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Entrepreneurship at MIT
Main Post:
I go to a high-level engineering school and in one lecture in a business class, a professor of mine mentioned how there graduates from my school typically go and work at existing firms, whereas graduates from MIT are more likely to become entrepreneurs or work for a startup.
I was wondering if there is anything that MIT does to encourage a culture of entrepreneurship. Are there any events or classes or contests that you feel really create entrepreneurs? Is it a way of thinking encouraged by your classes? Do you feel that there is actually a culture of entrepreneurship? (Or if there were any statistics that back up or refute my professor's statement, that'd be interesting too)
I'm really curious about how schools that seem similar at once glance may be very different.
edit: spelling... insert engineers can't spell joke here
Top Comment:
The MIT Entrepreneurship club runs a start-up "boot-camp" every year as well as meeting weekly during the term to give students a chance to interact with people who have been in start-ups and learn more about the process.
Ever feel like the Western world glorifies entrepreneurship too much? Why is being just a professional not good enough anymore?
Main Post:
I know and I've worked for some entrepreneurs, some of them are amazing people who I still draw inspiration from.
I can say this. It's not for everyone. It takes a special combination of personality traits to be able to do that kinda work. Also, even if you have these traits in spades, it also takes some luck and a combination of other factors for it to really take off.
I feel particularly Western media glorifies entrepreneurs to the point that if you're just a regular hardworking professional, it's not good enough anymore. It's only worth it to put in hard work if you're aiming for the stars.
The thing is, if we all became entrepreneurs, then who is left to actually execute the vision?
I know some people who are doing coding bootcamps and seeking to change their careers. They're doing it because software jobs pay better and are more in demand. So what? Nothing wrong with that. There's no shame in wanting to improve your financial situation and quality of life even if coding isn't exactly your passion.
Lots of immigrants weren't tech people to begin with but learnt it because it was their best ticket in landing a well paying job in a country where they didn't know anyone and didn't speak the language that well. Shaming them for being in a field that they are not "passionate" about is like shaming a 18th century European farmer who came to the new world because there was a better chance he could have a big piece of land.
Most of software engineering jobs aren't extremely difficult as there's a wide variety of roles. If you're an ordinary, hardworking person willing to put in the effort to become good at something even if its not your burning passion and you show that you do the job competently, then you deserve to be in this field and should not be branded "a loser."
As for me for example, I was a very average student in HS. One of those kids who scored the same range of marks on ALL subjects whether it was math or history. Just a guy with average intelligence. When it took time to apply to College, I had no idea what the hell I was gonna do. I didn't seem good at anything. I only chose CS because there was a programming class in my high school where I actually looked forward to going to class and I'd spend a few hours after school trying to make a program work. All my other courses I dreaded and I put in only the amount of work to get my B.
I also was clueless about how lucrative software industry would become. I mean, I heard ppl make good money but when you're 17 and your hobby is listening to music and smoking weed, I didn't really think about it. As luck would have it, it did end up being lucrative and high in demand too.
It's a profession where due to its high in demand, you don't need to be a super genius at it in order to be successful. Unlike a lot of professions in the arts where only the top 10% actually can make a living off of it.
Judging by the standards of western society, my background would not be "legitimate." I should have been a coding rebel in my teenage years and already building apps and selling them. I should have quit stupid college and hitchhiked my way to silicon valley and coded with a bunch of dudes all day in a startup. Or something of that nature.
Instead, all I did was get my CS degree and go onto be successful and promoted numerous times at professional jobs. I worked hard but it wasn't all just work. In my OT, I made sure I pursued my musical hobbies, ensured I travelled, read tons of books (not about CS), enjoyed relationships, had friends, and maintained my physical health.
I'm a lot older now and my life is tamer. Especially due to Covid. But I'm still proud of my career. To the point that I learn and code new technologies even though I don't have to in order to keep my job. But I do it to stay current and to be better at my work.
Top Comment:
Media writes about the few that succeed and become rich, and (almost?) everyone wants to be rich and influential.