This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Restoration logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Restoration logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
  • Topics
    • Case Studies
    • Innovations/Technologies
    • Insurance/Legal Issues
    • Managing Your Business
    • Remediation Zone
    • Restoration Zone
    • Catastrophe Restoration
    • Training/Education
  • News
    • Association News
    • Breaking News
    • Industry News
  • Products
    • Products & New Technologies
  • Extras
    • Editor's Blog
    • Special Sections
    • Web Exclusives
    • Women in Restoration
    • Restoring Success
    • The Intentional Restorer
    • Fresh Perspective
    • R&R Quizzes
  • Events
    • Industry Events
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Coach's Corner
    • Ask Annissa
    • Ask the Expert
    • Marketing Minute
    • Photo Galleries
    • Jobsite Photo Submissions
    • Webinars
    • eBooks
    • Violand Vault
  • More
    • eNewsletter
    • Classifieds
    • Polls
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • InfoCenter
    • Odor Removal
  • Directory
    • Buyers Guide
    • Associations
    • Suppliers
    • Take a Tour
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Home » Blogs » R&R Blog » Success Isn't Measured in Degrees
Michelle-blevins-headshot_250

Michelle joined R&R in April 2015 and oversees all the editorial content that goes into every issue. She also focuses much of her efforts on multimedia. She can be reached at blevinsm@bnpmedia.com

Success Isn't Measured in Degrees

road sign career
September 15, 2015
Michelle Blevins
KEYWORDS college degree / no degree required / restoration industry
Reprints
Today’s society seems to scream “you need a college degree to be successful.”
Do you think that’s true?
According to a September 2014 article in USA Today, a whopping 2.5 million
new, middle-skilled jobs will be created by 2017.  at’s nearly 40 percent of the
total job growth expected in the U.S. economy in the next few years. And guess
what?!  ey are all expected to pay at least $13 an hour (and many much more than
that) while requiring far less schooling than a bachelor’s degree. In many cases, that
high school diploma is enough for a ticket to a good job.
 is topic was weighing heavily on my mind after a recent discussion with a new
acquaintance who barely has a high school diploma. He’s a lovely man who loves
to read, has a passion for the English language, and is always continuing to learn
on his own. Sadly, not all those around him are as thrilled by his lack of a formal
education. I was ba ed as he’s management level and well-spoken. He worked his
way up... why does a lack of a degree matter now?
Education does not equal success. I have plenty of college-educated friends working
retail. On the  ip side, there are people like my father-in-law who owns a very
successful business, and barely managed to graduate from high school. Did you
read Lisa Lavender’s column in our Aug. 7 eNewsletter? Yep… another amazing
success story in this industry, sans college education.
Success does not happen based on someone’s degree or education, it happens
through a person’s passion, drive, and desire to learn… in a classroom or in the
 eld. Sure, a college education de nitely helps! Sure, there are some jobs that require
a college education!Today’s society seems to scream “you need a college degree to be successful.”
"Over the last 40 or 50 years, we've portrayed work differently and reward some forms of education far more passionately than others."
~ Mike Rowe, Dirty Jobs ~
 
 
Do you think that’s true?
 
According to a September 2014 article in USA Today, a whopping 2.5 million new, middle-skilled jobs will be created by 2017.  That’s nearly 40 percent of the
total job growth expected in the U.S. economy in the next few years. And guess what?!  They are all expected to pay at least $13 an hour (and many much more than
that) while requiring far less schooling than a bachelor’s degree. In many cases, that high school diploma is enough for a ticket to a good job.
 
This topic was weighing heavily on my mind after a recent discussion with a new acquaintance who barely has a high school diploma. He’s a lovely man who loves
to read, has a passion for the English language, and is always continuing to learn on his own. Sadly, not all those around him are as thrilled by his lack of a formal
education. I was baffled as he’s management level and well-spoken. He worked his way up... why does a lack of a degree matter now?
 
Education does not equal success. I have plenty of college-educated friends working retail. On the flip side, there are people like my father-in-law who owns a very
successful business, and barely managed to graduate from high school.
 
Did you read Lisa Lavender’s column in our Aug. 7 eNewsletter? Yep… another amazing success story in this industry, sans college education.
 
Success does not happen based on someone’s degree or education, it happens through a person’s passion, drive, and desire to learn… in a classroom or in the field. 
 
Sure, a college education definitely helps! Sure, there are some jobs that require a college education! I just don't believe a degree is a magic, golden ticket to success. I'll leave that to Willy Wonka.

Recent Comments

Thanks for sharing this with us here....

Great Post. Thanks for sharing with us a...

Really great Post. really useful for me as...

Also I would like to add here is...

Yes, I agree these days Bed Bugs are...

Michelle-blevins-headshot_250

Michelle joined R&R in April 2015 and oversees all the editorial content that goes into every issue. She also focuses much of her efforts on multimedia. She can be reached at blevinsm@bnpmedia.com

Subscribe For Free!
  • Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • Print Edition Subscriptions
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Mobile App

More Videos

Popular Stories

Company Culture

A Strong Culture Looks More like a Sports Team than a Family

loveland cross

VIDEO: Bill Loveland (Xactware Founder) Responds to Questions from RIA Advocate Ed Cross

GPS Tracking

3 Best Practices to Get the Most Out of GPS Tracking

multi brand power

Commercial Work & the Power of a Multi-Brand Company

sunbelt prep eblast

Back to Basics: 10 Easy Ways to Ensure Your Company is Ready for Anything

Restoration & Remediation Jobsite Photo Gallery

Poll

3D Cameras

Have you invested in a 3D camera (like Matterport) to assist with estimating?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Get Paid! (ebook)

Get Paid! (ebook)

Over 30 authors – over 40 articles…from attorneys, contractors, consultants, instructors and others, both inside and outside the restoration industry. R & R, C & R and Cleanfax, opened their archives and gave us the best they had, other chapters were created just for the “Get Paid!” book and its readers. And every one of them has ideas for how to get paid what you are owed.

See More Products

DigitalEdition

Restoration & Remediation Magazine

Restoration & Remediation November 2019

2019 November

Check out the November 2019 edition of Restoration & Remediation: The State of the Industry in 2019, media blasting, disinfection protocols, profitability in contents restoration and much more!
View More Create Account
  • Resources
    • Order Reprints
    • Industry Links
    • Submit a Press Release
    • Privacy Policy
    • Survey and Sample
  • Want More
    • Connect

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing