5) This has little to do with life being fair or not. It has everything to do with you figuring out how to make money, whether you have a degree or not.
Do I think you have been snookered on the education trip? Yes I do. Why? I have too much experience and evidence to think otherwise.
Both of us come from educated families that would naturally stress education. I was appalled when my son and daughter had zero interest in continuing their education after high school.
My daughter is now a loan officer with Washington Mutual making good money, probably far better than you are, and she has zero student loan debt.
My son did get a 2-year certificate as an automotive technician; he refused to take the 4 or 5 academic classes with the occupational training so he could get an Associate of Technical Arts Degree rather than a certificate as an auto tech.
He told me, "Dad I do not need any more education." Remember what Mark Twain said: "I never allowed schooling to interfere with my education."
My son is 28 years old and already has a $540,000 house, 4 upscale vehicles, a rental property and two auto repair shops with an income well in excess of $12,000 a month plus the net profits from his businesses.
Did he need a college education to succeed? You decide. This is why I say that there is more correlation between people skills, having technical skills and being in an activity that is in demand than there is between pure education and income.
6) Do I believe everyone should have a college degree, say at least a bachelor's? Absolutely, because you will be exposed to multiple areas of knowledge and get some well-needed breeding and culture. My son could care less about classical music, plays, culture, reading, etc. He is focused on making money and when he looks at anything he is only interested in discovering the answers to two questions: Where is the money? and How can I get it?
This is the clear difference between an entrepreneur or businessperson and a college graduate who is thinking his or her education is going to bring them big bucks.
Nothing will bring you a lot of bucks unless and until what you bring provides a service or product that is in demand, has little competition and you can charge big bucks for your service.
This is why brain surgeons and auto repair technicians who own auto repair shops make money. Cars break down. People have brain cancer. Who cares whether you have 3 degrees, or 20 degrees, or whether you know hip-hop from opera?
7) Given your circumstances, this is what I recommend you do: Use your expensive education, street smarts and intuition to figure out what people want to know and then provide the knowledge or information they want and need, and charge for your service.
The more they want the information the more you can charge because no one else will be providing the information they want at a lower cost.
This is America, the land of opportunity. This is a needs-based, on-demand economy. The market you want to earn your living in is capitalist based, not education based. If you cannot figure out the economy, become a teacher and settle for whatever salary and benefits education pays a teacher.
8) Also, stop acting like there is some big secret about how to make it in your chosen field. Get into the field and act like you are the secret. Do not chase people and opportunities, act like you are THE person and THE opportunity is with you.
You are bright, educated and capable. You are the answer to your own quest to find someone else to hire you. Start acting like you are a person of total substance.
Make people appreciate and understand instantly that when they are talking to you, or doing business with you, that they are dealing with a person of substance. Repeat, a person of substance. Let there be no mistake.
If your thing is hip-hop music, become the authority, brand yourself and build a reputation so that no one thinking hip-hop is doing squat without consulting you first because you have the answers, and are worth whatever you are charging and 20 times more!
Think about who you need to be, not who you are at the moment, then be that person, becoming a magnet that will attract people to you.
Now get out there and make me proud of you. You are an expert. You do not know everything and quickly acknowledge so, but in your area, there is no one who knows more than you. Period. That is it.
And if you do not agree with me that I am an expert in my field, no matter, others do.
You are not some silly girl with three degrees who cannot find the right job at the right income. Start 2007 as an expert, not as someone looking for a job.
You know I believe in you. Now you need to believe in yourself and get out there and let the world know who you are. People will start listening when you decide you are a person of substance, know what you are talking about, and then continue to get more knowledgeable and helpful in your area of expertise.
This is not a mind game. Do not believe with your head, believe with your heart as if your life depended upon it and people will accept you as an expert.
When they offer you less money than you want, look them straight in the eye and tell them you would like to help them but other people are offering you more money, and then shut up.
Do not try to justify or explain yourself or your value. If the person you are talking to cannot figure it out, find someone else who can.