DISQUS

I think MBA's were 'devalued' about 10 years ago when 'everybody' started to get their MBA's ... good ol' supply and demand in action (MBA Economics 101).

The next wave will be the crash in general business & finance degrees, for the same reason.

The BEST school is still the 'school of hard knocks' ... save the time that you would have put into any post-grad degree that isn't directly tied to specific employment (e.g. medical specialist) and put that effort into learning business by starting a (part-time) business.

Thanks for the link Steve.

Whether you ultimately choose to put your money in your 401k or not is personal choice. Just don't do it because you get something for 'free' (employer match; tax benefit; etc.) ... do it because - when YOU run the numbers and compare the alternatives - those 'extras' tip the balance of long-term return in favor of the 401k (will they? Maybe ... maybe not!).

Dana ... also, it's the whole "give them a fish" or "hand them a rod and teach them to fish" thing. There was a documentary where a homeless person was handed a briefcase with $100k in it.

Of course, he spent it all within weeks ... back to homeless. Why?

I don't know, but a combination of whatever mind-set made him homeless in the first place, together with a lack of guidance as to what to do with his 'windfall'.

The same thing has happened even with 'rich' people who won a huge payout in the lottery and suddenly became MUCH richer ... it's the 'suddenly' but that usually does them in ...

AJC.

@ Ron - we share the same income! That is, anywhere from $100k to $999k ... I guess that covers quite a slice of middle- to upper-America ;)

Steve, I had to make similar choices years ago ... as it happens, I lucked out. But, part of that 'luck' stemmed from first realizing that if my 'product' is my time (as in 40 hours a week for salary, or 40 hours a week billable time) then my supply - hence income - is limited:

http://7million7years.com/2008/04/24/what-is-th...

Of course, you still need to bring some bucks in the door ... multiple mouths to feed, and all that :) AJC.

As usual, you beat me to a story: Paul Potts ... I also posted his first audition for Britain's Got Talent a few weeks ago.

Just the look on Simon Cowell's face, and (you can't see it very well in the little YouTude video) the tears running down the female judges face, tells it all: ANYBODY can achieve 'greatness' (whatever that means).

Just got back from NY ... still an amazing place ... lived there for a short while about 20 years ago.

You mean I can take OFF my uber-cool X-men sunnies???

... but, I still think that the internet is the best way for Inter-Noob's to hang out their shingle - and, a blog is a great way to get feedback and seed traffic for it (but, not the best way to actually try and MAKE it).

So, if I had my time over again - actually, I do have 'my time over' ;) - I would do it via the Internet (and, am ... two in the works + blog + new 7m7y.com 'secret project') ...

Thanks for the mention, Steve. My wife seems to think that 'retirement' = clean out garage, etc., etc., etc.

I am DEFINITELY getting an office away from home ... even if it's just to blog, look after my investments, and play a little on-line poker - appearances (especially, if it's the 'appearance' of being busy) counts!

Earnings/schmearnings ... as long as you're making money :) I want to think of using your 'weatherstreaming' concept to help evaluate whether an Opportunity is Worth Pursuing ... I'll let you know if I come up with anything, but you just might have something here!

Thanks BripBlap ... I'm glad to be here (via Guest Post); I'd also like to welcome your readers to check out my new Grand Experiment at 7m7y.com :)

I'm not an expert, but I believe that urine is germ-free, so (aside from the smell ... where are the 'green inventors' when we need them?) there's no real reason to flush (or even wash your hands). Just for the record, though: I flush AND wash ... thoroughly!

BTW: There is a useful business lesson on the subject of toilets:

There was a very successful bakery in a country town ... tourist buses make special trips to this bakery (now they have expanded to multiple areas). One of the reasons is that they survey their customers and deliver what they want.

And, when they surveyed their female customers, what did they want from a quaint little bakery in the countryside?

More/better toilets!

That was the #1 request ... so they renovated to provide LOTS of pristine-clean female toilets and the rest is ... history. AJC.

You're just peeved because you can't invest in BRK-A or -B because they don't pay dividends :) Warren takes the (perhaps rather) presumptive view the he can invest the dividends better than we can. AJC.

Makes me wonder how much we could cut down our spending if we all carried around a 'Future Value Calculator'? :)