Career Dilemma - Staying In School Or Gaining Experience
Education or experience? Have you ever asked yourself which to pursue further? It's never an easy answer because you just don't know what opportunity either will present.
My mom instilled in me that education was EVERYTHING, and that without it you're pretty much screwed. Had you asked me the above question about 5 years ago, I would have unequivocally answered education. Now I'm still a firm advocate for further education, however I also understand what it is to be an entrepreneur. There are just certain things that you'll learn better, and that will benefit you more through practical experience.
I heard entrepreneur Tai Lopez say once that he had a friend who was going to University to study Spanish, something that would easily cost him at least $20,000. Lopez then stated, had his friend invested even just half of that, he could have gone and lived in Spain for about a year, and he would learn (with intention of course) far more than what sitting behind a desk could ever teach him.
Obviously it all depends on what your dreams and career aspirations are. If you want to be a doctor, please go to school, lol. But when pursuing a career in something like dance, maybe, just maybe, experience is more valuable than education.
Ashley Everett - Image courtesy of The Culture.
Dancer Ashley Everett was faced with that dilemma when she was 1 of 12 dancers accepted to Julliard's Dance program....while on tour with Beyonce. Julliard doesn't accept just anybody, and although you could argue the Beyonce opportunity came first, helping Ashley make her decision, she didn't know what would happen once the tour was over.
Beyonce & Ashley Everett. Image courtesy of "How to be a Redhead"
In this example, choosing the experience over education turned out to be a good decision as Ashley has been dancing for and with Beyonce for 8 years, leading to other opportunities with artists such as Usher, Ciara, and the legendary Tina Turner.
The reason I share this story is because I know many people think about going back to school in the new year. And though that may indeed be the right option and decision for you, if you're going because you think it's what you're supposed to do, then don't.
I've been there, at the point where I desperately want things to change, but pursuing what I really want to do is too scary, getting another certification in my "safe" career seems wiser. But then I hear of these 20-somethings killing it as online entrepreneurs, and I ask myself "why not me?" Don't let that be you. Instead of "why not me?", declare "why not me?!"
“The question isn’t who is going to let me, it’s who is going to stop me.”
Be blessed!