Big Words start conversations and open doors to new places.
Author: anwaryusef
Anwar Y. Dunbar is a Regulatory Scientist. Being a naturally curious person, he is also a student of all things. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor’s Degree in General Biology from Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU). Prior to starting the Big Words Blog Site, Anwar published and contributed to numerous research articles in competitive scientific journals reporting on his research from graduate school and postdoctoral years. After falling in love with writing, he contributed to the now defunct Examiner.com, and the Edvocate where he regularly wrote about: Education-related stories/topics, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Financial Literacy; as well as conducted interviews with notable individuals such as actor and author Hill Harper. Having many influences, one of his most notable heroes is author, intellectual and speaker, Malcolm Gladwell, author of books including Outliers and David and Goliath.
Anwar has his hands in many, many activities. In addition to writing, Anwar actively mentors youth, works to spread awareness of STEM careers, serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the David M. Brown Arlington Planetarium, serves as Treasurer for the JCSU Washington, DC Alumni Chapter, and is active in the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Ministry at the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He also tutors in the subjects of biology, chemistry and physics.
Along with his multi-talented older brother Amahl Dunbar (designer of the Big Words logos, inventor and a plethora of other things), Anwar is a “Fanboy” and really enjoys Science-Fiction and Superhero movies including but not restricted to Captain America Civil War, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Prometheus. He is a proud native of Buffalo, NY.
A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. If you have children you will host birthday parties or you will have hosted birthday parties. Not everyone hosts good parties. The following contributed post is entitled, Party Time: The Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Child’s Birthday.
Planning a child’s birthday party can feel like organizing a military operation. There’s lots to think about when it comes to creating an event that everyone will love. The earlier you start planning your party, the easier it will be to bring it all together.
If your child’s birthday is coming up and you’re thinking about doing a party, it’s a good idea to think about everything that’s involved. Here’s what you need to know.
Date and Invites
The first thing you need to do is set a date for your party. Once you have a date in mind, you can look at available venues and then book somewhere that suits your needs. When you have a definite date, you can start to send out invitations.
Doing this early will give people the chance to save the date and RSVP. When you receive RSVPs you’ll have a good idea of the number of people planning to attend which will help you plan all other aspects of the party.
Choose Activities
This is a great opportunity to plan activities you know your child will love. Whether it’s a bouncy castle, a visit from your child’s favorite superhero, or even making the most of birthday parties Lazerport, everything makes a memory. Knowing your child as well as you do, it should be easy to choose things you know he’ll love.
However, popular activities tend to get booked up quickly, so you’ll need to book your date in as soon as possible.
Party Entertainers
If you’re worrying about keeping a large group of young children entertained, rest assured you don’t have to do it on your own. Fortunately, there are many children’s entertainers that provide everything from music to shows and even food options. It can help to hire an entertainer that brings the whole package with them.
Getting everything done in one place will help you to avoid having to be ultra organized hiring several different companies.
Party Time
The time of your party is more important than you may think. For instance, if you’re hosting a party for children under the age of six, it can help to remember that they often get tired in the afternoon. If you don’t want a bunch of overtired youngsters running around, it’s best to stick to the morning or early afternoon.
Many people tend to have children’s parties between the hours of 11am and 2pm. This ensures children are hungry if you’re planning on serving a meal. It also means families have the rest of the day to do other things together.
Party Bags
Last but not least- don’t forget the party bags. Party bags are a great way to say thank you for coming. What you put inside the party bags should be age dependent so there are no choking hazards for young children. Don’t forget to add a slice of the birthday cake!
If you’ve found this article helpful, take a look at the rest.
Two focuses of my blog are Home/Living Discussions and Home/Property Discussions. Once you purchase your home, you want to love it and make it yours. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Love Your Home.
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Not in love with your home? Then something is wrong. It takes a considerable amount of time, energy, and money to buy a property, and, as such, it’s reasonable to have high expectations of what you’ll get from it. Nobody should take the long journey towards becoming a homeowner, only to end up merely liking their house. And if they actively dislike it? Then that’s another level altogether.
If you don’t currently love your property, then fear not. There are things you can do that’ll help to push your feelings in the right direction, as we’ll see below.
You won’t love your home if it feels like it’s a stranger’s house. One of the joys of having your own home is that you get to put your own stamp on things, and in the process, you’ll feel more at ease. It’ll feel like your own little corner of the planet, which is exactly what it should feel like. Some simple ways to increase the coziness levels of your property include investing in your bedroom to make it extra comfortable, hanging personal memories on the wall, and getting the perfect living room setup.
Touches of Joy
Love is a feeling, but it’s also an activity. If you love what you do, see, and feel in your house, then you’ll love being there — it’s as simple as that. So look at adding some touches of joy to your property. There’s no shortage of things you can do. You can take the time to put together an awesome backyard, one that allows you to sink into many hours of relaxation and fun with your loved ones. Or you could create a special room in the house where you engage in your favorite hobbies. It’ll look different for every person. Figure out what would bring some joy into your house, and make it happen.
Handle Issues Immediately
You might broadly like your home, but if it has too many issues and problems, then it won’t be long before you begin to think slightly differently about your home. No one likes to live in a house that has a long list of minor or major issues. The way to prevent this is to handle issues as soon as possible. For example, if you notice a leak, even a small one, call the plumbers immediately; if you don’t, then you’ll only have to deal with a more serious issue further down the line. Also, while there are some DIY tasks you can handle yourself, remember that in many cases, it’s best to leave the work to the experts.
Get To Know Your Neighbors
Finally, remember that you’ll like living in your home much more if you have a sense of community. This sometimes happens on its own, but in most cases, you need to make it happen. So, get to know your neighbors! Having the ability to say hi to people who live near you may sound small, but it makes a big difference.
“In short both studios need to strip everything down and get back to the business of telling elemental stories of good and evil independent of social and political narratives.”
I initially started the Big Words Blog Site to continue my writing journey. I started a second blog entitled, Big Words Authors where I created a page for my book project The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. Here on the Big Words Blog Site, I now publish lots of guest content on numerous topics. The original writings on this site were my own personal stories and thoughts. Some of those writings involved money, business and in some instances movie reviews. Some of those reviews were superhero and science fiction movies. This short offering will involve all three and discuss the seemingly dying business of making superhero movies. It will focus on DC-Warner Bros and Marvel-Disney. It will specifically focus on The Flash Movie which is performing horribly in movie theaters. I wrote a similar piece in tandem on Big Words Authors.
Franchises Falling on Hard Times
Both franchises/studios have fallen on hard times for one reason or the other and fan support is waning. Marvel-Disney created masterpieces with phases one through three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). They unfortunately forgot what made them successful or decided to depart from it altogether. They did this by demasculinizing the MCU and flooding it with stories no one cared about.
DC-Warner Bros repeatedly shot themselves in the foot trying to keep up with Marvel-Disney. The executives at DC-Warner Bros ultimately ruined a golden opportunity to create a string of Justice League movies with DC’s pantheon of heroes and villains. The latest failure from DC-Warner Bros seems to be The Flash Movie for numerous reasons. I created the videos below on my entertainment and media YouTube channel on the movie. The first captures my enthusiasm leading up to opening day. The second is my reaction to The Flash Movie and thoughts on why the fan enthusiasm and support were paltry.
Getting Back To Making Quality Movies
In short both studios need to strip everything down and get back to the business of telling elemental stories of good and evil independent of social and political narratives. Making movies is a business for the movie makers and entertainment for the paying audience. In a free-market capitalist economy, the customers ultimately choose what they will and won’t spend their money on. Paying customers are likewise the x-factor in determining whether a movie is a success or failure. These large movie studios need to thus be mindful of what the customers want.
According to two articles from Cinema Blend, The Flash Movie made $55 million on its opening weekend and then experienced a 73% drop in its second weekend, earning only $15. I discuss the reasons the movie is underperforming in the second of two videos embedded below from my entertainment and media YouTube channel. Please look at them if you have a moment. Again, the first video captures my excitement leading up to the movie and the second video captures my reaction. Thank you for reading this blog post and also please consider joining my newsletter. The details are below the embedded videos.
Let’s Get Nuts: I’m Looking Forward Seeing The Flash Movie
A Tepid Turnout For The Flash Movie: My Reaction With Spoilers
The Big Words LLC Newsletter
For the next phase of my writing journey, I’m starting a monthly newsletter for my writing and video content creation company, the Big Words LLC. In it, I plan to share inspirational words, pieces from this blog and my first blog, and select videos from my four YouTube channels. Finally, I will share updates for my book project The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. Your personal information and privacy will be protected. Click this link and register using the sign-up button at the bottom of the announcement. If there is some issue signing up using the link provided, you can also email me at bwllcnl@gmail.com . Best Regards.
Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. One of the keys running a business today is optimizing your online presence. One thing to consider is White Label SEO. The following sponsored post is entitled, The Advantages of White Label SEO – What You Need to Know.
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If you’re an agency or business looking to add search engine optimization to your list of marketing services, consider working with a white-label SEO partner.
Outsourcing to a reputable SEO firm can give you the competitive edge you need in one of the most important areas of digital marketing. Here are some of the biggest advantages:
More Time to Focus on Your Core Business
When you work with a white-label SEO agency, you outsource your search engine optimization needs to an expert third party. That allows you to save time and focus on your core business while providing your clients with the best possible service.
Reputable white label SEO companies provide the tools and expertise to create winning proposals, engage targeted audiences, and optimize your online presence for optimal results. They’ll also keep up with emerging trends and technology that allow them to adjust their strategies accordingly.
Ensure the white-label SEO partner you choose has a strong track record and is financially sound before signing the dotted line. This will ensure they’ll be around to support you three, five, and ten years from now. They should also be able to provide you with case studies of their past successes so you can see for yourself that they know what they’re doing.
Increased Revenue
White-label SEO is one of the best ways to bring in additional revenue for your business. It lets you offer proven SEO services to clients without investing time and money into staffing a new department and training your team.
However, it’s important to work with a reputable white-label SEO provider that prioritizes communication and transparency. If your agency doesn’t value these qualities, it may use risky strategies that could backfire in the long run.
By working with a trusted white-label SEO agency, you can rest assured that your clients will get the best services possible. They will have a team of professionals to help with everything from keyword research to visibility expansion. Plus, they’ll be able to answer your client’s questions in real-time. This means they’ll be more satisfied and likely to recommend your services to others.
Less Stress
White-label SEO providers will be responsible for building and managing your client campaigns. This means you won’t have to worry about juggling other projects, meeting deadlines, or completing all the necessary tasks to ensure your clients get the best results.
With a white-label SEO provider, you’ll also be able to leverage their expertise and experience to grow your agency by upselling or cross-selling. Clients want their agencies to be one-stop shops, so if you can provide them with additional solutions, you’ll likely see an increase in retention rates.
Finally, when you use a white-label SEO provider, you’ll get access to enterprise-level tools that you may not have the budget for otherwise. This can help you get the results your clients seek and even give you an edge over your competitors. SEO strategies are always changing, and a good white-label SEO agency will keep up with these changes so that you don’t have to.
Higher ROI
White-label SEO allows media companies to add revenue streams without requiring a large upfront investment. This can be especially important for a business looking to maintain competition and profitability in an increasingly digital landscape.
Learning technical knowledge can take valuable time away from other aspects of your agency’s operations. This is especially true if you juggle multiple client deliverables and manage fulfillment.
A white-label provider can give your agency access to expertise you may need more time or resources to develop in-house. The right provider will understand your clients and offer strategies that align with your branding.
When choosing a white-label partner, look for an experienced company that offers a competitive pricing model and is currently on the latest search engine algorithms. This will help ensure a high return on your investment and allow you to grow your agency.
Two focuses of my blog are Athletics/Sports and Health/Wellness. Sports can play an important role in the lives of young people and stay that way into adulthood. The key is getting them properly introduced to it. The following contributed post is entitled, Getting Your Kids Excited About Sport.
It can be hard to get your kids excited about sports because not all kids are interested. You can get their friends over and watch sports games together to make it more accessible to them.
Play Your Sport Together
It’s a great thing when your kids enjoy the same hobbies as you. This makes magical memories and helps you bond with your children in ways that last. Playing sports together as a family is one of the simplest and most effective ways to do this. But remember, not all kids are natural athletes. So gentle sports may be best used here. For example, you can take your kids along to pick their own golf clubs for juniors which will help them form an attachment to the sport.
Get Their Friends Over
Your kids are more likely to join in an activity if their friends do. And that includes taking part in sports and physical games. This is great if you want to get a little more exercise rather than playing video games. Great family sports in the garden include soccer, basketball, and cricket if your yard is big enough. But you can also play some physical games when the weather is fine. Simple games like tag are great. But in summer, water guns and laser tag make it more fun.
Get Kids Excited About Sport by Keeping It Fun
Speaking of fun, any sport your kids play needs to be just that. It isn’t fair to push your children to do something they don’t like. Additionally, you must remember that kids aren’t naturally competitive, so pushing them too hard will ruin the fun for them and make it more likely they won’t develop healthy habits. So ease them into a sport, encourage them to do better, and try to teach your kids about good sportsmanship when they play a specific game or activity.
Watch Sports Together
Family time often revolves around watching TV. Streaming shows or watching cartoons with the kids is common. But you can also bind over watching your favorite sports teams together. When a child associates good memories with a specific sport, they will be more likely to want to take part in it. Or you can enhance the magical memories by taking your kids to their first live sports event, such as baseball, football, or even wrestling. These are memories that last a lifetime.
Play Sports Video Games
You may be concerned about how much your kids spend playing video games. But there is no harm in this as long as you do certain things. You must regulate the content they see and limit their screen time so it doesn’t get in the way of their lives. Then you’re good to go. And you can get them excited about your sports by playing sports video games. There are cute sports like Mario Golf for younger kids. And EA Sports and 2K Games Sports titles for older kids and teens.
Summary
Getting kids excited about sports can be hard. But you can play sports as a family, always keep it as fun as possible, and even take up playing sports video games with your gamer children.
Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If your in the corporate sector, training days and events are very important. You thus want to them to be as successful as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, How to Organize the Best Corporate Training Day.
Corporate training days are something every business needs to organize from time to time. When organized well, corporate training sessions can provide the perfect opportunity to remove everyone from the distractions of the office to focus on the bigger picture for a little while. Training sessions are also the ideal time to encourage your employees to bond to enable more cohesive teamwork when back in the work setting. As you can see, there are many benefits to be gained from these sessions, and they are far more than just a training opportunity.
To enjoy all the benefits of effective corporate training days, you first need to ensure that it is well-organized and allow yourself plenty of time to plan the event. Here are some of the factors to keep in mind when planning the perfect corporate training day:
Choose the Best Venue
While it may be tempting to host your training day in your office building, this can often cause issues. It can be challenging for teams to separate the training event from their usual workday schedule. This means they are more likely to be called back to the office to deal with any issues that arise and may not be fully focused on the training that you provide. Instead, it is helpful to schedule the corporate training days at a location that enables your team to fully focus. Choosing a scenic venue with great facilities that isn’t too far from the city is the choice. For example, selecting a venue close to Nashville equipped for corporate events without being too far to travel from your offices is a perfect choice.
Once you have found the perfect venue, it is crucial to book it as soon as you can. Good venues are always extremely popular, so you must act fast to secure the dates you want.
Set Clear Objectives
After securing the ideal venue for your corporate training day, it is a good idea to start focusing on what you want to achieve from the sessions. Running a training session requires time, effort, and money. Therefore, you need to be sure that investing these will be worth it and deliver a healthy return.
Setting clear objectives on what you want to achieve from the training sessions is essential. Establishing clear objectives will help encourage your team to engage with the sessions, making them worthwhile for everyone concerned.
Organize Your Itinerary and Resources
With a venue booked and clear objectives set, your next task is to focus on the finer details of organizing your training day. Mapping out how the sessions will look, the subjects that you will be covering, and how much time you want to devote to each area will help you to plan thoroughly for the sessions. Building an itinerary for the session and assessing the resources you will need to deliver it are essential tasks. It is advisable to order your resources as soon as possible so that you have everything prepared for a successful training day.
Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and STEM. When manufacturing nutritional products for the general public, it’s critical to have an operation that uses the best practices. The following sponsored post is entitled, The Benefits of Partnering With a GMP-Certified Supplement Manufacturer.
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Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are standards that manufacturers follow to ensure the quality and consistency of dietary supplements. They must meet people, premises, processes, and product requirements.
Finding a GMP certified supplements manufacturer is important to your business because it reduces the risks of product failures. It also makes you more competitive in the market by demonstrating your commitment to safety and quality.
Reduced Risk of Contamination
While it may seem counterintuitive, the dietary supplement industry is highly regulated. GMPs, or current good manufacturing practices, are a key part of that regulation. They focus on five areas, including people, premises, processes, products, and procedures (or paperwork).
If supplement manufacturers follow strict GMP regulations, they avoid being cited by the FDA or losing their certification. This can lead to product recalls, lawsuits, and other serious consequences.
Finding a contract manufacturer that adheres to and exceeds the requirements of GMP is essential for your brand’s success. The right manufacturer will ensure that your product is made to the highest standards while you can focus on launching and marketing your supplements.
Reduced Liability
You can create custom product labels if you partner with a GMP-certified supplement manufacturer. This will help your brand stand out in a crowded market, and it will also increase the credibility of your business.
A GMP-certified supplement manufacturer will have high-quality control and assurance processes, reducing the risk of contamination and safety issues with your supplements. The company will follow strict standards and be audited frequently to maintain its certification.
Increased Product Confidence
A GMP-certified supplement manufacturer adheres to stringent FDA manufacturing standards. This helps reduce product recalls, contamination, ingredient deviation, and errors. The company will also be inspected and undergo audits from third-party organizations to maintain its GMP certification.
Supplements are regulated differently than pharmaceuticals and must follow what is known as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) or Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP). GMP regulations help ensure that your supplement products are made from high-quality ingredients in clean facilities to meet your specific formulation requirements.
We performed a binomial logistic regression analysis and found that adopting GMP is positively associated with revenue size, possession of a license to manufacture pharmaceuticals, and the number of own product categories a CMO can manufacture. Due to multicollinearity, the model with revenue was dropped, and only the two variables with significant associations were included in the final model.
Reduced Time to Market
If your supplement business is partnered with a GMP-certified manufacturer, you will immediately get your products into stores. This can reduce your marketing costs and give you a competitive edge over competitors waiting longer to market their products.
GMP guidelines require manufacturers to design their facilities and handle their dietary supplements in a highly careful, professional manner, minimizing risks that cannot be eliminated by testing the final product. As a result, the risk of contamination and other issues is significantly reduced when partnering with a GMP contract manufacturer.
Typically, GMP certifications are audited 1-2 times per year by third-party organizations to ensure the manufacturer follows strict rules and regulations. These audits include a review of facility cleanliness and accuracy of documentation.
Increased Profits
Many people may think that the dietary supplement industry is unregulated and not held to the same standards as pharmaceutical medications. However, the truth is that hundreds of federal regulations regulate it. One of these regulations is called Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) or CGMP, which are systems for manufacturers that ensure the design, control, monitoring, and manufacture of supplements to maintain their identity, strength, quality, purity, and composition.
Partnering with a GMP-certified supplement manufacturer means you can have peace of mind that the company will follow strict guidelines to make your product. This will help reduce contamination, errors, and other issues that can be costly to your brand. It will also show that your partner takes your brand seriously and will go the extra mile for you.
Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Successfully running a business typically involves some form of sourcing. With the global economy of today, there are new complexities. The following contributed post is entitled, Sourcing Success: Navigating the Global Marketplace for Materials.
Securing materials is integral to modern business and industry success, from finding high-quality items at reasonable costs, streamlining sourcing efforts and increasing operational efficiencies; so this blog post discusses essential strategies and considerations that make material acquisition simpler both personally and organizationally.
Before Beginning: Determine Your Requirements
Establish your material needs exactly and clearly prior to initiating any sourcing project, to ensure efficient procurement by finding suppliers, such as an Industrial metal supply provider. Establish the requirements precisely as this will establish an efficient basis for procurement decisions that lead to efficient purchasing solutions, like an industrial metal supply, that are equipped to fulfill them efficiently.
Conduct Research and Locate Suppliers
In order to locate potential suppliers that can fulfill production’s materials needs, conducting extensive research is of utmost importance. Utilize online platforms, industry directories, trade shows and referrals when searching; once identified evaluate each prospective provider based on reputation, experience, financial stability and track record in providing top quality goods or services; reaching out through professional networks may even prove fruitful!
Communication Is Key: Establish Clear Lines
Once you’ve identified potential suppliers, establish clear communications lines. Discuss specifications, quantities, delivery timelines and any specific goals so you can assess if their offerings satisfy them; being upfront could even reveal cost-cutting measures specifically tailored towards meeting those goals.
Evaluation for Reliability
Before purchasing materials from suppliers, conduct evaluations based on specific criteria to gauge their reliability. Take note if suppliers meet agreed deadlines while accommodating changes efficiently without losing efficiency; request references/testimonials from previous clients before conducting site visits/audits at production facilities so as to assess them prior to any purchases from them.
Determine Your Terms
After selecting your supplier, be sure to sign a written agreement laying out all terms that protect both parties while guaranteeing an enjoyable working relationship! When discussing pricing, delivery schedules, quality control measures, payment terms and penalties related to noncompliance it’s crucial that documentation takes place to guarantee an enjoyable working experience!
Monitor Performance
Once partners, be sure to regularly assess supplier performance by reviewing quality standards, delivery timelines and competitiveness in pricing. Set up an open communication line so any problems or inquiries can quickly be addressed while working toward solutions together. Likewise, review market regularly in search for any additional vendors or materials which might strengthen operations further.
Sustainable Sources
Businesses today need to implement sustainable sourcing as both responsible and profitable practices to remain relevant in today’s eco-conscious globalized business world. Selecting suppliers who prioritize eco-friendly extraction, production, packaging or certification practices such as Forest Stewardship Council certification for wood products or Fair Trade certification for ethical commodities sourced will not only preserve environmental resources while meeting customer demands for eco-conscious purchases (thus increasing customer equity and loyalty within their customer base) but may even build brand equity through lasting business transactions!
Establish Lasting Supplier Relations
Cultivating long-lasting supplier relations is integral to your business’s success, from open communication lines and trust building among suppliers, through joint problem solving efforts between them, to long-term relationship benefits for everyone involved. Make time each week or month to meet with vendors or collaborate on joint projects together in order to keep these valuable partnerships alive over time and facilitate growth over time.
Final Thoughts
Materials acquisition is integral to business or industrial success; by taking these steps you can make your sourcing efforts simpler by finding reliable suppliers offering top quality materials at cost-efficient rates – leading to growth and profit for your organization.
“Going to college is a highly personal decision no one can make for you. While your teachers and parents might want you to find a good school, it’s not necessary for success. Instead, consider the type of career you want and whether pursuing higher education is worth it.”
A key focus of my blog is General Education. College is often thought to be the magic bullet for success for everyone, but is this the case for everyone in every arena? The following guest post looks this further and is entitled, Is College Necessary for Everybody?
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When kids are in school, their parents and teachers tell them to work hard to get into college and get a good job. As a result, many people attend college after high school, while others go to college later in life to increase their earning potential. But is college necessary for everyone? You might not want to attend college if you don’t enjoy school. Meanwhile, you might not be able to afford college even if you love school. Luckily, you don’t have to go to college to be successful, but it can help. Whether you have a bachelor’s degree or GED, anyone can succeed and find a career they love.
Does College Predict Success?
Many people thank their college education for their ability to get a high-paying job that allows them to pay for basic living expenses. In addition, some degrees have a high return on investment. For example, nurses with master’s degrees typically earn more than those with associate’s degrees, making it well worth investing in a lengthier college program. However, many jobs don’t pay enough to make a college degree worth the expense, and there are several top-earning career fields you can enter without a degree.
Before you can determine whether college is crucial to your future career success, you should consider the type of career you want. For example, if you love pets and want to be a vet, you’ll need a degree. Meanwhile, if you prefer building things with your hands, you don’t need a woodworking degree to become a successful carpenter who owns their own business.
In general, going to college provides experiences to help you make connections you can use to further your career. However, a specialized degree isn’t necessary for most positions. For example, anyone can become a digital marketer with the right skill set, especially if they’re lucky enough to find job opportunities that offer training.
The Case Against College Degrees
A college degree is required for some careers, but not all. Therefore, the most important step is determining which type of career you want and the requirements for entering the job market. First, you should look at the general career path to determine if a degree might be required down the line. For example, you may be able to find an entry-level job where a degree isn’t necessary, but if you want to become a manager, you might need one.
Of course, anyone can be successful with or without a college degree. Therefore, you must determine the skills necessary for your chosen career path and find ways to excel in them.
The Case For College Degrees
While some people can become successful without a degree, attending college can improve your chances of success. College graduates typically earn more than those with a high school diploma, and education is increasingly important to employers. Knowing you graduated college can show employers that you’re goal-oriented even if you don’t have a relevant degree. Even if the type of field you studied doesn’t matter to an employer, they may still look for candidates with bachelor’s degrees.
In addition to increased earning potential, many people believe college is essential for the experience alone. For most people, college is the best time of their lives because they’re finally free to make their own decisions independently. Furthermore, many people learn how to become adults, meet new friends, harness a network for professional opportunities, and gain valuable work experience while studying at a university. In addition to the college experience itself, you can get more information about your chosen field, including certificates and internship opportunities you can’t get anywhere else.
If you should go to college depends on several factors, including the industry you’re entering and your definition of success.
Industry
Some industries require specialized degrees, while others don’t. For example, to become a psychologist, you’ll need a degree in psychology. Meanwhile, other careers prioritize relevant skills, such as technology and business. Meanwhile, those looking to enter creative fields may not need a degree; the hiring managers will look for relevant experience and a good portfolio.
Your Definition of Success
How you define success will determine whether college is necessary for you. For example, maybe you’re someone who defines success based on your happiness at work. Individuals doing what they love may earn less, but their overall happiness makes their jobs easier and more enjoyable. Meanwhile, you might define success as starting your own business without a degree or getting a specialized nursing degree to work with a particular type of patient. Whatever the case, you must know what success looks and feels like for you to determine whether you need a degree.
Other Options
College isn’t necessary for everyone, and there are other educational opportunities to help you advance your career.
Trade Schools
Trade schools can help you gain valuable experience in a particular field, such as automotive, plumbing, electrical, or aviation. You can also find medical trade schools offering programs for nursing, billing, and allied health jobs. Meanwhile, other options include culinary schools, tech schools, and beauty schools, depending on your interests.
Certifications
If you’ve already been in the workforce, you might not have the time to return to college. Certifications can be used in place of college degrees, especially if you already have relevant experience in a particular field. For example, you can get certifications in project management, digital marketing, website development and design, and teaching.
Experience
Sometimes real-life experience is more important to employers than a fancy degree. For example, if you can find a good job, you might be able to work your way up in a company and learn the skills you need to get a management position.
Should You Go To College?
Going to college is a highly personal decision no one can make for you. While your teachers and parents might want you to find a good school, it’s not necessary for success. Instead, consider the type of career you want and whether pursuing higher education is worth it.
Megan Isola
Megan Isola holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and a minor in Business Marketing from Cal State University Chico. She enjoys going to concerts, trying new restaurants, and hanging out with friends.
A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. There are several aspects to our personal health. Our physical health is not the only one but it is critical. The following contributed post is entitled, How to Take Better Care of Your Health.
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Good health is one of those things that go unappreciated until you lose it. When you’re young, it’s easier to maintain your health, but it still takes effort. It’s true that, no matter how hard you try, you may develop a health condition or get injured. But in this case, it’s even more important to maintain good general health so that you can recover and manage your condition better.
If you’re fit and healthy, you will look and feel better. As you get older, you will find that you’re less likely to develop chronic, age-related health conditions. You will retain your strength for longer and even look younger. With this in mind, how can you take care of your health now?
Our bodies were designed to move. Unfortunately, modern life often encourages a sedentary lifestyle. We drive rather than walk, and we might spend hours sitting at a desk for our day jobs. We are busy and tired, which can make it hard to fit in a fitness routine.
However, it’s vital that we keep fit and active. Even thirty minutes of activity a day is better than nothing. You might also find exercise is good for your mind and enjoyable. Set goals, work your exercise regime around your schedule, and reap the benefits.
Eat Healthily
Your body needs food and water to function properly and thrive. This is also your primary way to take in nutrients, which help your body to restore and repair itself. Too much of certain foods, such as takeout and junk food that is high in fat, salt, and sugar, can have a negative impact on your health.
The trick is to eat a balanced, healthy diet that has all the nutrients you need. You should also eat an appropriate amount of calories according to your needs and activity level.
Medical Help
If you do have a health condition or you’ve injured yourself, then seek medical help right away. A doctor can diagnose your condition and come up with a treatment. Ideally, see a specialist to deal with your problems. For example, a foot doctor will be far better at diagnosing and treating foot and ankle injuries than a psychiatrist.
On that note, your body and mind are equally important. If your mental health is suffering, then you can’t maintain good physical health. If you are struggling, then see a doctor and talk to a trusted friend or family member.
Sleep Well
When you sleep, your body and brain repair themselves from the day’s activities. Most people can go without sleep for a night and, while they’ll be tired the next day, they should be okay. But if you have chronic sleep problems, then the fatigue can very quickly add up.
Practice good sleep habits, such as going to bed at a regular time each day. If you need to, drink herbal tea and encourage your body and mind to relax before you go to sleep. In some cases, you may need to see a doctor for medication or specialized advice.
