I frequently get asked by young people: “Dangote, Elumelu, Ovia, etc. didn’t graduate at the top of their classes, but they are billionaires. How do you reconcile that?” Let me try to explain.
First, let’s recognize that the classroom and the business world have different exams. Just because you got an A in calculus doesn’t mean you’ll ace customer satisfaction when selling noodles. What worked for you in school doesn’t necessarily translate directly into success in business. Grades, while useful in some contexts, often don’t hold the same value when applied to real-world challenges. In fact, grades are largely meaningless in this context. What truly matters is the process you use to achieve those grades.
For example, getting an A in one university and graduating with a First Class doesn’t guarantee success in another, let alone success in a different field, such as business. When I was in secondary school, I wasn’t the smartest student, but I was probably the hardest-working. Where talent could not help, hard work did. If I had to read Modern Biology four times to get an A, then that was the price I was willing to pay. In fact, one of my teachers gave me the nickname “oku na egbu akwukwo,” meaning “the fire that destroys books.”
I took that same relentless work ethic to university. While I was successful academically, I didn’t necessarily have the highest intellectual ability. One of the smartest students I met at FUT Owerri didn’t finish his first year because he was too laid-back and careless. He failed fundamental courses like MTH 101 and PHY 101, which eventually led to his expulsion.
Now, looking at the success of figures like Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, and Jim Ovia, it’s essential to focus on their processes, not just their grades. Over the long term, a student who worked hard to earn a C is often in a better position than someone who made a B without putting in the effort. Why? The C student likely honed better processes—like resilience, discipline, and perseverance—that will serve them in the future.
When companies hire individuals with high academic achievements, they aren’t just looking at the grades themselves. What those grades signify is the ability to set a goal, follow through, and achieve it. That is the process that companies value. If those students retain the same work ethic and processes, they can excel in any career.
In conclusion, the most important takeaway is this: focus on developing the right processes—the processes of hard work, consistency, discipline, and the ability to push through challenges. These processes are universal for success, regardless of the short-term outcome like school grades. A focus on process rather than product is what ultimately leads to long-term achievement, both in school and in business.
