Agreedmy advice is to try to figure out who you are and what you want and keep as many options open within reason
I think most people fail to recognize that the trades option is not about creating just an income. It's about the opportunity to create a business. A highly scalable, lucrative, growth business.I’m degreed in construction management, great career choice. I am slowly trying to brainwash my 13 and 14 yr old “Gifted” kids to Enter the trades against my wife’s wishes.
ive met a lot, and I mean a LOT of self made multi millionaires With a HS diploma and trade experience. And many whose kids have inherited the biz. With my knowledge and connections I could make their start easier.
it makes so much sense it will likely never happen. the construction industry top to bottom is seeing major personnel shortages nationwide in trades and mgmt.
This. And pay attention to what subjects, projects and tasks you enjoy doing enough to do for 75,000-100,000 professional hours.my advice is to try to figure out who you are and what you want and keep as many options open within reason
All good points. And money cannot buy happiness, that much is certain. But on the whole, I think if you give the average person a choice between having lots of money or very little money, it’s a pretty easy choice. Money can give you security in life, and options; it can open up doors; it can add conveniences. No, it can’t buy happiness, but it can do a lot of little things on the fringe. And without it, life can be a whole lot harder.I never went to college.
I am in the midst of looking for a college with my daughter. She is super smart and hard working. I mean that for real it's not just a dad boasting, although I am not opposed to that. We just found out she is number 10 in a class of around 300. Anyway I feel she could go to college do well and earn good pay. In my mind these are typically engineers, lawyers, doctors etc....
My daughter wants to go to an arts college and do sound/lighting engineering?
At first this really bothered me. I thought WTF, you could really make it here with a good profession. Like I said I have never been to college but thanks to hard work, tenacity, grace, and being at the right place at the right time I have done ok. While financially we are ok just barely but I see it will be better in the next 10 years as I am close to paying off the mortgage and a few cars. Having said all that I am really not very happy at my job. I know that what I do is not what I was meant to do but out of necessity I made it work.
This brings me back to my genius daughter. I have told her to follow her dreams and if that is sound engineering or light engineering then do it. Regardless of potential earnings in other fields. It is much more important to be happy.
I have recently been around some VERY rich people and they are not close to happy. They may be more miserable then me.
I feel like I am starting to ramble here but I think you know what I am trying to say.
I would like the know how its possible to cost $57,000.00 to go to an arts school for one year? While I said we are doing ok financially its not $57,000.00 a year for school ok. We are currently looking for scholarships to help her get where she wants.
* I do want to say I don't know what sound and lighting engineers make. It's quite possible I am naive and they do very well. Finding that out is on my list of things to do.
I agree with much of this. I also feel it is very individual. The thing about my daughter is she is not a clueless 17 year old. This sound and lighting thing is not something that just popped up. She has been into this since she was little. She was messing around with old camcorders and what not from a very early age, I just thought that's cute, all kids like to see themselves on the tv but she kept rolling with it and it was more then just seeing herself on the tv.All good points. And money cannot buy happiness, that much is certain. But on the whole, I think if you give the average person a choice between having lots of money or very little money, it’s a pretty easy choice. Money can give you security in life, and options; it can open up doors; it can add conveniences. No, it can’t buy happiness, but it can do a lot of little things on the fringe. And without it, life can be a whole lot harder.
So I’ll be pushing my kids to do something practical/lucrative first and foremost. In other words, don’t pick the thing you love the most (much as I dreamt of being an NBA player or replacing Slash in GnR, I was smart enough — and more so my parents practical enough — to not let me stumble down those paths) — rather, pick the most lucrative/practical thing that you enjoy. Sure I’d rather be doing a lot of other things on any given day I’m doing my job, and it is far from a “passion” of mine — and some days my job feels miserable, like anyone else’s — but on the whole it’s pretty good, the pay is good, the opportunities are good, and it allows me to provide well for my family and do some fun things I otherwise couldn’t.
Just one guy’s take. I’ve never really bought into the “follow your dreams!, do whatever you’re most passionate about!!” shtick to a clueless 16 or 18 year old.
Also an EE from our alma mater, and honestly I don’t see what the point was. I could count the good professors on one hand.I was an electrical engineering major and based by college career on getting a job in the electric utility industry (my dad was a lineman). It's been a solid, sustainable career. I went from making $27k in 1986 to low-level FBG numbers now.
Based on what my alma mater does now for my major, I probably couldn't hack it.
If you're an engineer, the field is wide open and opportunities can be had and careers made.
If I was going to recommend a trade it would be electrician. You also see old electricians no so much with other trades.If I had to do it all over again I'd be an electrician.
I think that the answer is in between these. In the end, the goal should be to have the most enjoyable life you can. The word "enjoyable" is certainly relative, but I think that it generally comes down to having a day-to-day that has more positive than negative and also being in a position to continually increase that spread between positive and negative. For some people, that means making sure they have plenty of money and security. For others, that means feeling like they are valued and/or what they are doing has meaning. For others, that means being intellectually stimulated. For others, that means preventing a lot of stress.a good profession. Like I said I have never been to college but thanks to hard work, tenacity, grace, and being at the right place at the right time I have done ok. While financially we are ok just barely but I see it will be better in the next 10 years as I am close to paying off the mortgage and a few cars. Having said all that I am really not very happy at my job. I know that what I do is not what I was meant to do but out of necessity I made it work.
This brings me back to my genius daughter. I have told her to follow her dreams and if that is sound engineering or light engineering then do it. Regardless of potential earnings in other fields. It is much more important to be happy.
Yep. What do you want to do? Will that provide the means for you to live the life you want to live? You don't need to answer those questions at age 18, but you should have a better idea by 20 or so. And if you still don't know then pursue a catch-all option with the expectations of developing something more specialized later.my advice is to try to figure out who you are and what you want and keep as many options open within reason
And if you went when I did back in the 20th century, that was the case then too.Also an EE from our alma mater, and honestly I don’t see what the point was. I could count the good professors on one hand.
Exactly. And best part is they can start earning a better than average wage right from the start. Put in 10yrs learning then open up shop by your ~30th bday. It’s closest to a sure thing I’m aware of. If I was in a different spot in life I’d do it.I think most people fail to recognize that the trades option is not about creating just an income. It's about the opportunity to create a business. A highly scalable, lucrative, growth business.
I majored in economics out of prudence. It never stuck and I can't tell you what G equals in any situation at all.Agreed
If I were to do it over again, I'd probably keep my second major.
Advice to my kids - find what you like, keep trying different things until you find the match. Then work the hell out of it.
Economics was my minor before switching to military science. Ended up with one major and three minors. It's not hard to tell which has been most lucrative:I majored in economics out of prudence. It never stuck and I can't tell you what G equals in any situation at all.
However; I love English and American History and Poli Sci (seond major) and would have both a higher GPA and a more successful feel if perhaps I had made that my major. My thoughts: If you're going liberal arts, do not worry about the viability of a degree; none of them are viable. Do what you love.