The lesson you learned was about sales. Being educated on how to sell is more important than gaining information. The magic happens when you combine sales and information, with a confidence that makes people want to say yes.

The lesson about getting kicked out of graduate school………… pursue what you are good at or what you are willing to risk being uncomfy for. If your education wasn’t tied strong enough to a defined goal you wouldn’t have made it anyway.

This is a comment for some of the young readers, not the writer. I’m sure he has learned his lesson. :)