Ivy Grads Avoid Risk

Kevin Van Trump, a successful newsletter writer and conference host, shares his perspective on why he avoids hiring Ivy League graduates, emphasizing the importance of embracing failure and taking risks in business and life.

• Anti-Ivy League Hiring Philosophy:

  • Ivy League graduates are "too afraid of failure"
  • Their consistent success makes them uncomfortable with looking wrong or silly
  • They lack experience with failure and risk-taking

• Advocacy for Risk-Taking:

  • Encourages people to "put their hands on the wheel"
  • Believes in trying new things (like NFTs)
  • Values the experience of failing and learning

• Parenting Philosophy That Shapes His View:

  • References his own upbringing: "no seat belts baby, that's how we roll"
  • Believes kids need to:
    • Get "skinned up"
    • Break bones
    • Fall off bikes
    • Learn from physical risks

• Concerns About Next Generation:

  • Worries about 30-year-olds taking over family farms
  • Sees a gap between:
    • 60-year-old experienced farmers
    • Their potentially "soft" children who "don't know how to do anything"

• Values Real-World Experience:

  • Emphasizes practical learning over academic credentials
  • Believes in learning through direct experience and failure
  • Prioritizes resilience and risk-taking ability in business

This perspective comes from a successful businessman who built a $30-40 million annual subscription newsletter business, showing his philosophy has practical merit in his experience.