Mike Rowe - Full Speech at Opening Ceremony of SkillsUSA's 2013 national conference

[@williamdobbins3131]

Trade school, then Navy (5.5 years) and an industrial mechanic, now electrician (automation controls) for the last 10. Never had debt, always have companies wanting me, and making 6 figures. And one more thing... I love what I do. I get immediate results, and job satisfaction, and a great job.

[@ralphmorales3692]

Hi, Im gonna graduate soon from my electrical engineering (Controls Engineer) and I have the knowledge in PLC basic programing and some experience with HMI tools. But when I hear the people who turn me down for a full time job when I graduate, knowing full well automation hiring is at its peak right now, I cant help but wonder what Im missing. Bottom line, what do you do and what did you have to learn to do it, every single thing you know about controls, your job and what skills and knowledge of programs do you have at your disposition to be what you are. I wanna make it in your world, if you could, please tell me everything I need to be in automation.

[@bryanpierce3517]

Ever heard Mike sing? He's incredible. Man's man candidly.

[@fooman2108]

TY for your service EM..2? I was a boatswains mate

[@73Kaarn]

@@ralphmorales3692 listen to Mike Rowe again. Companies want tradesmen not grad students. William clearly stated he's worked as an apprentice then trade in the navy. That's why he gets employed

[@viscache1]

While I got a MS in Physics and worked in radiation safety for a career. But I never spent a dollar I didn’t have, not for a car, clothing, house or vacation. The greatest success in my life from the Army to the Western European Nuclear Medicine Inspection work was that from 13 years old I have worked at least full time. I have said ‘yes’ anytime anyone asked me, “can you do……?” Then I went to the library, read for days solid, asked people who did it for a living, bought the right tools and showed up for work doing exactly what they told me to do. I have never been without a job. There is no reason anyone should ever be without a job. I’m an old farmer now. Sheep, rabbit, bees, chickens and grain crops…just me and my wife. Working hard is a habit that never lets loose of you and you always sleep like a baby and live well.

[@catherinelindsay8368]

When my daddy told me “work smart not hard”, he meant for me to use my own personal set of skills to make a job easier. I was always smaller than my siblings, growing up on the farm, but by using leverage, tools, and common sense, the small parts of big jobs that I did we’re just as important as the big parts of jobs.

[@PotterDavis-x4w]

You do know this is about Mike...not you

[@dhog41]

Brains, beauty, a brilliant sense of humor....and he sticks up for all the "normal", hard-working, every-day people, getting right in there to do the work right along with them. What a man....

[@Clayton.Bigsby.360]

Adds Z...z . Z x AS x S b 4G e23

[@jeromeykennedy2896]

Hello, how are you?

[@JgGooden]

This was fantastic to watch in person, one of the biggest highlights of the entire conference for me.

[@marnaehrech1223]

My son participated in the national Skills USA competition in Louisville in 2017, after winning the gold for our state in Mechanical Engineering. He had a wonderful experience, it changed his life! Thank you, Skills USA!

[@lelamaciolek1166]

Congratulations. Any advice?

[@vitalitybypaul6966]

This is the greatest country in the world, because of you guys. It was 27 years between getting my journeyman plumbing license and my master. I wasn’t in the field the whole time but man am I glad I hung on to my license

[@toddking5766]

I love it. I live it everyday, a garbage collector after 8 years in the Navy and deal with the 2nd guy in the airport everyday. I told one such person one day, the world would look a lot different without people like me working can you say the same?

[@adeptus-1118]

Mike Rowe for president

[@brainchasm]

I'm just seeing this for the first time, though I've been a disciple of Mike's for quite a while now... When I was in HS, SkillsUSA was called VICA, and I ended up participating. It sounds silly now, but we ended up going to state to compete, and me, the lackadaisical shiftless kid, took home a gold medal. VICA, and now SkillsUSA, are the thin red line that is keeping us connected to our history of hard work, and the success we enjoy from the hard work of our forebears. Let's hope they're always around.

[@PotterDavis-x4w]

How about praise the guy this video is about not yourself

[@alchristopher2000]

NYS has BOCES. My late husband (this is his account)became a Master Mechanic with his start at BOCES. My son is a Farmer & my daughter has a Masters in Equine Science. I went back to college in my 30s & became an RN. We need ppl in ALL types of jobs to make the world work.

[@totalharam7672]

Your mother is very very proud of your beautiful and easy smile,Mike. So are WE !!!!

[@sebern2]

Seriously late comment, but thank you for your message. At 52, I was a child of that era. Dad, born in 1926, was the first person to get a 4 year degree. That was the expectation, and it has served me well as a nurse. I now have a 14 year old that is being pushed in the bachelor direction. I know that is not the path for her, Perhaps one day, but not straight out of high school. She is into the arts. Thank you for your message and giving families the permission and comfort to allow the kids to find their own path.

[@PotterDavis-x4w]

The medical field is garbage so if I were you I wouldn't tell anyone

[@Frecklefaceism]

Im going to nationals this year! I honestly can't wait for this, I am so excited and ready to compete! Go Maryland Skills USA!!!

[@ufa_wired1039]

what competition are you going for?

[@dcallan812]

I took a 4 year apprentice right out of school I was PAID a working wage every week, so no debt for me After it I always had a job. Some of them really hard work, but they put food on the table and a roof over my head.

[@daninthedirt9449]

I won the district championship for Skills USA back in 2007 or 2008 at CFCC in Florida for the Adults in welding school I still have the medal 🏅 I scored the highest in the written exam out of all the schools students.

[@PotterDavis-x4w]

This is about Mike...not you

[@daninthedirt9449]

@@PotterDavis-x4w who cares what you think 🙄

[@SharonFarrington-ds7zm]

I was lucky enough to be there as one of the Advisors of the year from Massachusetts, I taught for over 30 years and not once did I ever hear a student say ," it was a poor choice; regardless of whether they went straight to work wor onto a 2-4 year school - they were further ahead then anyone else. It's too bad all these years later parents still have mind sets to encourage college as the " end game" for work.

[@MadMan-xx8sf]

As a 30+year Iorn Worker/welder.... Mike Rowe is my hero.

[@paulredinger5830]

I was born in Cumberland Maryland! I miss the mountains, cliffs, and the beautiful cold creeks!

[@F22xSTEALTHx]

I was there in person when he gave this and it was amazing!!!!!

[@melvinandradejr.1945]

so was I

[@Odin31b]

Lies

[@JamesValentineBaja1000]

How was it.....?

[@Marcus-pn1yn]

@@Odin31bkid shut up

[@stevesmith8693]

I'm 52. And I can say the only time u worked indoors was because it was raining. I've done every trade in the building industry except electric. Me and that stuff do not get along! 17 was my first job. Labor for a framing crew. Carried lumber all day till my shoulders bled. That job gave me the mind set I would need for the rest of my life. Made me strong. Thick skined. Determined. And always the satisfaction of a job finished. I can drive by just about any area where I live and I'll point out what I did to what house or building and smile. I would change a thing. Oh and BTW I have a 6th grade education. There's educated and then there's intelligence. I preferred the latter

[@wyattfamily8997]

You earned your "education" and it was worth more than whatever a school could show you.

[@stevesmith8693]

@Wyatt Family yes Ina way your right. I did attempt to finish my schooling education several times in my life. But always just got bored and frustrated with what was being taught because most of it was pointless and useless in real life. So I never put any value in that piece of paper everyone else did. So there is education which teaches you what to think and then there is intelligence which is the ability to be able to think. And what I've found is most educated people don't have the ability to think out side the box or look at a problem in any other way then the way the book told them to look at it. I prefer to look at every angle and play devils advocate and see things from it's perspective and solve problems by thinking everything through. That to me is challenging and education because you learn something new almost every time

[@TruthRevoltNews]

Love me some Mike Rowe, I have been doing a lot of research on him over the past couple of days for an upcoming video I am doing and he is as wise and polite as he is here in all of them! :)

[@patriciagay3281]

Please bring Mike back. What a great example he is for anyone. I love his sense of humor AND his common sense. He has many God-given talents which he uses wisely! My daughter got one of his hats for me when he visited Caterpillar in Peoria. He is doing the best thing ever. How I pray people will listen and begin to encourage young people (mainly) to get out there and prove what Mike and all with him are saying is true. The figures say to me we would have no unemployment, no "idle hands", and a lot happier, a lot more people with self-respect, and respectful towards others. I grew up in a family of skilled workers and wouldn't trade it for anything. Our sons and grandchildren are skilled workers doing their best, and we are so proud of them. Our daughter who works at Caterpillar very skillfully and her husband and son have a lawn care business also doing fine! Keep going, Mike.

[@alexandraw1121]

There's the same prob in Canada, where I live, and it's truely pathetic.. THANK YOU for helping to bring this to the forfront!

[@jeromeykennedy2896]

Hello, how are you?

[@cryingbroken8824]

Me too! And this is all stupendous advice! I went to universitéy, and the ONE course that got me jobs afterwards was my basic computer skills class. That's it. Seriously. That's all. Nothing else really served me anywhere. 9 years of post graduation education, and *1* course helps me make money today! By the same token having attended University, my employers like that I *know*how to learn. The y adore the fact that if I'm sent for some extra training(say on a new program for our department) that I'll know how to take the appropriate notes and take that course, then be able to*teach* the other 4 people who'll be using it, the very same things that I was taught, that my university level notes will also be right beside the manuals thst csme *with the program* itself.🤗🤗🥰😎 some things pay off in unexpected ways...

[@iloveTRUMP]

The predicament we’re in now stems from that poster!!! Thank you Mike!!! And thanks for the jobs you do!!!

[@jeromeykennedy2896]

Hello dear, how are you doing today?

[@simpleman283]

I love your poster Mike. I went to trade school in 1984. I went to work as a helper & became a pro at my trade because of hard work & desire. Anyone can do it.

[@dustydon6419]

To think a guy from Baltimore could be the definition of HUMBLENESS and SELFLESSNESS and has pretty much dedicating his life to giving back to others. Mike Rowe demonstrates how a REAL American citizen should conduct themselves. As an idiot from South Eastern Baltimore County you do our nation proud. Imagine if we all lived our life this way? Thanks Mike!

[@garrykasten8543]

MIKE..YOUR AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN.. I HOPE YOUR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA...JUST PLEASE DON'T GET HURT AND SHOW UP IN MY EMERGENCY ROOM...BE CAREFUL..

[@andymarshall7165]

One of my proudest days (crazy as it sounds) is when my youngest son turned down a grant to college and went out and found a job. He now is married just had his first child and owns his own home.

[@Muhammadfaisal-iv9hw]

9o

[@Muhammadfaisal-iv9hw]

Oo9oœœœ

[@johnbrereton6823]

I was there to watch my son in this competition. His closing ceremony speech was awesome! I wish I would have recorded it. Can't wait for his new show to start.

[@MrDemon817]

Love what skills USA does. I placed 2nd in my state for firefighting

[@tylergroves9048]

I myself am a SkillsUSA Maryland competitor this year, I'm in Network Systems Applications as a Software Engineer. This year it's hosted in Louisville, Kentucky and I'm really hoping to see you all there. I'm going as the only level 1 competitor and only the 2nd ever level 1 from my VoTech program at Center of Applied Technology- South thought by the Amazing Mrs.Dugans

[@samsmullen991]

When I was in the high school, I was in VICA and did radio and TV repairs. I worked on that trade to pay for my Civil Engineering degree which led me to becoming a structural engineer. If you trained in Vocational trade, you can always find a job.

[@bernie9728]

Mike, I changed your poster to "Working Hard Is Smart". Back in 1972 I was working hard to pay for my "getting smart" Turns out it didn't take me long to figure out that working hard at a job was making me money and working hard at school was costing me money. So I quit school and went to work. Started out driving a truck. Later I became a mechanic at a forklift dealer. Later I started my own equipment business. At that point I was working harder than I ever had and I was making less money. Sold the business and became an electrician. My last job was as an Operations Manager for a large scaffolding company. In 2016 I retired at 62 debt free. My wife and I decided to purchase a Travel Trailer. We also needed to upgrade the pickup truck so we purchase both a new truck and a new trailer and we paid cash for both. We both worked hard our whole life. Neither one of us went to college. I am proud to say that both of our children graduated from college and both are working successful lives in their chose fields. I appreciate what you are doing. I appreciate that you are letting young folks today that there is more than one path to a successful life. Keep up the good work.

[@ve6pjb]

You the man Mike!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

[@jameswoodsjr1576]

People like Mike Rowe should be running this country

[@clayferguson340]

I took welding and heavy duty diesel mechanic. No college just working my ass off I’ve made 6 figures welding pipelines I’ve also made great money working on diesels And still do today , OHIO CAT ,Detroit diesel And Cummins are awesome company’s and even better to be certified by To anyone struggling get ahold of me

[@garrykasten8543]

REAL GREAT HEART...AND ON POINT WITH HONESTY...GREATEST VIDEO OF ALL TIME FOR YOUNG AMERICA..LISTEN TO HIM...TO GOOD TO BE TRUE..BUT HE SAY'S FROM THE HEART, WITH HONESTY, ETHICS , AND MORALS ....GO.. MIKIE ..GO....

[@preshisify]

🤗☕

[@MadMan-xx8sf]

Work smart AND hard

[@stethemcenter5733]

I was there that year and was delighted how a fellow Marylander represented our state with dignity.

[@ffuller83]

I ❤ that concept of work smart & hard!!!!! G-O G-O GO SKILLS 🇺🇸 USA

[@ivanyoungs504]

my step mothers brother was an engineer working on the mac bridge he told me all the people and how it was made possible to build he worked on to build the highways thru michigan and bridges carl petry his dad walter was a carpenter builder and his mom maude was educated schooling at ferris college when it first started when ferris him self worked to educate kids

[@leonarddroneview6947]

Hard work definitely pays off I started in the automotive field at the very bottom just with high school diploma now I am the lead installer in our company I have a company vehicle company credit card and I get to take trips with the company every year to Las Vegas. In everything you do in life give it your best But he is right we struggle to find help and our company people just do not have the initiative to work they expect a handout. I have no debt always avoid debt Be patient and say regularly and you will be successful

[@frankshattuck1975]

I am 76 yrs. old. I went 12 years to school and lacked 1 credit graduating. I grew up in the oilfields but always wanted to be a cowboy. I gave that up at 17 years old when I saw the difference of ranch & oilfield paydays. I started working as a roughneck on a drilling rig having to lie about my age. I retired at age 70 making a 6 figure income for the last 20 years. I really enjoyed every minute of it and have no regrets. My work caused me to work in 20 different countries and learn 3 langusges fluently while working and making 6 trips around the world. my daughter asked me dad what should I be when I grow up. I tell her be what you like but be the best at it. I don't care if you are a dish washer . Just try to be the best dish washer in the world and you will never be without a job.

[@garrykasten8543]

MY FAVORITE VIDEO OF ALL TIME...MIKE RUN FOR OFFICE...PLEASE...YOUR HONESTY WILL BACK YOU...DO IT KID DO IT..PLEASE..

[@JesseH]

Wow. Just wow !!! We are the fabric of what America is all about 😎👍🇺🇸

[@scottmitchell8549]

So well done!

[@chuckbowen5024]

My first paying job was packing wool sacks on a sheep ranch during shearing season. I have built houses, machine sheds, grain bins, grain handling equipment, dumpsters, airseeders for John Deere, dug dinosaurs, planted crops, worked cattle, fixed army trucks and construction equipment. Loaded ships in Central America, drove sugar beet truck, hauled grain,, farmed the land and carried an M-16 for Uncle Sam. My kids didn't have the best of everything but they had the best I could give them. No regrets.

[@tonyhan9950]

Being an self-taught CIO of the company, all my Good IT manager are indeed not study IT or coding in their school life, but it is their own interest driven them to their success and satisfaction of their job, including me, every kids can be successful with any tools of trade, if he/she becomes a master of that tool of trade.

[@fdevilling]

Thanks for helping America "Get it"!!

[@billswingle2672]

Incredible speaker!

[@thomaswstorm]

I have said the same thing in hoghschool. I saw family go to collage, graduate and have no job. Me. tec school. building maintenance. went back auto mechanics. today, i do tv repair, computer repair, building repair, auto repair, auto body, I have 1 2nd place national show winner. I have 2 local 2nd and 3rd place show winners.. I had a contract painting fire truck ladders in my 1st body shop. My work is national in 4 years. I am studying law and stock trading right now. you hit it right Mike.

[@joeydf28]

Mike Rowe 2016

[@shannonconley5316]

I believe in you Mike.

[@shannonconley5316]

My cup runith over.

[@leannewatts9328]

I graduated HS in 1977 and I remember seeing that "Work smart not hard" seemingly everywhere! I never had the money for college. I had to train myself in everything I did.

[@deansapp4635]

Same here, 1978 grad here. Learned to be a auto mechanic, amateur racecar driver and racecar driving instructor. I wanted nothing to do with college

[@bobleclair5665]

Mike,you might want to check out the Fort Jefferson trade and marine biology school,Dry Tortuga,Florida

[@goldwinger5434]

I'm a retired programmer. If I had it all to do over again, I'd have become an electrician. I'd have still gone to college and gotten my degree in math but I would avoided programming which consisted of uncountable sixteen hour days without compensation, all in the name of "the project." As for vocational education, I'd be happy if they just do basic wood and metal shop in middle school so young people would know how to cut a board and drive a screw.

[@EndlessFilmLimited]

I was able to set in on this conference, and two more prior to it... Out of the three this was the most influential of my life. I am sad that I will not be returning for a few years... But SkillsUSA is part of the future...

[@simpleman283]

I have something to say. I have turned out better than most. Soon after dropping out of highschool, I went to trade school for carpentry. For many years I felt like a complete failure, till I realised that with my hard earned skill, I built my own small home. I don't feel like a failure anymore.

[@preshisify]

always a pleasure to listen to, I thought initially 'work smarter, not harder' was akin to measure twice, cut once =)

[@hydrolito]

High Schools also had people in agriculture and Home building classes.

[@patmason7276]

A good job is what ever your passion is .Do the best with what you have and be passionate about it. I went to technical training got my degree worked for Ford for 26 years outside shop for 5 more . Busted my ass proved everyone wrong and made a name for myself and gave a dang about my customers . Very hard to find now days people who care can go a long way plus word of mouth advertising is the cheapest and greatest way to get your name out. Don't listen to professor's just want to push politics and that doesn't pay the bills.

[@J.C...]

They tried to get me to go to SkillsUSA because I was leagues ahead of everyone in class but I was too old. I was also ahead of everyone because of that age gap. In fact, I was only in class because I couldn't get hired as an automotive technician without some sort of proof I had professional training. I had the knowledge and skills from the last 16 years of driving and fixing cars and reading about cars daily. I just needed the professional training and proof of that training.

[@keeperofoddknowledgesociet3264]

In addition, there are many “useless” degrees being given out. Degrees like women/aa/etc studies. My daughter has a Psyc degree with a crim minor, she makes 16/hour at a day care. Fortunately for her most of her student loans have been paid off (by me) but she still have guaranteed loans that she owes. What if she had done a technical degree Ike IT or business, she would me making mid fifties or more now. She is only 27 so she has time to earn more but… in 1992 when I was only a year older than her I was making mid 30s with an associate degree and NO student loan debt.

[@josephsandoval2701]

What a good man

[@darleneoliver7815]

awsome video great job for telling it really is

[@stevenrucker5080]

Mike is a good man

[@garrykasten8543]

PROFOUNDLY DISCONNECTED...BULL SHIT ..THIS YOUNG MAN IS SO REAL AND CONNECTED TO THE REAL WORLD...WHAT A KID ..AT 70 YRS. OLD.. I ONLY WISH..MORE YOUNG PEOPLE HAD HIS HONESTY..

[@markknister6272]

Doubt you’ll see this...I learned to pick cotton by hard, picked up onios behind a sorter, stacked pop bottles and swept floors in a mom & pop store, dug holes and set miles of posts. I learned to work and appreciated it. I get it. My oldest (50) is a heavy equipment mechanic; second son (47) drives heavy equipment; # three started in the trenches for a gas company, he is now the per-OSHA inspector. I am proud!!!

[@KineticTaco]

This should be mandatory viewing in every HS

[@wallacewimmer5191]

Wallace Wimmer Mike Rowe needs to be president Trumps JOBS CZAR. I'm 53 with an engineering degree and never made the $ before . That I'm making NOW in the oil & gas industry "with my HANDS". Sweating & stackin' cake MAGA Mike Rowe

[@Imwright720]

Who doesn’t want to have a beer with this guy ❓

[@bige3290]

id like to have several and really pick his brain!

[@PortersMob]

Now thats just irony, the year I was at the SkillsUSA National Conference in 2008, Mike Rowe was in my home state....

[@tdlaustralia7791]

Sensible logic. Why is it so hard for people.

[@bluesman0903]

I'm a toolmaker and have been for over 30+ years, quick story, one day walking through our shop I see this mechanical engineer, fresh out of college, maybe 22-23, anyway I see him with a 1/2" drill pushing down as hard as he can on a piece of aluminum plate, his face was red, and I had to stop and ask, "what are you trying to do", he said "I'm trying to tap this plate", now mind you, like I said earlier, he's a engineer, right, I told him, "well, you have to have a hole in the plate first", this is what our college's are putting into the work force today, WTF. This guy would still be tapping this plate had someone not stopped him. Poor excuse for a engineer.

[@tonydeleo3642]

MIKE ROWE FOR PRESIDENT!!! Mike has worked at many dirty, disgusting jobs, why not take on Washington DC. He knows what could really turn this country around, he has the pride in the working man and he gets it, he sees the profound negative impact the loss of the skilled working class has had on our economy and way of life. He is a known quantity, he has the personality and wisdom, has testified on the hill. Let's get someone in the Whitehouse who can truly make a difference, who can make America strong again!!!!

[@Mike-ym6rl]

Trades people today earn more than the average degreed graduate. Many grads today are driving Uber or waiting tables in restaurant's. Nothing wrong with that....except, why waste four years at College and put yourself into debt. As they say, skills pay the bills.

[@24ples]

Mike Rowe for President!!!!!

[@lawrencekeech2779]

still relevant 7 1/2 years later. Just higher unemployment, lots of places looking for hard workers, and people disconnected between those who support everyone and those who dont get it.

[@WandererSt-G]

Fantastic!

[@sleepy962007]

Sweetness! I was at SkillsUSA Nationals in Kansas City MO, 2008- such an awesome experience! Couldn't have asked for anything cooler to experience

[@moussa718]

this is very interesting. he definely have a point

[@lennygrossman9821]

Where can I get 10 of those posters

[@rhabenic]

this is good advice. I like your poster. however IME, when my Dad told me to work smarter not harder, it was always in a limited context. as a simplified example: use a lever or dolly to lift something instead of just trying to manhandle the item. you know, that kind of thing. I've used the same principle within the trades (to save labor costs in general and my back specifically) many times and often have used that saying while doing so. work smart and hard, yes! but sometimes working 'smart' means you don't have to work quite as hard.

[@markreed9157]

Why has this man not been put out there for the best looking man in the world???

[@TheTobs50]

Wonderful speech Mike. Working hard to obtain a tertiary education to get a "better" job to pay back an (often) unpayable study loan isn't very smart.

[@sharkinfested]

I grew up on a farm outside of Lexington KY and in the 1980s things began to change in the countryside in my area. Many large family farms no longer had heirs willing to farm so the land was sold in 10 acre tracks to wealthy doctors and lawyer types all of who plopped a mansion on the land an turned the rest into a 10 acre lawn. The biggest mansion by far was owned by the guy that owned the company that picked up the garbage from all these other mansions - as city trash didn't service the county and a private company was formed.

[@reneenordeen9447]

Lord forgive me for being so shallow, but Mike Rowe is serious eye candy and yeah, he should be president, he's a hell of alot smarter than 99.999% of the current politicians that are currently in office.

[@toomuch3864]

Mike R for president!

[@jamesgarrison6430]

What do we want we want change

[@forreal2398]

What Happened to me is I got an AAS degree in forestry and in 80 could not find a job of any kind but trapping gophers and helping a farmer friend hay when that happened. It was VERY frustraighting.. I graduate from HS and could not get a job cause I didn't have experience they said. I get a degree, just a two year degree and while there were some jobs that I could do now I was over qualified and no one would higher me except that farmer when he needed help. 4-5 months later after filling out ever application I could and going to two state employment agencies every week and calling to let the companies know I was still available I finally did something I really didn't want to do and that was go into the military. Nothing wrong with the military but I had grown up in a military family and was soooooo tired of all of the moving and losing what few friends I had every year or two. I go in and score very very well on the military tests just like I had on my college entrance tests and had somethings offered to me but all I wanted was to get back to one place that my dad had been stationed and where I grad. HS so I did what I could to do just that, and with help did just that. Right after I got all of the stuff done to go into the military I got a call from one of the employment agencies. They finally had a job that needed the degree I had, And I was the only one they had that was qualified for it. I went into the military and had a blast. When I got out I wanted to teach so I went to school for that and used what I had set up while in the military. Then find out that the school black listed all of the Believers that were male no matter how good they were at teaching. Of all of the guys in that class that were believers only ONE after 40 years of trying to get a FT teaching job was finally able to break into teaching. And he was teaching circles around every teacher for his subject as a sub and as a FT teacher. Personally I do not think Most kids need a 4 year degree. Heck most do not need a 2 year degree. Most need to GET REAL about what they think they want to do with their life and go to a tech school or apprenticeship program and look at those 1st before even looking at an Assoc. Degree or BS degree. And we need to make it so Colleges are only allowed to teach worthwhile degrees and not offer degrees in Underwater Basket Weaving etc. From our soph year on in HS kids should be getting more serious about what they are thinking of doing and the educational experiences from school and from mom and dad should reflect that. And EVERY teacher and counselor that pushes 4 year degrees on everyone or most everyone well they should be fired. I now have 4 degrees, almost 5 that for the most part are useless cause a kid ran a stop sign but some of them I can make a little bit on, but not near enough to have even paid for the gas to go to school cause I went to try to be able to get back into a job and because of all of the medical things that happened to me from the person running the stop sign 20 years later I am still having problems crop up from getting hit.

[@janetwhite7786]

Anyone else find him incredibly attractive?

[@1SaltyGirl]

One of the last man's man left

[@reneenordeen9447]

Hell yes!!

[@babygoose8716]

Janet White I can’t because he reminds me so much of my Dad haha.

[@jeromeykennedy2896]

Hello dear, how are you doing today?

[@janetwhite7786]

@@jeromeykennedy2896 well, hey.

[@ronviejo4994]

Not too long ago, when parents taught their kids about an "honest " days work and about self respect and integrity, some of us actually WORKED our way through college and left with a hard earned degree and NO debt.

[@Trezker]

A poster is not what's needed. People need to know where to find these jobs! You say they're screaming for workers but I haven't seen any company reaching out anywhere I'm listening.

[@hengineer]

Nothing beats going places. I put my resume on all the websites....but it literally took a conversation with someone to get an interview. Talking with them face to face is the surest way to get the opportunity.

[@hengineer]

And their response to my question about "why aren't you advertising for people like me on your website" was "we like to be a little more selective for your position".

[@preshisify]

🤔

[@shanemartin2491]

Make this guy president.

[@YousAHunter]

if mike ran for president he would win all 50 states

[@peregrine63701]

I work at a job that recycles the waste from retail stores to prevent stuff from going to a landfill

[@Heartless38260]

Where do I get the poster?

[@phineasrumson3116]

I wanted to be an auto mechanic; my parents tole me that I was going to college. I supported myself through college by fixing cars. After 30+ years as an electrical engineer, my job went to red china. I taught HS math for 2 years and was told to "indoctrinate" students into the college mindset. I did the opposite, I told them that the most successful people were those who were happiest in what the chose as a career. I'm retired now, and I fix cars as a hobby.

[@tariqalinnnbangwar5885]

Very nice

[@Clay3613]

Why couldn't he have done the 2009 conference? :(