[quote=FlyerInHi][quote=njtosd]
My former boss (who didn’t say much that I found inspiring) did say one thing that has stuck with me: “If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t sell my time, because there are only so many hours in a day.” (In the case of attorneys, the number of hours in a day is 36.). Seriously, though, you can make more money in a day selling widgets than you can practicing Antitrust Law. So if you’re in it for the money – make sure you’re maximizing you potential profits.[/quote]
True. But statistically, how many businesses selling widgets become successful?
When you have an education and can sell your time for more than other people, you have a baseline to fall back on. Sell widgets if you want, but it should’t be the only plan.
I would say that the lack of health insurance has prevented many folks for starting small businesses. It usually takes money to make money. Creativity without resources is kinda useless. Rich kids can pursue their dreams using family resources. Middle class and poor kids should get an education first. Pursuing dreams is possible, just harder for the latter.[/quote]
I agree with this. Sure, many people can start from the streets and if they make it big, they start telling people that a college degree isn’t worth it, this that, etc etc etc…
Sorta like the lame comments coming from Sheryl Sandberg saying Harvard isn’t useful as a degree even though I think she met Larry Summers there who helped her with connections/network, etc etc etc…
I think most people have an over exaggeration of how great they are at their work/wealth/success and it has actually more to do with being born in the right family/resources/right place right time. All IMO of course. Heck, my family wasn’t wealthy enough growing up to go to any private schools.
It’s true that a few people will always make it successfully with no education (simple law of numbers), but the numbers are probably stacked against you and you would have to generally beat the odds. Like yourself and flu’s friend who did the shaved ice thing, I’m sure you can count on both hands many other people who failed in their business/passion, you name it. There are ton more failures there overall than successes.
Sometimes, it’s also luck of the draw, right place right time. I’m sure all the people who started solar did VERY well the last 10 years. I know mortgage brokers/owners who are multi-millionaires as well since they landed in that industry and rode it high up and owned the business.
I also have friends who made millions in the tech boom and are retired already at about 40. Startup got acquired, instant millionaires.
Skill/luck/passion? Your passion can only carry you so far IMO.
The whole point of college in the past was you can get a stable/boring job that if you can keep that job, would at least not lead you to poverty (which most people are having a tough time finding that job now).
These days, I don’t think that’s as possible with a lot of majors since most don’t lead directly to employment.
You see and read articles/shows and plenty of execs would say they graduated with (insert worthless degree here) and if they were doing that now, would have a very hard time finding work without connections.
College is the “safe” way for economic stability, but then, only “some” majors are safe for employment.
