First, to set the stage, let’s start by saying that most believe education to be critical. Education here meaning high school since it is compulsory and everyone is required to attend. But specifically the content of the “education” spoken to by the majority is quite different from what is essential to survive in today’s competitive world. (More on this later.) Nevertheless, the popular content of the general high school curriculum those in the media, political and public arenas speak of entails arithmetic, science, language, phys ed, history, and English.

And most have been conditioned to believe that this type of education is necessary or critical or that a child without a high school education and, in most cases today, a college education limits the average child’s chance for success in the job market. And this is true to a degree but less so than most believe. But to continue our definition, it should be pointed out here that education gained usually translates to “job,” meaning that the belief is that high school and / or college are preparing the student for her life’s work. But this is not true and our youth are being shortchanged. For after twelve maybe sixteen years of education, then what? Education stops because institutional education is complete?

Today such thinking is disastrous, for with the opening of the global job market and greater competition–therefore the greater creative destruction of capitalism–one needs to be on the ball and constantly updating skills, even deleting and re-learning new skills, a situation that requires less of educational standards and a greater understanding of the critical need for developing one’s self-education skills that readies one for the great changes ahead–not only numerous jobs but careers that are sure to come. Never before has it been more critical for students and workers to understand the need to keep one’s skills, attitudes, and knowledge in tip-top shape, up to date and forever expanding.

And of course, as I’ve mentioned before numerous times-but bears repeating-high school grads and even college grads are lacking fundamental skills, knowledge, and attitudes that are more critical today than ever before: self-educating skills (as mentioned), critical and intuitive thinking, financial IQ, honesty, integrity, work ethic, success principles (upwards of 64 of them!), ability to work well with others, public speaking / leadership skills, and so much more.

Why are these intangibles, these often over looked skills, knowledge, and attitudes so important? Well, it is just the foundation of these very intangibles-which are rarely addressed in education-that will keep the average graduate on solid footing in regards to the many career changes guaranteed to come. After all this is, as Allen Greenspan states, the age of turbulence. The new grad must be adaptive, focused, work ready, and basically a company of one, ready and able to adapt as change occurs on the job, in the world national and international, and in ever changing career shifts. How market ready are you? How valuable and adaptive are your insights, skills, and attitudes? No longer can one rely on just one degree, skill, or job to see them through to retirement and its pension (by the way, pensions will have nearly evaporated by the time those who are just entering the work force have retired if current trends continue–they already are weakened and dissappearing).

This now brings us to the current state of education and belief that a standard high school education is necessary. Let’s bear down on the point at hand.

We often hear that schools are doing poorly or doing well in regards to testing and grades in the standard disciplines mentioned above–math, science, English, etc.. And it is generally taken for granted that we need these courses and that our children will benefit by taking them. However, how do we know this? What tangible evidence, research and verification tells us that what our children study is benefiting them five, ten, twenty years down the road?

As far as I know, there is none. To ensure that an education is critical it first must have value for the consumer, for if it holds none its hold on the consumer will be short lived. If we looked at the truth, we will find that not only are most not using that which they’ve learned in school and even college but they have little to no desire to retain it in the first place. Here are a few direct quotes from current and former students of mine.

“Got labs today. Can’t wait to purge this junk once the test is over.”

“Dude, that class is a joke. Do what we all do. Get the grade, dump the junk, and get on with your life.”

“Whoever thought we needed half this crap [knowledge gained from classes taken] should be shot, run over, then shot again.”

Some of these statements I’ve overheard or seen posted on various social media. (I’ve left out  the numerous comments that have an “R” rating or higher.) The point being that there’s a lot of precious “knowledge” out there that has little value for many in high school and college.

Why is this allowed to happen in the first place?

Well, most education is not for profit, meaning that if it were there would be a lot of asking of the customer what she likes and doesn’t like, as well as what is useful and not useful to not only retain  customers but to encourage them to come back. There’s little if any of that concern in education at any level. For emphasis, just consider where you get optimum service, at the DMV, US Post Office, or INS? Or maybe more so at Blockbusters, Wells Fargo, or Vons Supermarket? Yes, where the customer is king, in the private sector.

Most education is run by states and, therefore, talked about by those governing the country–those with short-term agendas to get elected or re-elected–not with the long-term picture in mind. And this bears out the point that most have little interest in or concern for what happens to grads after they’re gone and whether or not what they’ve studied is needed or necessary. Even schools and colleges are guilty of this offense. Have you ever been approached by your school or college with a survey to discern your consumer satisfaction? Then my question is, how do they have any idea that what they are doing is right? Good? Of merit or quality? Of need, even?
On top of it all, students attending school and college and their parents just take it for granted that authorities and governing bodies (regional accreditors that are academically oriented and not tied into the realities of the private sector) have selected curriculum that is appropriate for ever child’s needs, a ridiculous proposal at best. Does anyone ever question what they or their child is taking in school and / or college and how it specifically applies to them, their abilities, talents, character, skills, and desires? Trusting so much in governing bodies that do little to no checking to see if that which they are requiring students in schools and college is beneficial years later? If private companies were run like this they’d be out of business quicker than you could say “failed thinking.”

It is critical today more than ever before that consumers-students-understand thoroughly not only what education means, and its limitations, but what they need to ensure success not only in the workforce, but in their families, society, and spiritual life. There is so much that so many are missing out on with the current state of the education nation. It is in a sad state indeed and only its privatization or the seeking of a proper, thorough and adequate education by individuals in the know of what is needed will truly reform education. As consumers of education, we certainly need to be better trained in what we are receiving, what we need, and how to go about getting it.

Second, once you find your strength-that thing you were put here to do-you must overcoming major debilitating weaknesses and shortcomings to maintain that strength, enabling you to provide the desired income and to work toward self-actualization.

These are two key points covered previously. Now you must do the most difficult thing: stick to you path by nurturing your goal(s) and vision.

You may not know exactly what you will do with your strength(s), but you must begin, and as you move along your chosen path, insight into how you will use your strength(s) will appear.

Let me explain more by giving an example.

Personally, about twelve years ago, I woke from a state of depression, boredom and financial loss to an understanding of what I must do to better not only my lot in life, but that of my family and all those I’d come in contact with who would benefit from my strength. At this point in time, I had worked numerous jobs and been in several occupations that were certainly instructive but not where I found the greatest satisfaction. But there is great satisfaction to be had in all of our lives. The only difference from individual to individual is the path, its length, and one’s learning experiences, but with proper effort and patience we can all get there. But back to the story.

After a period of weeks and months of meditation, writing, and contemplating, the message came through loud and clear, not just to my mind, but my entire being, that I should go back to school and write. I also knew sometime during this period of discovery that I’d teach at the college level, acquire a greater speaking / teaching presence, as well as greater knowledge and experience that would aid me in starting a coaching business. However, the particulars did not come until I moved along my path. The old adage shoot then aim comes into play here. Don’t wait too long or acquire paralysis of analysis before you get going.

I also knew that I would have to teach about six / seven years before beginning my coaching business. How did I know this? By focusing in on my goal and working it out in my mind on a regular basis as I sat in quiet contemplation writing, meditating, and even while taking walks focusing on it. For me, walking was key. While walking I have come up with ideas for not only my business but ideas for articles and entire books related to my coaching.

And an interesting thing happened as I move along this path. First and foremost, I knew by gut instinct that this was the right path. And as I followed it, at every turn-not some of the time or most of the time, but every single time-I was aided in accomplishing my goal. For example, while in college, if I didn’t have the assignment to hand in on time, inevitably the assignment would be cancelled, moved, or the teacher let me hand it in at a later date without penalty.

And while acquiring the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude changes while teaching / lecturing needed to build my business, I was fortuitously moved by an invisible hand in exposing me to material (books, DVDs, people, documentaries, etc.) that specifically added to my education and experience that applied directly to my coaching business.

Even as I failed in my attempts to find income opportunities outside of teaching that would provide greater aid in building my business as I got close to that time (six years into teaching), the failures taught me great lessons, lessons that aided me in my ability to be a better, more insightful coach for my clients.

And as I look back now, almost every job I’ve had, every experience-if I took the time to recall and think them all through-would show themselves as instructive and of great worth in doing that which I now love to do. As I moved toward this, my ultimate destiny, I was learning. It has all culminated in doing that which I love most: teaching, speaking, inspiring, learning, researching, reading, and writing. Every single aspect of my being is used to optimum effect. Each thing that I love most I am using. My path has been long, difficult, and trying, but most importantly, instructive and useful for all that I am and all that I now do.

In order to get started along your path, you have to do a lot of thinking and contemplating, but as you do so, your idea will come. And don’t worry if it’s not too specific (actually less specific is better), for it is in the walking of the path that we find our answers. Just like writing is not about writing as it is about re-writing, it is in the doing that we find our answers as we move along the path.

And even if you aren’t in the perfect job it can instruct. There is great education in every success and failure. Your job is to keep your eyes open and learn. As you work, you will gain insight that will aid you later in life. Whether you are filing, answering phones, pushing paper, or making coffee, there are insights that you can learn along the way to your perfect job or career. But what you don’t want to do is look to that which doesn’t fulfill you but to that which instructs along the way to fulfillment. And as you work to the best of your ability, maintaining faith in your ultimate achievement, you will be guided. Your only job is to keep your mind and heart open for all lessons of import that will get you to where you want to be.

There is great work to be done, but only if you accept the challenge. But if you do, the rewards, power, excitement, and thrills of maximizing your potential-thus truly being able to see who you really are through the challenges you’ll face and overcome-are staggering in their brilliance.

There is no reason to do anything other than the great. We all have it in us. That greatness will vary from person to person in quality, depth, and size, but you owe it to yourself, loved ones, and all you will touch to discover what your path is. And to walk it with great courage, overcoming the fear of the body and mind with the strength of a nurtured and well-informed spirit that which you have built through your extensive time alone writing, contemplating, and meditating on the big things in life that are merely waiting your arrival with baited breath.

Here’s to your prosperity.

People often wonder why God or nature, or whatever your label, allows such pain and suffering. Let us examine this issue with as much honesty and depth as humans of extreme limited insight into the bigger picture can.

First, out of great calamity, even death, come great lessons. And consider that without these negatives, always living in the positive of comfort, what we couldn’t learn. And why else do we come here? If little but our thoughts and impressions have the potential to go with us beyond mortality, then things temporal and temporary (material wealth, prestige, social standing, political achievement, etc.) are short lived and, therefore, not of great consequence or merit. That which lasts, as we speak of great art, then is significant. But even greater than any material or intellectual products or goods that are left behind by individuals, what of that which is longer lasting, of greater merit and worth? If the earth ends, what is left? Once again, it is that of our actions, thoughts, words, and deeds in the positive, or the aura of such, which goes beyond earthly time, a reverberating effect that is eternal.

Inspiring, guiding, uplifting thoughts and ideas are wider reaching and of greater significance than all material, social, and political acquisition gained combined.

And in considering all this, perspective is critical. Most don’t live or think much beyond the moment, and that’s OK. But you do have to keep at the forefront of your mind the critical fact that in an infinitesimally, insignificant period of time of 150 years, all living now will be dead. And considering the millions, billions, trillions of years or eons of time that have and will exist . . . Well, that will put things into perspective, won’t it? But let’s put our feet back down on the currently existing earth.

What we don’t, wont, or will never learn in our comfort is staggering. All life’s great lessons come in the friction of pleasure / pain. It is this ying /yang, the opposition that we find life’s greatest, longest lasting lessons, for if we are always in comfort, always in the womb, we never learn, especially lessons of greatest significance.

As the child moves out of the house, moves out of himself by taking on spouse and family, moves out of his comfort zone taking on more responsibility and trials of growth, only by embracing discomfort does she not only grow but enable the tool of giving, only by breaking free of comfort and the self does she grow for personal betterment and the betterment of family and, potentially, as that growth continues, for all humankind-the greater picture.

It is the soldier in the battlefield who overcomes his prejudice by fighting side by side with his fellowman of difference. It is when life breaks things down to the lowest common denominator-survival–when all things small minded and insignificant disappear (prejudices, bias, difference of socioeconomic class, etc.) that we truly prosper.

It is in the harshness of war that we learn the significance of life. It is in the sting of the parent’s slap that we learn precious principles. It is in the breakup, the loss of employment and health in which we go deeper in our understanding and appreciation for that which we may take for granted and, if growth continues, are humbled and moved to compassion for others in like states.

It is in injury and disease that we build fond appreciation for health so much that it is often the only motivation to better health, beyond anything Jenny Craig can do to help us permanently maintain a good diet.

It is in the dire difficulties of the most challenging job on earth that the parent learns how to teach, to obtain patients, selflessness, or true giving, a priceless lesson in the Charity of Christ.

Time and time and time again, friction, difficulty, trial, pain, even mayhem and death teach us life lessons that are of sure consequence they stay with us through time and eternity, for even though our main goal is to obtain ease, safety, and security it is only in their opposites that we learn lessons of lasting importance.

For it is only in that of great substance and significance-that which is more precious than the priceless stone-that we find those things beyond measure we can use now in this lifetime, to have and to hold, life without end.

Look to the precious. Look beyond the priceless gem or stone to lessons of value and depth that need to be addressed, learned of and from, and then pass them on to as many brothers and sisters as you can.

May we all learn with great abundance those precious lessons of life.