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37signals Co-Founder: ‘Unlearn Your MBA’

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by Cameron | Jul 30, 2010, 5:12pm EST

David Heinemeier Hansson, the creator of the Ruby on Rails Web development framework and partner at 37signals, is a pretty smart guy. But to succeed as an entrepreneur, he found that his education was, in some ways, working against him. In this Entrepreneur Thought Leader Lecture, given earlier this year at Stanford University, Hansson talks about how his formal education had little to no impact on his business life. And he warns future startup owners that if they don’t readjust their thinking, that diploma could drag them down.

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  • http://rockiger.com/blog Marco

    I like 37signals ideas, but the most things you learn in a good MBA program are universal – it doesn't matter if the company is big or small. Economic theory works; the key is to apply it in the right way.
    I think that is the biggest problem – maybe the case studies should be changed.

  • http://roachpost.com/ Eric

    Hey Marco, I agree on the macro levels. Where I find the miss is dealing with the unknown. Teaching technique around creativity, user involvement, getting financed, hiring great people and on and on, seem to be largely ignored.

  • http://rockiger.com/blog Marco

    But isn't this a problem, that all companies face – not only the small ones?

    I think it is hard to teach experience. Probably it is no coincidence that most very rich people never were at college or dropped out early (Jobs, Gates, Buffet, Albrecht Brothers – German retailers)

  • http://roachpost.com/ Eric

    Agree completely. As one who also did not finish school I totally get that. Now if I could just get the “rich” part like those guys…

  • http://www.google.com/profiles/ahmjaynath ahmjaynath

    very true. I wish to do the same. Thanks

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