Unfortunately academia hides people who have never accomplished anything in the private sector working a job, or they did not function well working in the private sector.
My academic advisor when I was at OSU (1979-85, I got MS degree), admitted to me many professors like himself seek out academia because it is an easier profession with far less stress. Less pay but far less stress and you can earn tenure.
He told me too many professors have not worked enough in the private sector to be able to teach past the text book. I was pretty shocked he admitted this. He did have good private sector experience but admitted being a professor was so much less stressful. He bragged about his work schedule, time off, grad assistants to score tests, etcā¦ it opened my eyes, I think he felt he was semi-retired.
