Then please draw TWO connections between it and what you have read so far in So Good They Can't Ignore You, Mr. Doherty's talk yesterday, or any other articles you've read or videos you've seen. Finally, leave TWO comments to the connections of your peers.
Have a great MEA break.
My favorite part of this video occurs toward the middle where Fleming contrasts some who earns an MBA in business, yet is an average business owner, and someone who earns a technical degree as an electrician, yet is a master electrician. I think this illustrates the importance of being really good at something. That, of course, ties it to what Mr. Doherty said about working really hard and trying to be the best they can be. That, of course, relates clearly to Newport's mantra about not simply following your passion but rather find what you are good at or have a talent for and then working really, really hard to become very good at it. Success usually follows.
ReplyDeleteEarly on in the video, Fleming notes that when many young people enter the workforce, they realize that their degree (and all the money they spent for it) may not guarantee them of success in their field or at their job or in their career. As he stated, "Not every degree is direct preparation for employment."
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me of what Mr. Doherty said about leaving every job in good terms and to try to impress as many people as you can with your work ethic and intelligence and curiosity. You never know where those people - and the connections they will provide you - may lead you. You may start out - as I did - in a career that you considered a J-O-B. But over time, you may make some connections, as I did with professors at BSU and UND, and those connections may allow you unforeseen opportunities (as with me - grad school at BSU and teaching and research opportunities at UND) that then turn a J-O-B into a career.
The video on this blog post mentions that just because you get a higher degree does not mean that you will get paid more. It says that it is more about skill and work ethic. I think that Newport and Rowe would both agree to this. Newport thinks that you don't have to follow your passion that might cost you a lot of money in high education. In his Ted Talk, Rowe talked about how working hard gets you farther, and many successful people do not even have a degree.
ReplyDeleteIt all comes back to work ethic and how you carry yourself! Do the best you can in everything you do and you will reap the rewards down the road.
DeleteI agree, having more skills and a good work ethic will get you further in life.
DeleteIts like what Mr. Doherty's said about always leaving a good impression.
DeleteI totally agree. If you don't have the right mindset, you will not succeed. If you do have the determination and work ethic you will be successful. It's the extra little things you do that set you aside from the others.
DeleteI also agree with this. Your skill might not require you to get an expensive degree from somewhere if you only need a little bit of training. It's all about what you are good at.
DeleteAnother connection I made from the video is when he said that you should acquire three things: knowledge, skills, and abilities. I think that Newport would agree to all of these things. First of all, a degree does not necessarily prepare you for your field, so get some knowledge and do what you are good at. Secondly, skills get you far when you are good at them and they are needed. Lastly, ability would be a good one. If you have the ability to push yourself to work harder than you have a better chance of success. I have learned a lot of these things from "So Good They Can't Ignore You".
ReplyDeleteAnd these are all things you don't necessarily acquire from a formal education! You need to get hands on experience and take the opportunities you're given. You never know what might come in handy!
DeleteIf you could look at Cooper for example. Any class he takes could tell him what to do to prepare for his profession in (Photography/Videography) but he needs hands on experience before making it his career to truly produce something good.
DeleteI liked how this focused not only on your education, but on your skills, talents, and strengths. I think we get too caught up in achieving a status rather than learning and growing. This was something I think Mr. Doherty touched on nicely yesterday. It doesn't really matter where you go. All that matters is what you bring to the table. Hopefully, you bring hard work, positivity, and creativity to your job, career, or calling.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I think anyone can achieve perfect grades, so that does not set you apart from the rest unlike skills, talents, and strengths. Life is more about learning and growing, not just your GPA. Your personality can get you further than your education.
DeleteI would also agree with you. Mr. Doherty mentioned that if you work hard and are a good employee, your employer can put in a good word and possibly open up bigger and better opportunities for you.
DeleteI agree as well. Just because you do something doesn't mean that you're good at it. A degree means nothing if you can't do anything with it.
DeleteI also liked Fleming's statement that, "we need to ensure that we're also guiding students towards careers, and not just to universities." This reminded me when Mr. Doherty told Claire to just jump in. Experience things and learn more about yourself. You don't need to have everything figured out right now! Tackle on internships, and try a variety of different jobs. Formal education isn't always the best way to learn.
ReplyDeleteAnother factor that is important is to not choose a college based on the pride it offers. Some people may choose a degree based on what their dream college offers while not looking at what the college could offer them as an individual. I feel like that is a reason why people may not feel fulfilled with what they do. It's because they choose to go to a college based on its pride instead of the education and skills another college could've provided.
Deleteexperience is the best way to learn and jobs are now looking for that experience. Interning helps find what you are actually interested and skilled at and weans out the ones you are uninterested in.
DeleteI liked Mr. Doherty's advice on that too. Just jump in, any kind of start is better than no start at all. You should experience things and dip your toe in the water to test it out. That is one of the best ways to learn what you want to do with your future. His advice took some weight off of my shoulders even though I do have an idea of what I want to go into. It was nice to have him talk to us!
ReplyDeleteWith Mr.Doherty's lecture, I thought that we all were reminded that none of us know what we are doing either. We are winging it to the best of our ability everyday. This is how life is and college, so it's nice to know that we are not going through this kind of pressure alone.
DeleteI love how he mentioned how important and easy it is just to give something a try even if it is just a little thought bubble in your head. Like you mentioned, any kind of start is better than no start at all. We are really lucky with a high school that gives us so many opportunities to try stuff out because that way we know before going and spending money at college.
DeleteI agree with all three of you. Issa is right when she says most of us are in the same boat. Just to do something is better than to sit and wait for the world to come to you. That also ties into the passion mindset and craftsman mindset.
DeleteThese days students believe that if you go to college you are promised job security and financial success after you graduate. Even though they may believe that getting a degree in college is necessary, there is no guarantee the degree will prepare us for life in the real world. This can relate to So Good They Can’t Ignore You when Newport explains the passion mindset. With the hope of getting the perfect job after college and what that job can offer us, we pursue our passion in a narrow path. When we do so, we may not participate in hobbies and other activities just for the heck of it. This can limit our opportunities as we focus only on one goal and the passion mindset. So there goes an opportunity or experience we could’ve benefited from if we were’t so narrow minded instead.
ReplyDeleteA topic that stands out from this video is when Fleming talked about the pay scale for the business manager and the electrician. Obviously the one with the higher salary stands out but if a person lacked the skills to be an efficient manager, they should consider pursuing a degree that would prepare them to be a better electrician. I’ve never actually thought of jobs in this way but now even what Mr. Doherty said makes sense. We should focus on perfecting what we are good at as individuals rather than trying to be average at something somewhere else. Each person is unique and it’s important that we work hard towards the right path (which will have many highs and lows) rather than follow a stationary path while being mediocre.
I agree with you, sometimes we look at a career we are passionate about on a narrow path, not seeing what else could be out there because we are so focused on getting to the end goal, our dream job.
DeleteWhen you mentioned that 'students believe that if you go to college you are promised job security and financial success after you graduate' it made me think about how generations now-a-day expect so much more than they deserve. Many people have just become lazy and they don't want to work for it anymore.
DeleteI agree with what Fleming says “education and technical skills are the new currency” because it is true. Companies are looking for people who have had experience in the job they want and that is what many employers will look for over someone who would be new to the hands-on side of the business. Getting a higher education will be the way to do that but looking at getting internships and looking at more specialized programs to get to know your career will be another way to get the job you want. This goes along with what Mr. Doherty said about jumping at all job opportunities that will help you in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this because out of college people expect to get a job instantly, but they have no experience in their career choice. Jobs are looking for skill and how that person can benefit them, instead of hiring just because they got a degree.
DeleteHaving a higher education will not always make you the most money. This brings it back to what Rowe said about not following everybody else or making the common decision, but making your own decisions and finding your own way. Many people think that they are going to be getting more job security, social mobility and financial gains if they were to go to the four year college instead of going to a trade school. Having a higher degree might give you a bigger salary, encouraging many to go to the four year colleges, but that is not always true according to Fleming. If you are good at a labor job you can make more money than you would at a job with a four year degree.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kate. When people see the potential income they could have with a 4 year degree. They think thats the only way to get that money. But if you become really skilled at a trade or technical job, you could also make that money without going to a 4 year college.
DeleteYes, being good at what you do can open doors for you to make more money also. Most people also don't take in consideration how much school is going to cost vs. how much you will make after school. If you are getting a degree for a competitive field and you can't even find a job after school, then you are worse then you would've been just working right out of high school.
DeleteI liked the part in the blog where he explains that only 33% of jobs require a bachelor degree or higher and 57% are jobs that require associate level degree, and 10% are jobs that require no skill or college. So while so many people are spending money on a bachelor degree that odds are will not be needed in the career they choose, instead of getting their associates degree and saving tons of money. Just like in the book, people end up switching their career choice or realizing that their passion isn't what they expected it to be. People are looking for how their job can benefit then, instead of how they can benefit their job. People expect to get a jib and a high paying one right out of college because they got a degree.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part and most eye opening was when he explained the pay scale of an electrician and a business manager. People may get a bachelors in business and the pay scale would be higher than a electrician, but if you lack skills in business, but not in an electrician, then the pay would be higher to be and electrician than a business manager. People assume getting a bachelors in whatever career choice you choose will automatically increase pay. If a person lacks skill in the career, then their pay will go down. Just like Newport explains that people that follow their passion end up failing in keeping a career or even finding a career. People lack skill and motivation after achieving their passion, and then end up quitting their job. Employers want to know what you can well, not just what degree hangs on your wall. I always thought that if I just get my bachelors in whatever career I wanted to join that I was guaranteed a job since I have a college degree, but the video explains thats not always the case, jobs are looking for skill as well.
I agree with your first point. People forget that there are still needs for skillful jobs that require less training. There is a strong stigma around getting an associates degree because of averages that say you aren't expected to make as much.
DeleteI think that all of them would agree that it doesn’t matter how much schooling you have or training because as long as you work hard towards it and have the want, you can be successful. Mr. Doherty had something extremely similar to this, he had mentioned that it really doesn’t matter what yo get your degree in but whatever you do just work hard and it. All of them would say something about going into what you are good at and use your talents to give you the best results.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Shawna. Working hard and being able to learn as you go will help you be better at what you do. Schooling is not the only thing that will make you better, you need to work and not rely on your degree for the end result.
DeleteShawna, I agree with your interpretation. It seems that their advice is to recognize what your skills are, refine them to a marketable quality, and let the passion come to fruition from this process.
DeleteI agree with this. No matter how much training or schooling you have, you need to put effort into your job. It isn't going to come handed to you on a plate.
DeleteI think that slowly but surely people are starting to realize that degrees aren't everything. I mean, yeah they are important but if two people were to walk into an interview and one had a degree but was lazier than a pig on Old McDonalds farm and another person who maybe didn't have the same degree but worked hard and in all the past jobs they had, all the bosses said good things about them, wouldn't you think the one who worked hard would get hired? Personalities and work ethics are so much more valuable than some words on a piece of paper. As someone once mentioned to me: 'when we look at applications for teachers, the first thing we look at isn't where they went to college but we look to see if they are hard working and team players. Now maybe after that we look at the types of grades they got. We don't look at where they got their degree until later on because it really isn't as important.
ReplyDeleteI think this is something that needs to get drilled into people's heads more. Education is important, but more often than not do employers say that want hardworking individuals that have shown they can get the job done.
DeleteThat is very true. Someone could have a higher degree, yet they could have bad qualities to go along with that. Nobody wants that. People want the ones that will work hard all the time. Your qualities and personality leave a bigger impression than the title of the degree you have, in my mind anyway.
DeleteThe video focuses on how people now days are growing up with the impression that to be employable, you need to have any 4-year degree to get a good job and be hired. The video says that this is not turning out to be the case anymore. While you may have the education to be employed, you may not have the skills needed for that job. This goes with what Newport has been saying in his book. You may have the passion for the job you are going after, you may not have the skills needed to do that job effectively.
ReplyDeleteBoth Newport and the video also say that we have grown up with advice that everyone believes but isn't necessarily true. Because of this, we are taught to believe that to be happy and employed, we need to follow our passion and spend thousands of dollars on education to give us a degree we wont use. Again, both Newport and the video say to follow the skills you have and use them to improve the world.
I find your second paragraph interesting because thinking about it there are a lot of cases where people get a degree and then pursue a job that has nothing to do with what they majored in. This was the case for my UND rep that talked with me during my tour. She had majored in graphic design yet was working as a administrative assistant.
DeleteI agree with your analysis, Gabby. It seems that both of these publications would insinuate that it is more beneficial to tailor a career to match your skills rather than tailor your education to match a career based off of your passion. This perspective is certainly debatable but interesting nevertheless.
DeleteConnection #1
ReplyDeleteIn the video along with Mr. Doherty's speech, both talked about how after you finish high school, a person needs to get out and do something. That doesn't just mean going off to college to get a degree but maybe explore in the work force. If someone doesn't know what they would like to pursue a degree in go out and work and save up the money. The video mentioned that a majority of jobs don't need anything more than job training. This works really well here in Thief River, because we have Digi-Key and at Digi-Key you don't need post secondary school, other than a six week training course.
I like the idea that not everyone has to one specific path, we all just have to start somewhere. It would very difficult to get anywhere in life if we didn't go out and try to start somewhere. If you go off to college majoring in one area, you may find out that it wasn't for you so you can try something else. If you join the workforce right out of high school, you may find a job that you really like that you want to further your education in.
DeleteConnection #2
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting how the video mentioned that more people are attending a university right after high school, yet in society it seems more acceptable that someone doesn't go off to college right out of high school. This is like what is taught in LINC. On the other hand the video mentioned that there is a higher demand for works to fill positions that only require job training. I was wondering after watching the video, if more people shift to careers with only job training required, how are we going to balance the demand for careers that demand a college degree? Such jobs would include doctors, dentists, chiropractors and so on. If people go to college and get a degree after high school it would be easier to get a job, rather not going, getting a job that only requires training, losing that job for any reason, and needing to go back to college way later in life.
I agree with you. I had similar wonderings after watching the video. I feel like this is completely eliminating the possibility of the person losing, or quitting their job. I think that if that was factored in that maybe the numbers would be a little bit different then what they are now.
DeleteMore and more people are going to college and it may not be the best option. In the video, Fleming talks about the overwhelmingly high percentage of students seeking higher education compared to other years. And based on the type of jobs needed in the world today, most won’t find a job in their specific degree. Earlier in the book, Newport talked about finding a job that was needed, or finding skills that people want in order to find a job. Both are talking about the same idea, that in order to find a job and have a normal income. You must first find something that would benefit the economy and get you a job.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that you need to find a job that is needed because if it is needed, you will always have a job.
DeleteThere is such a huge competition for these high-paying and high-education jobs that it leaves an opening for lower jobs. Not everyone can get to the top, but if you can fill in where is needed, a person could be just as successful.
DeleteAnother thing that caught my attention was when Fleming compared an electrician to a business manager. He showed that at first glance the business manager would be the better choice because it pays more. But if you step back and look at the potential, you could easily acquire skills to be a better electrician than to become a better manager. In the end, you would make more by working hard at being a great electrician than you would by being a mediocre manager. This connects to the career capitol Newport talks about in the book. In order to really find love and growth in your job, you need to gain the skills that other people may not have and become great at what you do.
ReplyDeleteThis shows that just because someone has a college degree, it doesn't necessarily mean they will be paid more or even more successful than someone who doesn't have a college degree. You must work hard to gain the skills needed to be excellent at whatever you do. I also like how you touched on having unique skills to offer that someone else may not have.
DeleteThis is such an interesting aspect of the video. It's not so black-and-white. Even with two different jobs, the presence of skills can make all the difference.
DeleteFirst Connection: In the video, it talked about the importance of gaining skills needed in the workforce. It said that sometimes it's more important to have different skills and experiences than it is to have a college degree. This is very similar to what Newport says when he talks about career capital. This is a very important factor to offer when you are at your job. To get these essential skills, you have to have a craftsman mindset. This mindset will allow you to work hard at what you do.
ReplyDeletePeople sometimes go into jobs just expecting to have everything handed to them, otherwise known as the passion mindset. If people worried more about gaining the skills they need and worked hard, they could go a lot further in their career.
DeleteSecond Connection: The video also talked about exploring different jobs. Mr. Doherty talked about how you just have to start somewhere, then be open-minded about what comes to you next. He said that you should put your all into your work, even if it isn't your passion. This is because you will acquire skills you may need for a more fulfilling job down the road. Mr. Doherty also talked about working your hardest is important because it will build you a good reputation. If people hear that you do good work, there will be more of a chance you will get hired.
ReplyDeleteA good work ethic is very important, but so is knowing the right people. Mr. Doherty is a very hard worker, but he also got to know people and made connections so he was able to open up opportunities for himself.
DeleteFirst Connection: The video said employers want to know what you can do well and I thought of Mr. Doherty's speech when he said find something you are good at.
ReplyDeleteSecond Connection: I liked how the video gave the ratio 1:2:7. I feel like we talked a lot about this in Mr. H's linc class. Mr. H said you don't need the highest degree. He also said something like if you go get a 2 year degree, you will have less debt and be making money faster then those who go to school for 4+ years.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is important for people to realize that just because you go off to college, doesn't mean that you will get a career that goes along with your degree. Sometimes it is smarter to only get a 2 year degree versus a 4 year
DeleteYes I recall him telling us we should all be bartenders... Anyways I agree with that statement. It saves allot more time and money to get a 2 year in something. Then work hard at it for a while till people recognize your skills and you work higher up. Plus there is the added benefit of having more freedom because your out of college.
DeleteI like how the video talks about how not every degree is direct preparation for employment. Just because you go to school and get the formal education, doesn’t mean that the job you have will align with your degree. People have to be willing to work hard and try to stand out in the workplace. Mr. Doherty said something similar to this. He said something along the lines of, it doesn’t matter what degree you get, and you just have to be willing to work hard at it. People have to learn to adopt the traits of a hard working individual instead of expecting their degree to get them the best jobs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the fact that you can get all of the education needed to be successful in a career area, but you need to be willing to work hard at it too. I think that too often people just think that they are going to be great at a job because they have gotten the degree. They don't realize that they are going to actually have to put in hard work after graduation too.
DeleteI liked how the video talked about exploring different jobs, and not every job needs a degree. Mr. Doherty talked about how everyone needs to start somewhere and how you should still work hard at the job even if it turn out that it is not your passion. He said something along the lines of, “You should leave every job having them wish you had stayed.” I think that this is important because ever since the idea of “college for all” has been pushed onto us, people assume that having the degree will get them any job. When in reality, putting in the hard work and effort could also get you the job.
ReplyDeleteI agree that character will get you much further than a degree. When you add new skills and abilities to your character they will follow you into every single aspect of your life instead of just your job.
DeleteI agree, not every job needs a degree. You can still be successful and even make pretty good money with our going to college for many years. I also agree that people need to start somewhere and work their way up.
DeleteConnection 1: In both this video and in Newport's manifesto, it discusses matching your skills with a career that has a certain degree of economic stability. This really equates to not following your passion, which may be going to a four-year university, and instead finding the corresponding education that is appropriate for you. Overall, this can lead to a higher quantity of career capital for what is deemed as a lower level position-even though that classification of that position may not be accurate- than the quantity for what is deemed as a higher level position.
ReplyDeleteIt really is all perspective. A semi Driver might drive for awhile making a lot of money. Later with the skills and experience, he could easily switch to another type of driver like for UPS or another private delivery company. Maybe have his own service.
DeleteConnection 2: There are also considerable similarities between this video and Mr. Doherty's discussion. This is primarily based in the topic of learning agility. Learning agility can be seen as acquiring career capital. This video shows that to improve your respective learning agility you may not have to attain a four-year degree. This improvement in learning agility can come from a community college, apprenticeship, or a certificate program. The important thing is to find a path of increased learning agility that matches your individual skills and can be translated into an economically feasible position.
ReplyDeleteConnection 1: The broken idea for college for all starts with the name. People should never be taught that college is the way to go. People should be instilled with the idea to never stop learning or growing. College is just a way to trick people into thinking that it's a proven way to success when in reality it only comes down to the individual.
ReplyDeleteConnection 2: "i'm Mr. Krabs and I like money." People need to follow what they are good at, and than you might find a job you start to like. If you follow where the money is instead of what your heart is telling you then your in for a surprise down the road. Be like SpongeBob and live everyday like it is your first day of life.
Assuming that you will make more money in a certain field compared to others is not always a correct assumption. His example of how you can make more money being an electrician compared to a manager was key. It is important to focus on your skills, not just a degree. I think another important aspect is work ethic. Your work ethic in whatever you do can open or close doors for you. If you have a good work ethic you will be noticed and selected above others. Just like what Mr. Doherty had said, as long as you are doing something, new doors will continue to open for you. I think Newport would agree with all of this.
ReplyDeleteThe ratio of 1:2:7 gives a good explanation on why a higher degree will not always be beneficial. The higher up you go, the more competitive it will become. Many people spend more time and money than they needed to, for the career they are in. Ultimately they would've been better off only getting a two year degree instead of going all the way for their masters. For every one job that requires a masters, there are two that require a four year degree and seven that only require a two year degree.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the competitiveness of being higher on the food chain. I don't know if people realize this until it's too late. If everyone goes to the highest position in a company, then there won't be those seven people under them to keep the ratio balanced. It just doesn't make sense for every person to have their own, personal boss.
DeleteOne connection that I can make from this video and the book is that the highest possible education that you can get from a university may not be the way to automatic success. Newport says in the book that the way that you get so good at something is through skill, not just the amount of education that you go for. Of course, Newport says that you have to work on your skill, which at times could be through getting education, but that doesn't apply to all cases. I think that is very true. Just think of it this way, if you want to become a welder you wouldn't go to a 4 year university because it wouldn't show that you are a better welder then the person that went to a 2 year school. You don't gain the same experience as the person who went to a 2 year school and got a job right away after graduation. You would just be the person that spent too much money on something that you could have done in less time, with less money.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Experience is a better teacher than books in some careers. I think that finding the balance between books and hands-on experience is hard to achieve. Everyone is different, but I don't think that a person should focus all of their effort onto one of these.
DeleteAnother connection that I made from watching this video is that it is one thing for you to have the right education for the career, but you also have to have the right skills. Newport basically says the same thing. He says that you will never be good, or passionate, about your career if you don't have the skills that are needed. This could mean that you have all of the education needed to be successful in a career area, but if you don't have the skills to go along with the knowledge, you won't get very far.
ReplyDeleteI agree Hailey, you can't just have a degree you need to be good at what you do in order to be successful. Your passion is something that you are good at and meant to do. Skill and drive to be great is as important as the degree
Delete"Employers want to know what you can do, and what you can do well" I think that Mr. Doherty hit on this well in his talk with us. He said that a degree is only really looked at when there is nothing else to base qualification on. After you have some experience in an area, the degree starts to matter less and less.
ReplyDelete"Education and technical skills will be the new currency" I can't agree with this statement more. Building these technical skills is part of Newport's Craftsman mindset. How you store and apply the skills is what makes you so good that they can't ignore you.
I completely agree, skills are so crucial to a successful and enjoyable career, and without them, there's no point.
DeleteThe video claims that there is more demand for the jobs that require less education. This is a strong connection to Newport's book. In it he says that you should develop good skills at a job people need and not what they don't.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. Just because you get a degree doesn't mean you are going to be good at "job skills" that is something you need to figure out how to learn on your own.
DeleteAnother connection I made is that in this video a degree is seen as like overtime. It isn't necessary to have it for your job, but it looks nice to show companies that are hiring. They see a degree as more of a responsibility thing and only really consider it when your fresh out of schooling. Otherwise they look at where you have worked in the past, did you work hard? Did you leave or get fired? and many of those other things that could be marked as important traits.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I thought was interesting is that so many people think that getting a 4-yeat degree is the only way to make a lot of money. I agree, I think that there are a lot of jobs that don't need a lot of education to make a lot of money. Education is good, but it is not always needed. I believe we should continue to teach kids that education isn't for everyone. We should teach kids to be the best at whatever they do.
ReplyDeleteAnother connection that I made is that it is one thing for you to have the right education for the career, but you also have to have the right skills as well. You can have a degree in a field, but that doesn't mean you will be successful at it. You still need to be talented and good at what you do to make more money and be more successful. All most everyones passions are something they are really good according to Newport.
ReplyDelete"So Good They Can't Ignore You" and this video really hone in on the importance of developed skills, and both make the comparison of them being currency/career capital. After reading the latest chapters, and seeing the video, I now know why I have struggled with the passion/skills comparison. Because I am used to thinking of them as one and the same. Going into an art career is something I have always known I wanted to do, and have always worked at improving my technical skills in that area. But you have to constantly work on bettering yourself in an field like this, because you are competing with the guy next to you. You can't afford not knowing how to draw the squiggles in the ears, because at that job interview, if that person knows how to do it, you're toast. Skills are the absolute key, and I have worked and still work to try and get my career capital. But I am so invested, I had only thought of it as passion--until now.
ReplyDeleteA point the video makes is the blind direction we push students in to go to college, and not looking quite far enough to the career. We figure if they have the education, they must land a job somehow. The book emphasizes time and time again on the importance of developed skills. But should we just go to college, just to start somewhere, as Mr. Doherty has said? Is it better to just go, and connect the dots looking backwards? Or should we have a more solidified idea of where we're going career-wise before starting post-secondary education? Maybe both?
Connection 1- I think this whole video ties into Newport's book, just a little more in depth about the math behind it. You need to know your skills and strengths. If you know you can be successful in your strengths without spending money at a university, employers might find you more valuable than others. It all depends on how much effort you put into achieving your strength to stand out among the rest. For some strengths you might need a degree, but it isn't required to have a fulfilling life.
ReplyDeleteConnection 2- This relates to what Mr. Doherty said about just do something after graduation. Don't just sit around and wait for the opportunities to come to you. Even if it's not a four year degree, do something that will help benefit you and your strengths to pull you away from the crowd. Don't follow the mainstream path onto a university if that's not what you need. If you only need some sort of certificate, don't waste money on a expensive school that might end up hurting you more than helping. But anything is better than doing nothing.
ReplyDeleteI think this is excellent advice. Moving forward and continually bettering yourself is probably the most important part to becoming a success. Those who wait or hesitate will only fall farther behind.
DeleteAt first glance an electrician compared to a businessman seems like a no brainer because the businessmen's starting wage is almost double of that of an electrician. What people don't think about is their potential. Just have a bachelor's degree in business doesn't mean you are going to be successful. If you don't have great skills to go along with that you will probably end up at the bottom of the pay scale. Now if you are a great electrician, you could be at the top of the pay scale in that area. This information connects with what Mr. Doherty said about how having a degree in something doesn't give you an automatic in. Companies want the people that are going to work hard and that have above average skills to do the job. The degree doesn't tell it all.
ReplyDeleteThe video in this blog post says that just because you have a college degree, does not mean you will get payed more than someone that doesn't. In some cases that is true, but others it is not. I think that Newport would agree. It is more so about work effort. You need to actually try, having a degree doesn't mean you automatically get a hugh paying job.
ReplyDeleteI think this is an excellent point and one of the most overlooked pieces of advice when it comes to people choosing a career. Work ethic will beat out a lot of fancy degrees.
DeleteYes this is so true. A lot of times you see people who didn't go to college making a lot more money then people who did.
DeleteAnother connection I made is that in this time period, everyone needs to go to college or they will not be successful. That is not true. 3/4 of people that go to college drop out, but that is something you don't see. You just see them leaving high school going off to college. You can do many other things besides go to college after high school and still become successful. I think that Newport and Mr. Dorhey would agree.
ReplyDeleteI liked how Fleming talked about how important your skills, talents, and likes are. When thinking about a career, you need to thing about the areas that you are good at. This is kind of like what Mr. Doherty said when he talked about trying things out. Just try something, you may find out that you are good at it and you have a high interest in it. You just never know.
ReplyDeleteI think all of these sources have tied together very closely with a message. Flemming, Rowe, and Newport all say working hard and being the best at what you do is more important than a college degree or any other status. What will get you farther in life is hard work and good relationships with the people that will help you forward.
ReplyDeleteI also thought the payscale was very interesting. Imagine if the composter/pig farmer from Rowe's example had followed his dream. He would be making a lot less money doing something he thought he had an interest in than something he had a great skill for. His hard work and focus on a good idea will pay off much more than a nice degree or "passion" career.
In the video it talks about how having a higher degree does not mean that you will get paid more. When it comes down to it, it's more about skill and work ethic. I believe that Newport would agree with this. Newport feels that if you at least put in an effort at your job, you will do good.
ReplyDeleteSomething else that gets brought to my attention is that everyone needs to go to college to be successful. Which is wrong. The majority of people that due go to college drop out. There are many ways to become successful without going to college and I think that Newport would agree with that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this because you don't need a degree to be successful. You just have to put in the time to master your specific area and you will succeed.
DeleteOne thing that is the same between the video and the book is that in order to love something you need to be good at it. It talks about how you need to be "so good they cant ignore you" in the book. In the video it talks about people who have degrees, but still are not experts in their field, while people who haven't gone to as much schooling are better than them. That shows that you have to be good at what you do to like it.
ReplyDeleteAnother connections is what Mr Doherty said about just doing something after high school. Just because you don't get a huge degree or start out with that as the goal doesn't mean you can't be successful. As long as you put in time to become good at whatever it is you want to be then you will succeed.
In both this video and "So Good They Can't Ignore You," they mention the importance of connecting your skills and talents into your career choice. You should not necessarily choose a job based on what you would like to learn more about, but choose a job based on what you know you could excel in. Typically, if you are good at something, you will come to enjoy it. That is what both this video and Newport's book mentions.
ReplyDeleteA fear that I have about the future is that I will spend all this time towards a degree which will not even help me after college. This is kind of mentioned in this video. The video mentions that just because you have a high degree does not mean you are guaranteed a great job over a person who only got an associate's degree. I think Newport would agree with this statement, but he talks about how the economy is changing and that people should try find careers is jobs that are needed not necessarily jobs you want or are full qualified for. It is a supply and demand situation. If you can supply but others do not demand, then you can't really make forward progress.
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