Sometimes parents are just too rigid about how your life should pan out. The prototype being- go to school, get ace grades to get into a premium university, then head to college, do well there. Secure the best placement, work hard and earn the big bucks. However, that’s not always the key to success.
Michael Dell, the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dell Technologies faced a similar dilemma with his parents. He had to convince them of his plans of dropping out of college.
Yeah, I know convincing your parents about dropping out of college. That’s a tough one. My mother for one would have definitely thrown an over-dramatic tantrum which would have ended with, “You don’t love me!”
Dell took to Twitter to share the first financial statement of his company. It was dated July 31, 1984 and shows a gross profit of nearly $200,000. He used this to persuade his parents that college wasn’t a part of his life plans.
First financial statement for @Dell. The one I used to convince my parents that it was OK for me to not go back to college pic.twitter.com/kKuGDsyvYZ
— Michael Dell (@MichaelDell) March 18, 2018
Dell dropped out of the University of Texas in Austin at the age of 19 during his very first year there.
Let us cut to more than three decades later. Dell is now 53-years-old and has a net worth of $21 billion and features among the top 50 in the Bloomberg Billionaires’ Index.
So, I’d say to it was a good call. (But that’s just my take!)
According to Times of India, Dell has obviously come a long was from having revenues of $888,821 back then to $21.9 billion for the last reported quarter in 2018.
He said in a recent interview that as a 19-year-old he started his company from a “dorm room” in his university. The company fortunes instantly took off and it went public with a market capitalisation of $85 million just four years after the venture started.
In another four years, he would also become the youngest CEO with a CEO with a Fortune 500 company.
The tweet has taken the micro-blogging site by storm and gone viral. People are mighty impressed with Dell and are replying to him now.
1. Something to think about.
$33.81 for travel??? Any idea where you went to amass such a massive expense? 😜
— NYC Sights Sounds (@NYCSightsSounds) March 18, 2018
2. #Millennial
https://twitter.com/johnlongshore/status/975325525102252032
3. The parents are still waiting…
My parents told me “When the windfall of this computer gaming stuff runs it course, you can go back to school, get a degree and get a real job!” That was over 35 years ago.
— Richard Garriott (@RichardGarriott) March 18, 2018
4. Absolute legend.
$1M in a qtr back then from a dorm room? #legend.
— Bob Loukas (@BobLoukas) March 19, 2018
5. This user thanks Dell for her husband’s addiction.
https://twitter.com/kindermaddox/status/975384530851979265
6. Not great, an epic journey.
What a great journey! The persistence, will to succeed, the confidence to take risk and the energy to jump right back after a fall.. been working for you the last 10 years and could not be prouder!
— Anushka Bose (@Anushkabose) March 18, 2018
7. This Twitter user took to sharing his complaint on the post and got an instant response from Dell.
We see that our Escalation team has been working with you with regard to this case. As per our records, we see that they are supposed to reach out to you by tomorrow. Please wait for them to get back to you. ^SD
— DellCares (@DellCares) March 19, 2018
8. LOL!
Did your parents question if the business model was scale-able?😂😂
— Rob Gunderson (@TheRobGunderson) March 19, 2018
9. Happy and loyal customers.
I ALWAYS use you, Mr. DELL, as an example of how tenacity, perseverance, and determination can result in achieving your goals and dreams–and also bring something PRODUCTIVE to society! I ❤ my Dell destop & laptop!!! ROCK ON!!! 😉
— Ester Berry (@ester92128) March 18, 2018
10. Desi represent!
Congrats…few decisions in life needs to be stuck with irrespective of the outcome, more because you believed in it…Glad you did so did your parents n now does millions..since m from India 🙏
— Kishalay (@Kishalay_C) March 18, 2018
Mr. Michael Dell’s story is indeed an inspiring and extraordinary one. Many other tech giants are also college dropouts including Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.
So kids, what did we learn today? Convince your parents you don’t want to study and make billions. JK, don’t actually quote me on that.