How can I succeed without going to college?

I originally wrote this post on Quora dated January 6, 2017.

It doesn’t matter my friend whether you are from a good college or not. Let me give you some examples of some great personalities, who are currently disrupting the world with their innovations:-

Pranav Mistry:-

Went to a college you don’t have heard anywhere. Now, Global Vice President of Research at Samsung and the head of Think Tank Team. He is best known for his work on SixthSense, Samsung Galaxy Gear and Project Beyond. His research interests include Wearable Computing, Augmented reality, Ubiquitous computing, Gestural interaction, AI,Machine vision, Collective intelligence and Robotics. World Economic Forum honored Mistry as one of the Young Global Leader 2013.

2. Steve Jobs

He needs no intro. He did graduate from Homestead High School in 1972, he ended up dropping out of Reed College, an education his parents could barely afford. At the time of his death in 2011, Jobs’ net worth was $11 billion. A great visionary, designer and perfectionist.

3. Larry Ellison

Larry Ellison, former CEO, current Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Oracle, dropped out of two colleges. His net worth? A staggering $54 billion. Note that:- His goal was never to become wealthy, but rather to create a work environment where he could enjoy himself.

4. Rachael Ray

This cooking TV show star, author, and businesswoman never attended college and doesn’t have any formal training in the culinary arts. Her net worth is a cool $60 million. Pretty good for someone who doesn’t have qualifications in the field she works in.

Moral of the story:- A driven personality always finds a way. An education can either be a stepping stone or a roadblock on the path to achievement. If education proves to be an obstacle, those with an entrepreneurial spirit will push it aside and go their own chosen route. Today, in the information age, there are many ways to learn and develop the skills you need to become a successful entrepreneur.

Today, in the information age, there are many ways to learn and develop the skills you need to become a successful entrepreneur. Online courses will be a worthwhile option for many, especially if you can devote enough time for course requirements. Financial aid can also be availed. Major online course providers include Coursera, edX, udemy, udacity…etc. It is also possible to find ebooks, audio courses, podcasts and other great resources on a wide range of topics, giving everyone the opportunity to pursue their passions and hunger for knowledge.

___”Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family”. Kofi Annan

Also, Imagination is as much important as knowledge. As Albert Einstein says, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”

Experience the world around you. Extract the things you love to do or What is wrong with a particular thing? How to solve this problem? Think. Nurture your thought.

You want to follow Elon Musk, He himself envisioned the future and went on to find the solution for What can he do to make this world a better place?

Following are the tips from Elon Musk himself to succeed in life:-

Tip #1: Work Super Hard.

Tip #2: Attract Great People.

Tip #3: Focus Solely on the Product or Service.

Tip #4: Don’t Follow Obvious Trends.

Tip#5: Take Risks.

You can read more here:- 5 Secrets of Success from Elon Musk

5 Secrets of Success from Elon Musk’s USC Commencement Speech