I'm new to FatWallet and I noticed that most, if not all of you, are wealthy and/or college educated. I'm trying to figure out some of the best ways to become successful without having to spend half of my adult life n a classroom.
I'm new to FatWallet and I noticed that most, if not all of you, are wealthy and/or college educated. I'm trying to figure out some of the best ways to become successful without having to spend half of my adult life n a classroom.
serious answer: Learn a trade, like electrician.
non-serious: run successful pron website.
I wish my kid would go to trade school. Then he would be of some use to me.
techno15 said:I'm new to FatWallet and I noticed that most, if not all of you, are wealthy and/or college educated. I'm trying to figure out some of the best ways to become successful without having to spend half of my adult life n a classroom.
Live long enough that four years is not half your adult life.
Seriously, I see three main options:
1. Start your own business. This is suited for those people who have a burning drive and a "whatever it takes" attitude. From tour attitude towards school, I suspect this would not work for you.
2. Enlist. After twenty years, you will have a full pension, a saleable skill, and good chances of employment with either the government as a civilian, or a government contractor.
3. As others have suggested, a trade. I'd recommend one like plumbing or electrical work, that can be done residentially, as opposed to welding. I suspect that a lot of US big companies will shrink in the upcoming decades.
Become a lawyer. Not easy, but the pay is good.
I learn something new everyday... I'm wealthy and college educated! Shweeet! 
Longshoreman. Really good pay and you don't need a college degree.
those dudes on deadliest catch make some good money.
If you want to make good fast money then start serving tables nights/weekends while you are developing a trade/business by day. Learn about wine and if you can get into the right place there are seriously professional steak house/fine dining servers that make close to $80K (or more). Again this is assuming you are in an area with a restaurant like this. Its not a profession for everyone but if you like interacting with people and have some sales skill then you could do ok with it.
Utterly ridiculous ideas from people.
While I was growing up there were 6 of us that were best friends that hung out pretty much everyday from age 10 and on. 4 of us went to college and 2 of us didn't. Here are the 2 stories of the 2 that did not go to college:
1) Started doing labor work right out of school. Ended up managing an ice skating rink for a couple of years and then moved into Enterprise Rent-a-Car as the guy who drives to pick people up. Worked his butt off and was able to move into the office as an assistant manager and finally a branch manager making about $90,000/yr. Ended up going to corporate and works there now. Makes around $80,000 to $100,000/yr. If you know anything about Enterprise they do not hire you (to work in branches as asst. mngr. or branch mgr.) if you have not graduated college. He did not go to college and ended up doing both asst mgr. and branch mgr. It can be done.
2) Our other friend worked for Good Guys (think Circuit City). Some of the others laughed at him. He ended up going to Borland as an inside sales rep. He left there and went to a couple of other companies and ended up at BEA. BEA was bought by Oracle this past year and he ended up transferring to commercial sales at Oracle in Redwood Shores. His current comp plan is $240,000 ($120K + $120K at plan (which you do or you are fired)). Kind of interesting that most posters on this thread (board for that matter) talk about how not having a college education means you are pretty much screwed, yet this guy makes more than 99% of the people here.
The final 4 of us:
1) The guy who went to the best school ended up as a #1 news reporter (not a top 10 city, but top 50 )peaking at around $60,000/yr
2) Me. I am in medical consulting making around $225,000
3) Ironically ended up an area manager for Enterprise and makes around $130,000
4) Manages the programmers at Experian in Irvine making around $150,000.
techno15 said:I'm new to FatWallet and I noticed that most, if not all of you, are wealthy and/or college educated.
how do you notice such a thing?
I've never disclosed my salary - well except for the fact that I make slightly higher than minimum wage 
moonbeam said:techno15 said:I'm new to FatWallet and I noticed that most, if not all of you, are wealthy and/or college educated.
Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan might have some tips...
mikef07 said:Utterly ridiculous ideas from people.
While I was growing up there were 6 of us that were best friends that hung out pretty much everyday from age 10 and on. 4 of us went to college and 2 of us didn't. Here are the 2 stories of the 2 that did not go to college:
1) Started doing labor work right out of school. Ended up managing an ice skating rink for a couple of years and then moved into Enterprise Rent-a-Car as the guy who drives to pick people up. Worked his butt off and was able to move into the office as an assistant manager and finally a branch manager making about $90,000/yr. Ended up going to corporate and works there now. Makes around $80,000 to $100,000/yr. If you know anything about Enterprise they do not hire you (to work in branches as asst. mngr. or branch mgr.) if you have not graduated college. He did not go to college and ended up doing both asst mgr. and branch mgr. It can be done.
2) Our other friend worked for Good Guys (think Circuit City). Some of the others laughed at him. He ended up going to Borland as an inside sales rep. He left there and went to a couple of other companies and ended up at BEA. BEA was bought by Oracle this past year and he ended up transferring to commercial sales at Oracle in Redwood Shores. His current comp plan is $240,000 ($120K + $120K at plan (which you do or you are fired)). Kind of interesting that most posters on this thread (board for that matter) talk about how not having a college education means you are pretty much screwed, yet this guy makes more than 99% of the people here.
The final 4 of us:
1) The guy who went to the best school ended up as a #1 news reporter (not a top 10 city, but top 50 )peaking at around $60,000/yr
2) Me. I am in medical consulting making around $225,000
3) Ironically ended up an area manager for Enterprise and makes around $130,000
4) Manages the programmers at Experian in Irvine making around $150,000.So, after all that...what was your point?
OP, if you think 4 years is half of your adult life...then you have more problems than just becoming successful. Granted, college is not for everyone but it is the easiest way to be successful, other then dumb luck.
Also, define successful? Do you want to be wealthy, enjoy what you do, or a little of both? Answer that and you will be further ahead than most.
mikef07 said: 2 that did not go to college:
1) moved into Enterprise Rent-a-Car.... was able to move into the office as an assistant manager.... Enterprise they do not hire you (to work in branches as asst. mngr. or branch mgr.) if you have not graduated college.
Well apparently they do.... but you just said they wont ....
mikef07 said:
Kind of interesting that most posters on this thread (board for that matter) talk about how not having a college education means you are pretty much screwed
of course no one in this thread has said college degree or you're screwed either...
mikef07 said:The final 4 of us:
1) The guy who went to the best school ended up as a #1 news reporter (not a top 10 city, but top 50 )peaking at around $60,000/yr
2) Me. I am in medical consulting making around $225,000
3) Ironically ended up an area manager for Enterprise and makes around $130,000
4) Manages the programmers at Experian in Irvine making around $150,000.
The guy who became a reporter must truly love his job. Why should wealth be the sole measure of his, or for that matter anybody's, success? I would rather do something I truly enjoy and feel passionate about rather than work in a job I hate doing.
1. Go to college. It is the most fun you will ever have.
2. Win the lottery
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