Often I talk or blog about the U.S. school system and how it produces sheep.  The U.S. school system was built based on the German school system, which was designed to produce people who took orders and think the same way.  Here in the U.S., our schools promote or reward kids who don’t think differently.  Those students then go on to college because they were given the best grades based on thinking a certain way and doing what they were told.  Those college students, highly rewarded in college, then hit the job market and they given management jobs because they think a certain way and follow directions, they play the rat race well, fall in line.  Now when times are down and out, where are all those sheep?  Standing in line waiting for someone to come rescue them and give them a job. Their resumes all look the same they all have the same overall school and career path.  None of them standout.  Its all over CNN today, “you have sell yourself to stand out!”. Good luck when you haven’t done anything different than the other 100 people standing in line for those 10 jobs.

So those parents who put their children on Ritalin (speed) so they can fall in line and do what they are told, be like all the other kids so the teachers day is easier, this is what your signing up your kids for.  Your ADHD children are right-brained.  Its better that they are different.

Why the company names in the title you are asking?  Well in the down economy, which companies are no where near bankruptcy and which are still showing high sales volumes? Those companies in the title are all run by CEO’s with either ADHD, Dyslexa or both.  Why are they so successful? Because they are right-brained, meaning they see in pictures and patterns.  They all take risks and buck the trend.  They are so ahead of the curve their companies are financially secure and they have product lines that are mostly recession proof for now. They may eventually succumb to the recession, but their losses won’t compare to the their competitors.  Imagine if the auto industry had a Steve Jobs or a John Chambers?  How about the banking industry?

Sheep can’t think their way out of a wet paper bag. So before you put your kids on speed (bad parents) think about this post.  And no Steve Jobs, John Chambers, David Neeleman, and Richard Branson are not just lucky.  They made their own way doing what they wanted and didn’t listen to the naysayers.  So don’t think they are just one off people.  You have to believe in your children and stop listening to teachers.  Most teachers are clueless they care only about what they get measured on and thats getting kids to pass and to make their lives easier.  Your kid challenges them and they just want kids who are easy.  Please parents stay strong. Stop looking at teachers as very knowledgeable people who are deep thinkers and know what is best for your child. Teachers and instructors can’t see past the end of the school year.  They know how to pass or fail kids based on our broken school system, not what is best for your child in the long run.

The most important thing to remember isn’t go to work for the best-known companies or get the best position.  The key is do great things and the rest will come.  In a down economy if you are programmer for say Microsoft your job isn’t safe and more than likely it won’t be easy to find another job. But instead if you programmed something for a smaller startup, say augmented reality, or iPhone app that sold a million units I guarantee you wouldn’t have an issue finding work.

SO GO DO GREAT THINGS!