Thread by Luke Sophinos
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- Jun 18, 2022
- #Lifehack #Productivity
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I recently hung out with Mike Rowe from Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs.
Here’s 5 WILD things I learned from him:
(you should know them too)
Here’s 5 WILD things I learned from him:
(you should know them too)
Learning #1. The High School Counselor Problem
Counselors everywhere tell our youth, “College or failure.”
Only Two paths. Only Two options.
Mike talked about a poster in his high school office.
One said 'College' and had a clean office with a person smiling.
Counselors everywhere tell our youth, “College or failure.”
Only Two paths. Only Two options.
Mike talked about a poster in his high school office.
One said 'College' and had a clean office with a person smiling.
The other said ‘alternatives’ and it was a welder who looked like he was in the depths of hell.
Why do counselors only talk about the MOST EXPENSIVE option like it is meant for every single person and will result in a successful life.
Why do counselors only talk about the MOST EXPENSIVE option like it is meant for every single person and will result in a successful life.
The data suggests a wildly different story.
½ of college students graduate.
As a nation, we’re approaching $2T in student loan debt.
Trades people graduate with far less debt and six figure jobs.
½ of college students graduate.
As a nation, we’re approaching $2T in student loan debt.
Trades people graduate with far less debt and six figure jobs.
We have to train our high school counselors on ALL post-graduate options for our nation's youth.
Not just one.
It is a national catastrophe that we don’t.
Not just one.
It is a national catastrophe that we don’t.
Learning #2. The Skilled Trades Gap
The largest # of job openings in the U.S. is not in TECHNOLOGY.
It’s in trades.
The largest # of job openings in the U.S. is not in TECHNOLOGY.
It’s in trades.
Mike shared how in 2008 when he was touring the country for the Dirty Jobs TV show, almost every blue collar company he came across had ‘Help Wanted’ signs.
Even as the majority of the population was absolutely losing their shirt.
So much opportunity in these fields.
Even as the majority of the population was absolutely losing their shirt.
So much opportunity in these fields.
Learning #3. Trades is NOT a constellation prize to traditional college.
Trades people own their own businesses.
They drive nice cars. They have little to no debt.
Their services are ESSENTIAL and ALWAYS in demand.
Trades people own their own businesses.
They drive nice cars. They have little to no debt.
Their services are ESSENTIAL and ALWAYS in demand.
Our nation has told people a great myth when it comes to trades.
Mike’s made it his mission to change that.
Mike’s made it his mission to change that.
Learning #4. Passion is NOT a part of your job
We all hear it, “Find something you’re passionate about and you won’t work a day in your life.”
Mike thinks this is BULL.
Passion is within you.
It’s not your job.
Who is seriously passionate about every aspect of their job?
We all hear it, “Find something you’re passionate about and you won’t work a day in your life.”
Mike thinks this is BULL.
Passion is within you.
It’s not your job.
Who is seriously passionate about every aspect of their job?
Learning #5. Work smart AND hard
Mike shared a story with me of his high school counselor who told him, “Work smart, not hard”.
Why can’t we do both?
Wasn’t the fabric of our society built on achieving both?
Mike shared a story with me of his high school counselor who told him, “Work smart, not hard”.
Why can’t we do both?
Wasn’t the fabric of our society built on achieving both?
Get rich schemes, the 4 hour work week, we’re feeding our youth a bunch of crap.
Hard work and consistency over long periods of time is the only thing that truly rewards people.
Let’s double down on that.
Hard work and consistency over long periods of time is the only thing that truly rewards people.
Let’s double down on that.
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed these learnings from @mikeroweworks as much as I did!
I’m the Founder & CEO of CourseKey. The largest vertical SaaS company for trade schools in the U.S.
I share learnings here from my journey building, operating, and investing in vSaaS.
I’m the Founder & CEO of CourseKey. The largest vertical SaaS company for trade schools in the U.S.
I share learnings here from my journey building, operating, and investing in vSaaS.
