Degree Of Difficulty, is what some college graduates are faced with after completing their 4 or 5 year degree. And with student loans crippling these young adults entering the workforce, the task is daunting. But what can we do as parents? A college degree versus real world experience, is the answer one versus the other or both? So maybe the answer can be discovered when we take a fresh look as to what we as parents have learned and what we need to unlearn to set our kids up for success.
From the studios of Marra Entertainment, this is in the Parenthood on the Marra Entertainment Network, alongside our friends here in our very talented crew, your host Rob Giumarra, and the Parenthood brought to you by our good friends. At Blank, yes, yes, we're looking for more sponsors, but we'll get them. And by your friends here at Marra Entertainment who remind you to check out this and the other great podcasts on the Marra Entertainment Network of Marra Entertainment.com. Follow Like and add us on Instagram Threads Twitter, TikTok, at MarraENT. That's MARRAENT. Follow and subscribe. Of course, wherever you get your favorite podcast, hit those buttons. We appreciate it. Hey, thanks for joining us for this episode of In the Parenthood Episode one in the book. Officially. Well, not officially, because we haven't, really. Done anything yet but. We're glad you joined us. It's a show that's really going to give you an idea of. You know, for parents just starting out. Whether you're uh. You had your first child, Had you second, Third. You know, maybe you're an empty nester like me. Almost. You know, I'm. I'm on the tail end of it here. Three boys. Um, my youngest who just graduated high school. And now going into college, so. I'm. Raised them for 1213 years as a single dad by myself and grateful that their mom is. You know, part of their life, but they've lived with me. I've had sole custody for them for quite some time. I just swatted a fly. That's what you heard. So, deliver me for quite a while, so. You know my challenges and. A similar to yours is apparent. Even as a single parent, it's still the same idea, the same thoughts, the same things that run through your head, run through mine. You know my concern, from my kid’s safety to, you know them smoking weed or drinking or. You know, whatever they're engaged with. I've had a myriad of experiences that you know first-hand come with, you know the type of experience that. You know, some people have the benefit of doing it together and others, you know, like me and of course single moms, they do it as well. But. But yeah. But we don't, you know, it is what it is apparent. And this is a this is a show that's kind of the take it, take the unvarnished truth. And give it to you as a parent. So regardless of what you're. Your situation is. Right. You're all welcome, cause we're all getting off at the same exit and the parenthood here. There's a degree of difficulty. In terms of being a parent. And part of that comes with. You know, one of the degrees of difficulty I found in my unique position is looking at. When they go to school in college, so having my oldest going through college. And acquiring some student loan debt. Um, but having a skill that'll? Won't be outdated or antiquated or even changed so dramatically that he won't be able to get a job in the industry that he wants to work in. And that's my concern for my youngest son is the same thing, is that when he goes into school, what is he going to get out of it Coming out? That will have. You know. That won't. Put him behind five years. So really with the way. Things are changing and technology has advanced. It's. Is a. It's almost like quantum speeds at which things are changing and evolving. A lot of tech companies have laid off employees and you're finding a lot of people who are trying to. You know, either find new careers in different fields or trying to, you know, resurface somewhere else in the same industry, but by the time they get out of school. There. Career of choice. So that industry already has basically a five year start on them by the time they graduate. So. The question sometimes that a lot of high school students have asked, and I've heard expressed for my own kids and some of their friends, is college education is really worth it. Is it worth it to them? Um, and that's a hard that's an honest question. That's an honest discussion you should have with your kids. It's not something you should. Shy away from. And more importantly. I think is this we've lost the value. An appreciation for the skilled trades, carpenters, electricians, plumbers. Um. Welders. There are there are unique skills that will. You know, it's always thought of as you'll always be able to get a job. But when that was said in the 80s, there wasn't the influx of immigrants in this country that we see now who are skilled labor, who will work at A. Less for less. And get paid cash. And. You know you're talking about trades that pay anywhere from the high 30s to mid 40s to start you off with. So, or even some of the mid 30s depending on where you where you work. I know in New York in particular the different areas depending on where you work, the contract rate for union labor is different for electricians, plumbers, carpenters and so on. But it's a college education worth it. I think it is. Um, and I'm speaking from someone who? You know whose parents didn't? Graduate college or go to college? So, the notion and the idea about school and college and understanding how? How important an education is was stressed, but it was. It was done in a way in which it wasn't. You were you were rewarded for or praised for going to school? And doing something that they thought. Was going to make you successful instead of doing what you needed to do. To be successful. So, for me, I always had an interest in science and being a doctor, but. It wasn't what I wanted to do. I even thought about one time being forensic. Met medical example not working in forensics. And there was nothing that was going to stop me from except the fact that I realized that really wasn't my passion. And I went from. High school. Into college didn't do really well. Um, because it was set up to lose. I was kind of doing it on my own. Didn't know what to do, couldn't really. Had no guidance. Even if the of the six. And with that that it became my choice as to what to do and I got myself into. Maybe more than I could buy them, buy it off, or more than I could chew. A bit off. more than I could chew is what I meant to say. So. You know, and then I eventually I found my way into broadcasting school and did really well there. Made some great inroads, but I realized that the industry at that point was still. Still had its issues. Issues with regards to. You know, old school, new school. The industry had started to change. I tried stand-up comedy for a while, Did that successfully. Um. I had a lot of fun, met a lot of great people. And eventually I. Would into becoming. The actor and a writer and. So, broadcasting had never left me, which is kind of why I decided to do. Podcasting because it gives you the opportunity to. Um. It's your own true voice. There's no censorship in it. I mean, the great folks at Marra Entertainment give me great liberties. To share this content and to create, you know, in a collaborative manner with the great team we have here. So, you know, for the college, for the college bound students who are going into school and those who are graduating. You know it would be. It would be worth asking is it worth it to them? Is it worth it to you as a college graduate? Certainly not worth the college debt. So, it's a matter of how do you creatively put it together. You know. And I don't believe most. Most kids from high school I would be curious as to what that looks like. Um, you know as far as what they intended to go in as is their major? And then how they changed that? And that gets expensive. And I think the idea and the notion of Oh my kids going to this school, my kids going to that school when it when the whole reality. The prestige of that school is one thing. It used to be that the alumni connections that you had that you could. Use as a resource where you're where you're connection to the next level once you got out of school. But with. The advancements in technology where you can become an influencer and a. As we like to call in the corporate world the subject matter expert on something and then post it. And broadcast it to the world. Leaves a lot to be desired. Now, I'm not saying that college doesn't serve a purpose. But what you learn in the process is equally as important as the skill level that you leave with. And so, for me it would be more worth. It would be that if I had you know, my sons who were going to college and. I son who's? Going to do some, you know, some continuing adult. Classes, it's OK. I want you to learn something. I want you to get the degree because we have to play this game with the system. But then I want you also to then start building your own businesses, Build your own business and it's not as hard as you think it is. Um. But. Eventually their purpose is going to lead them to their passion. And you got to find out. They have to find out very quickly how do their skills match up versus those who have skills gained with hands on experience. You know, by the time they graduate, you could have somebody who's got hands on experience. But. And it's still going through school. But then now they've got the advantage in the leg up, getting a job in the workplace. So. You know, it's a matter of chicken and the egg. You know which is which comes which comes first, the college degree or the hands-on experience. Both are important. And I think you could do both simultaneously. In the in the in the context of. Where we are. In the world. I think you can. I think you absolutely can. And there's great ways to do that strategically and with technology being what it is, it's right at their hands, right at their fingertips. So, they've got to have the ability to pivot on both levels. And that's where. You know, I think you're going to see those the kids who are going to, who are going to thrive and survive are going to be kids who are able to pivot on that level creatively. And because they've been so indoctrinated with the educational system that is broken. To say the least. These kids aren't learning what they need to learn. You know, they should have. They should be able to. Access. Multiple streams of knowledge. In other words, what they're taking all their basic classes in in school. They should be learning real world experience, how to set up a business, understanding how to build a credit profile on the personal and the business end, how to create generational wealth like the Rockefellers. Understanding what that means. That's the failure of the educational system, but that's our fault for allowing that to happen and continue and for the indoctrination of the. Some of the idiocy. That's out there. Um. You know, the more streams you have coming in. I think it means more of an overflow. In terms of their. Their development. They're confidence they're worth. You know they're self-worth. They're. You know, them being able to establish themselves a lot easier. The idea now is that you go to college, get a job when you graduate and pay off your student loan debt, or come out with as little debt as possible and then try to find a job in the career field that you desire to get into. That's hard. It's hard to do as an adult, let alone as someone who doesn't have experience. OK, creating their own advantages. You know, learning how to leverage what they know. In the marketplace with the skills and knowledge that they have. So how many? How many of them know about Masterminds? I'm grown. In my knowledge and understanding of different sales techniques. Um. You know, advancements in technology understanding. AI. Understanding Real Estate Understanding Tax Finance Strategies. Um, you know, these are things that they don't know. And even if they don't want to know. There's going to be a degree of difficulty in achieving the success that they think they're going to achieve. No, you got to give him the benefit of the doubt because again, there's 17–18-year years old going into college thinking. You know, but they don't have that ability. Because maybe they don't have the knowledge. Maybe they just need somebody to show them and pull them under their wing and kind of show them the ropes. It's up to us as parents to do that. So. The opportunity for us as parents is to expand our horizons. Listen, it gets exhausting, you know, trying to stay on top of everything and anything in your homes as mom and dad together, or just maybe mom by yourself or dad by yourself, it's hard. It becomes overwhelming. There's enough to do. There's enough pressure to create that. You know that opportunity for them because you're trying to figure out how to create that opportunity for yourself. I'm going to position where. You know, as an actor and as a writer. I get to create. Things on a different level. Um, but what I've quickly learned is. My true success is going to be in the legacy that I leave for my kids, that Rockefeller legacy. Where I'm leaving generational wealth behind me, not from just what I do. In front of the camera, behind it. But in other. Areas of opportunity. So, there's that. The most important thing for me to know is. What they know. What don't they know? As parents. You know we can. We can assume. We can have a conversation and some of us have a good feel about our kids and some of us don't. It's time for us to check in with them. And find out. You know, the most important thing for me to know is are my sons. How knowledgeable are they about money and what how do they view money? Is it an asset? What do they understand? The difference between an asset and a liability? Do they understand? The wealth of information that's out there literally at their fingertips that some of them know nothing about. Whether you find it on Instagram or TikTok or. Facebook for you old farts. You know LinkedIn. There's plenty of opportunities out there. And of course, threads now joining the party. But there's opportunity out there. There is there's substantial opportunity in substantial ways in which they can create multiple streams of income. So, there is a game that they can play. That is like, legitimate. It is 100% foolproof and it's. Something that all of the wealthiest families in the world, the wealthiest names that you think of, and I bring up the Rockefellers it is because of. That example. You know. That I've been able to learn some things. You know and necessity. Gave me the necessity for me to understand how to create that. Was. Something that was created inside of me. I. With a uniqueness that was kind of bothering me. You know, at this stage in point, my life as a father, I'm on the back end of this. You know, I'm playing the last we're, if we use a golf analogy, I'm playing the back nine and I'm probably on the 15th hole at this point. And with three boys who are. Sort of finding themselves in the world. And giving them permission to make those decisions and understand that with those decisions there are good consequences and bad ones. And how I helped them navigate that is my job as a dad. It's to help them to grow up to be men. And to understand what that means to be a man. You know the important skill, most important skill I need. You know, I want to be able to ask them that understand what's the most important skill you need right now. I think a lot of. A lot of kids going into college lack an understanding of money. Of what it is? What exactly it is? What does wealth mean? You know, and these are things that are important that don't get stressed. It's about it's called hustle, it's called grind. It's no. This is and I and I'm going to credit him for saying this because it was the first time, I ever heard this described in this way, but wealth has a speed. That you can make a lot of money faster. You can make a lot of money faster than you can make a lot of money over a longer period of time. And check out Myra Golden. He's phenomenal. And someone you should kind of just take a peek at. Because the information is all right underneath our noses. We don't even realize it. But you have some really great people who are, who can serve as great mentors. Coaches do masterminds. They do these free workshops that are out there. They're all available and accessible. On a lot of social media platforms. Could be YouTube, could be Instagram, it could be on Facebook groups that they have set up. It's all right there. I just can't believe it took me this long to realize some of this stuff. Now granted. This was not the stuff that I was exposed to. As I was growing up in my family dynamic, because it was never spoken of, it was getting a good job. Retire. Put money in your 401K. That was called investing. And buy a house. He owns some property. Not knowing that you're buying a house, that's a liability. You know candy. You're not making any money from it. You might get the depreciation of value from it as an as it is. But a home is a constancy. Anybody who owns a home knows there's always, constantly something that needs to be done. Life insurance, you can utilize that as an asset. And understand what that means 401K's. For one, who cares? Listen to Robert Kiyosaki, check him out. He's got some great things to say about Sharon. He's. I joined in on a free workshop that he was doing, and it was it was eye opening. He's the author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. But it took me a long time to realize. There were things that. You know you end up graduating with a degree of difficulty. Instead of a degree that's really going to suit you and serve you well. You know it's. Asking the question to them what do they think about college and what do they want to get out of it? And their opinion about college is going to be different now that they once they learn certain things, I know my opinion is different. It's important for me to kind of. You know for me to. I haven't graduated yet, but I hope to soon as I continue to finish out my degree. But what's the most important thing that they want to get out of college? Not you as a parent. What do they want to get out of college? And then I think you can work from there. Because college does serve a purpose. And the whole experience is. Is supposed to be what it's supposed to be for them. It's social engagement. It's interpersonal skills, interpersonal skills. It's the. It's developing yourself, your character, your, your understanding of people, how to read people, how to. Know who to trust in social settings. There's a lot of good things that are gained from it. So, I certainly would never poo it, as they say. But it is important. But it also begs the question, what's the most important thing that they want to get out of college? Because they feel this pressure and the need to prove something to somebody. That they are not obligated to do. And I've told my boys this. Is I'm proud of you no matter what you choose to do. As long as you do it consistently well. If solving problems in the marketplace. And by solving those problems, you're serving the greater good. I might sound like pie in the sky, but. What's going to give them a greater purpose, a sense of fulfillment? Solving a problem. And knowing that they're serving the greater good. Because I think they all want to do something great. They want to be great. And. Unfortunately, some kids don't have that example in their life. Or, you know, they don't. You know they value. Sometimes. Or they undervalue, maybe. Who knows. But you have to find out. You got to check in with them. Because they're going to be faced with a tremendous amount of debt in this country. Doesn't care. Does not care. The government doesn't care. The state, the federal government does not care about your kids. They don't. Because if they did. We would see an entirely different educational system ramp from the ground up. It would not have remained the same. But. It's designed that way. It's designed that way to. To program our kids into thinking the same thing. That we were taught. And what I? See Changing. In the days, months and years ahead. Is this idea that education is going to change the way education is going to be delivered? You have a few schools that are out there that are doing things differently. Online classes that are educating students not just based on real world experience but giving them real world knowledge. That's. That's applicable to todays. Job market. And for the future? So, for real estate? You know, commercial real estate purposes. It's the idea that you buy a piece of property. And you don't build out the entire space. You leave space available. So, you build out what you want and what you need, and you leave the extra for what you need in the future. And that's what their education should look like. The formation of their college experience should be. You know, let's build what you need to build for now, but let's leave room and space for you to learn some other things. Skills that are going to translate well for you to create multiple streams of revenue. And start creating wealth for themselves. You know, understanding certain things that are important things are not going to learn in college. They might learn them later on in their junior and senior year, if they're lucky. But they're certainly not going to learn it in the first two years. And. Is it really worth it for them to learn that at such a high-ticket price? At the cost of debt. And it's a heavy thing to carry around their neck. And unfortunately, some kids don't have any other alternatives. They just don't. And it's not their fault. It's not their parents’ fault. But like anything in life, it is our responsibility once we know it. Once you see it, you can't Unsee it. And what I've seen. I can't even see it. I can't even see it any other way. These kids are graduating with a degree of difficulty that. We'll never pay them. What they've invested in college and a college degree. We'll serve them better. Is a component of what they want to do in the real world. With complementary pieces that go along with helping them understand how the how wealth is built. Because ultimately. Isn't that what we all want? I mean, we want. Our kids. Sons and daughters alike, we want them to be able to have. Experiences that we never have or experiences we can only give them on a smaller scale. If at all. But you want them to have those experiences. Because they deserve it. They deserve to have an abundant life and that makes that would make me happy as a dad to see my kids living life, experiencing things around the world, traveling, you know, you know different foods and cultures and you know getting used to doing certain things on a level. So that's just me. My thought. But hopefully. You know, we can see things change, but it's up to us as parents. They don't have to graduate with a degree of difficulty. They can graduate with so much more, if we're willing as parents. To take a look at the information that's right underneath our noses, we can explore more of that. In other episodes ahead. But hey, I just want to thank you for joining us here on this episode of In The. Oh, now whose idea was that? OK, guys, not funny. Guys, what are we doing here? Oh, I can't believe they did that to me. You guys totally set me up first episode and you do that to me. OK, good job, guys. Now I know who I'm playing with. These guys got a lot of jokes tonight, So this episode of In the Parenthood brought to you by a good friends at. I don't know, Maybe our staff here has been dipping into tequila. Maybe that's who we should get to sponsor this show, because apparently that's all you have to do, right? That's all you guys have to do. You have nothing better to do. Of course, your friends here Marra Entertainment remind you to check out this and other great podcasts on the Marra Entertainment Network at maraentertainment.com. Follow like and add us on Instagram threads Twitter. TikTok at MarraENT. That's MARRAENT. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcast for the entire team here at Marra Entertainment. This Cracked staff yucking it up. Look at you. You're pitiful. I'm Rob Jamari, your host. We'll see you again on in the Parenthood.