There is a lot of talk about the merits of education, and, while educating yourself is a great thing, it is important to recognize what you are being educated in, and what the educator is advocating.

People seem to advocate studying hard to do well in school to then go out and find a good, stable job. Well, as we can see in the current economic turmoil, if you want a stable job, you better try applying for one on a different planet, because I see no more stability than a man chained to a cement block floating in an ocean.

How does one succeed in such terrible times?

How does one succeed in general?

You succeed in life by DOING, not by studying how to do, or getting a degree that says you are qualified to do, or finding out how someone else did, and then following that same path. Everyone has a different path, and everyone will take a different path. There are many paths to success, none of which include/involve/terminate in never doing. Sure, it is important to educate yourself in what you are about to do, but no one seems to place as great an importance, and what should be a greater importance on getting out in the world and trying to obtain your goals.

Now, that doesn't mean that just because you started doing something that you decided to go out and do the right thing. More often then not, at first, people go out and do the wrong thing. But, that doesn't mean you have to keep doing something that isn't getting you anywhere. If something doesn't work, just simply stop doing what's not working and try something else.

Failure is part of the path to success. Failure, in most cases, is inevitable, but it is important to fail in order to learn from your mistakes in assurance that next time you will leap beyond the last road block. If all you've ever done is studied how to do but you have never done, then how will you know what to do or have the confidence to do and succeed when the time or opportunity arises?

So once again, you succeed by DOING, not by practicing to do.

So, what is an example of this?

I am a firm believer in precious metals investing. I try as hard as I can to make money any way that I can to buy any amount of silver that I can afford on a monthly basis. While in college, I have made some money with a catering food service that I found out about through some friends, and now I have also applied for a job at the college book store. Where there's a will, there's a way. However, not acting towards your will can discourage you to give up the will in a loss of hope. Don't let yourself be a victim of discouragement. Find that will, and let it lead you to your way, as I strive to find mine. There may not be one direct path to your way, and in fact, there almost never is. But, that does not mean that you'll never get there. Persevere, stick to your goals and principals, and prove yourself wrong. You can obtain the unobtainable. Take what starts in the mind and finish with the muscle.

Until Next Time,
Sam