If you want to be an entrepreneur, one of the skills you must learn is how to deal with authority.
On the one hand, if you listen to advice from authority figures, you'll never become an entrepreneur. Too risky. Too much of a long shot.
On the other hand, if you decide that none of the old rules apply, you're likely to end up like the dot-bomb entrepreneurs who thought that they were immune to old-fashioned economics.
Entrepreneurs have to walk the middle path of respecting, but not obeying authority.
Respect authority for its implied wisdom and experience, but recognize that it is far from infallible. Authority thought Wilbur and Orville Wright were insane for thinking that man could fly--even after they had done it!
Listen carefully to what authority has to say, and if you have good reasons for disagreeing, ignore it and do what you think is right.
In the end, even if you're working within a larger company, disobeying authority can put you on the fast track to success.
Authority makes rules for a purpose--to get results. If you get results, you can rewrite the rules.
