how you obtained it.