Education is money
Education grades – important but not life threatening
You’ll have worked out by now that people are different. Right?
Some people do well at school where much of the “education” is spoon fed, basically using memory to get them through their schoolwork. A good memory that gets you through exams is among the LAST things an employer is looking for!!
Worklife is not about using your memory, so these people will need to learn new skills. Fast.
Others may do well at university where you are expected to be more independent, and are left more to your own devices. These people might love the thrill of finding things for themselves and that is a skill you will certainly need at work.
That’s why on average the lifetime earnings in Australia are as follows:
- $1.7M if you drop out of high school
- $2.1M if you finish grade 12
- $2.4M if you reach diploma
- $2.4M if you get a degree
- $3.2M if you get a post graduate qualification
You need to know that NONE of the above figures are guaranteed because you have the qualification. It’s because on average the people who get these qualifications have learnt the skills that are valuable to an employer.
You’ll find the skills an employer is willing to pay for in these pages.
Others will start work after leaving school and have heaps of enthusiasm and optimism to learn everything about their new job. Their enthusiasm may lead them to see an opportunity to become a small business owner. They may have no formal qualifications – but they will have learnt the skill of turning their effort into something of value, perhaps without the academic knowledge.
Others will leave school and methodically work their way up the company ladder to become a leader or supervisor. Most people do this by “step by step” progression. How much quicker would they move up the ladder if they knew the rules sooner? Others are late developers, maybe without high education- al qualifications, but go on achieve great success by being really interested in what they are working at, perhaps returning to formal education or other self-improvement techniques.
It might surprise you to know that work and happiness are NOT opposites.
Some people actually love their work (although they might never admit it).
It’s true that whatever you achieve at work surely the most important thing is to be happy at work. You are going to spend a lot of your time at work, so better make the most of it.
Some people are happy in relatively low paid but very meaningful jobs; others are miserable in highly paid but highly stressful jobs.
Whatever formal educational level you have reached, this book will help you achieve your potential at work, and hopefully lead you to the job that makes you feel rewarded and gives meaning to your work day.
Too many school leavers believe that their final school results or SAT/OP marks have determined their course in life for the next 30 years. That is certainly not the view of the members of my Rotary club.
In this book you’ll find true stories from our Rotary club members.