Perhaps one of the greatest dilemmas for anyone stepping out to start a new venture concerns whether or not to enroll in any traditional / institutional / formal education. Whether it is the possibility of engaging in a business degree, a journalism degree, a psychology degree, or any further graduate studies, what makes the decision challenging is that there is indeed a large element of credibility that comes with having a diploma.
For better or worse, people make many immediate assumptions based upon what appears on a resume. The million dollar question then, is whether or not the time and energy invested will really be worthwhile?
In light of many of the technological advances of our society — with knowledge and education becoming more and more freely available online, there is a strong voice that suggests the pursuit of more traditional and formal education may not be the most profitable nor fruitful use of your money and time. The essence of my website and webshow is highlighting individuals who have made a drastic directional change in their lives, shifting from one established career path toward a very different one.
Time and time again there is a common thread in every journey- they all stepped out into completely uncharted waters, with zero experience in the field they were passionate about engaging in, but went and researched and gained all the knowledge that was necessary to succeed in their particular field. They were all self-taught.
In fact, history is replete with incredibly individuals who have become monumentally successful without the aid of any formal education. From the epic entrepreneur Richard Branson, talk show host Ellen Degeneres, to fashion icon Ralph Lauren, and computer billionaires Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, these individuals are very much the proof of the pudding that success is possible without any formal education, such as through a university, or place of higher education.
When considerning the dilemma of whether or not to enroll in formal eduction here are 5 crucial questions to consider:
1. How long have you been out of ‘school?’
Many folks who have been out of school for long periods of time will attest to the fact that it is very difficult to re-enter into the traditional settings of learning. Much of that comes from setting aside old habits and building new habits. Will it be easier for you to build completely new habits for study, or for you to work in study into your old habits?
2. Do you function and think better in a group setting or alone?
If you stand more on the introvert side of the spectrum, then being thrown into a classroom setting may very well be like getting thrown into a awful college frat party. On the other hand, if you have more extroverted tendencies you will most likely find the group-think environment very beneficial for you.
3. How much time do you have available?
With your new venture and pursuing your passion, are you still juggling a full time job, being a parent, and a spouse. Unless you are an extremely gifted juggler, throwing a classroom schedule on top of that is a disaster waiting to happen.
4. How self-disciplined are you?
Definitely one of the great benefits of formal education is having a structure to follow- deadlines to keep you progressing on the right track. You need to be honest with yourself and your ability to recreate this structures and be able to make, at the very least, the same amount of progress that an institute will provide.
5. Do you have a support structure?
Another benefit of a traditional formal setting is not only having the community of other students to bounce ideas off and be encouraged by, but having the expertise of a teacher for guidance. If you decide to take on learning yourself, then it is important to find a community that you can learn together with- similar to a mastermind group, and also a mentor who has more expertise than you and can act as your ‘professor.’
On a closing note, perhaps the most appropriate final words come from the charismatic actor and comedian Steve Martin, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” To piggy-back on Martin’s great quote, regardless of the field that you are engaging in, there is sage wisdom in the statement, “quality beats qualifications every time.” At the end of the day, if the product and service you provide is of absolute excellence, no one will care what piece of paper hangs on your wall.
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Thai Nguyen is is a professional chef, international athlete, writer, and speaker. His passion is seeing lives transformed.
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