A young man might go to business school believing he’s obtaining some sort of academic training that will enable him to make a comfortable living.  His degree may gain him entry into a large corporation, where he can work his way up to a good income.  This may even put him on the fast track to what he envisions as success.

But his academic training won’t likely be of any real use.  He won’t be prepared to create new products or deliver new services or technologies.  He won’t possess a special knowledge that will improve the wellbeing or satisfaction of others.  He won’t have the skills to bring in new business or grow the bottom line.

Rather, his academic training will have prepared him to use spreadsheet entries to forecast quarterly revenue and margin targets.  What’s more, if the numbers show a disagreeable trajectory, he won’t have the skills or slightest inkling as to what to do about it.  He’ll merely ride the wave down until it crashes on the rocky reef.

But if he’s in a position of leadership, he’ll likely panic.  Out of his element, he’ll chase one idiotic solution after another.  He’ll package up and sell off a segment of the business.  He’ll invest in a new company branding initiative or fancy computer based system tools. Continue reading →