[mcg1969]

I don't even put Michael Dell into the same category as Steve Jobs. Michael Dell dropped out because his business was doing so well he didn't have the time. Steve Jobs? Well, he just dropped out and then made it work.

So Michael Dell is like a college b-ball player who gets an offer for the pros and drops out to take it. Steve Jobs is a college b-ball player with no proven skills (yet) who drops out of college and then starts trying out for pro teams. How many could actually do the latter and succeed? Damn few.

Steve Jobs got lucky. No doubt his drive played a big part, but not everyone can follow in his footsteps. And if I understand his speech correctly, he never claimed otherwise.

[Swordmaker]

Steve Jobs is a college b-ball player with no proven skills (yet) who drops out of college and then starts trying out for pro teams.

Not quite... Jobs is a college b-ball player who drops out and FOUNDS his own pro team so he can play!

[avenir]

"No doubt his drive played a big part, but not everyone can follow in his footsteps. And if I understand his speech correctly, he never claimed otherwise."

True. Most probably should do the college thing.

Thoreau's accusation--"The mass of men lives of quiet desperation"--stings, though. Do we have to always sit there while someone else takes the risks and gets the adventure? Is being comfortable, yet desperate, even a goal?