A Class with Drucker - Headway | Work on yourself

DRUCKER’S PRINCIPLES OF SELF-DEVELOPMENT ■ 241
articles on economics and soon afterwards became a freelance journalist,
and then an editor in foreign affairs and economics for a widely read daily.
Both jobs were part of his preparation. If Peter wanted to make his career
in these areas as a journalist or professor, why didn’t he pursue a doctorate
in these disciplines, and not law? In class, he told us that he chose to
pursue a doctorate in law because at the time it was one of the easiest and
quickest doctorates to obtain.
The idea that his plans required an education which included a doctorate
degree, but no intention to practice of law, seems confirmed by his subsequent
actions. He never attempted to practice law, even though he did
briefly do part-time teaching in this field. He began writing about political
economics, which was clearly his main area of interest. This interest may
have started <strong>with</strong> his father, who later immigrated from Austria to the U.S.
and taught economics at a university in the United States.
According to some sources, Peter had already been accepted for a job
as a journalist in Cologne, Germany. In any case, he visited the University
of Cologne, where his uncle was a famous professor. This information may
confirm his intention to use a professorship as a base for distributing the
results of his research and thinking.
In summary, <strong>Drucker</strong> was no “Student Prince.” Peter did double duty
in attending both Hamburg and Frankfurt Universities, completing his
apprenticeship while he attended one, and working as a journalist and
writing while he attended the other, and beginning a lifelong habit of
extensive reading.
When Change Occurs, Take Immediate Action
Frequently we encounter obstacles along the career path we’ve planned or
in which we’re already engaged due to change. It is important to assess the
situation and, if necessary, immediately move on, rather than remain and
wish that whatever changed had stayed the same. Spencer Johnson, coauthor
of the best seller, The One Minute Manager, wrote another best-selling
book based on this single concept. It was entitled Who Moved My Cheese?
(GP Putnam’s Sons, 1998). The basic idea was not to waste time regretting
change. Rather, accept the situation, move on and start again based on the
new circumstances. In the early 1930’s that is exactly what <strong>Drucker</strong> did.
Peter had early on recognized the danger presented by the Nazis. If his
Jewish background weren’t enough, he had written a pamphlet supporting