I was always told Work Smarter Not Harder. Which I was told meant that when your working hard, be smarter about the work your doing. Be efficient in your work.
I was always told work hard. Even from my father who is a successful businessman. It wasn’t until I was older that I learned the importance of working smarter. I too understood the importance of working hard, but that it wasn’t enough. I wish I had understood, at an earlier age, that working smarter is knowing where to apply your hard work. That hard work bears fruit through persistence and consistency over time. Not necessarily through working yourself into the ground in the short term for the sake of “working hard.”
Exactly. Working smarter doesn't mean a college degree. It means being more intentional on what you are doing so you can make as much as you can with less job injury.
That was my favorite line too. I'm a stay at home mom and I homeschool my children BUT I'm also ALWAYS learning and I bring my kids along. I've studied decently in depth in fields that range from soil science, animal husbandry both conventional and holistic, forestry, nutrition again both conventional and holistic, medicine - same especially as my husband has worked his way up one rung at a time on the nursing field ladder and I've listened to or watched a good portion of the study materials with him - I prefer holistic but also see that both can work together, various aspects of building (and have built several structures to house livestock and use as storage), various environmental sciences, religions, and history. There's a lot more but most people consider me a fairly well-rounded person. It all started because my parents both did manual labor jobs but we also had 3 sets of encyclopedias that I read from on a regular basis (pre-Internet childhood). Now I've got my own encyclopedias to read from and the entire Great Books of the Western World that I'm working through. That set alone used to be what comprised a liberal arts degree. As a homeschool parent I have the academics my kids need to do but I also have a life skills checklist they need to work through that's pretty extensive. They don't need to master anything but some parts require quite a bit of critical thinking about what and why they believe certain things and going through the lost exposes them to things in many fields of work to either find what they enjoy doing and can build a career from or so they can at least save some money by DIYing.
I went to college for four years. At 50 years old, I am a painter, a roofer, a plumber, a mechanic, a husband and a father. I never should have gone to school without a solid plan.
i just turned 30. i felt this as well recently. i wish i should've thought more carefully about why i want to go to college instead of just going with the flow. for any high school students reading, i recommend taking a year or so off before going to college and explore life as much as possible if you can and have support.
@@KhmerH20 I'm 32 and happy with my engineering degree and career, but I also remember how much pressure there was from parents, teachers, school advisors to go to college because it was seen by them as the only way to be successful. I was in a position where I thought I was going to be a welder, but happened to be good with academics, so they pushed for me to go into engineering and made student loans out to be nothing to worry about. This was the mentality toward any student really, regardless of their prospects or interests. Then even at 17 years old when I graduated, I could easily sign up for a stupid amount of loans in less than 30min online, but couldn't buy a scratcher at the gas station. Looking back now, we know that a huge number of loans were not being paid back even at that time. They're very plainly sub-prime loans. The government didn't care because it's the government. The private lenders don't care because the loans aren't forgivable in bankruptcy and they know that the government won't let them all fail together, so they don't care. It's financial statutory rape and it took too long for people to realize it
I just did a legit online college through my workplace and graduated in 2 years at 2 classes/quarter and some Sophia courses. While it was nice to finish up a Bachelors and pay nothing out of pocket, there's no way I'd have done it without my workplace paying. It was not worth the time, the skills(way behind on tech), and seeing how many people can't even speak English or type it trying to take college courses. It was like 7th or 8th grade level teaching in some of the required courses. College has been dumbed down while prices were inflated. If I'd paid for that 2 years it'd have been $60k for an online degree. It was only worth the piece of paper to say I did it, nothing else. It was an empty feeling when I graduated a few months go. And like you--I'm a father, warehouse worker, been a supervisor, small time farmer, and CDL truck driver. And now I'm in cybersecurity and IT looking for a job. Good luck to me!
Learned to landscape from a shop teacher. Turned it into a business after the Army. He quoted a line from Louis L'Amour: School can only give you the bare bones of an education.
35yrs ago dropped outta college stumbled into being a mechanic. Working for a county bus company for 27yrs at top pay, making 6 figures with bennies & pension. Working on cutting edge tech daily. I am blessed
My grandpa was a welder and took pride in his work. It's sad to see our careers losing their luster. I'm nearing 45 and thinking about the next 15 years, this is a reminder to address my fears now, particularly the financial ones. It's unrealistic to expect that 15 more years in a 9-5 job will fix those fears when I'm 60 and retired
I'm getting close to retirement and having a financial advisor has really paid off. I started investing later than most, so I couldn't just rely on compound interest from index funds. Even so, I've done quite well, earning more than some long-term investors. I'm set to retire with at least $6 million
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We had a critical part break. This part is no longer available. The computer tappers were at a complete loss. My coworker, looked at it and fabricated a replacement from scratch in one day and returned the equipment to service. This person, no vocational school, no degree. Just a smart and talented individual.
Some folks have to buy a $40,000 car with a warranty so it doesn't break down. A person with some practical mechanical skill can drive a $3500 car with no warranty because if something breaks he can probably fix it with basic tools. I'm a computer tapper myself but being from poverty I have patched broken brake lines with a rubber glove well enough to limp home. I've reattached a steering pump pulley with some hand-flattened tie wire just a couple weeks ago when the nut stripped out.
A critical part with no plan in place to resolve if a failure occurs? That's more of a problem than the loss of the critical part. Critically speaking....
Man this is so true I have friends who quit school and one just retired top in her field of nursing several are big time business owners have some very high up the ladder in the company's they work for. Didn't finish high school Didn't go to college all very successful. I'm not saying quit school I'm saying get a job doing different things you might like it
25 years old male here. Never went to trade school, never went to college. Got a blue collar job clearing $110,000 a year starting off with no experience or certifications nor did a “buddy” help me get the job. I travel the entire country & everyday at work is an adventure. It comes at a cost though. I work 70+ hour a week & the work is laborious, but I love every moment & I am so proud. I have no bills & save every dollar. Yes, to be successful you have to do things you don’t want to. Not everything is about you, your comfort, or your rights. You have to sacrifice.
Kudos to you young man !!! You are wise beyond your years! No debt (other than a mortgage) is a smart way to live.... At this pace you're well on your way to being a millionaire! 👍🏼
It never ceases to amaze me how words can be misconstrued to fit an agenda. The origin of 'Work smarter, not harder ' refers to utilizing the full scope of tools available to you (both intellectual tools and physical tools) to achieve a goal while doing so with the least amout of stress.
It means a lot of things, but ultimately "spend your effort in places it will yield you the most." Don't rewrite the entire web stack, use existing libraries and frameworks so you can focus on what makes YOUR problem unique. Don't spend time machining wheels when you can just buy better ones than what you can fabricate. Don't spend all your time twisting wires when you can just buy sheathed cables that have all the wires in there.
I spent 50+ years as an aircraft mechanic and loved every day of it as it's a profession that requires you to work both smart and hard of you're going to be good at it.
Bro, you have missed the topic completely. The phrase in this video is "work smart, not hard". The phrase that you have mentioned, is a phrase that originates to when social media started to boom.
Taken in the context of what that poster represented at that time I agree with Mike's take on it. I graduated high school in 1980. I scored high in both SAT & ASVAB tests, but like Mike, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I loved working with my hands and technical things but being an engineer also appealed to me. I ended up going to tech school for electronics which led me by chance to a lifelong career in appliance repair, 30 years of that as a service manager making good money. My dad, who was a truck driver his whole life, said work smart not hard. His meaning was that whatever you do, utilize the best tools & processes available to do the job right & efficiently. However the best advice he gave me was when I asked him if I should take the job in appliance repair, since it wasn't what I went to tech school for. He said "Son, people will always need refrigerators and washers . . . you will never starve!" Boy was he right!!!
Military, hvac school, became a utility worker. Zero debt & been making over 200k for the passed 10 years. Zero debt. My wife a lawyer with loads of debt and does not make what I make. I love my career and plan to retire at 55 to manage my properties. My friends with degrees are in/out of work, some still live at home bc of debt.
Same boat. My wife is an attorney with a bunch of loans that we paid off. I'm using my GI Bill to go back to school for supply chain management. Looking at adding an additional income to the family budget. Under 40 yrs old here and 1st gen immigrant. No debt besides the mortgage.
I went to community college for 2 years took the diesel technology program and I'm 30 years old now making 75k a year and love my job, and soon I'll be making 100k a year. No student loan debt, love my job, and I work smarter not harder as a diesel technician, diagnosing and repairing heavy duty trucks
It's because he's having the same conversation over and over and over again, so he's well practiced at it and pulling the specific examples that are most relevant to the specific situation. A surprise prompting in a casual setting where the speaker does not spend hours specifically preparing for this, nor do they have repeated discussions of the specific subject will yield a different impression. It's about practice and preparation more than just knowing, and Mike Rowe is very good at this. The many related conversations that I'm sure he's had with the tradesmen across the various industries he's worked in for his Dirty Jobs show also benefits these conversation skills.
Even being efficient with the wrong path is a failure. In my area of work we call it “All thrust, no vector” and it leads to death. Even “efficient thrust, no vector” will get you killed
@@MaxDavisMusic I’m still in golf with a park worker title and can do everything spray, irrigation, and mechanic duties as well. I’m really happy with my path.
That's actually something that I would like to do, but I have a successful 40 year career as a Trauma/Life Flight/ICU and military nurse. I could give students realistic information from a lifetime of failures and successes.
When I was in high school there was a welding class. The only people that took it was next to dropping out of school. I signed up because I knew I did not want to go to college that the school pushed for everyone to do. I continued welding all my work career. 47 years I was a welder. Welded pipeline work half my career. Other half building trades pipefitter/welder. Pipeline all over the country, power houses, nuke plants, steel mills, refiners. If it was round and had a hole it I would weld it. My pension is what most people make today.....
I've known many of the higher professional class,lawyers,accountants and healthcare that work 60 plus hours a week for many years. It's not until 25,30 years later can they come down to a normal work week
I worked hard for 25 years, from the age of 13. Bad knees and a bad back FORCED me to work smart. I make more now than I ever did digging ditches in November. Work smart lads. Don't cripple yourselves for a job that won't afford you a place to live, or a family.
Hard work got me into a job clearing 100k a year. I starting by working for any company that would take me and Learned what I could and as I gained skills I worked to find better opportunities and eventually got into a trade union. School failed me and left me thinking I was a failure. Now I am a commercial HVACR tech and I love my job.
Attending a junior college right after high school was the best decision I ever made. I got to take so many different courses in different areas. In 2001, each class was a whopping $33. My first semester was a little over $150 plus books. I ended up going into law enforcement and not having any debt after trying out different paths.
Staying current with useful skills is always a good path. I came up in a technical college then went to a 2yr associate degree while working in my field of study. I learned more on the job. I've continued my studies via my employers generosity. Zero college debt
I've met a lot of HVAC technicians that have the mentality of not wanting to learn new things, not wondering why something does what it does or how it does it and they just aren't curious enough. When I learned a motor that experiences impedance draws more current I could not help but ask around "why?" it took several conversations to find out that the smartest and most experienced among me weren't actually curious. They just learned whatever they learned and never found out the root cause. TL;DR You can go very far in the trades if you keep asking "why?" even if you have to ask Google/TH-cam.
When I was 12, I helped my uncle dig ditches in the summer (he was a plumber). I'll never forget what he said to me "Make your living with this (points to head), not this (points to back)" He was right, and I am grateful I have been able to make a career in IT.
The dynamic has changed. In 1825 the Erie Canal was finished. It was cleared, blasted, stumps pulled, dug, concrete poured and locks built all using hand tools and horses. That's the old way, but if you're a "laborer" today there are so many tools to make the job easier that require expertise that hardly anyone can make it using just their physical ability. It's a prerequisite to be physically capable but if you're not skilled you're not getting paid.
This is the best video I’ve listened to/seen in a very long time. I’m a licensed General Contractor in Tennessee, with a degree in construction engineering. I’m also an experienced welder, carpenter, and general laborer. I work like crazy every day to make money but at the end of the day I can have a knowledgeable conversation with just about anyone I’m around. Becoming “well versed” in your field and fields similar will take you to places that an education never will.
i started as a auto mechanic. got my technical dp for welding, worked alot of manufacturing jobs running punch pres. benders burn tables there isent much in a shop i havent used. i eventually got the role of welder fabricator did that for years then became a steam fitter then a sanitary pipe welder and now im a boilermaker. and when im not working with metal im learning carpentry and wood working. with a little want and some can do you can learn whatever you want to. and i most defiantly take pride in keeping this country running!!!
I'm a high school teacher. I tell my students that I will NEVER criticize a tradesman (plumber, carpenter, construction, etc. where university education isn't necessary). It is VERY well compensated. You will earn a VERY good, solid, honest paycheck. BUT it is hard work. Work that by the time you are in your mid 40's, and into your 50's you will start feeling its effects on your body. So... part of that great compensation is for the wear and tear on your body. Oh! Don't have an accident on the job!!! My message being: If that's where you're going to go, GO, but go with a contingency plan so that by the time you are in your 30's you are making plans to becoming a foreman, contractor, office guy...whatever, but have the direction in your life heading to a place where you can ease up on the wear on your body... I hope that made sense...
You should give that same warning to desk jockeys. We've been "discovering" a whole host of health and injuries from working desk jobs for years. Furthermore, the data clearly shows that those who work physical jobs such as plumbers, welders, etc. are actually healthier and in better shape after a decade or two than desk jockeys are. The underlying principle behind that is that while physical effort is hard work, it is work we evolved doing; while sitting at a desk most/all of the day is not something we evolved to do and the deleterious effects are greater when they hit, and subtle leading up to it.
Naaaa this man is 100 percent correct!! if you can land a desk job when you're young that pays good go for it !! Because busting your ass all your life sucks and "DOES" wear your ass out !!
There are plenty of trade jobs where you are not remotely wearing your body down. Sure maybe standing and walking and some very light labor with your hands. In my opinion some light labor is far better than being lethargic sitting in a chair all day. I sit in a office and also work on the shop floor. I take the shop floor any day. Do better
Back in 1999 I was told by a guidance counselor that I was a smart kid and I should go to college, not tech school. I was fortunate enough to get through my 4 year degree without debt but looking back, I probably would have been fine going to tech school and I would have saved thousands of dollars. Let's do a better job of teaching kids the financial cost of picking either option, college or tech.
I worked at a gas & electric utility. One day I was on a ride along with a gas serviceman. We were sent to a guy's house who had a gas leak. He was messing with his gas lamp that had gone out. The serviceman was belittling the customer because he was fixing the light and the customer couldn't . The house was very nice and obviously the customer was well off. Finally the serviceman smugly asked "How are you going to fix something if you don't know how?!!!" By now the customer was tired of the belittling and replied "I'll hire someone like you!" Being a skilled tradesman doesn’t always make you the smartest guy in the room.
@T-mu2hk Many comments are trying to make that very argument. I agree, having a craft gives you value. My point is, some people don't need to know how to do things for themselves. Economically, if you make $200k, $300k or more. Why wouldn't you just go to work and pay a handyman $50 an hour?
Love this I went to trade school to be a mechanic and my first construction job out of UTI a superintendent told me that I could better serve the job and understand the equipment better if I learned to operate the equipment so I helped out wherever needed mechanic truck driver equipment operator 25 years later I decided I didn’t want to be a mechanic any more so getting in as an operator was just a matter of getting in the seat and I’ve always made a good living never been laid off
So glad i was told by my guidance counselor that i wasnt cut out for university and wouldn't amount to much, lol. Jokes on him, making 6 figures now as a Millwright and satisfied with my work. Thank you dear guidance counselor
I’ve ran three parallel plans all my life: 1. Education based off of what my bosses boss’s had achieved. I now have a MS and a MBA. 2. A technical trade that meets my intellectual capacity and personality. I fly commercial helicopters. 3. Can work with my hands. I build, fix and plan/design houses, hobby farm, landscape. My point is to be able to diversify rather than concentrated efforts in one field.
I’m a high school drop out with vast family problems growing up. I’m now a 44 year electrical journeyman , California state licensed contractor making 6 figures annually. Not having higher education slowed me down but it didn’t stop me. I ate a lot of shit sandwiches along the way ( not literally) but take this away from this comment. We were not built for comfort but to overcome adversity. Mike Rowe has the formula…… skill cannot be taken away from you. I say to young men , learn a trade ,…. You can still make money it’s computers and technology but you can fall back on a craft skill when things go bad in this ever changing world. I always tell the young men Ive trained… electrically speaking … they (computer type and tech people) cant do what they do without us. Everything requires electrical power available. Note: I still believe that Plumbing is the superior craft… you can live without electricity but you can’t live without clean water… plumbing keeps the world healthy. Consider it… You will be a hero.
“We are not built for comfort, but to overcome adversity“. That is great. I could’ve used that saying a million times in my life with friends, coworkers, my children, and now my grand children. Thank you. Did you make that up?
Hard working men are needed in society. Every home that we comfortably relax and enjoy was built by hard working men mostly and a few women who were good at their trade and will always be needed. So an educated mind with a hard working attitude is a winning ticket. Don’t be afraid]d to get your pretty little hands dirty, they wash up just fine. God bless
I couldn't agree more with you, however in the past 30 years every residential home worksite I've ever walked past, English is not the primary language spoken by the hard working men on the job site. Do you mean we need more?
@@donaldlee6760 men are men no matter what language they’re speaking. I only mean hard work for a days pay is good and the more skilled you are as a man or woman the better off you are in all types of economy’s. It’s easy to get laid off of an office job then hard to find another. But with a trade your always needed because we have so much in the USA 🇺🇸 and we are spoiled. So plumbing, electrical, carpentry, hvac and general home skills are always in demand.
@@donaldlee6760 It's human traph ick eng. They get brought across the border and their documentation is destroyed and money taken. Without driver's license, passport, ID, or money they're at the mercy of their employer in the states. The employer will rent out an apartment and put 5+ migrant workers per room. They're picked up in the morning, work all day, dropped off at night. They're not allowed to be seen outside because they're threatened with deportation, they have no cars or ability to drive, usually there's no public transportation, and the employer can pay as much or as little as they want.
Smart man. A person of either sex that can and will work at something that is not likely to go out of style, or be a victim of obsolescence, is a good person to consider for marriage or other arrangements, if the person in consideration meets the other qualifications, the odds of a long happy life together are very good. Too few highly educated people, are busy looking down their noses at lesser people who allow them to drive a car, eat food, wear clothes, live in a nice home, relax with a high end pool table, and daily take for granted, all of the stamped metal, or molded plastic things that their money buys, but most have little understanding of. I would like to see our public schools run for ten or eleven months per year, and use the extra class time, to teach the students useful life skills. Drafting, wood shop, home repair, cooking, basic finance etc. for ALL students, of whichever orientation they happen to be this week.
Excellent interview. I believed the poster once. Got a MS in Information Systems I.E. Software and Systems Engineer. Did it while working as a Mechanic. Was offered a job with a National company at $60 K..... 12k less than what I was making at the time as a mechanic..... Still working as a Mechanic, making great money at each 65. The university education I got was totally not necessary and did not help me get a better job. It did get me a lot of unnecessary debt. Trades are the way to go, and the Military is also a great place to start. Both will improve your life. Without a lot of debt.
I was 100% guilty of thinking I was too smart to work hard, or that because I have a college degree I could expect someone to pay me for my very deep thinking. Honestly I’ve only been working really hard for like 3 years and I made more progress than in the previous decade.
@@samryan7954 At 19? He's doing fine. A lot of people his age are scrambling for minimum wage jobs. Especially if he's not living in a big city on the coast, $28/hr is good money and will go a long way. It's an excellent start in life, and he will likely move up from there. Saying he's no good at his job sounds like unrealistic cluelessness or envy.
@@samryan7954this comment is exactly why my dumb ass generation is fucked- kid is making money while the majority of kids are getting loaded while studying left handed puppetry who won’t start at $28 an hour 😂 good money at 19 presuming he’s saving and investing. Good riddance
That also did it to Motherhood!!... .. hardest job in the world.... And most rewarding.... They did it to Motherhood. Imagine how well adjusted our children and adults would be with Mom that raised their own children and watched over their children's education.
@@colbynotes2741 I agree to the point that as I man and father, I do the life theatening, risky, stressful stuff so the women in my life don’t have to. So motherhood is highly essential and appreciated; it is not the hardest job in the world.
@@theunclenell True. Makes sense. "The hardest job in the world" is an interesting turn of phrase that quickly begs the question what IS the hardest job? And given that each individual has different talents and sensibilities, each person might come up with what's extremely difficult for themselves. I could never ever be a kangaroo, no matter how much brutal effort and work I dedicated to it, day in and day out. And the outcome has little value, not worth the effort. So, how much willingness do folks have to work extremely hard in extreme circumstances, to accomplish extreme things? The hardest, most difficult things in life ... that are genuinely worthwhile? That really pay off with something worth caring about? My own personal opinion might be something that is gut-wrenchingly overwhelming and requires every ability I can possibly muster, and a total sacrifice of my own person, in the most horrendous ways, for something of peak value. The hardest job in the world ... probably has the most suffering and the least joy, a real nightmare every hour of every day, but really does amount to something genuinely tangible so that you do actually continue with it rather than ending it all. What jobs are WORTH the total commitment and brutal suffering? Probably something that saves 10,000 lives. Or radically improves a million lives. By your own individual actions, with excellent teamwork, clear and true. That sounds perhaps like not fighting IN a war, as a pawn of war, but doing whatever it ruthlessly takes to avert a war. Or perhaps addressing other existential risks that face all of civilization. Being fully dedicated to whatever it takes. The reason people do hard things is because certain hard things are worthwhile. Perhaps the more clarifying question is what job is WORTH extreme amounts of hard suffering nightmarish work? The worthy outcomes. 🤟 Thank you for listening to my little TED talk. You got any ideas? Carry on now.
My father is a 50 year career mechanic. Growing up, he always said, "Work smarter, not harder" and what he meant by that was find easier ways to get the manual labor done. For example, if you have an electric ratchet, why use a manual ratchet? Save your elbows! In my middle aged years now I've found myself willing to spend a little money on machines or tools that will save my body, because machines are cheaper than medical bills.
I'm 33 and my school system taught us this way of thinking too.... however now I been in office work for 10 plus years, I have tried speaking with electricians programs Ibew, union and non union, plumbing apprenticeships and nobody will hire me.. and thr people that will bother taking my call, they tell me i will probably need to be a helper, making $12/hr...I cant afford to do that. So the best way is to go into trade out of highschool and you can always back to school later if you want. But going back to trades later in life is tougher if you can't afford a pay cut
@@Thalanoxusually after 3-4 years in the trad you can take your journeyman exam, and every year up to 3rd year of apprenticeship you make more money. The ending hourly wage is $30-40/hr. When you become a contractor the moneh can be much more, and that is several years after journeyman, and not everyone does it.
The skill and reliability of helpers varies massively. $12 is probably the amount they would risk knowing there's a high chance you'll be a flake or you'll quit in 3-6 months. So sometimes you've got to risk the low income for a while and then ask for a raise later when you're more proven. Personally I've worked as a general construction helper part-time as a side hustle making $30. I'm not even in the industry, I just have acquired a "particular set of skills" which make me an incredibly useful helper.
I am an educator and have two master's degrees that *I* paid for. (My husband helped me too.) We have no student debt. I absolutely love school! However, we are pushing kids to go to college and the common core wants all kids to be college-ready. That is ridiculous because it minimizes the men and woman making a good living doing trade work. TRADE WORK is not a bad thing and society needs to change their thinking about it.
Worked in the surgical instrument field making them and repairing them. When I was teaching an apprentice I would always stress to them “learn all you can when given the opportunity, this will make you a valuable employee”.
When my son decided to switch into the trades at 29 years old, with a wife and children. He knew that it would mean that he would have to take a big cut in pay and would take him two years to get back to where he was. We let him and his family move in with us for two years. It's been almost 4 years, and now he will finish his apprenticeship in two months and is already making twice what he was making in his previous job. Unlike college, where you pay the university for your training. In the trades, they pay you while you learn.
Hey I went to Essex community too I remember Mike when he did local Maryland commercials selling new homes grew up with his voice every Sunday morning great man
I was literally told in high-school that the trades were dead. Don't even think about them. College and University are the only way to go. Not one teacher or guidance counselor or anyone that worked at that school said otherwise. I find that disturbing. And literally every girl was told to go into something working with children. And man did those careers get flooded.
I'm curious if you are my age. When I was in high school in New Jersey in the 1980s I never heard anyone talk down the trades. Like ever. Everyone knew that welders, electricians, plumbers, mechanics made good money and could always find work. And we were told to never go into teaching because you'd never find a job. With union jobs, teachers stayed until they died, lol. I ended up in Florida in the early 90s. At that time I was in my early 20s. It was completely different there. I went to a mega church so I knew lots of people my age. The one thing I immediately noticed was all of the women were in college to be an elementary school teacher and the guys were kind of doing nothing. It was sad to see how totally neglected guys were. 80-90% of the guys in our church weren't in college or trade school. They were just doing odd jobs. This is just my experience. I don't know how or why this happened but it's a real crisis now. 😮
@@zsuzsuspetals a confluence of events caused it. Yes, the push for college was a big part of it. Not only at the surface level, but the result. Most men (and especially boys) are not suited to the style of education used in schools for the last several decades - the "sit down, shut up, be still and listen" method. The degrading social commentary around trades likely put those men out of that market, and college wasn't suitable, so odd jobs it is.
The issue was people back in the 80s who didn’t get a college degree were made to feel “because you don’t have this one thing, it’s over for you”. So those people pushed college onto their kids, and now we have the problems we have.
Nobody can make you feel any way. I grew up and graduated highschool in 1984, went to technical school and worked my way up to being an engineer. Made a very comfortable living for myself. I never once felt that I was less because I didn't go to college. Yes people did imply that, yes there are companies I won't be considered by for engineering work because I don't have a degree, but they can't make me feel any way. BTW, my brother and sister both got engineering degrees from college, and both are envious that I did absolutely as well as them without going
Back in 2004 I remember being pressured into going into college, I did it for 6months and HATED IT because it didn't lead me any closer to creating a good life for me. I got involved in HVAC learning about it and I enjoy it. I wished it paid more but college is not for everyone. People need to figure out what works for them.
My father and uncle were both electricians. My uncle started as a carpenter and later switched to being an electrician. I spent one summer working with my cousin who is a plumber and another with a family friend who was a contractor. My grandfather owned several apartment buildings and taught me carpentry, tiling, plumbing, electrical, painting, carpeting and drywall. I did not graduate from college and ended up working in the financial world. I still utilize the skills that I learned as a teen whenever I work on my house. I have a deep appreciation for the trades and at one time considered being a plumber.
Nah, not President. But appoint him to lead the Dept of Labor? Or even Education? ... Now you're talking something more focused and aligned with what he's already doing to help our country.
What a goon. If there aren't jobs, create them. A freaking ant 🐜 colony has more morales than we do. We get run by society instead of us running society. United we stand-divided we fall.
Egomaniacs go into politics,few honest politicians can get any legislation done,no,Mike Rowe will NEVER go into politics,plus,you anger tour ppl and they turn on you in a heartbeat. Only a crazy egomaniac goes into high politics, just look at the last 8 presidents, all crazy egomaniacs(even the peanut farmer) believing that they are the only ones to save the world.
I have an associates degree and 25 years of experience in IT. The degree gave me the base of information, but the experience taught me more than any college ever could.
I “pimped” my STEM career. Took a 2 year certificate in business data processing from a major university in the evenings while working at an entry level job in the industry. Started beating people with four-year degrees competing for jobs because I also had two years of experience. I continued taking courses that were relevant to what I was doing at work and maintained this intensely for 10 years or so. Interesting that the companies I worked for paid for the courses, travel and my salary while I was doing this. I then devoted myself to lifelong learning mainly because the tech was always changing and improving. And because I’m inherently curious and love learning. But I only learn what I deem to be either useful or interesting. I am now retired after a 38 year career and even in my last role I was working with leading edge tech. Were I to add to the “work smart not hard” trope, I would say, “Work smart and hard.”
That statement always bothered me, it should be "Work smarter AND harder". I always wondered why it had to be one or the other? Same with "I'd rather be lucky than good", BS, if I'm wishing, "I'd rather be lucky AND good"! Please run for president one day Mika Rowe!
I went to State U for mechanical engineering, I’ve done that for 40 years, and in Ramsey terms, EDM baby step 7. I have a professional engineering license, and a master plumbing license
To my understanding this just proves how much we need an edge as investors because playing the market like everyone else just isn’t good enough. I've been quite unsure about investing in this current market and at the same time I feel it's the best time to get started on the market, what are your thoughts?
Since the crash, I've been in the red. I’m playing the long term game, so I'm not too worried but Jim Cramer mentioned there are still a lot of great opportunities, though stocks has been down a lot. I also heard news of a guy that made $250k from about $110k since the crash and I would really look to know how to go about this.
Thats true, I've been getting assisted by a FA for almost a year now, I started out with less than $200K and I'm just $19,000 short of half a million in profit.
Working smart is a must. Working hard is also a must. Best thing is you can work hard in your 20s and 30s and relax a bit after that. But both must be done no matter what. I recommend buying as many rentals as possible when you're young and can work around the clock.
But I thought that the phrase applied to everything and wasn't just for academics. I thought it meant find the simplest solution instead of making things harder than they need to be. If you can do it easy do it. Get more for less work. Don't strain yourself and find the smarter way to do it.
You're correct. It's called click bate. Mike in the video never postulated that you should never work smart or never work hard. 2:25 Instead he said that we need to be both smart and hard working. 9:13
40 yrs Cnc Machinist/ Toolmaker Medical surgical Implants & Aerospace tools. 4 yr sponsored Tech school. Was never out of work 100k career..retired & i work 2 days part time.".If you love your career, it's not work" ?
I have 3 degrees, 2 in music and 1 in engineering. The key point: all are about actually doing SOMETHING. The engineering degree got me 25+ years of fairly well paid work writing software. The music study was in pursuit of an orchestra job (which doesn't necessarily require even a high school diploma); it's incredibly competititive, and I was very, very good, but not quite good enough on the few days I could pay my way onto the plane for an audition. But it was all about excellence, and that concern transfers to EVERYTHING. The pursuit was no loss. Additionally (for school was quite discontinuous for me), I also did a number of blue-collar jobs, including warehouse work, machining, and repairing vehicles. There's NOTHING smart about getting a degree just to have one. The content and the discipline is what's important, and the orientation to continue learning, and to learn new ways to learn. And, in many ways, jobs are the same. But an early consideration needs to be how you turn a job into a living and a career. When I was twisting wrenches, that was NOT the top of the blue collar heap. You were several times better paid as a plumber. For many such jobs, the way it really pays is to own the shop. And that comes of knowing the trade AND knowing how to conduct a business in a businesslike way, and, further, how to train others.
These are very valuable rules for anybody who wants to get rich. Unfortunately, most people who will watch this video will not really be able to apply the principles. We may not want to admit, but as Warren Buffett once said, investing is like any other profession-- it requires a certain level of expertise. No surprise that some people are losing a lot of money in the bear market, while others are making hundreds of thousands in profit. I just don't know how they do it. I have about $189k now to put in the market.
Although stocks are now rather volatile, you should be okay if you perform the proper calculations. There have been stories of people making over $80,000 in a matter of weeks or months, according to Bloomberg and other finance media, so if you know where to look, I believe there are many wealth transfers during this recession.
The best course of action if you lack market knowledge is to ask a consultant or investing coach for guidance or assistance. Speaking with a consultant helped me stay afloat in the market and grow my portfolio to about 65% since January, even though I know it sounds obvious or generic. I believe that’s the most effective way to enter the business at the moment.
Thanks, I just googled her and I'm really impressed with her credentials; I reached out to her since I need all the assistance I can get. I just scheduled a call.
I got drafted in 1965 and immediately got sent home for being blind in one eye. I went to a community for a year and then started pursuing an electronic technician job. I bought a hi-fi repair shop, and turned it into a systems contractor. Sold it when my wife died and retired 15 years later as an (non degreed) consulting engineer. My best friend started digging ditches for a plumbing company. Started his own plumbing company and sold it years later and retired rich. Both of us are highly intelligent and yet more comfortable than so many who did go to college, but di d not learn something that is marketable. We both learned something marketable and pursued our love of history, economics, and philosophy independently.
Sales is the biggest component of any position . Tradesmen make great money . Next step is your own company . Sales and marketing . Doctors and lawyers have to sell themselves . Learn sales …. Absorb it . Read and watch everything . That’s where you succeed .
I've always used the phrase - "Work smarter, not harder". Which has a different meaning, but I saw the same ad on the board and that's how I came up with the phrase. When faced with a tough problem which involves hard work. Figure out how to solve the problem the best and easiest way, not the hardest way possible...i.e. Instead of manually lifting those 80-pound concrete bags, get a hand truck. Instead of running that wire by crawling around in the attic, use the old wire as a pull wire to pull the new wire through to the other side. Work smarter, not harder. Don't make the job more difficult than it has to be.
I have the utmost respect and admiration for Mike Rowe. He's an advocate for a prosperous and productive society ... listen to what the man has to say ... wherever your journey may lead you, be an asset to society.
I am 69, for a water utility. Over the years, I reached journeyman status in 4 trades. Half the people that I work with are college graduates. Governor Jerry Brown tried to revamp higher education to be more effective, take less time, and cost less. All kinds of people, conservatives and liberals resisted Gov Browns proposals. The Student loan relief is meant to encourage people to continue the student debt merry-go-round.
Everyone has their own idea what is effective higher education. It's usually not effective for any government or governor to try to redo the whole thing. The root problem in the US is that financial aid and government-backed student loans (and now forgiveness) have irretrievably divorced the payment of tuition from the success of the student, so colleges no longer have any great incentive to produce financially successful graduates. If they had to compete to produce successful students, rather than just raking in the most debt money, the colleges would likely come up with a lot more effective and diverse set of solutions than Jerry Brown could do.
I’m retired, in my 70’s. Graduated high school in June and that following September enrolled in college/university. I lived with my Dad then and he had been good about giving financial advice (when solicited). He said that one of the best things I could do is to graduate debt free, which I did. Worked 4 to midnight and went to college during the day. Studied, worked, studied some more….and paid for my schooling myself. Dad didn’t take rent and paid my car insurance for my ‘65 Mustang. Something else my Dad said : if you’re working at a job that has a retirement account and you plan to stay there for a while, pay into it. I stayed one job for 10 years, paying into my retirement. At the job following that, I stayed 15 years and paid into retirement- the company matched my payment so I had double the amount. Next job was in Superior Court and paid well. Now my retirement is the 3 retirement programs I paid into (a stipend monthly) plus Social Security. Long hours, hard work pays off. No car payments, no mortgage. Loving wife of 43 years and 3 children who are great adults. I’m greatly blessed.
The trades are great,the caveat is as you age it can be very difficult physically on a person. This is exacerbate d by politicians who want to increase the fra( full retirement age) . Sometimes people who sit behind a desk ,cant , comprehend this.
Something many won't tell you is that sitting at a desk all day takes a toll, too. We have been finding a host of problems from it, many of which are disabling.
@@IAmTheRealBill Point taken thats why balls instead of chairs,elevated computer stations so you can stand some of the day,pads to ease carpal tunnel syndrome and many othrr things have been invented.
I originally went to college for Graphic design in '01-'03, while I was attending I picked up a job as a valet and changing oil for a dealership - ended up dropping out and chasing the automotive industry world. Only constant I had during this chase was chasing IT knowledge/tech, and the tools and knowledge I gained in the auto field I now apply in the IT field. In the end I just love new challenges and learning new things that are ever evolving. I am passing this onto my son and tell him whatever he wants to be he can if he works both smart and hard towards it - I will be proud of him no matter if he wants to go into a trade or go to college, just as long as he know the direction he wants to adventure down for knowledge and experience.
Trade schools have and are continuing to raise prices. If they aren’t being used now, pretty soon even trade schools with charge amounts people can’t afford and will get loans
Im 26 years old. I scored in the top 5% in all the tests, and on paper destined for university, but I couldnt bring myself there, and I couldnt feel my heaet soing that. A lot of people around me when looked down on community college and the trades when it felt like such a logical choice. My passion became working on cars and turning wrenches, literally nothing makes me happier. After years of avoiding any education at all and just bumming pretending like Ill go to college just to placate my family, I finally decided to just go to my local community college and sign up for their aviation maintenance course. 18 months, literally $0 for tuition after filling out a 15 form to receive financial aid, and Im going to enter a high demand, well paying job doing what I love to do most. I feel blessed and Im proud to tell people Im at SLCC. I agree, university is an important tool, one I very well could have succeeded with, but the stigma is crazy. The numbers just dont add up when you look at it closely. Theres literally free money sitting on the table.
I’ll never forget doing an engineering internship and making friends with some of the welders. One day, we talked about how we ended up here and, ultimately, our pay. The welders made about half what I made as an engineering intern. They sacrifice their health and work in extremely demanding conditions (try welding in full welding gear in the southern summer heat and humidity at the bottom of a cramped, dark, rusty vessel and going down a 20ft ladder in a manhole where if you fall there is no safety mechanism to catch you from landing on a steel floor). Was my engineering college education costly? Yes. Although, the average engineer pays off their education in 2-3 years. All I know is that if I was advising a kid deciding between welding and engineering, I’d want them to be the engineer.
Not everyone can be an engineer. A lot of kids who enroll in engineering dropout during the first year. Asian professors that are hard to understand and a ton of demanding math courses that most people could never pass. There are tradesmen in other fields that make more money than you.
There is a wide range of opportunities between welder and engineer. You have to find an area that you like, but can also be monetized. It may take years though.
Mike and Dave are a dynamic duo. I'm very grateful for Mike's campaign to educate people about the trades. Without him, I would've never thought to introduce my son to trade school as an option after high school. Now he's welding and loves it. Combined with the knowledge he got from Dave's online personal finance course for high schoolers, my son is well equipped to start his adult life.
My Gpa (who was Supt in NYC) would tell me that also but finished with Don't be afraid of hard work. It's concept was don't make the job harder than it should be.
I worked harder instead of smarter for over 20 years. Now at 40 i have permanent knee damage and cant do notmal daily activities like walk without pain and swelling. Working harder instead of smarter is the stupidest thing ive ever heard about reality of the workforce. Stop listening to people who grew up wealthy and never had to actually work hard for years. If you work hard in any real job, you will damage your body and have an lower life span and enjoyabiloty during that lifr. Never work hard for someone else to make money off the damage of your body instead of theirs.
the trades are exploited unless your are unionize and then your still exploits as you have to do impossible time frame and schedule but at your least your getting good benefits great health care safe working condition and retirement benefits. Fran K United association of plumber and pipefitteres of us and canada work smarter.
As a high school student, I was fed the same idea that college was the only real path to success. Sure, they mentioned military or going straight into the workforce. But, that was always portrayed as a worse option. They showed us a graph of average earnings for people with just high school diplomas vs each level of college (associates, bachelor's, masters, PhD). Well, I started on that path to a degree in aerospace engineering. That would be a good paying job and it would actually be useful. But, it was very expensive. So, I used the military to help pay for it. They taught me to be an aircraft mechanic. I intended to to that part-time in the national guard and go to school full-time, but that meant taking very few classes each semester. So, I eventually gave that up and just went full-time military. I joined at 20, bought my first home at 24, got married at 26, and had our first child at 27. Now, at 28, we have 6 rental properties and we're working hard to pay them all off as quickly as possible. College can be a good option for many. But, the market is already super saturated with degrees because they pushed that for so long. Now, we have massive shortages in a lot of trades and they often pay far better than jobs requiring degrees. So, if you're thinking of college, great. But, do more research and make sure to really consider all options.
Im 68. 10/4/56. 1972, age 16, I began as a welders helper during school summer vacation at a shipyard in Greenville, Ms. I was so fascinated with it's applications and completions that during my breaks and lunch I would practice. One day the welder with too much belly couldn't fit through the fuel tank porthole into the tank where the "cooling grid iron" was mounted inside the outer hull. My step-father a Chief Engineer and his brother, the company Port engineer, their support is why I was allowed to work there under 18 as required. My uncle asked me if I would like to weld the replacement to the hull noting also that the vertical uphill welds with 7018 would be "ultra tested" with iron flux and a strong U magnet. My welds passed. From that time on I sought further experience as a certified welder. I'm AWS D1.1/5.20 unlimited thickness, all positions (7018 and dual-shield fluxcore, respectively). That clip of that 93 year OG blacksmith was great. I love creating and building. I've so many burns from metals fabrication I resemble a cheeta with all the white spots, lost pigment. I'm oilfield trash since 1974. Im also a journeyman ironworker (local 24 and local 58 and non-union), crane operator, Derrickman, concrete finisher, electrician/electronics technician, fitter of structural steel and pipe, millwright, etc. My passion in what I do is cleary evident. I may've been a blacksmith in a former life or the spirit of one has been given me. I enjoy it all.👍🙏
It's very simple, before heading into a degree, ask yourself, have i ever needed a doctor, lawyer, political scientist, electrician, plumber, mechanic? I have needed them all except for political scientist. Don't get a useless degree and bury yourself in debt to do it.
Love this. Having been an engineer and a carpenter, I still pick carpenter. Grandpa was a also a chemical engineer by profession and a pipe fitter by trade he enjoyed both.
But the average salary is only about $54,000 a year. Which in this economy, is just barely scraping by. The numbers just don’t work. You can say all these wonderful things about the trades but if you can’t live on the money, then how do you do it? Mechanics used to make a great living. Used to. Now you’d be better off at McDonalds because you’re only making $2 less an hour and you don’t have to spend tens of thousands on tools. It seems the only way to earn a decent living in the trades anymore is to run your own business. And since most businesses fail, that’s at best, a roll of the dice. Looking at the numbers, the bachelor’s degree is the new high school diploma. You’re best bet if you want to be able to afford a house, car AND groceries, is to go to college and get a bachelor’s in something MARKETABLE.
A decent tradesman will make double that. On top of that full benefits and pension if you get in the right shop/union. I’m in the trades and have many friends across different fields of trades none of us are “scraping by”
@@Jabb135 I’ve heard plenty of stories like yours, of guys making double what the national average is… over the internet. Talked to many guys on many job sites over the years. The only guys who have a shot at 6 figures are the business owners. Or the guys willing to work 60+ hours a week. How sustainable is that? Im learning it’s stigmatized for a reason. The days of being able to enjoy the fruits of your labor as a tradesman are over, for most. Wages have simply not kept up with the cost of living. Not debatable.
@@jme92685Jabb135 is correct. I have a trades job with an industrial company. Very close to 100,000 a year without overtime. Full benefits. I’m just a hourly employee and everyone in my department can make the same. There are lots of jobs paying similar to this. Our company has a hard time finding qualified people to fill positions. However you have to be willing to work in some, not to friendly, environments.
@@Chris-zh5om well, I can’t see that happening to the skilled trades any time soon if ever but the wages NEED to go up. That part is not debatable. There’s a shortage of workers for a reason.
I was always told Work Smarter Not Harder. Which I was told meant that when your working hard, be smarter about the work your doing. Be efficient in your work.
I was always told work hard. Even from my father who is a successful businessman. It wasn’t until I was older that I learned the importance of working smarter. I too understood the importance of working hard, but that it wasn’t enough. I wish I had understood, at an earlier age, that working smarter is knowing where to apply your hard work. That hard work bears fruit through persistence and consistency over time. Not necessarily through working yourself into the ground in the short term for the sake of “working hard.”
Exactly. Working smarter doesn't mean a college degree. It means being more intentional on what you are doing so you can make as much as you can with less job injury.
It does not matter how you do it, if you're not making money you're in over your head.🤪
@@NikoXC08 it doesn't matter how and what you're doing - if you're not making money, nothing else matters.
Work smart nowadays mean cut corners and take advantage of the system.
"We need more philosophers who can run an even bead." That's a beautiful statement, Mike!
Or as Bernard Shaw put it, a PhD who cannot build a simple box is as poorly educated as a carpenter who cannot read.
That was my favorite line too. I'm a stay at home mom and I homeschool my children BUT I'm also ALWAYS learning and I bring my kids along.
I've studied decently in depth in fields that range from soil science, animal husbandry both conventional and holistic, forestry, nutrition again both conventional and holistic, medicine - same especially as my husband has worked his way up one rung at a time on the nursing field ladder and I've listened to or watched a good portion of the study materials with him - I prefer holistic but also see that both can work together, various aspects of building (and have built several structures to house livestock and use as storage), various environmental sciences, religions, and history. There's a lot more but most people consider me a fairly well-rounded person.
It all started because my parents both did manual labor jobs but we also had 3 sets of encyclopedias that I read from on a regular basis (pre-Internet childhood). Now I've got my own encyclopedias to read from and the entire Great Books of the Western World that I'm working through. That set alone used to be what comprised a liberal arts degree.
As a homeschool parent I have the academics my kids need to do but I also have a life skills checklist they need to work through that's pretty extensive. They don't need to master anything but some parts require quite a bit of critical thinking about what and why they believe certain things and going through the lost exposes them to things in many fields of work to either find what they enjoy doing and can build a career from or so they can at least save some money by DIYing.
It's a shame he also said you shouldn't be able to feed your family working full time.
Most don't even know what a bead is...
I can run a bead but it might not be even.
I went to college for four years. At 50 years old, I am a painter, a roofer, a plumber, a mechanic, a husband and a father. I never should have gone to school without a solid plan.
i just turned 30. i felt this as well recently. i wish i should've thought more carefully about why i want to go to college instead of just going with the flow. for any high school students reading, i recommend taking a year or so off before going to college and explore life as much as possible if you can and have support.
@@KhmerH20 I'm 32 and happy with my engineering degree and career, but I also remember how much pressure there was from parents, teachers, school advisors to go to college because it was seen by them as the only way to be successful. I was in a position where I thought I was going to be a welder, but happened to be good with academics, so they pushed for me to go into engineering and made student loans out to be nothing to worry about. This was the mentality toward any student really, regardless of their prospects or interests. Then even at 17 years old when I graduated, I could easily sign up for a stupid amount of loans in less than 30min online, but couldn't buy a scratcher at the gas station. Looking back now, we know that a huge number of loans were not being paid back even at that time. They're very plainly sub-prime loans. The government didn't care because it's the government. The private lenders don't care because the loans aren't forgivable in bankruptcy and they know that the government won't let them all fail together, so they don't care. It's financial statutory rape and it took too long for people to realize it
I just did a legit online college through my workplace and graduated in 2 years at 2 classes/quarter and some Sophia courses. While it was nice to finish up a Bachelors and pay nothing out of pocket, there's no way I'd have done it without my workplace paying. It was not worth the time, the skills(way behind on tech), and seeing how many people can't even speak English or type it trying to take college courses. It was like 7th or 8th grade level teaching in some of the required courses. College has been dumbed down while prices were inflated. If I'd paid for that 2 years it'd have been $60k for an online degree. It was only worth the piece of paper to say I did it, nothing else. It was an empty feeling when I graduated a few months go.
And like you--I'm a father, warehouse worker, been a supervisor, small time farmer, and CDL truck driver. And now I'm in cybersecurity and IT looking for a job. Good luck to me!
Same!
Well sir, I’m all that and still an engineer. Such is life.
I worked with a retired teacher. He told me “education is a great thing but it doesn’t hurt to know how to weld”.
Very true lol
Yesir 😂
I have an engineering degree and I found more joy and money as an optician after a 2 year certificate program.
Learned to landscape from a shop teacher. Turned it into a business after the Army. He quoted a line from Louis L'Amour: School can only give you the bare bones of an education.
As welder this fact.
35yrs ago dropped outta college stumbled into being a mechanic. Working for a county bus company for 27yrs at top pay, making 6 figures with bennies & pension.
Working on cutting edge tech daily. I am blessed
Be sure to thank your local taxpayer.
@@SpiritusMundi4EVER Yep, buses... obvious government job lol
But you could have made far more in a college degree required position that won't leave you dying of cancer from working with vehicles.
My grandpa was a welder and took pride in his work. It's sad to see our careers losing their luster. I'm nearing 45 and thinking about the next 15 years, this is a reminder to address my fears now, particularly the financial ones. It's unrealistic to expect that 15 more years in a 9-5 job will fix those fears when I'm 60 and retired
I'm getting close to retirement and having a financial advisor has really paid off. I started investing later than most, so I couldn't just rely on compound interest from index funds. Even so, I've done quite well, earning more than some long-term investors. I'm set to retire with at least $6 million
Your financial advisor must be excellent. How can I get in touch with them? I'm worried about my portfolio and could really use some guidance
I generally avoid specific recommendations since everyone's situation is different, however my experience working closely with Emily Ava Milligan over the years has been exceptional. You might find it worthwhile to see if she aligns with your needs
I looked up her name online and found her page. I emailed and made enquiries. Thanks for the help
You are not alone
We had a critical part break. This part is no longer available. The computer tappers were at a complete loss. My coworker, looked at it and fabricated a replacement from scratch in one day and returned the equipment to service. This person, no vocational school, no degree. Just a smart and talented individual.
Some folks have to buy a $40,000 car with a warranty so it doesn't break down. A person with some practical mechanical skill can drive a $3500 car with no warranty because if something breaks he can probably fix it with basic tools. I'm a computer tapper myself but being from poverty I have patched broken brake lines with a rubber glove well enough to limp home. I've reattached a steering pump pulley with some hand-flattened tie wire just a couple weeks ago when the nut stripped out.
A critical part with no plan in place to resolve if a failure occurs? That's more of a problem than the loss of the critical part. Critically speaking....
Man this is so true I have friends who quit school and one just retired top in her field of nursing several are big time business owners have some very high up the ladder in the company's they work for. Didn't finish high school Didn't go to college all very successful. I'm not saying quit school I'm saying get a job doing different things you might like it
I am an engineer....I work with many old technicians who never when to college. I often consult with them when I have a difficult problem to solve.
That guy should have patented the replacement and made the company pay lol
25 years old male here. Never went to trade school, never went to college. Got a blue collar job clearing $110,000 a year starting off with no experience or certifications nor did a “buddy” help me get the job. I travel the entire country & everyday at work is an adventure. It comes at a cost though. I work 70+ hour a week & the work is laborious, but I love every moment & I am so proud. I have no bills & save every dollar. Yes, to be successful you have to do things you don’t want to. Not everything is about you, your comfort, or your rights. You have to sacrifice.
Great job
Well done! What kind of work do you do to make that salary?
@@connor_flanigan oil & gas pipeliner
Great job.....sounds like you do long distance truck driving.
Kudos to you young man !!! You are wise beyond your years! No debt (other than a mortgage) is a smart way to live.... At this pace you're well on your way to being a millionaire! 👍🏼
It never ceases to amaze me how words can be misconstrued to fit an agenda. The origin of 'Work smarter, not harder ' refers to utilizing the full scope of tools available to you (both intellectual tools and physical tools) to achieve a goal while doing so with the least amout of stress.
Now you better work hard, and you better work smart, otherwise you will be left behind.
It means a lot of things, but ultimately "spend your effort in places it will yield you the most."
Don't rewrite the entire web stack, use existing libraries and frameworks so you can focus on what makes YOUR problem unique. Don't spend time machining wheels when you can just buy better ones than what you can fabricate. Don't spend all your time twisting wires when you can just buy sheathed cables that have all the wires in there.
I spent 50+ years as an aircraft mechanic and loved every day of it as it's a profession that requires you to work both smart and hard of you're going to be good at it.
Ppl create a life doing a service to society that adds value to the society while finding joy in their life.
Bro, you have missed the topic completely. The phrase in this video is "work smart, not hard". The phrase that you have mentioned, is a phrase that originates to when social media started to boom.
Taken in the context of what that poster represented at that time I agree with Mike's take on it. I graduated high school in 1980. I scored high in both SAT & ASVAB tests, but like Mike, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I loved working with my hands and technical things but being an engineer also appealed to me. I ended up going to tech school for electronics which led me by chance to a lifelong career in appliance repair, 30 years of that as a service manager making good money. My dad, who was a truck driver his whole life, said work smart not hard. His meaning was that whatever you do, utilize the best tools & processes available to do the job right & efficiently. However the best advice he gave me was when I asked him if I should take the job in appliance repair, since it wasn't what I went to tech school for. He said "Son, people will always need refrigerators and washers . . . you will never starve!" Boy was he right!!!
Military, hvac school, became a utility worker. Zero debt & been making over 200k for the passed 10 years. Zero debt. My wife a lawyer with loads of debt and does not make what I make. I love my career and plan to retire at 55 to manage my properties. My friends with degrees are in/out of work, some still live at home bc of debt.
I'm so happy 4 u.
🎉🎉👍👍
My just got a job servicing AC units. Any advice for 21 year old just staring out . I would appreciate it very much . Thanks
*200k per year during the past 10 years* but as a 1st gen immigrant, you did surprisingly well!
Same boat. My wife is an attorney with a bunch of loans that we paid off. I'm using my GI Bill to go back to school for supply chain management. Looking at adding an additional income to the family budget. Under 40 yrs old here and 1st gen immigrant. No debt besides the mortgage.
I am 55 and at the top of my trade. Done working hard. Pace yourself. You cant save the world.
I went to community college for 2 years took the diesel technology program and I'm 30 years old now making 75k a year and love my job, and soon I'll be making 100k a year. No student loan debt, love my job, and I work smarter not harder as a diesel technician, diagnosing and repairing heavy duty trucks
Same here. Best decision ever. Took auto shop in high school,now a diesel mechanic retiring soon with no debt house paid off in 2010😊 have a great day
Yea but an amazon driver makes slighly more than that and a UPS driver is close to 200k. The job market is all messed up...
Mechanics leaving the field, not paying like it used to!
@@coreyfranco7060UPS drivers don't make 200 K Avg hourly pay is $22.74 thats not even CLOSE to 200k unless they work every single hour of the year.
@@joefran619Not only that, but its gonna get a lot worse when all the cars are electric, and can't be repaired cost effectively.
Mike Rowe is beautifully eloquent and clear in his message.
i could listen to him all day
It's because he's having the same conversation over and over and over again, so he's well practiced at it and pulling the specific examples that are most relevant to the specific situation.
A surprise prompting in a casual setting where the speaker does not spend hours specifically preparing for this, nor do they have repeated discussions of the specific subject will yield a different impression.
It's about practice and preparation more than just knowing, and Mike Rowe is very good at this. The many related conversations that I'm sure he's had with the tradesmen across the various industries he's worked in for his Dirty Jobs show also benefits these conversation skills.
Want a date with him?
He must have learned something when he was working on his communication degree.
And he has a great podcast
Working smart usually means working efficiently. The title is misleading but the message is right on the money.
Even being efficient with the wrong path is a failure. In my area of work we call it “All thrust, no vector” and it leads to death. Even “efficient thrust, no vector” will get you killed
I can’t help but think of the old joke that efficiency is just laziness productively applied.
@@stog9821 In my line of work efficiency is rewarded in pay raises and promotions. I work in marketing.
@@hugoglenn9741
"All thrust, no vector" doesnt sound like working smart to me.
@@stog9821
Some might see it as laziness, but theyre probably just jealous that the job was done just as well in less time and with less effort.
From a 6 figure turf guy
Practice a skill and meet people, what you know combined with who you know is amazing.
People don't mention this enough. Having a network is great, but it's not *useful* unless you have skills.
Are you a golf course superintendent? I'm an Assistant currently
@@MaxDavisMusic I started at private club in 2004 and ended up with a city job in 2014 currently on a turf and water management team.
@@camaro-motives4174 thats awesome. Were you an Assistant when working in golf?
@@MaxDavisMusic I’m still in golf with a park worker title and can do everything spray, irrigation, and mechanic duties as well.
I’m really happy with my path.
Rule #1. Don't ever take advice from somebody who ended up being a high school guidance counselor.
😂😂😂 spot on 😂😂😂😂
That's actually something that I would like to do, but I have a successful 40 year career as a Trauma/Life Flight/ICU and military nurse.
I could give students realistic information from a lifetime of failures and successes.
Just because someone doesn't make a lot of money doesn't mean they are always going to be wrong.
"Ending up" is probably a bit better than starting up as guidance counselor right out of college at the age of 25.
@@Absaalookemensch exactly, those that can, do. Those that can't, teach.
When I was in high school there was a welding class. The only people that took it was next to dropping out of school. I signed up because I knew I did not want to go to college that the school pushed for everyone to do. I continued welding all my work career. 47 years I was a welder. Welded pipeline work half my career. Other half building trades pipefitter/welder. Pipeline all over the country, power houses, nuke plants, steel mills, refiners. If it was round and had a hole it I would weld it. My pension is what most people make today.....
Yes. It's "Work smart AND hard".
Yes
True, they are not mutually exclusive - excellent observation.
💯
And usually people never get to the point of working smart because unless they work hard first.
I've known many of the higher professional class,lawyers,accountants and healthcare that work 60 plus hours a week for many years. It's not until 25,30 years later can they come down to a normal work week
I worked hard for 25 years, from the age of 13. Bad knees and a bad back FORCED me to work smart. I make more now than I ever did digging ditches in November. Work smart lads. Don't cripple yourselves for a job that won't afford you a place to live, or a family.
I never realized what a great radio voice Mike has.
Wait until you hear his singing voice.
TV face keeps him from having to get by with his radio voice ;)
Hard work got me into a job clearing 100k a year. I starting by working for any company that would take me and Learned what I could and as I gained skills I worked to find better opportunities and eventually got into a trade union. School failed me and left me thinking I was a failure. Now I am a commercial HVACR tech and I love my job.
I live in Houston Texas during the summer months you are the most important person in our lives 😊
Attending a junior college right after high school was the best decision I ever made. I got to take so many different courses in different areas. In 2001, each class was a whopping $33. My first semester was a little over $150 plus books. I ended up going into law enforcement and not having any debt after trying out different paths.
Staying current with useful skills is always a good path. I came up in a technical college then went to a 2yr associate degree while working in my field of study. I learned more on the job. I've continued my studies via my employers generosity. Zero college debt
I've met a lot of HVAC technicians that have the mentality of not wanting to learn new things, not wondering why something does what it does or how it does it and they just aren't curious enough. When I learned a motor that experiences impedance draws more current I could not help but ask around "why?" it took several conversations to find out that the smartest and most experienced among me weren't actually curious. They just learned whatever they learned and never found out the root cause.
TL;DR You can go very far in the trades if you keep asking "why?" even if you have to ask Google/TH-cam.
For all his youth, Mike Rowe is a very, very wise man.
Now, even at age 70, I would love to converse with him for 20 minutes or so.
When I was 12, I helped my uncle dig ditches in the summer (he was a plumber). I'll never forget what he said to me "Make your living with this (points to head), not this (points to back)"
He was right, and I am grateful I have been able to make a career in IT.
A ditch digger starts at the top and works his way down! Some if not all make good money!
The dynamic has changed. In 1825 the Erie Canal was finished. It was cleared, blasted, stumps pulled, dug, concrete poured and locks built all using hand tools and horses. That's the old way, but if you're a "laborer" today there are so many tools to make the job easier that require expertise that hardly anyone can make it using just their physical ability. It's a prerequisite to be physically capable but if you're not skilled you're not getting paid.
This is the best video I’ve listened to/seen in a very long time. I’m a licensed General Contractor in Tennessee, with a degree in construction engineering. I’m also an experienced welder, carpenter, and general laborer. I work like crazy every day to make money but at the end of the day I can have a knowledgeable conversation with just about anyone I’m around. Becoming “well versed” in your field and fields similar will take you to places that an education never will.
I have a great amount of respect for these two men. They're doing a great service to society. I'm grateful for that
i started as a auto mechanic. got my technical dp for welding, worked alot of manufacturing jobs running punch pres. benders burn tables there isent much in a shop i havent used. i eventually got the role of welder fabricator did that for years then became a steam fitter then a sanitary pipe welder and now im a boilermaker. and when im not working with metal im learning carpentry and wood working. with a little want and some can do you can learn whatever you want to. and i most defiantly take pride in keeping this country running!!!
I'm a high school teacher. I tell my students that I will NEVER criticize a tradesman (plumber, carpenter, construction, etc. where university education isn't necessary). It is VERY well compensated. You will earn a VERY good, solid, honest paycheck. BUT it is hard work. Work that by the time you are in your mid 40's, and into your 50's you will start feeling its effects on your body. So... part of that great compensation is for the wear and tear on your body. Oh! Don't have an accident on the job!!! My message being: If that's where you're going to go, GO, but go with a contingency plan so that by the time you are in your 30's you are making plans to becoming a foreman, contractor, office guy...whatever, but have the direction in your life heading to a place where you can ease up on the wear on your body... I hope that made sense...
You should give that same warning to desk jockeys. We've been "discovering" a whole host of health and injuries from working desk jobs for years. Furthermore, the data clearly shows that those who work physical jobs such as plumbers, welders, etc. are actually healthier and in better shape after a decade or two than desk jockeys are. The underlying principle behind that is that while physical effort is hard work, it is work we evolved doing; while sitting at a desk most/all of the day is not something we evolved to do and the deleterious effects are greater when they hit, and subtle leading up to it.
Naaaa this man is 100 percent correct!! if you can land a desk job when you're young that pays good go for it !! Because busting your ass all your life sucks and "DOES" wear your ass out !!
There are plenty of trade jobs where you are not remotely wearing your body down.
Sure maybe standing and walking and some very light labor with your hands.
In my opinion some light labor is far better than being lethargic sitting in a chair all day.
I sit in a office and also work on the shop floor. I take the shop floor any day.
Do better
Back in 1999 I was told by a guidance counselor that I was a smart kid and I should go to college, not tech school. I was fortunate enough to get through my 4 year degree without debt but looking back, I probably would have been fine going to tech school and I would have saved thousands of dollars. Let's do a better job of teaching kids the financial cost of picking either option, college or tech.
I worked at a gas & electric utility. One day I was on a ride along with a gas serviceman. We were sent to a guy's house who had a gas leak. He was messing with his gas lamp that had gone out. The serviceman was belittling the customer because he was fixing the light and the customer couldn't . The house was very nice and obviously the customer was well off. Finally the serviceman smugly asked "How are you going to fix something if you don't know how?!!!" By now the customer was tired of the belittling and replied "I'll hire someone like you!"
Being a skilled tradesman doesn’t always make you the smartest guy in the room.
Noone said it did but why pay someone to do what you could do yourself?
@T-mu2hk Many comments are trying to make that very argument. I agree, having a craft gives you value. My point is, some people don't need to know how to do things for themselves. Economically, if you make $200k, $300k or more. Why wouldn't you just go to work and pay a handyman $50 an hour?
"Being a skilled tradesman doesn’t always make you the smartest guy in the room." Are you listening Bill Gates?
Love this I went to trade school to be a mechanic and my first construction job out of UTI a superintendent told me that I could better serve the job and understand the equipment better if I learned to operate the equipment so I helped out wherever needed mechanic truck driver equipment operator 25 years later I decided I didn’t want to be a mechanic any more so getting in as an operator was just a matter of getting in the seat and I’ve always made a good living never been laid off
“I am grateful “ is right.
So glad i was told by my guidance counselor that i wasnt cut out for university and wouldn't amount to much, lol. Jokes on him, making 6 figures now as a Millwright and satisfied with my work. Thank you dear guidance counselor
I’ve ran three parallel plans all my life: 1. Education based off of what my bosses boss’s had achieved. I now have a MS and a MBA.
2. A technical trade that meets my intellectual capacity and personality. I fly commercial helicopters.
3. Can work with my hands. I build, fix and plan/design houses, hobby farm, landscape.
My point is to be able to diversify rather than concentrated efforts in one field.
You're a renaissance man a la Jacob Lund Fisker 👍
I’m a high school drop out with vast family problems growing up. I’m now a 44 year electrical journeyman , California state licensed contractor making 6 figures annually.
Not having higher education slowed me down but it didn’t stop me. I ate a lot of shit sandwiches along the way ( not literally) but take this away from this comment.
We were not built for comfort but to overcome adversity.
Mike Rowe has the formula…… skill cannot be taken away from you. I say to young men
, learn a trade ,…. You can still make money it’s computers and technology but you can fall back on a craft skill when things go bad in this ever changing world. I always tell the young men Ive trained… electrically speaking … they (computer type and tech people)
cant do what they do without us. Everything requires electrical power available.
Note: I still believe that Plumbing is the superior craft… you can live without electricity but you can’t live without clean water… plumbing keeps the world healthy. Consider it…
You will be a hero.
A friend said --- LIFE IS LIKE A SHIT SAMITCH, THE MORE BREAD YOU HAVE, THE LESS SHIT YOU HAVE TO EAT!! R.I.P. MIKE.
“We are not built for comfort, but to overcome adversity“. That is great. I could’ve used that saying a million times in my life with friends, coworkers, my children, and now my grand children. Thank you. Did you make that up?
Sanitation workers save more lives than doctors.
Hard working men are needed in society. Every home that we comfortably relax and enjoy was built by hard working men mostly and a few women who were good at their trade and will always be needed. So an educated mind with a hard working attitude is a winning ticket. Don’t be afraid]d to get your pretty little hands dirty, they wash up just fine. God bless
No. Built by illegal immigration.
I couldn't agree more with you, however in the past 30 years every residential home worksite I've ever walked past, English is not the primary language spoken by the hard working men on the job site. Do you mean we need more?
@@donaldlee6760 men are men no matter what language they’re speaking. I only mean hard work for a days pay is good and the more skilled you are as a man or woman the better off you are in all types of economy’s. It’s easy to get laid off of an office job then hard to find another. But with a trade your always needed because we have so much in the USA 🇺🇸 and we are spoiled. So plumbing, electrical, carpentry, hvac and general home skills are always in demand.
@@donaldlee6760 It's human traph ick eng. They get brought across the border and their documentation is destroyed and money taken. Without driver's license, passport, ID, or money they're at the mercy of their employer in the states. The employer will rent out an apartment and put 5+ migrant workers per room. They're picked up in the morning, work all day, dropped off at night. They're not allowed to be seen outside because they're threatened with deportation, they have no cars or ability to drive, usually there's no public transportation, and the employer can pay as much or as little as they want.
Smart man. A person of either sex that can and will work at something that is not likely to go out of style, or be a victim of obsolescence, is a good person to consider for marriage or other arrangements, if the person in consideration meets the other qualifications, the odds of a long happy life together are very good.
Too few highly educated people, are busy looking down their noses at lesser people who allow them to drive a car, eat food, wear clothes, live in a nice home, relax with a high end pool table, and daily take for granted, all of the stamped metal, or molded plastic things that their money buys, but most have little understanding of.
I would like to see our public schools run for ten or eleven months per year, and use the extra class time, to teach the students useful life skills. Drafting, wood shop, home repair, cooking, basic finance etc. for ALL students, of whichever orientation they happen to be this week.
Excellent interview.
I believed the poster once. Got a MS in Information Systems I.E. Software and Systems Engineer. Did it while working as a Mechanic. Was offered a job with a National company at $60 K..... 12k less than what I was making at the time as a mechanic.....
Still working as a Mechanic, making great money at each 65. The university education I got was totally not necessary and did not help me get a better job.
It did get me a lot of unnecessary debt.
Trades are the way to go, and the Military is also a great place to start. Both will improve your life.
Without a lot of debt.
Interesting one person case study
@@pattybaselines I know many like that.
@@IAmTheRealBill Very cool! Nice to have so many options
I was 100% guilty of thinking I was too smart to work hard, or that because I have a college degree I could expect someone to pay me for my very deep thinking.
Honestly I’ve only been working really hard for like 3 years and I made more progress than in the previous decade.
Mike is such a gifted speaker. Has the voice and an articulate mind.
Great advice. I advised my kid to work in the trades. He has zero debt and makes 28$ an hour at 19
If alls he's making is $28 pretax - he's not too good at what he is doing.
@@samryan7954 At 19? He's doing fine. A lot of people his age are scrambling for minimum wage jobs. Especially if he's not living in a big city on the coast, $28/hr is good money and will go a long way. It's an excellent start in life, and he will likely move up from there. Saying he's no good at his job sounds like unrealistic cluelessness or envy.
Give him a bone!
@@samryan7954this comment is exactly why my dumb ass generation is fucked- kid is making money while the majority of kids are getting loaded while studying left handed puppetry who won’t start at $28 an hour 😂 good money at 19 presuming he’s saving and investing. Good riddance
The guy is 19. It's not like he went into the trade with 10 years of experience already. He probably just started.
That also did it to Motherhood!!... .. hardest job in the world.... And most rewarding.... They did it to Motherhood. Imagine how well adjusted our children and adults would be with Mom that raised their own children and watched over their children's education.
Agreed…except that motherhood is not the hardest “job” in the world.
Single mothers, not so good. Fatherhood and Motherhood go hand in hand, and deserve to be spoken in the same sentences together.
@@colbynotes2741 I agree to the point that as I man and father, I do the life theatening, risky, stressful stuff so the women in my life don’t have to. So motherhood is highly essential and appreciated; it is not the hardest job in the world.
@@theunclenell True. Makes sense.
"The hardest job in the world" is an interesting turn of phrase that quickly begs the question what IS the hardest job? And given that each individual has different talents and sensibilities, each person might come up with what's extremely difficult for themselves. I could never ever be a kangaroo, no matter how much brutal effort and work I dedicated to it, day in and day out. And the outcome has little value, not worth the effort.
So, how much willingness do folks have to work extremely hard in extreme circumstances, to accomplish extreme things? The hardest, most difficult things in life ... that are genuinely worthwhile? That really pay off with something worth caring about?
My own personal opinion might be something that is gut-wrenchingly overwhelming and requires every ability I can possibly muster, and a total sacrifice of my own person, in the most horrendous ways, for something of peak value. The hardest job in the world ... probably has the most suffering and the least joy, a real nightmare every hour of every day, but really does amount to something genuinely tangible so that you do actually continue with it rather than ending it all.
What jobs are WORTH the total commitment and brutal suffering? Probably something that saves 10,000 lives. Or radically improves a million lives. By your own individual actions, with excellent teamwork, clear and true.
That sounds perhaps like not fighting IN a war, as a pawn of war, but doing whatever it ruthlessly takes to avert a war.
Or perhaps addressing other existential risks that face all of civilization. Being fully dedicated to whatever it takes.
The reason people do hard things is because certain hard things are worthwhile.
Perhaps the more clarifying question is what job is WORTH extreme amounts of hard suffering nightmarish work?
The worthy outcomes.
🤟
Thank you for listening to my little TED talk. You got any ideas? Carry on now.
My father is a 50 year career mechanic. Growing up, he always said, "Work smarter, not harder" and what he meant by that was find easier ways to get the manual labor done. For example, if you have an electric ratchet, why use a manual ratchet? Save your elbows! In my middle aged years now I've found myself willing to spend a little money on machines or tools that will save my body, because machines are cheaper than medical bills.
I'm 33 and my school system taught us this way of thinking too.... however now I been in office work for 10 plus years, I have tried speaking with electricians programs Ibew, union and non union, plumbing apprenticeships and nobody will hire me.. and thr people that will bother taking my call, they tell me i will probably need to be a helper, making $12/hr...I cant afford to do that. So the best way is to go into trade out of highschool and you can always back to school later if you want. But going back to trades later in life is tougher if you can't afford a pay cut
Is there some kind of timeline you had before you could make decent money?
@@Thalanoxusually after 3-4 years in the trad you can take your journeyman exam, and every year up to 3rd year of apprenticeship you make more money. The ending hourly wage is $30-40/hr. When you become a contractor the moneh can be much more, and that is several years after journeyman, and not everyone does it.
The skill and reliability of helpers varies massively. $12 is probably the amount they would risk knowing there's a high chance you'll be a flake or you'll quit in 3-6 months. So sometimes you've got to risk the low income for a while and then ask for a raise later when you're more proven. Personally I've worked as a general construction helper part-time as a side hustle making $30. I'm not even in the industry, I just have acquired a "particular set of skills" which make me an incredibly useful helper.
I am an educator and have two master's degrees that *I* paid for. (My husband helped me too.) We have no student debt. I absolutely love school! However, we are pushing kids to go to college and the common core wants all kids to be college-ready. That is ridiculous because it minimizes the men and woman making a good living doing trade work. TRADE WORK is not a bad thing and society needs to change their thinking about it.
mostly it is people caring much less about what politicians, government critters, and celebrities have to say about it.
Worked in the surgical instrument field making them and repairing them. When I was teaching an apprentice I would always stress to them “learn all you can when given the opportunity, this will make you a valuable employee”.
When my son decided to switch into the trades at 29 years old, with a wife and children. He knew that it would mean that he would have to take a big cut in pay and would take him two years to get back to where he was. We let him and his family move in with us for two years. It's been almost 4 years, and now he will finish his apprenticeship in two months and is already making twice what he was making in his previous job. Unlike college, where you pay the university for your training. In the trades, they pay you while you learn.
Hey I went to Essex community too I remember Mike when he did local Maryland commercials selling new homes grew up with his voice every Sunday morning great man
I was literally told in high-school that the trades were dead. Don't even think about them. College and University are the only way to go. Not one teacher or guidance counselor or anyone that worked at that school said otherwise. I find that disturbing. And literally every girl was told to go into something working with children. And man did those careers get flooded.
sounds like they knew nothing of trades .
I'm curious if you are my age. When I was in high school in New Jersey in the 1980s I never heard anyone talk down the trades. Like ever. Everyone knew that welders, electricians, plumbers, mechanics made good money and could always find work. And we were told to never go into teaching because you'd never find a job. With union jobs, teachers stayed until they died, lol.
I ended up in Florida in the early 90s. At that time I was in my early 20s. It was completely different there. I went to a mega church so I knew lots of people my age. The one thing I immediately noticed was all of the women were in college to be an elementary school teacher and the guys were kind of doing nothing. It was sad to see how totally neglected guys were. 80-90% of the guys in our church weren't in college or trade school. They were just doing odd jobs. This is just my experience. I don't know how or why this happened but it's a real crisis now. 😮
@@zsuzsuspetals a confluence of events caused it. Yes, the push for college was a big part of it. Not only at the surface level, but the result. Most men (and especially boys) are not suited to the style of education used in schools for the last several decades - the "sit down, shut up, be still and listen" method. The degrading social commentary around trades likely put those men out of that market, and college wasn't suitable, so odd jobs it is.
I applied both approaches. We succeeded in living the American Dream without "advanced degrees" and retired comfortably at 59.
The issue was people back in the 80s who didn’t get a college degree were made to feel “because you don’t have this one thing, it’s over for you”. So those people pushed college onto their kids, and now we have the problems we have.
Nobody can make you feel any way. I grew up and graduated highschool in 1984, went to technical school and worked my way up to being an engineer. Made a very comfortable living for myself. I never once felt that I was less because I didn't go to college. Yes people did imply that, yes there are companies I won't be considered by for engineering work because I don't have a degree, but they can't make me feel any way. BTW, my brother and sister both got engineering degrees from college, and both are envious that I did absolutely as well as them without going
@@integr8er66 I agree with your sentiment. I think people just use the "I don't have a degree" thing as an excuse. I see it in my own family.
@@integr8er66 Not everyone is as resilient as some of us.
Back in 2004 I remember being pressured into going into college, I did it for 6months and HATED IT because it didn't lead me any closer to creating a good life for me. I got involved in HVAC learning about it and I enjoy it. I wished it paid more but college is not for everyone. People need to figure out what works for them.
Excellent real-world dialogue between two very wise men. Refreshing.
Leno got rich by using a ruthless, savage agent to knock people out of a high-paying job.
My father and uncle were both electricians. My uncle started as a carpenter and later switched to being an electrician. I spent one summer working with my cousin who is a plumber and another with a family friend who was a contractor. My grandfather owned several apartment buildings and taught me carpentry, tiling, plumbing, electrical, painting, carpeting and drywall. I did not graduate from college and ended up working in the financial world. I still utilize the skills that I learned as a teen whenever I work on my house. I have a deep appreciation for the trades and at one time considered being a plumber.
Mike Rowe for President 2024!
Nah, not President. But appoint him to lead the Dept of Labor? Or even Education? ... Now you're talking something more focused and aligned with what he's already doing to help our country.
What a goon. If there aren't jobs, create them. A freaking ant 🐜 colony has more morales than we do. We get run by society instead of us running society. United we stand-divided we fall.
Yes, let's put another actor in the presidency. It worked so well in the 80s.
. It really did! God bless Ronald Regan.
Egomaniacs go into politics,few honest politicians can get any legislation done,no,Mike Rowe will NEVER go into politics,plus,you anger tour ppl and they turn on you in a heartbeat.
Only a crazy egomaniac goes into high politics, just look at the last 8 presidents, all crazy egomaniacs(even the peanut farmer) believing that they are the only ones to save the world.
I have an associates degree and 25 years of experience in IT. The degree gave me the base of information, but the experience taught me more than any college ever could.
I say, "Work hard and be smart about it."
I “pimped” my STEM career. Took a 2 year certificate in business data processing from a major university in the evenings while working at an entry level job in the industry. Started beating people with four-year degrees competing for jobs because I also had two years of experience. I continued taking courses that were relevant to what I was doing at work and maintained this intensely for 10 years or so. Interesting that the companies I worked for paid for the courses, travel and my salary while I was doing this. I then devoted myself to lifelong learning mainly because the tech was always changing and improving. And because I’m inherently curious and love learning. But I only learn what I deem to be either useful or interesting. I am now retired after a 38 year career and even in my last role I was working with leading edge tech. Were I to add to the “work smart not hard” trope, I would say, “Work smart and hard.”
That statement always bothered me, it should be "Work smarter AND harder". I always wondered why it had to be one or the other? Same with "I'd rather be lucky than good", BS, if I'm wishing, "I'd rather be lucky AND good"! Please run for president one day Mika Rowe!
Just try to imagine how this guy could change the education system in this country!
I went to State U for mechanical engineering, I’ve done that for 40 years, and in Ramsey terms, EDM baby step 7. I have a professional engineering license, and a master plumbing license
To my understanding this just proves how much we need an edge as investors because playing the market like everyone else just isn’t good enough. I've been quite unsure about investing in this current market and at the same time I feel it's the best time to get started on the market, what are your thoughts?
Since the crash, I've been in the red. I’m playing the long term game, so I'm not too worried but Jim Cramer mentioned there are still a lot of great opportunities, though stocks has been down a lot. I also heard news of a guy that made $250k from about $110k since the crash and I would really look to know how to go about this.
There are actually a lot of ways to make high yields in a crisis, but such trades are best done under the supervision of Financial advisor.
Thats true, I've been getting assisted by a FA for almost a year now, I started out with less than $200K and I'm just $19,000 short of half a million in profit.
Impressive can you share more info?
Credits to 'Carol Vivian Constable' she has a web presence, so you can simply
Working smart is a must. Working hard is also a must. Best thing is you can work hard in your 20s and 30s and relax a bit after that. But both must be done no matter what. I recommend buying as many rentals as possible when you're young and can work around the clock.
But I thought that the phrase applied to everything and wasn't just for academics. I thought it meant find the simplest solution instead of making things harder than they need to be. If you can do it easy do it. Get more for less work. Don't strain yourself and find the smarter way to do it.
You're correct. It's called click bate. Mike in the video never postulated that you should never work smart or never work hard. 2:25 Instead he said that we need to be both smart and hard working. 9:13
Two of my favorite people I’ve been a Dave Ramsey fan for 25 years. Mike Rowe has the absolute best podcast available today called The Way I Heard It.
40 yrs Cnc Machinist/ Toolmaker Medical surgical Implants & Aerospace tools. 4 yr sponsored Tech school. Was never out of work 100k career..retired & i work 2 days part time.".If
you love your career, it's not work" ?
I have 3 degrees, 2 in music and 1 in engineering.
The key point: all are about actually doing SOMETHING. The engineering degree got me 25+ years of fairly well paid work writing software. The music study was in pursuit of an orchestra job (which doesn't necessarily require even a high school diploma); it's incredibly competititive, and I was very, very good, but not quite good enough on the few days I could pay my way onto the plane for an audition. But it was all about excellence, and that concern transfers to EVERYTHING. The pursuit was no loss.
Additionally (for school was quite discontinuous for me), I also did a number of blue-collar jobs, including warehouse work, machining, and repairing vehicles.
There's NOTHING smart about getting a degree just to have one. The content and the discipline is what's important, and the orientation to continue learning, and to learn new ways to learn. And, in many ways, jobs are the same. But an early consideration needs to be how you turn a job into a living and a career. When I was twisting wrenches, that was NOT the top of the blue collar heap. You were several times better paid as a plumber. For many such jobs, the way it really pays is to own the shop. And that comes of knowing the trade AND knowing how to conduct a business in a businesslike way, and, further, how to train others.
These are very valuable rules for anybody who wants to get rich. Unfortunately, most people who will watch this video will not really be able to apply the principles. We may not want to admit, but as Warren Buffett once said, investing is like any other profession-- it requires a certain level of expertise. No surprise that some people are losing a lot of money in the bear market, while others are making hundreds of thousands in profit. I just don't know how they do it. I have about $189k now to put in the market.
Although stocks are now rather volatile, you should be okay if you perform the proper calculations. There have been stories of people making over $80,000 in a matter of weeks or months, according to Bloomberg and other finance media, so if you know where to look, I believe there are many wealth transfers during this recession.
The best course of action if you lack market knowledge is to ask a consultant or investing coach for guidance or assistance. Speaking with a consultant helped me stay afloat in the market and grow my portfolio to about 65% since January, even though I know it sounds obvious or generic. I believe that’s the most effective way to enter the business at the moment.
@@hasede-lg9hj Could you kindly elaborate on the advisor's background and qualifications?
Her name is Annette Marie Holt can't divulge much. Most likely, the internet should have her basic info, you can research if you like.
Thanks, I just googled her and I'm really impressed with her credentials; I reached out to her since I need all the assistance I can get. I just scheduled a call.
I got drafted in 1965 and immediately got sent home for being blind in one eye. I went to a community for a year and then started pursuing an electronic technician job. I bought a hi-fi repair shop, and turned it into a systems contractor. Sold it when my wife died and retired 15 years later as an (non degreed) consulting engineer. My best friend started digging ditches for a plumbing company. Started his own plumbing company and sold it years later and retired rich. Both of us are highly intelligent and yet more comfortable than so many who did go to college, but di d not learn something that is marketable. We both learned something marketable and pursued our love of history, economics, and philosophy independently.
I worked for a man who was a homebuilder, he never picked up anything but a smartphone.
Sales is the biggest component of any position . Tradesmen make great money . Next step is your own company . Sales and marketing . Doctors and lawyers have to sell themselves . Learn sales …. Absorb it . Read and watch everything . That’s where you succeed .
What Trade School did Dave's kids go to?
LOL
Good one !!! 👍🏼
lol
I also went to a community college and graduated with an Associates Degree in Electronics Technology and Computer Systems. Great training.
I've always used the phrase - "Work smarter, not harder". Which has a different meaning, but I saw the same ad on the board and that's how I came up with the phrase. When faced with a tough problem which involves hard work. Figure out how to solve the problem the best and easiest way, not the hardest way possible...i.e. Instead of manually lifting those 80-pound concrete bags, get a hand truck. Instead of running that wire by crawling around in the attic, use the old wire as a pull wire to pull the new wire through to the other side. Work smarter, not harder. Don't make the job more difficult than it has to be.
As a Welder of 20 years. Working smart is working hard.
I have the utmost respect and admiration for Mike Rowe. He's an advocate for a prosperous and productive society ... listen to what the man has to say ... wherever your journey may lead you, be an asset to society.
I am 69, for a water utility. Over the years, I reached journeyman status in 4 trades. Half the people that I work with are college graduates. Governor Jerry Brown tried to revamp higher education to be more effective, take less time, and cost less. All kinds of people, conservatives and liberals resisted Gov Browns proposals.
The Student loan relief is meant to encourage people to continue the student debt merry-go-round.
Everyone has their own idea what is effective higher education. It's usually not effective for any government or governor to try to redo the whole thing. The root problem in the US is that financial aid and government-backed student loans (and now forgiveness) have irretrievably divorced the payment of tuition from the success of the student, so colleges no longer have any great incentive to produce financially successful graduates. If they had to compete to produce successful students, rather than just raking in the most debt money, the colleges would likely come up with a lot more effective and diverse set of solutions than Jerry Brown could do.
“We need well balanced people”. Well stated. Well served. Thank you once again!
Most people who work hard have good character.
Most people I know that work hard have back and knee problems.
I’m retired, in my 70’s. Graduated high school in June and that following September enrolled in college/university. I lived with my Dad then and he had been good about giving financial advice (when solicited). He said that one of the best things I could do is to graduate debt free, which I did. Worked 4 to midnight and went to college during the day. Studied, worked, studied some more….and paid for my schooling myself. Dad didn’t take rent and paid my car insurance for my ‘65 Mustang.
Something else my Dad said : if you’re working at a job that has a retirement account and you plan to stay there for a while, pay into it. I stayed one job for 10 years, paying into my retirement. At the job following that, I stayed 15 years and paid into retirement- the company matched my payment so I had double the amount. Next job was in Superior Court and paid well.
Now my retirement is the 3 retirement programs I paid into (a stipend monthly) plus Social Security. Long hours, hard work pays off. No car payments, no mortgage. Loving wife of 43 years and 3 children who are great adults.
I’m greatly blessed.
The trades are great,the caveat is as you age it can be very difficult physically on a person. This is exacerbate d by politicians who want to increase the fra( full retirement age) . Sometimes people who sit behind a desk ,cant , comprehend this.
Something many won't tell you is that sitting at a desk all day takes a toll, too. We have been finding a host of problems from it, many of which are disabling.
@@IAmTheRealBill Point taken thats why balls instead of chairs,elevated computer stations so you can stand some of the day,pads to ease carpal tunnel syndrome and many othrr things have been invented.
I originally went to college for Graphic design in '01-'03, while I was attending I picked up a job as a valet and changing oil for a dealership - ended up dropping out and chasing the automotive industry world. Only constant I had during this chase was chasing IT knowledge/tech, and the tools and knowledge I gained in the auto field I now apply in the IT field. In the end I just love new challenges and learning new things that are ever evolving. I am passing this onto my son and tell him whatever he wants to be he can if he works both smart and hard towards it - I will be proud of him no matter if he wants to go into a trade or go to college, just as long as he know the direction he wants to adventure down for knowledge and experience.
Trade schools have and are continuing to raise prices. If they aren’t being used now, pretty soon even trade schools with charge amounts people can’t afford and will get loans
Most trade companies are paying for the appretanceship classes for their apprentice's.
My friend's HVAC company pays apprentices and trains them on the job.
@@JerryStevens the building trades union pay you to be a apprentice
Im 26 years old. I scored in the top 5% in all the tests, and on paper destined for university, but I couldnt bring myself there, and I couldnt feel my heaet soing that. A lot of people around me when looked down on community college and the trades when it felt like such a logical choice. My passion became working on cars and turning wrenches, literally nothing makes me happier. After years of avoiding any education at all and just bumming pretending like Ill go to college just to placate my family, I finally decided to just go to my local community college and sign up for their aviation maintenance course. 18 months, literally $0 for tuition after filling out a 15 form to receive financial aid, and Im going to enter a high demand, well paying job doing what I love to do most. I feel blessed and Im proud to tell people Im at SLCC. I agree, university is an important tool, one I very well could have succeeded with, but the stigma is crazy. The numbers just dont add up when you look at it closely. Theres literally free money sitting on the table.
The presumption that working smart means not working hard is the misconception with this cliche.
You must work both hard and smart to maximize success
I agree you have too do both . Thing is, saying should be work hard but be efficient.
I’ll never forget doing an engineering internship and making friends with some of the welders. One day, we talked about how we ended up here and, ultimately, our pay. The welders made about half what I made as an engineering intern. They sacrifice their health and work in extremely demanding conditions (try welding in full welding gear in the southern summer heat and humidity at the bottom of a cramped, dark, rusty vessel and going down a 20ft ladder in a manhole where if you fall there is no safety mechanism to catch you from landing on a steel floor). Was my engineering college education costly? Yes. Although, the average engineer pays off their education in 2-3 years. All I know is that if I was advising a kid deciding between welding and engineering, I’d want them to be the engineer.
Not everyone can be an engineer. A lot of kids who enroll in engineering dropout during the first year. Asian professors that are hard to understand and a ton of demanding math courses that most people could never pass. There are tradesmen in other fields that make more money than you.
There is a wide range of opportunities between welder and engineer. You have to find an area that you like, but can also be monetized. It may take years though.
My dad always said that but his emphasis was that whatever task you do find a better way to accomplish what you are doing
Mike and Dave are a dynamic duo. I'm very grateful for Mike's campaign to educate people about the trades. Without him, I would've never thought to introduce my son to trade school as an option after high school. Now he's welding and loves it. Combined with the knowledge he got from Dave's online personal finance course for high schoolers, my son is well equipped to start his adult life.
My Gpa (who was Supt in NYC) would tell me that also but finished with Don't be afraid of hard work. It's concept was don't make the job harder than it should be.
The hardest working guy in the building usually makes the least money.
This is also something important that needs to be addressed.
@@Thalanox I used to work at Home Depot during college, and I definitely felt that way a lot of times.
Went to and graduated trade school( electrician) I don't regret it because I know how to do things most people don't and I help build america
I worked harder instead of smarter for over 20 years. Now at 40 i have permanent knee damage and cant do notmal daily activities like walk without pain and swelling. Working harder instead of smarter is the stupidest thing ive ever heard about reality of the workforce. Stop listening to people who grew up wealthy and never had to actually work hard for years. If you work hard in any real job, you will damage your body and have an lower life span and enjoyabiloty during that lifr. Never work hard for someone else to make money off the damage of your body instead of theirs.
the trades are exploited unless your are unionize and then your still exploits as you have to do impossible time frame and schedule but at your least your getting good benefits great health care safe working condition and retirement benefits. Fran K United association of plumber and pipefitteres of us and canada work smarter.
As a high school student, I was fed the same idea that college was the only real path to success. Sure, they mentioned military or going straight into the workforce. But, that was always portrayed as a worse option.
They showed us a graph of average earnings for people with just high school diplomas vs each level of college (associates, bachelor's, masters, PhD).
Well, I started on that path to a degree in aerospace engineering. That would be a good paying job and it would actually be useful.
But, it was very expensive. So, I used the military to help pay for it.
They taught me to be an aircraft mechanic.
I intended to to that part-time in the national guard and go to school full-time, but that meant taking very few classes each semester.
So, I eventually gave that up and just went full-time military.
I joined at 20, bought my first home at 24, got married at 26, and had our first child at 27. Now, at 28, we have 6 rental properties and we're working hard to pay them all off as quickly as possible.
College can be a good option for many. But, the market is already super saturated with degrees because they pushed that for so long.
Now, we have massive shortages in a lot of trades and they often pay far better than jobs requiring degrees.
So, if you're thinking of college, great. But, do more research and make sure to really consider all options.
The title is misleading...probably on purpose
Waaaaaah waaaaaaah🍼🍼🍼
Of course it is.
Im 68. 10/4/56. 1972, age 16, I began as a welders helper during school summer vacation at a shipyard in Greenville, Ms. I was so fascinated with it's applications and completions that during my breaks and lunch I would practice. One day the welder with too much belly couldn't fit through the fuel tank porthole into the tank where the "cooling grid iron" was mounted inside the outer hull. My step-father a Chief Engineer and his brother, the company Port engineer, their support is why I was allowed to work there under 18 as required. My uncle asked me if I would like to weld the replacement to the hull noting also that the vertical uphill welds with 7018 would be "ultra tested" with iron flux and a strong U magnet. My welds passed. From that time on I sought further
experience as a certified welder. I'm AWS D1.1/5.20 unlimited thickness, all positions (7018 and dual-shield fluxcore, respectively). That clip of that 93 year OG blacksmith was great. I love creating and building. I've so many burns from metals fabrication I resemble a cheeta with all the white spots, lost pigment. I'm oilfield trash since 1974. Im also a journeyman ironworker (local 24 and local 58 and non-union), crane operator, Derrickman, concrete finisher, electrician/electronics technician, fitter of structural steel and pipe, millwright, etc. My passion in what I do is cleary evident. I may've been a blacksmith in a former life or the spirit of one has been given me. I enjoy it all.👍🙏
It's very simple, before heading into a degree, ask yourself, have i ever needed a doctor, lawyer, political scientist, electrician, plumber, mechanic? I have needed them all except for political scientist. Don't get a useless degree and bury yourself in debt to do it.
One of the more sensible comments on here
Love this. Having been an engineer and a carpenter, I still pick carpenter. Grandpa was a also a chemical engineer by profession and a pipe fitter by trade he enjoyed both.
But the average salary is only about $54,000 a year. Which in this economy, is just barely scraping by. The numbers just don’t work. You can say all these wonderful things about the trades but if you can’t live on the money, then how do you do it? Mechanics used to make a great living. Used to. Now you’d be better off at McDonalds because you’re only making $2 less an hour and you don’t have to spend tens of thousands on tools. It seems the only way to earn a decent living in the trades anymore is to run your own business. And since most businesses fail, that’s at best, a roll of the dice. Looking at the numbers, the bachelor’s degree is the new high school diploma. You’re best bet if you want to be able to afford a house, car AND groceries, is to go to college and get a bachelor’s in something MARKETABLE.
A decent tradesman will make double that. On top of that full benefits and pension if you get in the right shop/union. I’m in the trades and have many friends across different fields of trades none of us are “scraping by”
@@Jabb135 I’ve heard plenty of stories like yours, of guys making double what the national average is… over the internet. Talked to many guys on many job sites over the years. The only guys who have a shot at 6 figures are the business owners. Or the guys willing to work 60+ hours a week. How sustainable is that? Im learning it’s stigmatized for a reason. The days of being able to enjoy the fruits of your labor as a tradesman are over, for most. Wages have simply not kept up with the cost of living. Not debatable.
@@jme92685Jabb135 is correct. I have a trades job with an industrial company. Very close to 100,000 a year without overtime. Full benefits. I’m just a hourly employee and everyone in my department can make the same. There are lots of jobs paying similar to this. Our company has a hard time finding qualified people to fill positions. However you have to be willing to work in some, not to friendly, environments.
Ya, plus the trades like anything else may face automation in the future.
@@Chris-zh5om well, I can’t see that happening to the skilled trades any time soon if ever but the wages NEED to go up. That part is not debatable. There’s a shortage of workers for a reason.