The University of Self Education [VIDEO]

“Formal education will make you a living, self education will make you a fortune…” – Jim Rohn

I have decided to make 2017 an epic year in my life. I’m really going to challenge myself. Physically, spiritually and professionally. One of things I love to do is read, and I think it’s obvious…I read a lot…..

However, as much as I love to read, do book reviews and talk about the awesome books I’ve read in my life…I strangely don’t think I do a good enough job at showcasing how important my self education has been in my life to others.

So I’m introducing something new for this blog and we’ll see where it goes.

It’s called the University of Self Education, and I’m the first student. I’m looking for others to join and enrol in this university and the curriculum will be as follows over our first year…

Every week, I will be doing an in depth book review of the book I am currently reading.

– First book will be ‘The Revenge of Analog‘ by David Sax

I know, I know…I already do book reviews, but one a month is pretty lazy on my part. I read much more than that, and it’s time to challenge myself to get uncomfortable. So every Sunday (tentative of the day lol) I’ll be post a review of the book that we will be reading in the University of Self Education πŸ˜‰

Who knows where this goes…

We might be onto something bigger than just a blog post, but no matter what if only ONE of you catches the self education bug from these reviews and posts, it’s worth it in my opinion. I cannot stress to you how important self education has been in my career and I truly want to scream at the top of my lungs for more people to get involved in reading.

It will change your life…And let’s see the huge changes in all of our lives in 12 months from now, after all joining this new and exciting university πŸ™‚


15 thoughts to “The University of Self Education [VIDEO]”

  1. Excellent project Jon!

    I agree, self-education is critical to growth. If you want to move beyond where you are, you need the knowledge/ability to make it happen. What you knew yesterday may not get you far tomorrow.

    I spend a significant amount of my time doing research, reading publications, trying to expand my knowledge to give me an advantage in business. It pays HUGH benefits over time.

    I would add that “formal education” is the basis for expansion. You may not need a Doctorate, but you do need a basic understanding of the ideas/concepts discussed in whatever you are reading. If nothing else, start at the ‘beginning’ and take the time to learn what you need to develop your skills.

    Looking forward to where you take this. Opportunities abound for those willing to seek them out. This can be a great way to get that going!

    1. Never been a fan of formal education. I think it trains people to become obedient good citizens that work the 40-40-40 plan without disrupting the status quo…But that’s a whole other topic LOL

      1. Hi Jon, Dave Beaman here.

        I have a lot of formal education, having earned a doctorate, a master’s and a bachelor’s degree and later going to seminary for more formal education before going to Burundi, Africa as a missionary (my third career). They got me what I wanted at the time and I couldn’t have done it without the degrees. I don’t regret my education because the topics I studied cannot be learned solely through self-education and self-education wouldn’t have given me entrΓ© into what I wanted to do.

        However, I also owned brick and mortar businesses that were profitable, and do Internet marketing successfully without formal business training. When I have a passion for something, I do learn better studying independently. That works fine for things that do not require credentials, but when credentials are required, you have to get formal education to do what you love. Case in point is one of my sons.

        He has a talent for computers. As a boy of 13, twenty-some-odd years ago, when he was starting high school, his classmates worked at fast food restaurants. My son set up business networks at $65 an hour. I had to drive him to his jobs because he was too young to drive.

        In the heyday of computer technology, he could name his own price and get all the work he wanted. But then he wanted to do programming, which is different than the technical aspects of computers and society changed and degrees were required. He loved his work, so he went back to school and earned a degree with straight A grades and often teaching the classes at the professor’s request. He wanted to learn to program as fast as possible and have a credible credential.

        Could he have gone into private business and been successful? Sure! He eventually did, developing a million dollar business with friends by helping to program a specialized computer security app. So, I guess it is what your passion is, what enables you to do what you want to do the fastest and whether you can get there without intense guidance.

        The lack of basic formal education in the United States today is appalling. Without the basics, you won’t be able to read well enough to get self-educated. Also, some people don’t learn best through reading alone. Community colleges have been helpful for many who have a passion for trades that must be learned well enough to be certified for safety purposes.

        There are so many variables, Jon. To say, “[formal education] trains people to become obedient good citizens that work the 40-40-40 plan without disrupting the status quo,” is a too generalized statement. It all depends on what you want to do. And I wouldn’t go to a physician who was self-trained even if it was legal. :0)

        You, Jon, have a passion for traffic exchanges and related things. You are a master at it. You are also very intelligent. Your circumstances and abilities allowed you to prosper at what you do. This wouldn’t hold true for the majority of folks, many of whom have urgent needs to support a family and must go the traditional route. And some are incapable of doing what you did but good at what they can do. In short, I agree with what Richard wrote when he said, ” ‘formal education’ is the basis for expansion.”

        I wish you well with this, but book reviews and reading won’t cut it when it comes to practical things. People have to be shown how to implement what they read. Perhaps you could add some videos showing people how to do, how to implement, what they read about.

        1. I guess it’s personal but for me, this is what I remember from ‘formal’ school…

          Bullying.

          Pressure to fit in.

          Pressure to succeed.

          Being told that if you didn’t get an A, you’d never get a good job.

          I personally think they have the education system backwards. We train kids at a super young age to conform, and never question….I think people should go to school to learn the basics for sure, but not to define their careers etc.

          Now obviously, a doctor needs schooling…But where’;s the entrepreneurship courses? Where’s the tax law courses? Education isn’t a one size fits all solution, and that’s the problem.

          1. I’m sorry you had that experience, Jon.

            I don’t know about Canadian colleges, but in U.S. colleges, you can take business courses that include entrepreneurship, tax law and other business law and all sorts of other related courses. You can get a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration that includes everything you mentioned and more. Furthermore, employer’s want to see that you graduated and got the degree. They don’t look at your grades. As long as you get a C or better, you qualify. However, for a Master’s degree, you need a B or better.

            Also, most colleges offer adult education classes in a variety of subjects that don’t involve grades or the getting of a degree. You take the course simply to learn something that interests you.

            Things have changed since you were a kid, Jon. And as for me who am much older than you, things have changed hugely.

  2. Great Idea…. Great Plan ☺
    I like books but I still think I’ll always be an audio and visual person. I have lots of books waiting to be read, I think your video reviews or blog reviews will be really appreciated by everyone.

    1. Thank you sir, whatever works best is the avenue you should follow for sure. For me it’s books, but audio and visual are very effective as well.

  3. Great idea Jon. It’s all about life long learning and a commitment to self development. My formal training and education was necessary as a medical scientist but has not helped me in online business. My Masters degree in business did indeed help me get promoted I the 40-40-40 world but cuts no mustard in the online world. Your CTP online training helped me to open my eyes. I have recently taken a number of short courses on Coursera and Udemy which have been immediately useful. Reading though trumps all! Zig Ziglar On Selling really helped me this year. Where do we sign up – just buy the book and signup?

    Ciao

    Grant

    1. Awesome! Yeah that’s on my to-read list for sure…Haven’t completed the entire site but the idea would be, we each read a book a month, review, case studies etc….I have big plans for it, but right now it’s just an idea lol 2017 should be fun though πŸ™‚

  4. Sign me up. Been doing it since I was a kid. Had no choice. Thanks John, will share this journey. The tide is turning for me. Been in this game for along time. It’s the little successes along the way. That make the ROI, worthwhile. Even to believe for awhile and bring change for you and others from these thoughts is valuable. Greater than any financial reward. Just a bonus.

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