If you read my article last week, you may have gotten the feeling college just wasn’t something you were interested in. It’s hard to stomach the fact that you could end up working jobs you don’t like for the next 40 years.
I decided that wasn’t something I wanted to do and I don’t think you do either. Here’s a brief list of some alternatives to that 9-5 corporate ladder climb.
1. Start a company
Via: mandatory.com
This may sound just like work to many of you, and for the most part it is. The biggest difference is you get to decide what happens with the company. You make the choices. You make the moves. You create everything.
There’s a much different feeling that comes with working forty hours a week doing something to make someone else money and working forty hours a week to promote and create an idea you believe in.
You could end up working even more than that if you’re enjoying yourself. There’s a certain thrill to building something from scratch. If you’re like most of us though, working that many hours isn’t the dream. You can check out Tim Ferris’ blog for some great tips on minimizing work and maximizing awesome.
2. Join the Peace Corps (or another similar organization)
If you’re looking to see the world in a different way and get support while doing it, there’s lots of organizations that will help you as long as you do some work for them. The Peace Corps is a great option but there’s many more out there.
One I’ve heard some great recommendations about is World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Farmers will provide you with room and board in exchange for work on their farm. There’s farms all over the world that participate in this program and it’s a great way to work and live around the world on a minimal budget.
3. Get a terrible job and do something you love on the side
Via: hbowatch.com
Work at a Starbucks. Do [insert enjoyable thing that you’re passionate about here] on the side. Whether its painting or stand up comedy, spend as much time as you can on said passion. There’s a lot of research that’s been done stating that to become a master at anything, you need to do that thing for 10,000 hours. Regardless of inherent talent, time is the most important thing. That amounts to around three hours a day for ten years.
Doesn’t sound all that easy, but I think in the end it’d be worth it. You wouldn’t be rich and living in Malibu on the beach(at least for awhile), but you’d be doing something you loved. I’d take that.
4. Learn to code and build an app or something awesome
Teamtreehouse.com will teach you how to program. While this may seem just like going to college, its much different. Its programs are online and provide lots of value.
Treehouse claims it can take you from zero knowledge and experience to job ready in a quick amount of time. You can take the knowledge you gain and try to get a job with a company or start an app/website you might be a little more passionate about. Either way, you’ll have saved thousands of dollars by using this website than by getting a college degree. You won’t be in debt and you’ll have gained massive amounts of practical knowledge.
These alternatives aren’t for everyone. They’ll require some serious creativity and passion. Some people were meant to be employees. Others were meant to explore the world and create things.
If you enjoyed this, stay tuned for next week. I’ll be breaking down our country’s student debt situation and give you some insight into what has become a massive debt bubble many people will live with for the rest of their lives.
I look forward to chatting next week. Until then, toodaloo.
