Cover Photo by Eugene Shelestov from Pexels
Now is the time to realize this and do something about it
Are you doing what you went to school for?
If you are, you’re likely in the minority. Or maybe you’re just out of school. A lot of people like to proudly hang their diplomas on the wall. I hung mine in shame. Or rather, my wife framed it and put it on the wall.
Shouldn’t I be proud of obtaining a diploma?
No. I followed the herd when I didn’t need to. I decelerated my learning by (1) learning a ton of things I’ll never use, and (2) not learning enough of what I cared about.
What do you think I remember today?
I’ve only retained the things I’ve been applying for years and cared about. Things I’ve used and taught to other people.
What do you remember from your college days? Haven’t you learned more after school?
That’s right, our biggest learning journey doesn’t start in school, it starts after school! Depending on your age, I’m sure you’ve realized that already.
That cursed diploma
“Don’t you need a diploma for that?” — Mom
No, I don’t.
With pretty much anything that I’m doing, my mom thinks I need a diploma to do it. To “justify” it. I don’t need a diploma for anything!
Before you run off thinking I’m just another entitled millennial (I’m not), take a deep breath and think about it.
A diploma certifies that you did good. That you are qualified. In theory, it’s a sound concept. The reason this made sense in the past was that not everyone had a diploma. Now that it’s the norm, you’re considered slightly above average. And that’s assuming the reason the rest who didn’t get one weren’t good enough, which is far from the truth.
Academic performance does not equal real-world performance. People without diplomas, if allowed to work, perform at least as well as people without a degree.
And if we are to believe that, then what’s the point of the diploma in the first place?
Critical professions like law and medicine require students to pass a test at the end to decide if they’re good enough to practice the profession. That’s a fantastic idea.
Shouldn’t that be the only requirement?
Who cares by what means you know what you know. If you can prove you can do something, shouldn’t that give you the right to do it professionally?
Even though I’m not a big fan of the way interviews are currently done, it’s a good way to decide if a person is worthy of the position or not.
If not a diploma, then what?
How about actual proof that you can do something? On top of that, how about you get paid to learn?
Doesn’t that sound good?
Many people are currently doing that, in a variety of ways:
Youtubers are paid to learn;
Medium writers are paid to learn;
Photographers are paid to learn;
Freelancers are paid to learn;
and many more.
Now you’re thinking: “But these are not professions!”
Let’s examine the definition:
a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification
Tomorrow’s definition will be this one:
a paid occupation
At the rate things evolving, Education can’t afford an evolution, it needs a revolution. “Prolonged” and “formal” won’t be key aspects in the near future.
No one’s got time to spend three or four years memorizing things you can Google. I’m not saying it’s all the school system is doing, but it’s certainly a part of it.
I started writing this piece before COVID-19, and now that we’re still in it two months after, it rings truer than ever. People who had a diploma and could only do what they went to school for are struggling to find paying gigs. In fact, all over the world, the most in-demand skills are those that don’t require a diploma to do.
There was a time when garbage disposal collectors and delivery boys were seen as being “inferior” jobs. I don’t know about you but I’m damn happy with their service, today even more than ever.
Tomorrow’s job economy cares for one thing only: skills. What can you actually do? Frankly, I’m excited for this to happen.
You’re waiting for a raise because you’re more senior than another employee? Are you actually better than others? No? No raise for you then! People of equal productivity should be paid equal, no matter their years of experience, or other arbitrary reasons like race, gender, or religion.
Tomorrow’s job economy will value workers who care. Times have changed and unions are mostly not necessary anymore. They’ve become a roadblock for progress. They satisfy the lowest common denominator. The less you do, the better. That just won’t work tomorrow. If you don’t want to perform, a machine will replace you.
Truth is, a machine will replace you anyway. The only way to remain relevant is to keep skilling up. And when you think there’s nothing else to learn (there’s no such thing), double down on your learning. The moment you stop is the moment you become irrelevant.
And while that may sound drastic and “un-fun”, I have a remedy for you: why not just enjoy it? Seriously.
Because school wasn’t fun for you, it doesn’t mean learning can’t be fun. I found enjoyment in most of the seventy-five skills I’ve learned in the past three years. How? Because I viewed it as a hobby.
I had fun learning. I grew like never before. I’m thriving under uncertain times. All of this isn’t because of a diploma that was once hanging on my wall, it’s because I cared for what tomorrow’s world cares about: skills.
So, stop thinking about diplomas. Think about what skills you’ll need in the near future. Do the exercise every month. If those skills give you a diploma, fine. But don’t make the diploma your goal or you’ll be disappointed a few years later. I want you to succeed, and the only way I know how is to skill up your life.
You can do this!