Is college still necessary for success in the modern world? Here is a look at the contemporary college scam.
Exposing The College Scam
High School
During high school, you may encounter various individuals and entities, such as your career counselor, classmates, and representatives from different universities, who may encourage you to pursue higher education.
However, this can lead to feeling the pressure of following the crowd, which is the first step towards the college scam.
For many years, our society has propagated that attending college is the best and only way to achieve success, which can add to the pressure you may feel. Consequently, you may feel obligated to take out student loans to obtain a degree, even though the diploma may not be as valuable as you initially believed.
Student Loans
Getting you to take out loans is the second step of the college scam.
According to the National Credit Union Association, “43.6 million individuals held a combined federal student loan debt of $1.64 trillion; an average of approximately $38,000 per borrower.” This means that before many people even start making money, they are already in debt due to accruing student loans. Furthermore, graduating from college does not guarantee that you will land a good-paying job. Some graduates may earn less than $30,000 annually, making paying off their student debt even more challenging.
Debt is a common topic in personal finance, and accumulating it is not a sound financial decision. Many young people are going into debt to pursue a college degree, which may not necessarily lead to job opportunities or the development of marketable skills.
Unfortunately, society has normalized the idea of going into debt, especially among young people with little to no knowledge about personal finance. This sets them up for financial struggles from the start, even though it is seen as the norm.
Time
The third part of the college scam wastes the critical years of development listening to professors.
You end up spending your twenties in the higher education system. Instead of learning valuable life skills, you read outdated books and learn old programs to pass tests. Once you graduate, you may realize that nothing in those books helped you. You then may realize that you wasted four years or more of your life in college and have nothing to show for it.
I spent nearly a decade of my twenties in higher education rather than making money. I attended college, community college, and graduate school. Still, I never did anything professionally with what I studied in the higher education system.
During your twenties, it is best to focus on learning life skills and gaining experience to set you apart. While you are learning skills, discover what you obsess over. Then, find a way to make money from what you love to do. Otherwise, you will become miserable.
However, people have been told that college leads to success, even though colleges teach no critical life or career skills. Many people waste the vital years of their lives that they should spend setting themselves up for professional success listening to professors and learning no marketable skills.
Before you know it, your twenties are gone. You may not have a career. You end up working a dead-end job. You wonder where all your time went and what to do now to escape working jobs that will never pay your ever-increasing adult bills, from health insurance to medical problems.
Student Lifestyle
The fourth part of the college scam is learning bad lifestyle habits.
It is common for students to develop bad habits during college. Many prioritize enjoying the present rather than planning for their future. Some students may believe that everything will fall into place after graduation. They want to enjoy their college years before they start working an actual job.
Partying is a norm in most colleges, even private and Christian institutions. While Christian schools may not be known as party schools, the party culture is present on their campuses.
Young adults in college are often encouraged to date and hook up. Instead of waiting to figure out their lives, many live in the moment and hook up with someone they find attractive. There may also be rumors about classmates dating each other.
Drug use is also common on college campuses. It can range from casual substances such as alcohol and marijuana to harder drugs. The prevalence of drug use often depends on the college and the people students choose to associate with.
No Longer A Guarantee Of Success
The final step of the college scam is realizing that your degree does not help you to start a career. You then end up stuck in a dead-end job paying off your student debt for your worthless degree.
Many people believe that obtaining a college degree is no longer a guarantee of success because the value of a college degree has decreased due to inflation. There is degree inflation because more people have obtained degrees today. Hence, college degrees are no longer considered unique or valuable. You now have to pursue a graduate degree or a doctoral program to set yourself apart. Alternatively, you can gain skills while still in school by working part-time or full-time.
Solutions
It is excellent news that you can skip college as more people become aware of its challenges. Fortunately, there are alternative paths you can take to achieve your career goals.
The first option is self-learning. You can take digital courses, read books and blog articles, and watch videos on topics and skills you want to learn. Once you acquire a new skill, you could start a side hustle to turn it into a business.
My best decision was to start my website in college. I learned much from having my website and working hard to grow it into an online business. Owning an online business also allows me to live in another state or country.
You could learn how to start your own website, YouTube channel, or TikTok channel. Then, you can integrate them to build your own business and brand.
The second option is to learn a trade. A significant advantage of learning a trade is that trade schools are less expensive than a four-year college. Upon completing your training, you can begin working once you find someone to hire you. Once you understand a particular trade, you can start your own business. Some trades include plumbing, carpentry, mechanics, dental hygiene, painting, masonry, roofing, construction, HVAC mechanics, and welding.
The third option is to start working right away. Identify what you enjoy doing and then learn the necessary skills to be certified. You could apply for an entry-level job or work as a freelancer with basic tech skills or other skills you possess. The advantage of this option is that you can start making money while gaining work experience in your twenties.
Summary
College is a scam. College markets itself as securing a better future for you but can also lead to a lot of debt. Nowadays, due to degree inflation, college degrees are less valuable than they used to be, making them less effective in landing a good job. Fortunately, other options, such as learning a trade or pursuing self-education, are available.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not investment, financial, or legal advice. Consult with a financial or legal professional before making investment or legal decisions. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.
Do you need to go to college? Will going into debt for college help your future? Is college worth it? Here is a look at why attending college may not be worth it.
Is College Worth It?
Financial Considerations
The cost of obtaining a college degree is a primary source of financial stress for many students. It burdens them with debt and prevents them from saving and investing for their future. In fact, according to Statista, the average cost of attending a four-year university ranges from $24,000 to $60,000 per year. Students typically will spend anywhere from $100,000 to $250,000 to earn a four-year degree.
Furthermore, research by Research.com shows that college costs have increased by a staggering 143% for full-time students since 1963. This alarming fact indicates that the burden of student debt will only worsen. According to The College Investor, the average student loan debt balance in 2024 was $37,718.
Student debt is a typical unsecured debt many Americans have. Many will continue to pay off their student loans after graduation. This debt can hinder your ability to save and invest money.
Consider the critical long-term financial impacts of attending college and accumulating debt. You can explore alternative options to avoid taking on too much debt and compromising your financial well-being.
Educational Considerations
When it comes to education, we need to be smart about how we invest our money. College education is often seen as the gold standard, but is it really worth it? Let’s face it: college is just a more advanced version of high school. Students learn from textbooks, take quizzes and tests, and gain book knowledge that often never translates to practical skills.
Even in specialized fields like information and cybersecurity, most graduate programs offer limited opportunities for hands-on learning, relying instead on outdated textbooks and exams.
The education system only follows one method of learning: reading and exams. There are more effective ways to learn. There are many ways to learn.
The better way to learn is to take digital courses on topics of interest to you. These courses are designed to provide critical information in a condensed format so you can complete them in a few days. Unlike college courses, digital courses focus on practical skills you can apply in the real world.
The best part? Digital courses can provide a certificate showing that you completed the course. You can then add the digital course’ certificate to your LinkedIn profile and resume, providing tangible evidence of your skills and knowledge.
So, before you invest your money in a college education, consider the benefits of digital courses. With digital courses, you can learn practical skills that will help you succeed in the real world, all in a fraction of the time and money it takes to earn a degree.
Lifestyle Considerations
Attending college can lead you towards negative lifestyle habits that can be detrimental to your personal growth. Unfortunately, the college party scene often reinforces these habits, which include excessive drinking, smoking, promiscuity, gambling, and seeking validation from others.
However, there is an alternative. Instead of attending college, you can develop positive lifestyle habits that benefit your overall well-being. Doing so may make you more successful than your peers who decided to attend college. You can start working on these habits while working or starting your own business, allowing you to build a foundation for a fulfilling and successful life.
Do not let college dictate your life choices and habits. Choose the path less traveled and focus on developing positive habits that will benefit you in the long run. Doing so may unlock your full potential and help you discover success beyond your wildest dreams.
Will College Help You To Get A Career?
It is a common misconception that a college degree is the key to landing your dream job. However, the reality is that many college-educated individuals end up working in entry-level retail jobs.
I have had to work primarily in retail and merchandising jobs, even though I attended college and graduate school. No employer would hire me because I lacked the proper work experience, and they did not care that I spent nearly a decade in the higher education system.
Your work experience, not your academic background, truly matters to companies. Having hands-on experience in your field can make you a more valuable candidate than someone with a degree but no practical experience.
Do not forget that you can succeed in your career without a college degree. With the right skills and a winning attitude in interviews, you can demonstrate your capabilities and secure the job you want. So do not be discouraged if you do not have a degree—focus on building your skills and experience, and the opportunities will follow.
Dilemma Of Getting A College Degree Versus Work Experience
Choosing between college and work experience can be a daunting decision for young people. While college can provide you with valuable knowledge, many employers now favor candidates with work experience and skills over those with a college degree.
It may be more beneficial to prioritize work experience over earning a college degree. Work experience allows you to gain hands-on experience that employers may require. Studying and acquiring the necessary certifications and skills can make you more competitive and help you work up in a company or industry.
In today’s job market, staying competitive requires acquiring the skills and experience employers value most. You must carefully decide whether attending college or gaining work experience is best to make informed decisions that align with your career goals.
Summary
Is obtaining a college degree worth it? That depends on your career aspirations and whether or not you think it’s worth taking on debt. In some cases, it may not be worth it, as you spend most of your twenties learning theoretical knowledge that is irrelevant to the practical skills needed to secure a job.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not investment, financial, or legal advice. Consult with a financial or legal professional before making investment or legal decisions. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.
Does a worldwide fertility crisis exist? Will humanity cease reproduction? Will your family name die off? Here is a look at the shocking 2021 global fertility rate!
2021 Global Fertility Rate
Statista’s Katharina Buchholz reports that the global fertility rate is declining from 5.3 children in 1963 to 2.3 children per woman in 2021.
African countries have the highest fertility rate of the seven continents. Africa averages 3 to 4 or more children per woman.
In 2021, the country with the highest global fertility rate was Niger in West Africa. Niger had an average of 6.8 children per woman, according to the World Bank.
Western countries, including China, Japan, and parts of South America, had an average of 1 to 1.9 children per woman.
Source: Statista
Longer Life Expectancy
The average life expectancy in 1951 was 68.
The current life expectancy is now 79.
The United Nations expects the average life expectancy to reach 88 by 2100.
Lower Childhood Mortality
The childhood mortality rate has declined. There are fewer childhood deaths today than in the 1800s and the 1950s.
According to Our World in Data, “Child mortality continued to fall across Europe, North America, and Australasia; around 1-in-200 children died before their 5th birthday in 2015.”
Higher living standards, clean water, sanitation, nutrition, and better healthcare and medical knowledge have resulted in declining childhood deaths.
Can Humanity Achieve Replacement Level?
The global fertility rate is in a perilous position. Statista’s chart indicates that Western countries have below-replacement-level fertility.
According to the United Nations, “The replacement level of fertility is close to 2.1 live births per woman in populations with a normal sex ratio at birth (around 105 baby boys per 100 baby girls) and relatively low levels of mortality.”
From Mothers To Career Women
The population decline in Western countries is due to women delaying having children. Women no longer need to become mothers. Women no longer need to receive their value from having children and being a mother.
Women are free to pursue higher education and join the workforce. Today, women can have successful careers. Instead of being mothers, they can be career-oriented women.
What Does This Mean For You?
Will You Ever Have Children?
People are delaying or choosing never to marry. The consequence is a decrease in the number of women having children. People are staying single for longer.
Will You Ever See Grandchildren?
If the global fertility rate continues to fall and people choose not to reproduce, you may never see grandchildren.
The consequence of this trend is the loss of entire family names.
Will Eastern Countries Dominate The West?
Western countries could experience severe economic and social consequences. Their populations are failing to replace themselves. The result is that these countries will fare poorly. They will lack a strong labor force and low demographics to pay into programs like Social Security.
Countries with higher fertility rates could grow more influential as power shifts from the West to the East.
Summary
People are living longer. Women have fewer children. Western countries are failing to replace their populations. The fertility crisis signals the end of humanity!
Is the end nigh for countries with below-replacement-level fertility rates? Let me know in the comments below!
Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment, financial, or legal advice. Consult with a financial or legal professional before making an investment or legal decision. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.
Have you recently relocated to a new city? Are you seeking to establish new friendships? Here are ways how to make friends in a new city!
How To Make Friends In A New City
Shared Interests
Having shared interests is the key to making friends. These include your hobbies, skills, and passions.
Meetup Groups
When you move to a new city, you can make friends using the Meetup app or website. You can find groups that fit your interests and even discover groups that attend significant events on Meetup.
Facebook Groups
Facebook groups offer another effective means of connecting with people.. Search for Facebook groups within your city that revolve around a particular interest.
After you join the group and engage with its members, message people who often like and comment on your posts.
Nextdoor
You can search for neighborhood and local events using Nextdoor. Nextdoor, an app and website, allows neighbors to talk, connect, and find events in their town. It is a great way to meet and talk to your new neighbors!
Bars
You can visit the city’s bars. You can converse about your mutual interests over a beer or cocktail, watch sports, or attend local events with someone at a bar.
Two best friends I know met at a local bar. They are now lifelong friends.
Restaurants
Find a local restaurant that sounds delicious to you online. Go to the restaurant and order a meal at the bar. A restaurant focuses more on food than drinks. You can start a conversation at the restaurant’s bar.
Church
You can attend church or another spiritual gathering. Look up local churches or spiritual events in your city. Join church groups and find events that the church is organizing.
Political Events
Joining a political campaign or organization allows you to connect with people with similar political interests and values. They are taking action to help a political candidate or party. It is a way to make friends who love politics.
Sporting Events
Major cities have a sports team you can support.
Going to live sporting events, cheering, and talking to sports fans is another way you can make friends. You can also cheer on the team at a local sports bar.
You can meet people who share an interest in sports and sports teams.
Local Events
You can discover local events in your new town or city online. Farmers’ markets, fairs, and food events may be available in the city.
Concerts
Attending local and major city concerts is another way to meet people. Listen to local musicians playing at bars while conversing with someone at the bar. Talk to concertgoers when attending your favorite artist’s live concert.
Gym
Make friends when you go to the gym. Never interrupt someone while they are exercising or working out. When someone says hi to you, make sure to say hi back. Start a conversation with someone when you leave the gym or at the end of a gym class.
Related – 7 Types Of Self-Investment
Public Events
You can go to public events in the city. These include council meetings, local elections, and discussions at the public library. Engaging with your city’s public events allows you to meet others who want to better their community.
Networking Events
Attending networking events in your new city to meet other professionals. Networking and making professional connections can present opportunities to you—network with people in your field.
If you are looking for a job in the city, networking could help you find a referral to a new company.
Parks
Parks are a great place to meet new people, whether you have a dog or a child or walking or running. Some parks have food vendors and public events available to the public. You may meet a new friend while walking around the park or trying food from a local food truck.
Summary
You can make friends in a new city. You can start conversing with someone at a bar, restaurant, or local event. Stop allowing fear to prevent you from making friends. You make friends by beginning a conversation with someone in the new city!
What are other ways you can meet people after moving to a new city? Let me know in the comments below!
Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment, financial, or legal advice. Consult with a financial or legal professional before making an investment or legal decision. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.
Society wants people to be charismatic and outgoing. Autistic people are often introverted and lack social skills. They are the opposite of those who do well in a society that advances extroverts. There is a dark connection between autism and suicide.
Autism And Suicide
Isolation
People with autism tend to isolate themselves. There are many reasons why they may do this. They do not want to be around the bright lights and sounds that come with going out. A person with ASD also becomes fixated on something. They spend all their time working on whatever their fixation is on.
Difficulty With Relationships
By spending time in isolation, many people with autism have difficulty with relationships. A person with ASD may not have many friends. This is because they prefer to spend time alone and usually have an inner monologue with themselves. The mind is always running.
Romantic relationships are complex for many people with autism. They lack the soft skills and the social graces to come across the right way to someone they may want to date.
Lack Of Social Skills
Someone on the spectrum lacks the social and soft skills people expect in everyday interactions. It could be something as simple as not standing too close to a person. But what seems evident to neuro-normative people is not apparent to a neurodiverse person.
The problem with social skills negatively affects an autistic individual’s ability to find stability. Job.
Difficulty Finding Stable Jobs
A vital part of getting a stable job is being able to pass interviews and then deal with office politics. Both of those are difficult for ASD individuals to do. My Disability Jobs writes, “at least 85% of adults that are autistic are unemployed and have a college education.” The high unemployment rate of autistic individuals affects their ability to have a stable income.
Interviewers are trained to treat an interview as a vetting process to determine which candidate best fits a company’s culture while bringing their skills. The lack of soft skills makes an interviewee with ASD come across as cold.
Hard Time Moving Up In Companies
Since many people with ASD have difficulty finding stable jobs, they are unable to move up in companies to increase their income. They lose access to traditional full-time work. Full-time jobs often include healthcare and retirement benefits. Many autistic people get stuck working dead-end jobs that can never pay the bills, which become more expensive as an adult.
Financial Problems
The inability to find stable jobs leads to financial problems. They have difficulty paying the bills. Many are unable to save and invest for their future. They end up in debt.
Financial stress is another common cause that leads to suicide. The combination of the problems that autistic individuals have in finding a job, being unable to cover their bills, and financial anxiety increases the risk of suicide for people with ASD.
As a result of financial problems and being unable to find a career to move up in, many fail to launch.
Failure To Launch
All of these can lead to a failure to launch once an autistic person reaches adulthood. Some may end up living with their parents. Others may get kicked out of where they rent and become homeless.
They fall behind financially, socially, and professionally. This failure to launch may make someone with ASD believe they are a failure. It may result in someone with autism to commit suicide.
Summary
The dark connection between autism and suicide comes down to people with autism lacking soft skills. The lack of social skills affects their personal and professional life. The result is being unable to launch and live a normal adult life.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment, financial, or legal advice. Consult with a financial or legal professional before making an investment or legal decision. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.
There is a shocking connection between autism and unemployment. Here is why there is an astronomical rate of unemployment among people with ASD.
Autism and Unemployment
Trouble Passing Interviews
People with autism lack the social skills to pass interviews. An interview is about something other than testing a person to see if they have the skills for a job. An interview is about not allowing candidates to move on who do not seem like a good fit for a company. Jobs require working with people.
Interviews vet out candidates who lack the social skills that society expects people to have to succeed in life. During an interview, the interviewer looks for signs that a person understands social cues and soft skills. Soft skills are a shortcoming for people with ASD.
Lack Of Soft Skills To Move Up
Soft skills are needed to move up in a traditional workplace successfully. They allow a person to navigate the politics of a work environment. Social skills help to network, get along with colleagues, come across as warm rather than cold to bosses, and are the social lubricant that goes along with hard skills to move up in a company.
An employee is socially awkward or out of place without these soft skills. They may accidentally say something that comes across as wrong.
They come across as cold to employers. They have difficulty understanding non-verbal communication. An interviewer seeks someone to get along with other employees and contribute to the work environment. The hard skills are just the icing on the cake.
Hard Skills
Hard skills only matter to a certain point in the traditional work environment. Those may be what you are paid to do, but you still need to interact with people every day. It could be virtually or in person.
Soft skills. Networking. Understanding office politics and schmoozing the right people. Those are what help someone to move up in a company. That is the secret that employers do not want you to know.
Hard skills are just what a person goes into the office to do every week.
Employees can be fired for any reason, even if they are the best person for a job, because they do not get along with people. No soft skills. No job. At least no job that will be able to pay the bills.
Many Autistic Individuals Get Stuck Working Dead End Jobs
Since many autistic individuals have trouble passing interviews, they often end up working dead-end jobs. Those are the ones who can work. According to My Disability Jobs, “at least 85% of adults that are autistic are unemployed and have a college education.” That means only about fifteen to twenty percent of people with ASD work part-time or full-time jobs.
The biggest reason for that high unemployment rate is that they lack soft skills.
Solutions For People With Autism
The good news is that there are always solutions. For someone on the spectrum, there are non-traditional options to work today. Some options are:
- Freelancing
- Remote or online work
- Starting an online business
- STEM careers
Summary
People with ASD have a high unemployment rate. There is plenty of discussion about trying to find solutions to employ people on the spectrum, but there is little talk of discussing the cause of the autism epidemic. If you are on the spectrum, you may be able to find work. It may be work that is below your skill set, and you may be underemployed.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment, financial, or legal advice. Consult with a financial or legal professional before making an investment or legal decision. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.
The American Dream says that if you work hard enough, a person can make something of themselves. That is true of traditional jobs that exist only in specific sectors today. For everyone else, there are now part-time and dead-jobs in America.
Dead-End Jobs In America
There may still be some traditional jobs that allow a person to work their way up. Those jobs are now mostly only in specific fields. Namely STEM fields. Outside of those areas, part-time and dead-end jobs are now standard.
Most people now work in some sort of retail job. The United States has become a service economy. The FRED says the rise of the service economy is a good thing, even though those jobs pay less than other jobs that require more skill. The job may pay just above minimum wage.
Service jobs often do not pay enough for a person to be able to pay rent and other expenses that are necessary to live. It may or may not provide benefits (most likely not). A person cannot live on that with the rising cost of living. A person will never be able to buy a house working a part-time or retail job in the modern economy. Yet, the St. Louis Fed says that the growth of the service sector is great for the economy!
Dead-end jobs are the new normal. Millennials grew up with dead-end jobs as the standard. Deloitte writes regarding the rise of dead-end jobs. “Today, this model [the traditional career] is being shattered. As research suggests, and as I’ve seen in my career, the days of a steady, stable career are over. Organizations have become flatter and less ladder-like, making upward progression less common (often replaced by team or project leadership).”
The consequence of having less ability to move up in a company is that more people are stuck working entry-level jobs.
Despite attending college and later graduate school, my experience has been working random dead-end jobs. This has become the economic reality for many people. A college degree is no longer a guarantee that a person can get a job in a career that will allow them to work in a company.
Global Competition
Manufacturing jobs have been outsourced. Millennials and Gen Z now must compete on a global scale. Freelance and contract work are more common. Past generations do not have to face the competition to get a job that millennials and younger generations must face.
Previous generations did not face global competition in the workplace. Competition for jobs was only national. Companies can get away with paying employees less for working fewer hours due to job competition. The job does not even need to cover the bills. This is why it is common for a person to work two or three part-time jobs.
Solutions
The solution for Millennials and younger generations is solopreneurship. Entrepreneurship has always been the option to escape the rat race. To escape working a job you hate. In the Internet age, a person can start an online business.
An online business can be focused on one or more of the evergreen niches:
- Health
- Relationships
- Money
In the 21st Century, building a personal brand and a business is more accessible. Create a YouTube or TikTok channel. Start a website or Substack. A business must sell products and services to people. That is the essence of a business. An e-commerce business can sell:
- Physical products
- Digital products
- Coaching and other services
- Subscriptions
- Merchandise
The main reason why many people will not want to start a business is because it requires self-responsibility. The business owner is responsible for working to build revenue streams. Once a company has made enough money, a business owner can hire people to regain the time spent building the business.
Freelancers and contractors are the most cost-effective way of doing this. They are not full-time employees. An online business does not need to pay them benefits that come with a full-time employee. An online business owner can use the trend of part-time and gig work to save money. A business owner can choose to offer full-time work benefits after the business makes a profit, and the founder can consistently take a percentage off the top to pay oneself. That can take years, depending on the business niche and how business-savvy the business owner is starting.
Summary
Part-time and dead-end jobs are more common today. Young people can escape having to work dead-end jobs by accepting self-responsibility and starting their own online business. An online business is an opportunity to build a personal brand and business. A business has always been the way to build wealth since it is a financial asset that allows the business owner to create multiple income streams while enjoying the legal protections of having a business entity.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment, financial, or legal advice. Consult with a financial or legal professional before making an investment or legal decision. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.
People who lack self-confidence are easier to manipulate. They will obey. Here is the shocking truth about lacking confidence that society does not want you to know.
Shocking Truth About Lacking Confidence
Society wants people who are not confident. They are easier to control. They will do as they are told. They will not question the society’s social expectations. Once they are done doing what they are meant to do, they will be passive by watching entertainment.
In short, society wants timid people.
Traits Of People With No Self-Confidence
People who lack self-confidence can easily be pressured. They will often follow the crowd or the person perceived as the leader. They will do what other people tell them.
When a person lacks self-confidence, they are unsure of themselves. They do not know their strengths or weaknesses. They are willing to give up having to work to better themselves.
How Society Creates Insecure People
The education system is the first way society molds insecure people. The education system makes people afraid of failing on tests. It teaches people that to fail is harmful rather than to learn from it. The true purpose of the education system is to make a person into an obedient employee.
As an employee, you are given the faint hope of working for a company or in a career field. The hope is to increase your pay to beat inflation. An employee must obey and do what the employer says. If you go out of line, you will be fired. The fear of losing a job and living without a paycheck makes people fearful.
Two Ways Society Makes People Insecure
The two main ways how people are made insecure are by being fearful of losing their jobs and failing. Fear is then pumped every day on the news. It is pushed in politics. People then give up their individuality to a perceived expert or an employer rather than working to better themselves.
Summary
If you live in fear and are afraid of failure, you are doing exactly what society wants you to do. Discover your strengths, invest in yourself, and stop living in fear. Failure is one of the best ways to learn. Embrace your full potential by learning about yourself. You can then begin to develop self-confidence.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment, financial, or legal advice. Consult with a financial or legal professional before making an investment or legal decision. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.
Many parents think that sending their kids to college will help their children be successful. Society pressures people to go to college by saying that without a degree, you will become a failure. There are many options for college. Does everyone need to go to college?
Does Everyone Need To Go To College?
There are many options for young people other than college. Young people are told they cannot have a career if they do not attend college. The problem with this is, what exactly is a job?
Society defines a career as a nine-to-five desk job. Some perks of the desk job include a retirement plan, health insurance, and sick days. In the olden days, that was what a career was. Today, the gig economy and the rise of contract work are eliminating careers.
No. Not everyone needs to go to college. Not everyone needs a liberal arts education. The very fact that society has told young people they must go to college has created degree inflation.
It is the fundamental economic law of supply and demand. There is now an oversupply of people with college degrees. College degrees have lost their value for Millennials and Gen Z.
False Safety Of College
The message is that going to college will make a person successful in life. Nothing could be farther from reality. Many things could get between you and getting a job that could lead to a career.
Some issues that people may encounter are poor social skills, poor interview performance, and insufficient connections. The part colleges will not tell students is that the second part of success in the traditional work sphere is that a person must have strong verbal and non-verbal skills, get along with people, and use their connections to move up or find another job.
College has little effect on your achievements after graduation. It may just appear that it helped get you in the door. That may or may not be true. Connections often matter more. If you have learned the skills outside of the higher education system and can convince an employer that you know your stuff without a degree, you can still get hired.
What To Do Instead Of Going To College
Go to a technical school, attend a community college, learn a trade, watch videos online, get certification in something of interest, ask to shadow someone who does something you may be interested in doing, start your own business, or learn to utilize the power of the Internet and start an online business.
Invest In Yourself
The best thing to do is to continually invest in yourself. Learn your strengths, weaknesses, and what you enjoy doing, and discover a way to monetize them. Getting paid for what you enjoy doing is the best thing ever. That may mean working a job you like, even if you do not always get along with co-workers. The other option is to start your own business.
Learn Hard Skills
Hard skills are vital to success. Soft skills are the icing that makes your personal brand look good to other people. Without hard skills, it is just fluff. There is a wide range of complex skills. Here is a list of hard skills to help you get started:
• Data analytics
• Project management
• Carpentry
• Cybersecurity
• Copywriting
• Graphic design
• Video editing
• Search engine optimization
• Accounting
• Encryption
Figure out the broad umbrella of a hard skill that interests you. Then, learn the related skills that fall under that general category. By investing time and learning independently, you will become an expert before you know it.
No expensive college degree is needed!
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Summary
There is no reason for young people to attend college. The Internet provides access to information to learn new skills. It depends on whether a person wants to put in the hard work. Investing in oneself and constantly working to improve skills is the path to success. They are not receiving an overpriced college degree from an institution that thinks too highly of itself.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment or financial advice. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). Now available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon. Subscribe to Secure Single’s Substack for free!
The modern education system and higher education system are taken for granted today. It is assumed that going through the education system will result in an individual who can positively contribute to society. But what is the value of an education?
What Is The Value Of An Education?
Types Of Education
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines education as “the action or process of educating or of being educated” and “the field of study that deals mainly with methods of teaching and learning in school.”
The first type of education requires action. It is done by oneself. Self-teaching is a form of self-development.
The second type of learning is taught by a teacher in the education system. It is what most people are familiar with. It is what society teaches people to think is education.
The modern education system is an industrialized process in which schools must follow a state’s required academic standards. Public schools must follow these standards, while private schools can have their own curriculum. The rules for parents who decide to homeschool will depend on the state.
Education does not mean spending years sitting in a classroom or going to college. Many of the greatest minds were self-taught. They read books. They found other people to learn from who challenged them or who shared similar interests.
Traditional School System
The role of the traditional education system is marketed as teaching children, teenagers, and young adults the basics they need to contribute to society. The problem is that America’s K-12 education system continues to see a decline in students’ ability to read, write, and learn basic arithmetic and science. American students are being dumbed down. The education system in its current form is not working. Reforming is not a solution since it has gotten worse over time.
Higher Education System
The higher education system is marketed to young adults as the solution to becoming successful in life. If they attend a traditional school of some type, students will likely have a conversation with their school’s career counselor during their junior or senior year of high school.
The career counselor’s job is to help young adults figure out their interests and direct them toward the appropriate degree for university study.
The high school sends its students to college. It is one part of the revolving door of the educational industrial complex.
Alternatives Forms Of Education
There are alternative ways to learn without going to college. Self-study is the most powerful way. Look up the books that are required in a specific field. Look them up online. Read them. Do you want to learn about philosophy, business, or history? Read a book. Watch videos. Read blogs. Consider investing in a digital course to dive deeper.
The best investment in myself has been purchasing digital courses from people with a proven track record in their field. The courses ranged from how to start a YouTube channel to how to build a successful online business. Those are topics that interested me. Thousands of classes are available on learning sites such as Udemy, Thinkific, and Masterclass.
Self-education is a vital skill that many self-made millionaires attribute to their success.
Determining The True Value Of An Education
Society presents the value of education as the degree or certificate that is earned upon graduation from an educational institution. It may be a high school diploma, a college degree, or a certificate from a certification course that an employer may require.
Self-teaching is a continual process. It never ends. Proper education should never end. That is the problem with
The actual value of an education is continual learning. It is a process that never ends until you die. Skills can be applied to advance in a career field or improve oneself.
Knowledge is not power. Knowledge must be applied. Only applied knowledge is power. The best knowledge is learned through self-teaching and real-world work, not sitting in a classroom for six hours daily.
The education system places a price on the education system. The graduate then receives a fancy degree. In reality, no price can be set on education if it is self-teaching.
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Summary
The real value of education is not in earning a degree. It is the process of learning through one’s life. The beauty of the Internet is it has made it easier and less expensive to become self-taught. The skills that one knows must then be applied to better oneself.