Why Education Matters

 Why Education Matters

Education matters because it lets you refill the coffers in life when you have a bad week, month, or even year. Second chances abound with education. It is the proverbial "reset" button in life, a gift that keeps on giving. Education is one of the few things in life almost certain to improve your standing with increased income, mobility, health, safety, and security.

I'm sure we've all seen the charts of the value of a high school degree versus college degree versus a graduate degree (if not, see below.) But rather than the broad term of "education," what we should really be expressing is "specialization" or "skill," because trades which don't necessarily require college degrees, pay extremely well, and are all almost immune to outsourcing. Trades provide ample opportunity for advancement over time. For a really interesting perspective on work check out the Mike Rowe foundation.

America is great because of the opportunities offered to its citizens via hundred of years of building infrastructure, and a BIG part of that infrastructure is the "opportunity zone" available to people who WANT to learn, work, and earn. Readers of this blog who have traveled in less-developed parts of the world will agree with the above instantly, and also recognize why millions of people flock to this country every year. America's opportunity zone is unparalleled. 

So some of the best advice ILAF will ever give is this: focus on your education, and in particular honing a skill you can either sell or build a business around...and ideally live in a democratic republic where the rule of law prevails. Your education can be utilized to its full potential and rewarded accordingly.

 

The Gig Economy

The Grapes of Wrath

It's been over 6 years since the bottom of the Great Recession, but the ensuing societal shifts toward a pure Gig Economy have been more than lingering…they seem to be permanent; fewer and fewer workers enjoy the security or perks of previous generations. Many in both the Greatest Generation and Baby Boomers had lifelong jobs, medical care, and generous pensions. The price of owning a home was a reasonable multiple to income. Interest rates provided actual real income from savings. 

Today, CEOs no longer "earn" a reasonable multiple to their average employee, and the difference between (I use the word "between" rather than "among" because there are basically 2 classes left: poor/middle class and the uber-rich) classes is wider than ever. Indeed, over the past several years 95% of income gains went to the top 1%.

Given that, it was high time for a resource for the Gig Economy focusing on 5 big factors; employment, health care, family, finance, and education. Over the coming weeks GigEconomy.io will be spun-off from this blog as a pure play to focusing exclusively on the Gig Economy.

GigEconomy.io will feature authentic stories and interviews with Americans now working, living, and raising a family in the real Gig Economy. It will offer perspectives and best-of-breed practices to help our country's middle class succeed in the face of massive global competition for scare resources.

If you're interested in being featured in one of the "big 5" categories of employment, health care, family, finance, or eduction please let me know.