Trent-
you have talked before about college education not being a great investment and I read this interesting article on how college is *not* worth a million dollars in the lifetime of a graduate.

I think there is some middle way about it, because now that I have a real career, I cherish it very much. It has been a wonderful investment and has given me freedom I never had before. Without my education, I wouldn’t have a worthwhile career. I’d love to see you do more investigating on this idea.

-Aggie

This whole post just seemed sort of grim and grinding. My advice from a few years farther down the road — lighten up a little. Money is about security; life is about relationships. It’s a mistake to focus so hard on the former that you sacrifice the latter.

When I went to college, my father told me that 75% of my education would come from my classmates, and he was right. I didn’t join clubs to get ahead; I joined clubs that interested me. I didn’t make connections with everyone; I formed deep and lasting relationships with a smaller group of diverse people with whom I’ve continued to share my life.

In my work, the joy has come partially from successful outcomes, but far more from being part of a good community of people who care about one another. A consulting firm I worked for still has reunions, some 15 years after the firm folded, and they’re always packed. Why? Because we liked each other then and we like each other now. Nobody remembers whether I gave home run presentations; they remember that I’m reasonably bright; good to work with and fun to have around.

There is a minimum threshold of performance — once you’re known to be “good at your job” it is relationships that make the rest of the difference. It’s also relationships which make the worth fun or, when they go wrong, awful.

Life is going to toss everything upside down more than once in your life. It’s OK. You’ll survive. Be agile, be open and know that as long as you’ve got folks who care about you, you’re the only sort of success that matters.

Yes, you should work hard. Yes, you should consider your work an investment and search out the highest ROI. Just remember that the most valuable return isn’t always about money.

**

I am already doing the strategy of investing my money with a different risk than my job. My job is probably 95% bond (state job), and all my long-term savings (except my mortgage) are in stocks. But I can imagine that people who are attracted to “safe” jobs are also attracted to “safe” investments and vice versa.

You don’t realize at the age of 18 or 19 how your decisions of a major will make an impact on your life. College or four or five years but you don’t retire for 40 plus years.