Molly and the twins - Education and Entrepreneurs

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 96169

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "manawydan" <manawydan at n...> wrote:
> Del wrote:
> >Moreover, the Twins proved that they *never* cared much about
> >school by getting only 3 OWLs each. They never *truly* considered 
> >what school>or additional training could give them.
> 

> Ffred replies:
>
> I wonder if that's based on an "our-world" perspective.
> 
> In the WW, which seems to have a lot of opportunities outside the
> kind of "elite" jobs that school qualifications give you, then it's 
> quite possible to argue that you can make your way very successfully
>  without any qualifications at all, if you're in one of the 
> "practical" occupations.
> 

bboy_mn:

I'm afraid I have to side with Ffred on this issue. Those with great
eductions don't always have great knowledge, and those with great
knowledge don't always have great (formal) educations.

Example; I have a friend who has a advanced degree in Computer Science
and Information Technology, but I am still the person they call
whenever they have a personal computer problem. Logic would say that
those with the education have the knowledge, but while I don't
remotely have his education, I do have years of applied experience.

Fred and George have very little interest in accumulating information
for the purpose of passing a test and getting 'qualifications', but
the time they did not spend studying information, they used to
accumulate functional applied knowledge. 

How often does one really need to transform a hedgehog into a pin
cushion, or a tortoise into a teapot? For the twins the ability to
enchant a wand so it will transform itself into various humorous
shapes in far more important, and a far more advanced skill since it
pulls together many many different and difficult aspects of applied magic.

'Qualifications' simply document the fact that you have been exposed
to information and that you remembered it suffciently well to answer a
few test question, and preform a few basic 'test' spells. 

It is not that uncommon for people to have tremendous quantities of
education obtained information, but not a clue as to how to apply it.
I am confident that the twin spent the time they were not studing for
classed, obtaining applied knowledge and skill that was worthwhile to
their ultimate goal.


> > Del:
> >
> >Knowing the WW as we know it, maybe the Twins will end up working
> >for Gringotts, cleaning the vaults and tunnels and never seeing the
> >light of day for the next 20 years to pay up their debt if the joke
> >shop fails.

> Ffred response:
> 
> ... In our world, most business start-ups rely on borrowing some 
> sort of start up capital. But that concept might be totally unknown 
> in the WW. Maybe the only routes into business are either through
> the family or through self-finance. As the twins are self financing, 
> they wouldn't be beholden to Gringott and his minions either way.
> 
> Is there any canon that says that Gringott is male, by the way?
> Maybe I'm once again imposing a RW perspective and Goblins are 
> strictly matriarchal!
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Ffred

bboy_mn:

Most new businesses unless they are really small 'mom & pop'
businesses are financed through venture capital, or investments.
Venture capitalists give prospective businesses money in hopes that
the business will be a success and their investment, in the form of a
share of the business, will return a profit. 

If you simply make a loan, you take little risk, and have a fixed
return. But if you literally invest in the business, as Harry did, the
risk is tremendous; you could very easily lose all your money, but if
the business is successful, you get an endless return on your money.
It's a big risk, big return business.

Fred and George are entrepreneurs, they take big risks in hopes of big
returns, but are they good entrepreneur?

Fred and George, in my view, are doing a very good job at setting up
and running their business. They are managing inventory, they are
managing their money, they are planning products, they are engaged in
on-going product research and development, and they are engaged in
marketing research targeted at their core customers.

Most boys the age of Fred and George who suddenly had about $8,000 in
their pocket would have been seen the next day dressed in new clothes,
riding new brooms, and throwing a big party for their friends. But
Fred and George seem to be handling their money very conservatively.
I'm mean with $8,000 in their pocket would it have killed them to buy
20 butterbeers for their friends in the Hog's Head Inn? But they
don't. They don't because they realize that even that small amount of
money is ear-marked for far more important things.

Fred and George have a clear and definite path, and they are doing
everything possible, and with a few exception, doing everything right
to make their objective a reality. I just don't see them blundering
through it all like a typical lazy teenager. They have a plan, they
have a purpose, they are directing all their energy, and doing so for
many years, toward achieving that specific goal. That sounds like a
plan for success to me.


The one extravagant exception to their wise application of resources
is the blowing up of their entire inventory of Weasley Wildfire
Wizbangs in the entrance hall. True in times of war we must make
sacrifices, but some will surely say that was an unecessary sacrifice
 for no purpose other than to piss (sorry) Umbridge off.

But, on the other hand, in doing so, they set off the most spectacular
fireworks display in front of the best potential customers, and more
importantly, in doing so, they have become a Hogwarts and wizard world
legend. That event will be talked about and relived for generations.
Darn good marketing ploy if you ask me. It's one thing to make good
fireworks, but quite another to make legendary fireworks. I think in
the long run, it will more than pay for itself.


As a side note, I can't wait for the time when Harry realizes that he
didn't give the twins his money, but instead, he purchase a share of
their business. In a sense, his investment bought him a percentage
ownship in Weasley Wheezes, and ownership that will continue paying
dividends for the rest of his life. One more reason why I don't think
Harry is going to have to worry about a job after Hogwarts.

Just a few thoughts.

bboy_mn