The link between educational and financial success

Controversial: Giving rise or likely to give rise to controversy or public disagreement.

The controversial topic of education quality and the link with employment success has been around for decades.

While it would be easy to argue both sides, dependant on the side you find your own experience and situation, there is no doubt that both sides also have an equal argument.

On the one hand, the discussion of employment success would need to be determined by your meaning and personal value of that word. Success.

Success to one could be a world away from another but one thing most could agree on that is black or white is the topic of financial success. No matter your level or measure of success, you're either financially successful or you are not.

Financial Success

Putting forth consistent financial effort so that you're in a better financial place than you would have been without that consistent effort. simpledollar.com

The discussion of financial success in many cases has no link to the education we receive.

Artists, Musicians, Writers and creators of all kinds do not need educational success to be creative. While of course, that is not to say they're not educated in some way or even 'experts' in a chosen topic (fine art, literature, reading music etc,) education need not be an essential part of their growing from youth to adulthood to gain financial success.

Even white-collar success such as Accountants, Book-keepers, Bankers. Although the best may surround themselves with numbers and gain financial success, they too may only be educated to a 'high' level in their chosen topics, (maths, business and economics etc.)

The link between financial success and educational success is thin, to say the least, and this can be reflected through the work of doctors, nurses and consultants, (at least for the majority).

The average doctor in the UK earns between £41,158 to £76,751 annually, while nurses earn between £22,000 and £28,000 annually and the highest-paid medical specialists on average only earn between £79,860 and £107,668.

While this may seem like a lot next to a minimum wage job, these professionals save lives every day and are not financially successful in a world where a professional footballer can earn a consultants yearly salary in less than a week. (Another example of no link between financial and educational success).

So what about other types of success?

Educational Success

Educational success is an open-ended discussion as its success can be again measured differently for everyone.

On the one hand, a lone artist who may be highly educated in literature, fine art, music and history and who may have gained success through schooling may be classed as (in the corporal world we live in,) uneducated in the 'topics that matter'.

While equally a bookkeeper who is highly educated in economics, politics and maths (the topics our corporal world strive on) may have struggled with general topics in schooling such as english and science.

Of course, it's easy to spot the extremely educational successors, (Stephen Hawking as an obvious example,) it's also easy to spot the obvious financial successors, (Alan Sugar for example) and yet, Mr Sugar is a perfect example of somebody who came from a poor 'uneducated' background and who's sheer willpower and determination made financial success his chosen path, and he's not the only one:

Mark Wahlberg, Demi Moore, Celine Dion, Halle Berry and possibly the most financially successful star from a poor and uneducated background; Oprah Winfrey.

These financially successful stars gained true financial power through hard work, determination and of course their measure of education to become an all-around success.

The Link

So what's the link? Well, I say there isn't one. You could spend your youth attending after school Maths club, never missing a homework deadline and spending thousands on university education, just to end up on minimum wage and paying your mortgage on your house for 40 years. (If you're lucky to even get one in this economy). That's not to say you're not successful or extremely happy but not financially even after the time, effort and money you have put into your education.

Of course, that doesn't mean education and ard work doesn't create 'some' financial success. The world still has famous surgeons and book-keepers to the stars. Lawyers and advisors who earn 100 times the minimum hourly wage and who got to that position through education success and of course determination.

Then of course there are the ones who gain financial success with little care for educational progress. Professional footballers are the prime example of this. Many gaining wages of £150,000 and above weekly, with a youth that was filled with football, sports and fails across test scores and exams. (Of course, not all. Frank Lampard for example speaks 4 languages and has a science degree.)

Conclusion

So the conclusion, is it clear? Not at all. In a world ever-changing and still learning to find its feet through the discussion of several topics of change and importance. It is indeed important to measure your success through your standards. Be that educational, financial or both.

I spent my whole life gaining educational success. I never failed tests or exams, I gained A's and A*s across most subjects and I made it my life mission to learn something new every day. I gained knowledge and education in psychology, criminology, english and art. I never failed at any subject I studied and then after all of that I chose to open a store and create instead.

Of course, writing is my passion and my first job but I would be a fool to think financial success came with the territory (JK Rowling Pipe down.)

I am not financially rich, nor am I poor. I am happy with my level of education and financial success and I am always willing to gain more in both.

Don't determine your level of success by the money you earn or the education you have received. Of course, if money power is your passion then by all means work at achieving that. But, make sure you do it in a way that you enjoy and the same goes with educational gain. Study and work hard at what makes you happy, keeps you engaged and wanting to learn.

Measure your success by your standards, not somebody else's.

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