DO YOU WANT TO EARN A LOT OF MONEY?
I like to write about issues that affect young people as well as folks who are further along in their careers. Much of what concerns me is helping people figure out how to make a living and survive in the world. I wrote a book about it that shows how I did it by figuring some things out that helped me be successful, And happy!
One issue that interests me is money. We are in a class war now with the folks who make a lot of money pitted against those who don’t. I don’t think that is new, there has always been envy and greed with all of us.
I believe much of this issue goes back to parents and colleges. When I was in college I aspired to be an account because I liked it and my Dad encouraged me to do it as there were many job opportunities in the field. I eventually worked in accounting for a few years but moved on to other areas of business using the tool I had acquired, accounting.
I knew some in college who looked at earnings potential almost exclusively in picking a field to get their degree in. Others simply studied what interested them at the time and didn’t do much research on what their education would do for them monetarily. The interesting part is that when folks entered their careers that they soon found large disparities in income among different careers. There is more to it of course, but if you really want to make a lot of money it is easier in some fields than others.
I don’t think we really need to make a ton of money to be happy, especially if we manage what we have well and live within our means. What frustrates me is that many of the folks who are in lower paying fields become angry and envious of the higher paying fields. Why should they care if they are making it work and are happy with what they have?
I think it is a reality issue; they hadn’t really thought of what lifestyle they wanted or how they could get it in their field of choice. For this I blame parents and colleges for not guiding young people in their education. Most colleges will let one study anything even if there is little or no direct market for their education. Many parents do not counsel their children about the realities of lifestyles, probably because their kids don’t know what they want to do so leave them to decide for themselves what to study. That works for some, but when reality hits they are frustrated and angry.
If parents can afford to send their kids to college and study anything I have no gripes with that. But if it is a financial challenge for families they should have serious conversations with their college bound kids. I think they need to look at the return in opportunities they will have. Maybe even hold off on college until they know what they want, maybe get a job and study the things that interest them in their spare time. Or read about them, that is one way to get an education for free.
There is lots of information on the internet today about job markets and salaries for anyone to investigate. Before I’d pay for my kids to go to college I’d want them to look at that information. I’d also like them to figure out what they want in life like houses, families and other needs. Then they may not be disappointed when reality hits.
