guy I hate to say it - but is is either school or other talents. you can't half ass both and get away with it. it is either C student and entrepreneur-facilitating, marketable outside talents or A student and no-little outside talents. B student and mediocre outside talents will lead to mediocracy and failure. so decide which you want to encourage. i would go for outside talents but you better make damn sure your son has the right tutor, influences, and environment to hone his natural inclinations outside the traditional academic system.