Khan Academy - Lost in thought with Sal Khan's thoughts

 

    I had so many thoughts running through my mind as the podcast was rolling. I thought it would be more about its business model or how it came to be popular as it is. It turned out to be how it started and it gave a few stories of how it motivated Sal Khan to establish Khan Academy.

    A story is brought up about how he had an absent father and how the brothers of the mother moved in with her, opened up convenient stores, and she worked most of her life as a cashier. I relate to some parts of his story, but because I grew up in a middle low class family, a lot of things just did not click for me. He was able to go to these expensive schools and I do not know if he got there through scholarship or if his family helped him, but just going to University of Guam for a middle low class is expensive. Then it is mentioned after he finished school he started working with hedge funds and was doing good. I have known a lot of people smarter and more determined than me to do worse in life or not make it as big as Sal. 

    Growing up on Guam, I have developed the mindset that if you have not made it to a high position without nepotism, I account it to luck or your greatness cannot be refuted. So when it brought up the topic where he decided to pursue Khan Academy full time, even though he did not have a house and he had a newborn, it does not make sense to me unless he already had the means to support his family so that he could do it. If you were to ask a sensible or logical person to stay in your job that provides for the family or pursue your happiness with the chance of no income, they would stay in the job. Then he later explains how there is self-confidence and self-doubt and he had the confidence to go for it. I look at the circumstances and I think there should be a third option, situation. How can I start something if I do not have the money to pay the bills and provide? Having a business where the mom was able to work as a cashier for years means business is not that bad and family can help Sal if he was short on funds. So it irks me a little when I hear that some people cannot make it because of self doubt. 

If he is from Bangladesh, I am making the assumption that he practices some of the beliefs of Buddha. He mentions how the "Law of Nature" helped him. I admire this belief and I would also wish goodness for others. I am happy that there is a Khan Academy but I feel like the real story is that he just started helping people with just the thought of helping. I feel that the Academy came to be because of his kindness to help. I like that during the interview he was modest and it was mostly the host painting the picture.