<p>Hi guys. So before I ask the question let me tell you the backstory. I recently got into Stanford and my parents said I could go. Then they asked me what my career plans are. I said I wanted to be an entrepreneur, found a startup in Silicon Valley or the like. They said this is very risky and foolish and they would not pay for me to go to Stanford if this was my plan. Here were their reasons: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>I’d be entering a general pool. From middle school to high school to college now I’ve been going to environments that select you for more and more hard work. By becoming an entrepreneur I’d be entering environment where anyone can be good whether they went to Stanford or the university of Phoenix (just an example, no offense to Phoenix grads :). People from china, India, or russia could be just as successful as me. How can convince my parents I’ll have an advantage? </p></li>
<li><p>I’m very unlikely to succeed anyway. I think they’re just being discouraging but of course it is true; the majority of businesses do fail.
What should I say? I don’t know how to argue against solid points like these. And I cant just say this my life or trust me haha.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I think you are putting the cart in front of the horse. First you need to know something about a specific field – gain some knowledge that gives you an edge over other competitors or potential competitors – and then you can start a business in that field. Most people who become successful entrepreneurs spend some time working for others and eventually decide they could do a better job on their own – even Steve Jobs spent time working at Atari before launching his garage-based operation.</p>
<p>If you develop a good idea while at Stanford, you may also find partners to work with or people to help fund you. But pick an industry or major to study, with eventual entrepreneurship a secondary consideration for the time being.</p>
<p>I agree with the above - you’re putting the cart way before the horse. Most people don’t become an ‘entrepreneur’ as a profession. They get an education, have a major, start in a career, and ‘then’ have an idea that sparks or see an opportunity and pursue it. Some people will happen on something before they graduate which might take off but that’s rare. Most new grads have no money and no track record for funding to do much yet anyway.</p>
<p>Just go to Stanford with the plan to get a good education, be exposed to lots of ideas, graduate with a particular major in an area you’re interested in and hopefully excited about, and then see what opportunities are before you. You’re over-thinking it at this point as are your parents.</p>
<p>I’m married to an entrepreneur and the parent of two entrepreneurs. Being an entrepreneur requires a healthy appetite for risk and uncertainty. I agree with those who say finish college first, but I also know that the most successful entrepreneurs are those who have a million ideas about businesses they want to start, a wide wide network of people who are interested in helping implement those ideas, and a huge tolerance for sleep deprivation.</p>