Qualifiers. « THE DREAM IN ACTION

September 21, 2009
Posted by Ryan Graves

Qualifiers.

For as long as I can remember I’ve always found myself envying and analyzing people who are very successful. I’ve studied their personality traits, their career paths, and anything else that I feel might reveal a common denominator that I may be able to learn from. I’ve come to the conclusion that success is about qualifiers. What I mean by that is, if someone builds a startup that is self funded, and doesn’t have any help it may go nowhere, but if they do a startup with the same product, model, etc, with Y-Combinator, they become qualified, thus have a significantly better shot at success.

In this theory I completely separate what the entrepreneur would learn from Y-Combinator with just having the Y-Cominator name associated with their startup. Another example of the qualifiers theory: If Sara goes to Harvard vs. ‘Avg Law Program University’ even if it’s the same individual with the same raw intelligence, she’ll improve her chance at success just because of the Harvard name as the qualifier. Having that degree on her resume gets her in the door, gives her great credibility, and generally impresses others.

I’ve been pondering this concept because of my consideration to pursue an MBA (vs. do a startup). If I do decide to get an MBA, I’m under the belief that it’s only worth doing if I get into a top notch program. Without the big name the qualifier argument is void, however with a big program like Northwestern or USC (likely schools I would be interested in) I believe I would definitely benefit from the positive qualifier.

Last week Fred wrote a post called “The best deal in startup land” about the positive effects of Y-Combinator and I wonder how much value is the qualifier and how much value is the teaching and networking from the program?

For folks who do have big program MBA’s or other things from their career that may work as qualifier’s, how much of that degree has served as a qualifier? How much benefit have you gotten just from the reputation vs. the education?

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[...] month I wrote a post called u00e2u0080u0098Qualifiersu00e2u0080u0099 about the importance benefit of grad school, specifically an MBA. I was exploring the idea that [...]

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Ryan Graves

haha. I love it.
even an 8 yr old has marketable skills.

ryangraves

Anonamouse

I agree. In showbiz they say fake it til you make it - I prefer the other: work what you got. Highlight whatever you believe will make you successful. If you're 8 years old and you like watching TV, then you'll be a great critic (better: Producer) because you know what works... Total BS, but hey, if you got nothing else, the worse Disney can say is "No, but maybe you can be an anouncer..."

Fact. See you around the interwebs my friend.

reecepacheco

I suppose so... but it doesn't need to be a degree or a certification by traditional standards. It could even be something as simple as that passion I mentioned on @Bijan's blog. ;) It depends how you execute upon it and how you spin it, so as an entrepreneur you've got to look at what makes you uniquely qualified to do job X. On paper, I don't think my tech/business resume is amazing, but it didn't matter in a recent meeting with a top VC; he liked my career experience as a passionate athlete first (rather than an MBA attacking a problem).

And likewise, good to make your digital acquaintance. Seems we're both surfers stuck in cities without waves...

So you agree then that their usually needs to be a qualifier for your
success? If so, how does the non-MBA startup entrepreneur add or develop
quality qualifiers to their resume?

BTW, been great chatting all over the interwebs Reece.

That being said, I'm an entrepreneur without a b-school degree. My qualifier (to clients, investors etc) is my real experience within my industry (sports).

I say start-up. Business school will be there afterward (IF you fail, and you'll have real experience that will help you apply your learning in b-school). The opportunity to start a company diminishes with time, so do it while you can, and WHEN you are successful, you won't need that b-school degree anyway.

THE DREAM IN ACTION

By Ryan Graves

Qualifiers.