Do You Need A Degree?

In 2008, I was working for a prestigious financial institution at an executive level position and then the financial crisis hit.  I was laid off along with most of the other staff and thought my experience and education would all but guarantee me a new position.  It did... sort of.  I got a new job, but one month later we lost our only contract.  After that I stayed unemployed.  The financial crisis was a bad time for a lot of people, but it was a lot harder on those who, like me, did not have a university degree.

I once heard that college graduates start-up more businesses than university graduates because they "learn more practical skills" (at least that's how I think it went).  That's bull shit.  The truth is this: college graduates have a harder time finding jobs and are therefore pushed harder towards starting up their own businesses then university graduates.

Technically, I didn't start up my business after I became unemployed.  I already had the business up and running on a part-time basis.  Being unemployed allowed me to explore more options and the rest is history, but it was a lack of job offers that gave me the extra push.

A degree is a huge asset.  It makes you much more competitive and much more secure.  If starting your own business is something you want to do, then you should do it because you're ready, not because you don't have any better options.

Thanks for reading.

- L