When I graduated college with a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations I was starry-eyed. I had no doubts that great job opportunities would come my way. I was convinced of the value of my talents and the worth of my degree. In fact, I was not only confident I would find a great job right away, I was sure I could take my pick and find one that was fulfilling AND well-paying.

I quickly hit the rock-hard wall of reality, when in the post-Great Recession world, there were no jobs to be had. Especially not for someone with little to no experience in my field, no matter the education I had acquired. It took years of taking any job I could, whether or not it required a degree, to get to a place of some financial security.

I was so convinced of the idea that my degree HAD to be used, that I never gave a moment’s attention to my passions and my own grit.

Looking back, I only wish I had used the year I was unemployed to start working for myself. I wish I had had the confidence to start hustling at that time and building my side business with all that open time. Instead, I was so convinced of the idea that my degree HAD to be used, that I never gave a moment’s attention to my passions and my own grit. Instead, I was panicked and spent every day applying for any random job that had an opening. I put so much energy into cover letters, tweaking my resume, and creating examples of my work tailored to open positions. All along I could have been building the foundation of my business and marketing myself.

Hindsight is 20/20. Here are the 5 things I wish I would have known and done instead of chasing a degree-required job.

1. You Don’t Need a College Degree to be Successful

When I took the leap of faith to start my own business, there was not one part of it that needed a college degree. What it took was gumption, courage and a willingness to work hard at creating a service that attracted clients. These were soft skills that I honed and educated myself on. With the amount of online tutorials, YouTube videos, online articles and books available at your fingertips, anything you don’t know, you can learn. At a fraction of the cost of college courses, you can immediately start learning your craft. If you are willing to learn and soak up all the information and apply it, you will undoubtedly grow and be successful.

When I took the leap of faith to start my own business, there was not one part of it that needed a college degree.

I poured over articles about how to kill it at trade shows, how to create an outstanding booth and how to create business brochures and postcards to hand out. These days, with apps such as Canva, you can create virtually any print item you need and have it in your hands in a matter of days!

After my first tradeshow, I went to work building a website. With the many user-friendly website-building programs available, you can now have one up in a weekend. I prefer WordPress and after my initial learning curve, I was up and running. What I love about WordPress is that you can instantly chat with a LIVE rep at any time and they will virtually “walk” you through any questions you have and help you with your site.

2. You Can Start Working for Yourself Today

If the me now could go back to the me then…..

Rather than spending 4 and 1/2 years in school, I might have taken a semester off to pursue my crazy dreams while working part-time. Instead, I waited until the dream of wild job success was more than dead.

By that time, I had bills, a house, a spouse and massive responsibilities to feed. I couldn’t leave my 9-5 job and instead had to carve out time during evenings and weekends to hustle my way to building a business. Was it worth it? Absolutely! But I always wonder where I would be on my business path if I had just dove in while I had more time, energy and hope.

If I could go back, I would tell myself – start now! Chase the dream, you will be blown away with where it can take you!

If I could go back, I would tell myself – start now! Chase the dream, you will be blown away with where it can take you!

This is something I very much keep in mind now that I have children of my own. I want to encourage them to go after careers that can earn money but also feed their souls. In fact, this summer, my 10-year old is planning to start offering baked goods at our local farmer’s market. She is obsessed with baking. What better way to build her self-confidence than starting now. And if she decides to not go to college and instead start her own hustle, I will be right there cheering her on.

3. A Degree Can Trap You in a Debt-Ridden Life

I was fortunate enough to have a full-ride scholarship and grant money to cover my dorm while I attended college but so many of my friends were not so lucky. And with today’s graduates dealing with a post-pandemic economy, their salaries do not go as far as they used to.

Add that to historically sky-rocketing education costs and you have a perfect storm of being locked in a dead-end job simply to pay your student loan. It is a vicious cycle.

For those that want to pursue being their own boss, this situation does not allow the financial freedom to take risks, no matter how small.

4. The Job Market is over-saturated with degree holding applicants

Gone are the days where a degree is guaranteed to get you a well-paying job. While there are many positions that require a degree, you are also now competing with a record number of degree-carrying applicants. Where in the previous generation a degree was highly respected and high paying jobs were afforded to those with them, these days, supply has outpaced demand and there are an overabundance of degree-toting applicants for the limited amount of positions available.

This is why starting your own business is so attractive. It gives you the ability to begin earning for yourself. No boss, manager or board of directors to please No praying a superior notices and gives you a promotion or incremental raises year after year.

Some may say you have a problem with authority. In fact, it is not authority you chafe against, rather it is putting the power of your own career destiny in others hands.

Some may say you have a problem with authority. In fact, it is not authority you chafe against, rather it is putting the power of your own career destiny in others hands.

I became so tired of office politics or feeling the pressure to please those above me in the hopes that I would, at some obscure future date, be rewarded for it. I was so exhausted by the game that is the corporate world that I carved my way out.

5. A Degree Can Be the Ultimate Crutch Keeping You From Pursuing Your Dreams

But what if I already have a degree? That question was one that haunted me and crippled me from pursuing my own business for years. It takes humility and a frank look at what drives you to realize that you may feel stuck at your job not just because of your bills but because you don’t want to feel your degree was wasted. I was there.

Growing up, I had always been told I was talented, creative and destined for success. And I believed all of it. Getting my degree was just the final step on my journey to have a high-paying, successful job and live up to all the dreams others had for me.

We, as humans, are wired to be social, to have a community. While that is one of the most important components of a healthy life, it can also act as a double-edged sword when your family, friends and coworker’s expectations cause you to make decisions based on their perception of you.

The key word there is Others. Take a hard look at what motivates you to stay in the status quo. Is it just financial? Most likely it is much more layered than that. We, as humans, are wired to be social, to have a community. While that is one of the most important components of a healthy life, it can also act as a double-edged sword when your family, friends and coworker’s expectations cause you to make decisions based on THEIR perception of you.

Letting people down was a REAL fear of mine. I was haunted by the idea that if I struck out on my own and failed I would be humiliated. It took a ton of pep talks with myself and a determination to take a chance on myself to start going after my own goals. At the end of the day, you only have one life and it is yours to live, no one else’s.

I had to breathe through that fear. I had to focus on my plan and take it step by step. I had to be OK with people in my life not understanding my path and desires. So, here is my coach pep talk to you – doubts are normal, people questioning your choices are normal, but you, my friend are not normal. You are an entrepreneur waiting to happen. The world needs more people like you. Start today.

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