Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Petasgo Enterprise, Peter Adongo believes formal education is not enough to be successful in life.
Speaking in an interview on Dreamz FM, Mr. Adongo said although education is necessary and helps in shaping one’s life, it takes more than just book knowledge to succeed in life.
He believes being innovative, adventurous and determined is critical in taking up challenges and conquering them in every facet of life.
He said, although his level of education is not high, he has been successful in running and growing a multi-million dollar business venture because of his innovative and entrepreneurial skills coupled with determination and good management.
Asked how challenging it is running such a huge business without any high level of formal education, Mr. Adongo said “it’ is not difficult for me. I like work. So when I started working with a similar company, within a short period, I was promoted to the headman position then I was further promoted to Chairman and later, a foreman for the warehouse. So I started handling people for long. When I was even a child, moving with my peers at the station, I had always opted to be a leader.
Even if we gathered to undertake a difficult task and my colleagues are afraid, I would always take the lead and encourage them to follow. So that spirit is in me even when I was young. I can say by far is by the grace of god but every day, I get new business ideas. As we are speaking, I have just gotten a business idea. So managing Petasgo, yes, it is tough dealing with the book long people (but at the end, I always find my way around things”.
He added, “Running a business is not about book knowledge but it should be part. You should know how to speak to people that you want something from. You should know how to comport yourself to the people you want something from. That is why I always say that education is good but it is not enough. So when you go to school, it is good; you acquire knowledge, you can read and write but the natural wisdom is also needed to add it”.
He is, however, of the view that he would have been more successful in his business if he had attained higher education.
“If I had education in addition to my business skills, I would have much more successful,” he stated.