How Many People Here Have A Degree?

[Tiggy]

Is it a degree in harmony with your business?

What postive influence does having a degree have on you and your business (esp profit margins!) if any?


T

 

[SillyJokes]

I've got one in Geography but I don't think it helps with my work now.

It got me my first employed job though.

 

[Tiggy]

At least with a degree in Geography you always know where you are.. :lol: :lol: :lol:

T

 

[Jayne]

I don't have one, dropped out doing an art one. Wouldn't have done me much good baking anyway

I've learnt more from being in business than any school could have done, but it all depends on the business, I was lucky my husband was a qualified
baker, so I just learned from the library the business site.

Jayne

 

[Tiggy]

Believe me..a degree positively pales into insignificance against someone who can bake a darn good cake!

T

 

[Jayne]

I can ice them too :lol:

Jayne

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering, now work in IT.

The most important thing for me when I employ staff is not the amount of qualifications they have but their ability and willingness to learn.

 

[Tiggy]

"I can ice them too!" Jayne


Then you are a veritable goddess!! i possess only one major talent when it comes to cake!

T

 

[Jayne]

Gis a job :lol: :lol: :lol:

Jayne

 

[Tiggy]

But does it give a certain amount of comfort knowing that if your business goes belly up you can get back into employment and, most likely, get a decentish salary in comparison to someone who does not have one, or does it not work like that?

T

 

[Cornish Steve]

I have a BSc in physics and a PhD in theoretical physics. I also have an MBA.

The physics degrees were fun. While the subject matter is not relevant to my work, they instilled a certain discipline in my way of thinking. I find that very helpful.

I obtained my MBA as a mature student. Even though, at the time, I was a senior manager at a large multinational corporation, the degree was helpful. It plugged many gaps in my armour. It also exposed me to problems faced in other industries.

To be honest, I don't believe my degrees have helped me much in establishing a new company. Much more important are personal contacts and experience. Occasionally, they are useful because they give me credibility. Membership in two national honour societies also helps in that area.

 

[Jayne]

But does it give a certain amount of comfort knowing that if your business goes belly up you can get back into employment and, most likely, get a decentish salary in comparison to someone who does not have one, or does it not work like that?

T

I don't worry, money is money, you can sweep roads for about £8 per hour, don't need qualifications for that. It's just an added bonus if you enjoy what you are doing and being your own boss. There's always something you can do if you put your mind to it.

Jayne

 

[Tiggy]

Steve do you think it would be taking too much on to start a business and start a degree at the same time?

The degree is something I never had a chance to do when i left school and I am now 41 but it is something that has always bugged me and I feel I really missed out.

The degree would be mainly for my own satisfaction. I feel it would satisfy the parts of me a business would not reach!!!
T :lol:

 

[Jayne]

I have a BSc in physics and a PhD in theoretical physics. I also have an MBA.

The physics degrees were fun. While the subject matter is not relevant to my work, they instilled a certain discipline in my way of thinking. I find that very helpful.

I obtained my MBA as a mature student. Even though, at the time, I was a senior manager at a large multinational corporation, the degree was helpful. It plugged many gaps in my armour. It also exposed me to problems faced in other industries.

To be honest, I don't believe my degrees have helped me much in establishing a new company. Much more important are personal contacts and experience. Occasionally, they are useful because they give me credibility. Membership in two national honour societies also helps in that area.

So this is why I can never answer your questions, too many brains

Jayne

 

[Cornish Steve]

Steve do you think it would be taking too much on to start a business and start a degree at the same time?

I don't know your situation, the type of business, or your current workload. If it was me, I'd focus on one or the other, not both.

When I started my MBA, I was working 50-60 hours a week and spending 50 percent of my time traveling overseas. The degree added another 20 hours a week (sometimes more) to my load.

Together with my business partner, I started my company after I finished the degree. For the last 15 months, I have been working 100-110 hours a week. That's the same 50-60 hours as before plus another 50-60 hours on my own business. (I won't short-change my day-time employer in any way, so I won't cut the 50-60 hours down to 40.)

I recommend you assess how you spend your time today, establish priorities, then decide what is practical. It would be better to succeed at one of your two choices rather than do a half-***ed job at both.

Imagine it's 30 years from now. Which would you regret more - not creating your own business or not obtaining a degree?

 

[Cornish Steve]

So this is why I can never answer your questions, too many brains

...but little common sense. This is why I have a woman as a business partner.

 

[Jayne]

Wish all men were like you, your partners a lucky woman

Jayne

 

[sarahpatience]

I have a degree in Interior Architecture, my business is in graphic and web design. Knew I wanted to do something design related before starting my degree, just didn't know what. Didn't particularly enjoy designing spaces, but loved laying out my projects graphically for presentation, which is how I ended up doing what I do now.

 

[Tiggy]

Steve do you think it would be taking too much on to start a business and start a degree at the same time?

I don't know your situation, the type of business, or your current workload. If it was me, I'd focus on one or the other, not both.

When I started my MBA, I was working 50-60 hours a week and spending 50 percent of my time traveling overseas. The degree added another 20 hours a week (sometimes more) to my load.

Together with my business partner, I started my company after I finished the degree. For the last 15 months, I have been working 100-110 hours a week. That's the same 50-60 hours as before plus another 50-60 hours on my own business. (I won't short-change my day-time employer in any way, so I won't cut the 50-60 hours down to 40.)

I recommend you assess how you spend your time today, establish priorities, then decide what is practical. It would be better to succeed at one of your two choices rather than do a half-***ed job at both.

Imagine it's 30 years from now. Which would you regret more - not creating your own business or not obtaining a degree?

I'm quite pleasantly surprised to hear myself say this but I think I would have to choose the thrill and the pain of establishing a business everytime!
I suppose I view a degree as a 'nice to have' whereas I see owning my own business as a 'need to have'.

Just the whole creative process of the business thing makes me salivate...grrrrrr...


T

 

[Jayne]

Hope you make millions Tiggy. Faith in yourself and a bit of get up and go and you're well on your way.

Jayne

 

[APRogers]

37.0 or 98.6, depending on whether you measure celsius or fahrenheit - My education stopped at A-Level.

That has no relevance to my business but it narks me something rotten that they'll (anyone) offer a job to someone with no proven experience and pay them more than me, who has proved that they can do the job, not just theorise about it.

Bitter? No, that's why I started my own company, so I can be judged on what I do.

Alan

 

[Deleted member 3454]

I do not have a degree but I do have one A level in German. I also achieved Integrated Business Technologies Level 2 (IBT2) a few years ago - at least that is semi-relevant to my Virtual Assistant business.

I'm learning loads as a business woman, as Jayne said.

 

[Amber]

I have a degree in English Literature. It's been helpful in that in my business (writing), experience counts for a lot, and the degree helped get me the experience that now gets me clients, if that makes sense

On the other hand, I could probably have managed without it. I got the bulk of my experience on the job as a trainee reporter, and I could have done that right from school. My degree taught me nothing about business, and not much about the world. Running a business, on the other hand, has taught me a huge amount.

I tend to think that education in this country is geared almost entirely towards producing wage slaves rather than entrepreneurs, to be honest. I sometimes wish I hadn't bothered with the degree and had spent the four years some other way instead!

 

[Jayne]

I packed mine in Amber because I wanted to earn money, collage takes too long, wasn't learning quickly enough, if you know what I mean.

Jayne

 

[Pete Williams]

I have a B.Ed teaching degree in Physical Education and IT. Doesn't really help me now but I know it is there if I need it!!!

 

[Amber]

I packed mine in Amber because I wanted to earn money, collage takes too long, wasn't learning quickly enough, if you know what I mean.

Jayne

Yep, it's a long time to be unable to earn a full time wage. Ours take four years here in Scotland, too!

 

[DuaneJackson]

No degree, No A-Levels, No-GCSE's, infact I don't think I have any formal qualifications at all.

But I got a few badges at boy scouts.

 

[Jayne]

No degree, No A-Levels, No-GCSE's, infact I don't think I have any formal qualifications at all.

But I got a few badges at boy scouts.

And that's all you need Life is learning...don't need paper for that.

Jayne

 

[Cornish Steve]

No degree, No A-Levels, No-GCSE's, infact I don't think I have any formal qualifications at all.

But I got a few badges at boy scouts.

And that's all you need Life is learning...don't need paper for that.

Jayne

For the second time today, I'm going to disagree with you, Jayne...gulp.

I do agree that the best teacher is experience. Like others, I bemoan the fact that so much of our education system steals our independence and entrepreneurial spirit.

Having said that, education is important. A broad-based education, which is what school is supposed to be all about, can overcome prejudice and give us a wider appreciation of the world around us. Focused training can help us to overcome specific hurdles we face during our careers.

We shouldn't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

(Spoken by a guy who offers training to business professionals! )

 

[Jayne]

We are not having a very agreeing day today are we :lol:

I should have put it better.

Yes, education is very important and will help many people do well, but it doesn't mean you cannot learn yourself. Self teaching is just as good, I have learnt more from the library and other people than I ever did at school (about life etc.). For example, I saw an opportunity for making money icing cakes, within 6 months I was doing fancy wedding cakes and getting £300 - £400 a time for them, all from the library. I don't have any bits of paper to prove I can do this, but my work spoke for itself. So anything is possible, learn everything you can, but you don't have to do it in a classroom.

Is that better Steve

Jayne

 

[Cornish Steve]

For example, I saw an opportunity for making money icing cakes, within 6 months I was doing fancy wedding cakes and getting £300 - £400 a time for them, all from the library. I don't have any bits of paper to prove I can do this, but my work spoke for itself.

Your example is a great one. You took the initiative to learn what was needed to develop your business further. All credit to you.

 

I work and go to college at the moment. This is only my second year at college. I've been working in a VoIP company for the whole summer and I continue working in here. But I'm going to receive my masters in International Business Management, if my job doesn't kill me Cause I think it's really important to have one.

 

[Richard Glynn]

I have a degree. But it has been absolutely no use in business whatsoever. My most important business lessons have been learned on the job.

If you could do a degree in 'common sense' then you might be onto a winner.

However, some of my richest life experiences were during the four years I was studying. So still worthwhile - depending on what your priorities are.

There's a good general perspective on which route your life should take - the importance of education etc. in a book called 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' by Robert Kiyosaki. It's American so take it with a pinch of salt - but a good read nonetheless.

 

[APRogers]

No degree, No A-Levels, No-GCSE's, infact I don't think I have any formal qualifications at all but I got a few badges at boy scouts.

If you're young enough to have sat GCSEs, you're too young to have ever gone to Boy Scouts - that phrase hasn't been used since the sixties
Alan

 

[DuaneJackson]

I didn't sit GCSEs, but I'm young enough to have done. 26

And I did go Boy Scouts! I've got the badges to prove it.

 

[Tiggy]

For example, I saw an opportunity for making money icing cakes, within 6 months I was doing fancy wedding cakes and getting £300 - £400 a time for them, all from the library. I don't have any bits of paper to prove I can do this, but my work spoke for itself. So anything is possible, learn everything you can, but you don't have to do it in a classroom.



Jayne

Gosh! Is it really that much for a wedding cake?? I remember my aunt making these and I saw how much work is involved but she was charging ridiculously low prices, bearly enough I would think to cover the cost, so in the end she stopped. If you don't value yourself and your work no one else will, will they?

T

 

[dagr]

I did engineering, so not really a help in starting a business, but it wasn't meant to be. However, in general terms, I found that doing a degree did help with organizing thoughts, writing skills, planning, etc.

And, as someone above said, 'it was a hell of a time"!

 

[Jayne]

Yes Tiggy, My cake prices for wedding cakes started at £80 upwards, depending on how many tiers, time and difficulty. Some of the top designers charge from £1,000 upwards. I had to do one once where I had to make sugar paste mice for the Bride and Groom and little mice for bridesmaids, exactly matching there dresses. Took me a month, so £300 isn't a lot. I packed it in because people were complaining about the prices, but i'm sorry, I'd rather not work at all, than work for nothing.

Jayne

 

[Joyous]

I have a degree in biochemistry which must explain why I'm an accountant. Three years of being in a lab told me that I didn't want to be a scientist.

I'd say my degree indirectly got me to the stage of running my own business. Most of my roles when employed required a graduate and/or professional qualification, and numerous years of toeing the line taught me that I'd only be truly happy working for myself.

My experience rather than my degree has helped my business but I'd say that the degree does give you the ability to talk to just about everybody with a level of confidence.

Regards

Joy

 

[jimbojones]

I decided against university for a number of reasons:

I felt that in today's world, experience counts. Its all good knowing the theory behind everything but if you can't do the job or still require training from the bottom rung of the ladder, its seems pretty pointless.

Obviously if you are striving to be a lawyer, vet or doctor a degree is vital, but for my nature of work it is by no means essential.

Why put yourself £20,000 in debt to compete with 5 other people for a post-graduate job ? Most people I know dont actually work in the area(s) that they posses a degree in. The growing trend seems to be that degree's are ten a penny and I feel that 10yrs ago a degree was worth more than it is now.

I planned to study Marketing Management at Manchester until I was offered a job to work for newreg.com after my A-levels. Taking into consideration what I mentioned above, I decided to defer my place and see how the job turned out.

I was unable to work towards a qualification with NewReg.com and felt that although I wasn't planning to do a degree, some sort of qualifaction was needed to further my career.

I found my new job for the Just4 Group a few months ago and am now working towards my Charted Institute in Marketing (CIM). Hopefully in 2-3yrs time I'll be a fully qualified marketer at 23, with good quality experience and I won't be £20,000 in the red. I earn a decent wage for my age (19) and can do things that some poor students can't simply afford.

"But what about the times im missing out on" - I hear you cry! - Well I have a very healthy social life, believe me, and I have friends at a few different Uni's, so I still get to expereince some of the student life!

I would be very interested to see what people think about this opinion,

All the best,

Jamie