What Do You Really Have to Lose?

The following is in response to an article at The Simple Dollar titled What Do You Really Have to Lose?  I encourage you to read the original article so you can form your opinion based on all of the advice he offers to an upcoming college graduate.

As another school year draws to a close, students around the country will be graduating college.  This is an important point in life where the choice of money or passion is typically decided.  Some will find careers in their field of study, realizing after four years of classes that they were chasing dollar signs rather than their passion, while others are left to flounder, unable to find their dream job and unwilling to settle for less than they deserve.

A few days ago, a college student I know was talking about his upcoming graduation.  His plans mostly revolved around getting a good paying job, but he also talked about how he might go back to school some day and study a particular branch of philosophy that he truly loved studying and reading about.

I asked him why he was choosing to put a good paying job over a path that he was deeply personally passionate about that might not necessarily earn a great deal in the near future.  He pretty much exploded, offering up a rant about how the world revolves around money and the only way he would ever be able to chase the dreams he has is if he has lots of income.

What is Trent’s advice to this recent graduate?

Since you don’t need much income, get a job sitting behind a counter at a gas station at night.  Earn minimum wage and sit there with your notebook open, collecting your ideas and thoughts about whatever it is you want to do.  Spend your mental and physical energy building the life you want.

There is no better time in your life to just throw caution to the wind and see where your passion will carry you than when you’re young and free of many responsibilities.  If it doesn’t work, you’re not out anything much – maybe a few years, at worst.  If it does work, you’ve opened the door to a lifetime of doing what you want to do.

What do you really have to lose?  Not much.  What do you have to gain?  The life you dream of.

After four years of college, Trent thinks the best option for this student is to sit behind the counter at a gas station doodling in a notebook?  Get real!  He has a degree which has the potential to earn a lot of money, he should pursue that avenue, even if it doesn’t make him happy, temporarily.  At least he will be unhappy while earning a decent wage rather than being unhappy selling cigarettes and porno magazines while barely scraping by on minimum wage.

Unless his education was financed by his parents, repayment on his Student Loans will begin six months after graduation.  Trying to pay those loans on a minimum wage job isn’t realistic.  If he takes a higher paying position, at least he could focus on knocking out the debt quickly so he is able to move on to better things sooner.

If it is his desire to return to school to study philosophy, having a cash reserve would make that transition much easier.  Most people are not able to pursue their dreams in life because of a lack of money.  It is not possible for them to switch between the lifestyle they have been living to one which might limit their income.  The higher paying position would also allow him to save money on a more accelerated schedule than a minimum wage job would allow, thus making that transition happen much faster and more easily.

This is my advice to this same college graduate:

Your job does not define you.  Society’s emphasis on a person’s career obscures our perception of self.  Defining who you are as an individual based on your career is limiting.  You are unique.  Don’t lose your individuality, don’t become another cog in the corporate machine.

Money is not everything but it can help create the life you desire.  Maybe your perception of the world is that it revolves around money.  It doesn’t.  This is a mistake many people make.  They believe that happiness is derived from driving fancy cars and living in expensive homes.  They believe success is defined by material possessions.  Life is about internal happiness, not external gratification.  Success is finding satisfaction and acceptance within and of yourself.

Income is only half of the equation.  So many people believe that making a lot of money is the foundation to the life of their dreams, only to find out that they have become a slave to their job.  Earning a large paycheck serves no purpose if your lifestyle grows with your income.  Live frugally, save as much money as possible and use this as your foundation to pursue your ambitions.

This is the time in your life when you have the power to define the remainder of your days here on Earth.  Work as hard as you can to set yourself up for success.  Seize opportunities when they present themselves, don’t be afraid to take risks.  Play the game to your advantage and build a strong foundation for the rest of your life.  Make every decision based on how it will affect your dream of studying philosophy.

Don’t work at a gas station!