Caution...preachy soapbox message I love this. I have been speaking to kids in schools for many, many years. This is the same message I have given. NEVER let anyone tell you that you HAVE to get a 4-year degree to be successful. Is education important? Unequivocally, the answer is yes. But the level of education necessary is often misguided by societal standards. Book smarts dont create success. Sure, you will get additional knowledge from all of that reading and class taking but in the REAL WORLD, that wont lead you to the Promised Land. For instance, some of the most amazing people I know didnt go to more than 2 years of post-secondary education (if any). I know folks who have drive and ambition who started their own businesses with literally a few hundred dollars and a high school degree and have become multi-millionaires. I know people in the Ag industry who not only run their multi-million dollar farming operations but can literally build almost any implement or tool they need with the use of some scrap metal, a welder and American ingenuity. Enlisted soldiers who are true leaders that are flying the US Militarys most sophisticated helicopters worth more than what 10 highly educated people might earn COMBINED in their life times. Take, for example, Nucor...the nations largest steel producer...a company where you can start with a high school degree or perhaps a 2-year associates degree and end up General Manager of a division. You see, the thing is, WE determine our own success...not a diploma. People skills, hard-work, being willing to do whatever it takes on a daily basis is what makes a person successful. If your dreams include a career that requires certain levels of education then by all means, do it! If you want to go back to school later in life to get your PhD...awesome! But I think we are missing the point in America. Coming out of college with a degree, $100,000 of debt and no job and little direction cant be the best situation for young people. The key is, getting kids out in the world to experience a lot of different things to see what they like/dont like and what skills they may have might be the better answer before getting locked in to a major financial commitment that might not even get them in to a career of their choice. Invest in relationships and getting to know people. Any successful person that is honest will be able to tell you the names of contacts who helped get them where they are today. I know it has been true for me. Given the chance, I wouldnt change a thing. I always wanted to get at least a 4-year degree and I did. It worked for me. I leveraged my list of contacts and work experience/internships from college that I may not have been able to get on my own...that was invaluable. But knowing what I know now, I could have done it differently and saved a lot of money in the process. Im looking forward to seeing Mike Rowes new show. Maybe it will open some eyes to see that successful people are everywhere, in all walks of life.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 03:28:00 +0000
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