Ever have one of those moments whilst watching the news on TV where you struggle not to shout at the telly? Maybe, like me, you sometimes do!

I had one last night watching a documentary about how education is failing so many kids these days. 

This was centred around my own Country of Scotland but took also took in the US and other parts of Europe. 

It was hosted by a home grown entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter (Many years ago I did autocue for him at a high profile event - he was quite demanding) 

Tom is an old style entrepreneur. He came from a very poor background in a very downtrodden part of Scotland. He started by selling training shoes from a van and built that up to a multi million pound sportswear business. He is a billionaire. 

His aim with this series of programmes is very noble. He wants to get to the bottom of why the eduction system is failing so many young people and hopefully to take his findings to influencers in Government and industry and hopefully start to improve things. 

LIke many successful entrepreneurs, Tom wasn’t a superstar in the classroom. Like many school kids, he didn’t see the relevance of much of what he was being forced to learn. He just wanted to get on with it. 

In the programme last night he questioned the importance of the “pieces of paper” that the education system puts so much stock in. 

He spoke to a number of modern entrepreneurs about how important the paper qualifications are to them when they look at employing young staff. 

One of them, the CEO of Brewdog (makers of superb boutique beers) reckoned about 10-20%. He’s more interested in personality, adaptability, values. 

To me, this just highlights the problem - Schools, Colleges and Universities are not preparing people for the modern world. 

And they know it - but they are so ingrained in the old system like making changes is like walking through 6 feet of treacle! 

Many of the jobs, careers and professions that young people work so hard to get “the pieces of paper” for simply won’t be there in 5 or 10 years. 

“THEY ARE TEACHING THE WRONG STUFF!” - is what I was shouting at the TV.

If Sir Tom Hunter was getting started now do you think he would start in a van? In a small local area? 

Of course not - He’d be on the internet in a flash (as he is now)

This is what I love about my own mentors the SFM and DEA - they ARE teaching skills that will outlast most jobs in the new economy.

Kids these days are tech savvy  - they are glued to their devices. Its been found that most kids don’t even watch TV on TVs these days - they watch it in their devices when they want to - not according to schedules.

Does it not make sense then to teach them how to turn that capability into wonderful lifestyles based around the things they love! ??? 

I don’t have children but if I did I’d be looking at setting them up with the skills that matter NOW. 

If I was 30 or 40 or older now I’d be equipping myself with those skills - I started at 47 - it’s never too late or too soon to get this. 

I honestly don’t see anything else around right now that  is offering this apart form SFM and DEA. 

It’s great to see well known entrepreneurs starting to recognise the problem and doing what they can to help but for so many people it’s too little too late. 

Hopefully you can tell I’m very passionate about this, as are Stuart and Jay and everyone in this amazing community. 

If you feel the same you really should be with us…..

​Cheers!