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Life Altering Realizations

I had a bit of a realization today, well really something just staring me in the face. I've gone over this in my head and I'm sure out loud numerous times, but I've never let myself just go with it.

Is a College Education what's required to lead a successful life?

I was watching the movie: Accepted the other night and it really irked me that Bartleby's parents seemed to think that because he couldn't get into college out of high school, his life was over. It just doesn't make sense to me why anyone would think that.

I didn't get into college until I was 25, if anything it's been a great thing for me. I appreciate the opportunity a lot more than I would have had I gone to college right out of high school.

Today I was thinking about people who didn't go to college or didn't finish college. Bill Gates immediately came to mind. As well some advice from The Science of Getting Rich and Think and Grow Rich came to mind. Both authors talk about the importance of the application of specialized knowledge. The knowledge can come in the form of any type of schooling or experience.

So I will take it from the examples of these people that college is not "required" to find a profession to be successful in. The more important factor seems to be how you can be of service to as many people as possible. Napoleon Hill and Wallace D Waddlles both wrote books detailing your knowledge and experience. Bill Gates, founded a company that produced software to make computers more widely usable.

Something important I came across last week was in a podcast by Geoff Thompson, he pointed out that service doesn't necessarily mean that you do things for free, you can be of service to someone by giving them what they need, rather than what they want. If what they need happens to be a lesson in the value of whatever you're offering then you've done them the best service you can. Mr. Thompson gave the example of giving someone one of his books for free, when hinted at wanting all of them for free he kindly declined and said he could by the rest if he found the first useful.

It's only fair to give what you've worked for in exchange for what someone else has worked for.

While I was at work I found myself thinking about money. What money is exactly and why it's important. The meanings behind various pieces of wisdom I've been given in the past gained a new level of clarity for me.  First money is an energy, that's it. Just like any other kind of energy it needs a direction, a purpose. As Bob Proctor put it (I think he was quoting someone else, probably Napoleon Hill): Money is an excellent servant, but a terrible Master. Next, the most important thing in manifesting a desire for money is understanding the reason you want money. They money itself is inconsequential. After all money is only good while changing hands. Understanding why you want the money helps you to create the emotion behind what you want to use money for. The more valuable the service you are offering to someone the more money (energy) you can request in return for it.

There are three things to consider in a product: Time, Quality, and Price. I think of Skill as a function of Time and Quality. If you can produce something of high Quality in a short Time then you can expect a higher Price for your effort.

So how does one build Skill? That's simple by "spending" Time improving the Quality of your product.

So if you find something that you don't mind spending your time improving your abilities at, then using a creative mindset you can create opportunities to be of service to others. Which will result in opportunities to request money for you services.

So with those ideas laying the groundwork for what I think an education should be, now the question becomes: "Where should I be focusing my studies while I'm in college?"

I love understanding computers and how to use them. But they're tools they're not an end in and of themselves for me. I think that rules out Computer Science as a career field for me. Well that and I just can't picture myself writing code every day for the rest of my life.

The next question becomes: "What can I picture myself doing for the rest of my life?"

The answer to this has been staring me in the face for a number of years now. I've got five years worth of experience already and I'm only going to keep improving, especially if I stop getting in my own way.

Another piece of the puzzle fell into place tonight while I was texting Julie back and forth about my current lack of desire to excel in my class work. I just can't see how one of the majors I'm aware of will help me in what is really fulfilling to me.

There are so many subjects I think would help me, Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology, History, Art, andI'm sure I can come up with more.

I've been torn because it seems I have to pick just one specialty and leave the other areas lacking.

Julie happens to have a friend who custom built their degree at USU. I wasn't even aware I had the option. But apparently I do, I have to go talk to a counselor and figure out a course of study that fills graduation requirements. But once that is established I'm good to go.

"That's the beauty of College these days! You can major in GameBoy if you know how to bullshit!" -Droz (Jeremy Piven), PCU

So there's the next step on my way toward self-actualization.

What I want to do is to: give as many people the opportunity to study the Martial Arts in order to help them improve their lives. (Wow I think that sounds like pretty good beginning to a Soul Purpose Constitution!)

Everyone have a good night!