Comments on: Education – a curse or a cushion?

By: AJC

AJC — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:33:59 +0000

@ Path2$1000000 – You are right … nothing succeeds like the guy who has cut his own ‘safety line’ Good Luck!!

By: pathtomillion

pathtomillion — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:05:03 +0000

it takes a lot of courage to go out of your current job especially when you’re already in a ‘comfort zone’, however, i found that just going out (even without plans) would actually force you to think and try to survive! I’m not recommending not to have a plan but the idea of just getting out and know for yourself if you’re going to survive or not really squeezes!

i’m a biologist by diploma, when into a job as an I.T. and now exploring business and the field of arts… i guess i was just built t on an adapt (or die) principle…

education gives you an edge, but if you’re not that lucky, it’s not a good reason not to be successful either…

but to be honest, it was hell when i got out of my job (i meant trying to adapt and survive), but i never thought of coming back to employment mode since i still feel more benefits in being an entrepreneur…

By: AJC

AJC — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:14:19 +0000

@ Jacob – Thanks for your comment. It’s interesting how ‘happy’ you can be in a corporate job until your brain just ‘clicks’ into entrepreneurial mode … it’s not right for everyone, but keep in mind that this idea of working for The Man is relatively new, historically-speaking.

By: Jacob Johansen

Jacob Johansen — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:54:09 +0000

Hi AJC,

I just found your blog today, very cool! I can’t begin to tell you how deeply this article resonates with me as a gen-x’r.

Let me add to this conversation and say that I too have been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug for quite some time now, but have not been willing to step out of my comfort zone. I started with a Fortune 500 about eight years ago and have climbed the corporate later nicely (and without a degree). My performance has established some credibility that is attractive inside and outside my company, even without the educational credentials.

However an opportunity has presented itself with my job. My employer is offering buy-out packages which would give me about 4 months of salary. This would be nice to have while I work on getting my business launched.On the flip side I have an interview with another company who will pay me more money (which I’d like to have to re-invest in the business).

Either way, I feel like everyday that I work a corporate job is a day of my time wasted.

By: AJC

AJC — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:15:20 +0000

@ Anthony – well put!

By: Anthony Imperioli

Anthony Imperioli — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:55:46 +0000

Entrepreneurs are people willing to live a few years like others won’t so they can live the rest of their lives the way others can’t.

By: AJC

AJC — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:48:50 +0000

@ BrBl – thanks for your comment. A paycheck limits your downside – equally, it limits your upside … now, THAT is a curse!

By: Brip Blap

Brip Blap — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:04:19 +0000

You are completely right. I have this argument all the time with people – the more educated you become, the less likely you are to take risks in almost any aspect of your life. I think the education system does a “great” job of systematically teaching risk avoidance.

Once you graduate from college, or grad school, etc. you are basically surrounded by other college grads who – basically – long for a return to the mothering embrace of their college days. Security, laziness, and no real financial responsibilities.

I suffered from this for years – I “needed” that steady paycheck, I craved “security” because that’s what someone with a BA and and MBA is supposed to do, right? Right? But I finally saw the light. I’m not 100% on my own but pretty close doing contract consulting – the safety net of the automatic-guaranteed once every two weeks paycheck is gone – but so far I make more, work less and have more time for my side projects. What’s not to love?

Great article!

By: AJC

AJC — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:31:26 +0000

@ Alex – same advice to you as Blogrdoc’s advice to financial gal.

BTW: Here’s the way I looked at it:

1. Job Income: [Then] current job $50,000 / year

2. Business income: $0 (worst case + whatever inconvenience/embarrassment I would get from declaring bankruptcy) – $250,000 (best case + whatever capital gain I could get from selling business)

Hmmm…. getting better than 5:1 odds … good enough for me!!

By: blogrdoc

blogrdoc — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:48:48 +0000

@financialgal: If you are by yourself and still young(i.e. no family, no kids) – I think you should do it! Succeed or fail, you will learn a lot. Hey – you only live once!