Unexpected Support

"Fifty-five years ago, 80 percent of American television viewers, young and old, tuned in to see Milton Berle on Tuesday nights. Tens of millions, rich and poor, worked together at Elks Lodges and Rotary Clubs. Millions more, rural and urban, read general interest magazines like Look and Life. In those days, the owner of the local bank lived in the same town as the grocery clerk, and their boys might play on the same basketball team. Only 7 percent of adult Americans had a college degree." {emphasis mine}--David Brooks, Spring 2008 piece on niche political marketing, excerpted from Stephen Windwalkers Beyond the Literary-Industrial Complex: How Authors and Publishers are Using the Amazon Kindle and Other New Technologies, location 285-93 on Kindle (K2).

Just over a half-century ago, less than 10 percent of American adults held a college degree. That would have been in the 1950's, after the Great Depression, when the country was pulling itself up by its bootstraps and finally feeling comfortable enough to relax and begin enjoying life again now that the Depression was over. With those statistics, history shows us that earning a college degree is not necessary to attain status and wealth in corporate America. Facts show the probability that the majority of those who rose to power and riches in corporate America in the '50's where degree-less. If only 7 percent held degrees according to Brooks' statements in his Spring 2008 piece, running the numbers will reveal that it would be impossible for it to be any other way.

In today's society, we live in a world where jobs require employees to multitask and have a vast array of skills and knowledge. Especially in this economy, employers are looking to get the most tasks done with the least amount of employees. It would be impossible to depend solely on college degreed individuals to fill these roles. Life and professional experiences weigh heavily in factoring today's choice of new hire by corporate HR departments country-wide. Having hands-on knowledge and experience is key in today's fast-paced technological society. Employers are very aware that as unfortunate as it may be, a college graduate's book knowledge can sometimes be outdated by the time graduation occurs. The rapidly changing world demands that job seekers stay ahead of the curve in their knowledge and expertise. Whittling away four or more years in college isn't the most productive approach to keeping ahead in the game.

There will never come a consensus on the value of a degree in seeking employment. It does play a role -- it has its place. However, life and professional experiences also are key ingredients to securing a sought after job or promotion. An employer will consider the fact that a candidate has four years experience performing the job for which she is applying. Weighing that against a candidate who has a four year degree in the field but no experience performing the job will often tip the scales in favor of the non-degreed candidate. Think about it -- if you were an employer in a demanding, high production industry and you had a need to fill a key role within the organization, would you be more inclined to hire someone who has done the job for the last several years, or someone who has a lovely framed degree indicating that she has gained the knowledge necessary to do the job? Experience often wins in these situations...

Don't Take My Word For It...

I know some who are reading this blog are saying, "What authority does she have to write such a book?" First, my authority lies in the fact that every author writes what they know. That is one of the first and most basic rules that you learn when starting out as an author. You don't want to write about a topic or idea that you are totally unfamiliar with -- it would make the writing that much harder because you would be writing something you had to do almost 100% research on in order to write the book...no inner knowledge of the subject matter. This would make for choppy, incoherent writing that doesn't flow well nor hold the reader's interest. That's not what good authors do.

Your next question may be, "Then, what is her experience in this topic -- what does she know?" Well, this book deals with my journey up the corporate financial ladder. Not in a personal, autobiographical way. Rather it takes my experiences climbing the corporate ladder and will show you how I made it to a six figure salary being non-degreed, African American and female. The book isn't about me...it's about how I accomplished what I did and how, by following the principles in the book, you can too.

There will be skeptics. There will be those of you who feel that I am not an "expert" in the subject matter so what the book says will be baseless. Those are the folks who will find themselves realizing, after many others who take these pages and use them to empower themselves to reach their goals -- the book's exact purpose, that I may be on to something after all. You will have a friend or relative or co-worker who will read the work, implement many or all of the principles and who will find themselves gaining recognition at work and climbing the corporate ladder. Six Figures, No College Degree is not a "how-to" book or a book on getting rich quickly. It is a book of empowerment and inspiration. The words should be used as a tool to uplift, of affirmation and inspiration in striving for and reaching your goals. It is a tool that will keep you on track and focused toward your goals of a brighter financial future for you and your family.

Authors generally tend to be avid readers as well. We read for enjoyment. We read for instruction. We read to mindlessly study our craft and subconciously pick up on what works and what doesn't work in the world of the written word. There is a very famous, well respected, multi-millionaire who wrote a book entitled Do YOU! 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success. In his book, the title page to the first chapter begins with these words: "Degrees are helpful, but they won't guarantee you success in the business world. Only faith and dedication to your vision can do that." These words come from Mr. Russell Simmons, hip hop's mogul. They have come from someone who has far surpassed the scope of this book -- he made millions of dollars without having a college degree. I am simply trying to show you how to make a nice six figure salary without one. What you do from there is limitless. Six Figures, No College Degree will get your mind conditioned to the thought process and tasks necessary to achieve whatever financial goal you have set for yourself -- six figures or many millions...

No College Bashing...

It would be good to start this blog acknowledging that I have no intention of bashing college. Going to college and receiving a higher education can be fulfilling in your life -- for personal reasons. You can go to college to learn a skill or trade that caters to your interests rather than to your livelihood. You can go to college and earn a degree because it is a personal goal rather than a necessity to garner higher wages. There are many reasons to attend college. All I am trying to convey is that the necessity for a college degree in order to climb the corporate ladder and earn a six figure salary is non-existent.

In fact, as of this writing I am waiting to hear back from a college where I recently submitted an application for admission. Why am I going to college if I am promoting that it is unnecessary? I am going to college to obtain a degree in a field which holds my interest. Pursuing this degree is not related at all to my career, it is sheerly for personal pleasure. Besides, I aspire to hold a Ph.D one day...I would love to see more African American women hold this designation, so I've chosen to pursue it for self-benefit and not for monetary gain.

Let's face it -- some kids are not college material. Not because they won't be successful; however, some people just are not cut out for structured lifetime learning. After 12 years of school where you had no choice in the matter, you finally reach a point where it's your choice (or at least it should be) whether to attend additional years of school. At this juncture, some eighteen year olds are done. They just do not want to see another classroom...they'd rather experience the world. I have a 23 year old in this very boat. There's no way in the world that I, having at least a little common sense, would ever waste tens of thousands of dollars sending him to college. He would do well academically if he focused; however, he would never be focused because he is too "artsy" -- busy writing poetry, song lyrics and drawing. That's his thing -- the arts, being creative. School simply surpresses these creative energies by forcing that square peg into the round hole of structured class settings.

It is to this group that I am speaking. The group of non-conformists. Those who know that they are not cut from the college cloth. Those who are ready to take the world by its horns and move forward. Those whose higher education will come in a non-traditional manner...through life experiences and not textbooks. You can make six figures at your job without holding a college degree. No one is saying it is easy. No one is saying there is some "get rich quick" formula waiting to be revealed to the masses. No one is saying it is going to come without hard work. Even with a college degree it would take hard work to move up the ranks. Not having one doesn't make this task any harder.

This blog is intended to get you prepared to receive the information in the forthcoming book. It is designed to get you thinking outside of the box. It is this forward thinking that gets you to the goal. Stay tuned...