• Why we outgrow curiosity
• Why the best people don’t step up to be President
• How much is enough
• If people know that irregardless is not a word
• Why violence seems to be the answer
• Why people don’t like to read
• What happened to the middle class
• Why a degree is needed to do entry level jobs
• What the challenge is with there, their and they’re
• Why beauty is only skin deep but ugly is to the bone
• If there should be an age limit for Congress and Senate
• Why you think we want to see pictures of your meals
• When the lines between democracy and socialism became so blurred
• Why kids can fight in war are 18 but not drink a beer until they are 21
• Why a multibillion dollar organization like the NFL hires part-time referees
• If one size really fits all
• Why we think standardized testing will fix the education problem
• If any article of clothing has stayed in style as long as jeans
• Why it is so easy to gain weight but so difficult to lose it
• What your one wish would be if you found a genie in a bottle

1. There is greater value in what you have to say when you are not always saying something.
2. You don’t always need to correct people. Sometimes you can let things go.
3. Great friendships don’t last without effort.
4. Actions speak louder than words. Especially with working out. 🙂
5. Be smart more often than a smart ass.
6. If you are waiting on the right opportunity, many great ones will pass you by.
7. Life in education may make you rich, but not in a financial way.
8. Just letting your work speak for itself is not enough. You need to speak for it.
9. There is no such thing as a “self made man.” Someone, somewhere helped them.
10. If you curse in front of your kids, they WILL repeat it at some point. It sounds cute unless your wife hears it. LOL!

A college degree is frequently promoted as a great avenue for upward mobility. avenue. What this means is that an individual has greater earning potential with a college degree than without one. This argument instills in people that money is the most important thing to value. The key reason to get a college degree becomes income potential.

There are many arguments beyond income potential for someone to pursue a college education. Discussing the validity of those reasons are topics for another day. Seeking a college degree based on income potential is the one that is troubling me.

Currently there is over 1 trillion dollars in student loan debt in this country. A college graduate may have a higher income, but the take home pay is immediately decreased by his or her student loan payment. In addition, college grads tend to have double the amount of overall debt than those without a college degree thanks to new car payments, credit card debt and mortgages.   So, while college grads may earn more money, their net worth is less. See more here:

Universities have moved away from talking about the four-year degree. Why? Well, it is because the 4-year graduation rates nationally are sad.  Universities focus in on 6-year graduation rates.  Community college 2-year graduation rates are worse. The colleges now talk in terms of credits needed. They spend thousands of dollars on retention solutions and create committees upon committees to address the issues. Is it working? I’m not talking about moving the needle one or two percent. I mean really working. This added time is not free. This adds to overall student debt and delays their start into a career. I remember a time when it was a joke that people spend that long in college. Now it is the norm.

Maybe it is time to ask the tough question. Should some of these students be in college? Maybe they would be better served to learn a trade, do an apprenticeship, and become a skilled trades person.   They would be able to avoid taking on student loan debt and start their careers. If it is about money, the median salary for a plumber is $50,000. Electricians make even more.

Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs/Somebody’s Gotta Do It guy) has been on this bandwagon for quite some time.   He has the Mike Rowe WORKS Foundation. I am jumping in with him. I’m not saying don’t go to college. You can also learn trades at colleges.  What I am saying is that there are fantastic alternatives to college where people forge their path to success.

Growing up I had a view of smart that I didn’t fit into. It was focused around textbook learning and teacher praise. My view of it created a clear divide between those who were and those who weren’t. Unfortunately I was on the wrong side.

I enjoyed high school. I had great friends and played sports. I wasn’t one to take school that seriously. I never had a teacher push me to be better, they just put me into a category and let it be. I even had a “Guidance” Counselor tell me that I shouldn’t waste my time applying to 4-year colleges. I would never get in.

It is a good thing that I was stubborn because I applied to many 4-year colleges and was only rejected by one. Sorry, Mr. Tofte, but you were wrong.

After I completed my undergraduate degree I took a year off then, started my master’s degree.   It was in my master’s degree that I really started to love the idea of learning. This love of learning has followed me throughout my career.

Throughout my career people have told me how smart I am. I always deflect the praise and say, “I am not smart, I am a classic overachiever.”   This is really because my view of smart still went back to the textbook thing.

Since my son started school a few years ago, my view on smart has changed. While I still think people who excel in traditional learning as smart, I also believe that traditional learning holds brilliant minds back. Learning can happen in many different ways. For some of us, the idea of reading a textbook makes our palms sweat. We are active learners who excel with hands-on projects, learning by trial and error, and reading things that interest us.

We have a tendency to measure everyone the same.   Is a fish less great because it can’t climb a tree as well as a monkey? By doing this, we have categorized people incorrectly. We stifle creativity. We derail dreams. We set the bar too low.

The art of smart comes with the idea that harnessing how you learn and applying that to your life, will allow you to achieve great things.  It allows you to embrace the being smart. It allows people to see you in a different light.

Go get your Smart On!

Have you ever been somewhere that you say, “this is a good place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live here?” I bet you are picturing places in your mind right now. I know I am.   What is it about those places that make you not want to live there?

There are various reasons why people might say this. It could be weather, lack of jobs, lack of “things” to do, too small, too big, etc. What I am trying to figure out is why more people don’t feel this way about The Comfort Zone.

The Comfort Zone is a great place to visit, but nobody should live there. The CZ is too easy. It is a place for rest. According to the Oxford Dictionary, comfort means “a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.”  Everyone needs to spend time here, but should want more than comfort.   This is a great place to be after a significant time climbing the mountain. The key is to use it as a resting place, not a home. The summit still awaits you.

The greatest challenge to overcome the CZ is our own minds. The CZ lulls us to sleep. Makes us complacent. Encourages us to be average. It warns us of the dangers if you step outside of it. It makes us feel safe, secure, and comfortable.  The CZ is not a perfect place, but because it may be easier, it is understandable why people may want to stay there.

Why is this a place we shouldn’t want to stay? Simple. Nothing great has ever come from the comfort zone.   Some good things, yes, but nothing great. Innovation has never come from inside the CZ. Innovation comes to pull people out of it.

Life is to be lived. Life should be an adventure. The CZ should serve as the place to rest before we take the next hill.   The CZ looks different for everyone. Like a fingerprint, they are all different. They key is to stretch yourself.

Here are some ideas to get yourself out of your CZ:

• Define what your CZ actually looks like.
• What will your life be like in 5, 10, 15 years, if you say in the CZ?
• Take a risk. You don’t need to tackle large ones at first.  Start small.
• Make a fool of yourself.   Forget for once what people think of you and enjoy yourself.
• Face one of your fears. Just pick one and conquer it.
• Set a goal and actually work tirelessly to achieve it.
• Spend more time with family and friends who are adventurous.
• Eat a cookie. I’m not sure if it will help, but sounds delicious right now.

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams. – Oprah Winfrey

1. You regularly aim at a moving target – This is what we are doing until we change it.
2. Your opinion on what is happening actually matters – You better have one.
3. Everyone is sold out for the mission of the company – This doesn’t mean however that everyone is on the same page. See #1
4. Your job focus changes regularly – This is more than wearing multiple hats, this is about working to ensure success.
5. You are excited about the possibilities that are ahead of you and it keeps you awake at night. – Dream big or go home.
6. Emails come in at all hours of the night – Especially when you are working for a global startup.
7. Being nimble is not an option, but a norm – If you can’t embrace change, working for a startup may not be the best place for you.
8. There is something to learn from every decision, deal, sale, etc. – Everything you do you learn from.
9. You are surrounded by super motivated and intelligent people – Everyone wants the team to win!
10. The work you do has a major impact on the success of the company – If not, you will be looking for a new job 🙂

These are a baker’s dozen lessons I have learned from being a parent that translate to all aspects of my life.

• The louder I am, the less I am heard.
• Words are the most dangerous thing in the house (parent to child AND child to parent).
• Alone time is something to cherish. Even if it is when you use the loo.
• Dinner at the dinner table is really about stopping the rush of life and spending time with those you care about.   Better the food, better the dialogue.  Seriously.  Oh, wait, if the food is really bad that works too.
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are manmade ideas. Soup for breakfast is just fine. Quit judging me.
• Laughter is truly the best medicine. Well, unless you are sick. Really, don’t try to laugh it off, go to the doctor!
• Vacations create amazing memories. No matter how much you spend, it will be the little things about these times together that you will remember forever.
• Parent Of The Year Award is an elusive devil. I like my chances for next year. Maybe the year after that. We will see how January goes.
• Quality time will never surpass quantity time with family. More is always better. Quality is subjective. Quantity is measured by the plethora of treasured memories.
• Boys mature much slooooooower than girls. My guess is by 40 years or so. I think this is really why women have maternal instincts.
• Just when you think you have it all figured out, the rules change.
• Working should be about more than making money to pay the bills. It should be fulfilling. While this is not directly about parenting, it is something I am instilling in my son.   I want him to know it is okay to have it all.
• The greatest and most challenging job I will ever have is being a dad.   I am just grateful for the opportunity.

Corey: Hello Mr. Gumby, thank you for taking the time to interview with me for this sales position.

Gumby: I appreciate the opportunity.

Corey: We are a rapidly growing company and are often building the plane while flying it. How will you adapt to this environment?

Gumby: I’m known for being really flexible.

Corey: Flexibility is important in our line of work. Can you share with me a time you were flexible?

Gumby: Of course…

Corey: Whoa, I did not mean that kind of flexibility!

Corey: Selling can be a difficult job. Tell me about a time you encountered a difficult sale. What approach do you take with these?

Gumby: I pretty regularly encountered Blockheads in previous positions. I try to be patient.

Corey: Patience is good. Do you get the sale done?

Gumby: I’m still working on those.

Corey: Why are you looking to leave your current job?

Gumby: To be honest, I’ve been “kiln” it there and don’t get the recognition I think I have earned.

Corey: How do you know you were doing so well?

Gumby: I have been there for almost a year.
Corey: Does that seem like a long time?

Gumby: Some days more than others.

Corey: What is your style of leadership?

Gumby: I think of myself kind of like an artist. I mold them into the employee I want them to be. It can take some time to get it right, but once I fire them up, they are solid. Kind of like clay, I guess.

Corey: What does that that molded employee look like?

Gumby: Kind of like me I would say I guess.

Corey: Do you have direct supervision experience?

Gumby: No, not yet.

Corey: What would you say are your weaknesses?

Gumby: Ice cream. Unfortunately if I eat it, I freeze.

Corey: Is that your only weakness?

Gumby: No. I can sometimes glaze over things when I am bored.

Corey: Do you get bored often?

Gumby: More than one might think.

Corey: What about weaknesses in your skill sets?

Gumby: I went to college. I am prepared for all that faces me.

Corey: Did you do anything while in college to learn the skills needed to perform the job?

Gumby: I’m not sure I know what you mean.

Corey: You know, like internships, apprenticeship, experiential learning, project-based learning, etc.

Gumby: I had a TV show. Does that count?

Corey: That’s cool, but not necessarily what I meant.

Corey: What are your goals?

Gumby: I just want to leave the place better than I found it.

Corey: That is noble. I mean more about your career goals.
Gumby: Ahh, to make the world more awesome that it is today.

Corey: Ok. Thanks. What kinds of questions to you have for me?

Gumby: What is the typical dress code here?

Corey: We are pretty informal. Feel free to dress how you are now.

Gumby: That is a relief. You would be surprised how many people frown on me wearing this outfit so regularly.

Gumby: When will I find out if I get the job?

Corey: Well Gumby, you are exactly what I am looking for. Someone with little to no skills and will take months if not years to train.

Gumby: That is great!

Corey: I’m kidding. Come back and see me when you have some real experience to share.

Moral of the story? Don’t be a Gumby.   Get the experiences along your educational journey so you have practical application experiences to share in your interview.

• Having a college degree still positions you to make more money over your lifetime.
• We still value a college degree, but now question the value we are getting for our money.
• All nighters have gotten expensive thanks to the rising costs of coffee!
• Too many students graduate from college without any practical experience in their chosen field.
• Regional Accreditation is not better than National Accreditation despite what people may say. Both have pros and cons. What matters is what is best for the individual student.
• Change is necessary. Both pocket and transformation kinds.
• Thinking about college is making me want pizza and beer. Is that wrong?
• Textbooks are still relevant and old school at the same time. It would be awesome if they could be adjusted to old school prices.
• People can get a quality education online, just like they can get a poor education in person. We just tend to judge online more harshly.
• Algebra is critical for your long-term survival. Wait, I might be mistaken.
• A good chunk of current and future students will work in industries that have not been created yet.   This means that students should either major in something that is adaptable or in something they are passionate about.

Free is a funny word. We use it incorrectly most of the time. When people say state university tuition should be free, they are misusing the word free. It won’t be free. It would be 100% subsidized. There is a difference. Someone has to pay for it to happen.

What is the reasoning for wanting free tuition at state universities? People will tell you that it is because of the outrageous student loan debt. It can’t be about student debt. This country was founded on debt. There is debt that is considered good debt and debt that is not good. Student load debt should be part of the good debt. Why? Well, simply because paying for an education to improve your lot in life should be a good thing. If you have to pay for the things that keep you alive (food, water, shelter), it is reasonable to think you should pay for a higher education.

There is a greater problem than student loan debt. The greater problem is that the unemployment/underemployment rate of recent college graduates is nearly double the national average for unemployment. No longer does getting a degree equal getting a good paying job. So really, the biggest problem is not student loan debt or unemployment of recent college graduates. The problem is the skills gap. Students are graduating from college without developing the skills they need to be employable. They get theory, just not the practice.   I see ads and articles by universities saying they give this to students.   I believe some do. The issue is that most don’t.

Rather than making state colleges free, maybe we should look at some better alternatives.

• Hold colleges accountable for real outcomes.   Stop measuring success by simply graduation rates. What about employment rates? Attach this success to state and federal funding.
• Change tuition rates to match starting salaries after graduation.   A student studying to be a teacher should not pay as much as someone studying to be an engineer.
• Create student loan caps depending on the earning potential of the major you choose. A social work major should not be able to take out as much student loan as someone majoring in accounting. If a student is undecided about their major, the cap stays low.
• Require universities as part of their accreditation to eliminate majors that are not yielding graduates that find jobs. This isn’t about eliminating certain types of degrees. Some universities will do better than others with specific degrees.
• Move universities out of the “not-for-profit” business so that they can be more entrepreneurial and rely less on federal student aid to help their students pay for the cost to run a university.

I don’t have all the answers on this, but making tuition “free” is not going to solve the employability problem that graduates face.   I think it is time that we look for real solutions to the real problem.