This article brings me back many years to when I was in high school. I graduated high school in 1999 and went directly into the military. I am still in the Marines Corps, and now my son is in high school.
The roles of these different education opportunities have changed considerably. Before, a college education was the only way to upgrade from a lower-middle-class or poor situation to an upper-middle-class or rich one.
Now, I understand that you can take any route and arrive at the same place. You must appreciate passive income, entrepreneurship, and leverage to get the most out of life.
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Before I get into the undercurrent of living a remarkable life, let’s look at the pros of these various educational situations.
Going to trade school. The trades offer more value than ever before. Today’s environment pushes for too many computer professionals, bankers, and lawyers.
We need more truck drivers, plumbers, real estate agents, and electricians than ever. These professionals earn as much as white-collar jobs, plus they have the chance to start their own businesses.
If you are interested in a trade, read books to see what it takes. I have read books on being a real estate agent (“Sold” “Skill”), general contractor (“Starting Your Career as a Contractor”), and designer (“The Non-Designer Design Book”).
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The money is good in the trades, but you must become above-average workers. There is no room in the trades for subpar work.
Going to college. College can provide a stepping stone to a new life if you stay out of debt. First, ensure you earn a degree that holds value in the real world.
College is not a place to find yourself if you are broke. If your parents are paying for your college, then have fun. However, if you are using student loans, you best work hard and graduate on time.
Every high school student should read “Debt-Free Degree” and “Destroy Your Student Loan Debt” before taking on student loans.
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One more critical piece of information: a college degree still makes you an entry-level worker. You will start at a higher position or pay grade, but you still add limited value to the company. Go into your first job with humility and a strong work ethic, and you’ll do fine.
Going into the military. The military is a mix of both trades and college. The military has a lot to offer; however, most people cannot give up the illusion of freedom.
That’s right; you aren’t independent as a civilian. Do you see 18-22-year-olds living in their own apartments, driving nice cars, and traveling overseas?
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In the military, that is the norm. You can experience life with a protector (US Government) on your side. In the military, you’ll never miss a rent payment, a meal, or an electricity bill.
The military offers free gyms, college (inside and out), and VA Loans for a house downpayment. There is too much to talk about here. I wrote about the intangibles in my Military Success 101 series.
- Military Success 101: Physical Fitness
- Military Success 102: Mental Fitness
- Military Success 103: Educational Fitness
- Military Success 104: Family Fitness
- Military Success 105: Financial Fitness
Which is the best of the three? Your parents and guidance counselors will not tell you that it doesn’t matter what you choose. They all end up in the same place—you paying bills to survive.
No matter how much money you make, you must understand how money works. A plumber can become more successful than a doctor.
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You can become an auto mechanic making $50,000/year and create a better living situation than a banker making $400,000/year.
Mindset is the key. Once you understand how money works, you can choose the profession you want and love your career. You’ll live your dream life and find people that motivate you daily.
Does this sound too good to be true? It all comes down to your mindset. How does money work?
Money is an exchange of value. You go to trade, college, or military jobs to earn a paycheck. This paycheck allows you to pay your bills and save. This lifestyle is where 90% of people stop their education.
Go deeper into money. However, most people stay in the working class because they don’t know one simple rule—make money while you sleep.
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That’s right; passive income is the key to doing whatever you want. Passive income transfers with you from career to career and never leaves you. It doesn’t stop coming to your account and continues growing.
You can start building passive income at age 16 or even younger. The goal of life is to create enough passive income, so you don’t have to work at all.
This scenario is when you create a proper work-life balance. You can find any job you want and be happy knowing you don’t have to be there. It’s true financial freedom and stress relief.
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There are many ways to build passive income, and it’s my passion to discuss them. Here are some resources to help you.
- Financial Mindset: Become CEO of Yourself 2 (Free 196-Page PDF)
- Retirement Planning: Your Retirement Planning Guide 2 (Free 255-Page PDF)
- Investing: How We Plan to Retire on Dividends 2 (165-Page Free PDF)
- Cryptocurrencies: Counting on Crypto 2 (Free 159-Page PDF)
- Real Estate: Financial Independence through Real Estate 2 (Free 123-Page PDF)
- Business: Retire Rich, Retire Comfortable with a Business 2 (Free 185-Page PDF)
Conclusion. I went into the military 23 years ago without “the information.” I knew nothing about passive income and how rich people live.
My wife and I now have “the information” and have created financial freedom. We choose the outcome of our lives.
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I don’t have a college degree or a special license. The military has been good to my family; I have zero complaints.
However, the truth is that my rental rooms, rental properties, dividends, and royalties have set me free. These items give me passive income and allow me to keep growing my portfolio of residual revenue.
The key to life is to get the power of compounding working as early as possible. You can see this in your dividend portfolio, online business, and content creation endeavors.
Start young, and you can do anything you want in life. Read as many books as possible, and you will never find yourself in a dead-end position. Good Luck!
- PDF of the Month: Retire Rich with a Business 4 (Free 149-Page PDF)
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- Financial Mindset: Become CEO of Yourself 2 (Free 196-Page PDF)
- Retirement Planning: Your Retirement Planning Guide 2 (Free 255-Page PDF)
- Investing: How We Plan to Retire on Dividends 2 (165-Page Free PDF)
- Cryptocurrencies: Counting on Crypto 2 (Free 159-Page PDF)
- Real Estate: Financial Independence through Real Estate 2 (Free 123-Page PDF)
- Business: Retire Rich, Retire Comfortable with a Business 2 (Free 185-Page PDF)
- Latest DGWR: Don’t Gamble with Retirement 8 (Free 445-Page PDF)
- Everything!: The Biggest Book on Passive Income Ever 2! (book)(Web Edition)(Art Edition)
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- Book Reviews: 505 Takeaways from 101 Books (pdf)
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Disclosure: I am not a financial advisor or money manager, and any knowledge is given as guidance and not direct actionable investment advice. I am an Amazon Affiliate. Please research any investment vehicles that are being considered. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. All Right Reserved Military Family Investing
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