Need help finding the right Entrepreneurial PhD program!

Hello all,

First of all, I know what most of you are going to say - "You don't need a degree to start a business." In most cases, I'd agree with you, 100%. But let me tell you a little bit about my particular situation. 1) I know absolutely nothing about the modern business world. 2) I have very little confidence in my ability to self-teach. 3) I'm a complete pussy.

I'm absolutely terrified about starting a half-assed business, and then ending up as a regular joe with a shitty job he hates. I'm not afraid to admit it. Maybe that means I'll never be a successful entrepreneur. Maybe it doesn't necessarily mean that I won't. I'm still 100% comitted to finding out if I could be.

Furthermore, I really wouldn't mind being a business school professor. It's a good job. Prestigious. Good pay. Good hours. Summers off to travel. I'd get a lot of satisfaction out of teaching young people (like me now) to do what I want to do. Even if I was able to start my own successful business, I'd probably still teach (if I had time) as a vehicle to 'give back' and enjoy myself.

So, now that I've explained that, here's a little bit more about the actual kinds of programs that I'm looking for...

I graduated from a good liberal arts school. I majored in history. I had an okay (like 3.2-ish) GPA. I've been working in marketing for a small local pulp and paper products company since graduating, but in all seriousness, I'm not really doing anything of major worth there. I used to be fine at math (I think I got a 28 on the math section of the ACT in high school), but I basically haven't taken a serious math class since high school; so, it's going to be a struggle to get ready for the GMAT, and in spite of having what I'd consider a good work ethic, I'm probably not going to do overly fantastic on the test.

I read Tim Ferris' "The Four Hour Work Week" about a year ago and was absolutely enamored with it. I've been thinking about a career along those lines ever since. I've re-read the 4HWW three or four times since, along with several of Ferris' other suggested readings. I've really been taking some serious time to consider all of this (and I've had some serious life distractions that have been preventing me from moving on the idea...I'd rather not get into them; not relevant to this thread). Now I'm ready to move on the idea.

I basically want to become an expert of imagining and creating 4HWW-like businesses (for those that haven't read the book.....by that I mean - for the most part - successful internet-based businesses where MOST of the actual day-to-day operations can be outsourced/delegated to modestly paid assistants.

...I want to become an expert of identifying niche markets where these kinds of businesses could be successful. I want to become an expert of marketing these kinds of businesses...an expert of building websites for these businesses...of arranging the production and distribution of products...of managing these kinds of businesses...and then of acquiring the actual investment capital (ideally a modest amount) to kick off these businesses. Then, after I get my degree (or maybe while I'm still getting it), I want to actually imagine and build these kinds of businesses myself. I want to be in a position to help other people like me start these businesses for themselves. And I want to be in a position to invest wisely in some of these people's ideas.

I know that I can't learn all of this in a classroom. I plan on starting to get some work experience with a similar start-up I admire ASAP (and then while I'm pursuing my degree as well). But I do believe that I can learn a lot of this stuff in the classroom if I find the right program/mentor. I'm probably not going to be able to get into a super prestigious (/expensive) program given my credentials. So maybe it'll boil down to me mostly looking for exceptional mentors at modestly regarded programs. I know of three or four such mentors at prestigious programs - and I plan on contacting them to ask for advice as well.

Thank you very, very much in advance for any advice whatsoever!

All the best!