Are you still scolding your child for getting a C in chemistry? It's time to find out the truth that schools are hiding.
According to a Forbes study (2024), 40% of millionaires were average students in school, and 15% were poor students.
“A students are perfect performers, but the people who aren’t afraid to break the rules run the world,” Elon Musk, who was kicked out of class for arguing with teachers, said on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Why A's don't guarantee success? Neuroscientist John Medina explains in his book Brain Rules: "School teaches you to remember, not to think.
C students are more likely to ask “what if?” questions, which is critical to innovation. For example, Steve Jobs, a college dropout, created Apple thanks to his ability to see non-obvious connections.
But the main secret is the skill of losing.
A Harvard Business Review study found that people who got Cs were 45% less likely to become depressed after failure.
"At school, I got used to the fact that not everything works out the first time. Now it helps me in business," says startup founder Dmitry, who earned his first million at age 22.
Parents who focus on grades risk raising a “perfect loser.”
Alina's story from Novosibirsk: "I was forced to study with excellent grades. At 25, I had a nervous breakdown when I found out that a promotion went to a colleague with Cs in her diploma."
Psychologist Angela Duckworth warns: "Perseverance is more important than grades. But how can you develop it if your child is afraid of getting a B?"
The solution is to stop cultivating learning. Innovative teacher Ken Robinson urges in the documentary School of the Future: “Let kids do what lights up their eyes. Even if it doesn’t fit into your plan.”
Your child doesn't have to be an excellent student - he or she has to be happy.
Author: Igor Zur