120 replies
I'm currently on about $30 a day and I am going to college 6th Form so am at school most of the time, when I get home I am tired and have to do homework and sport. My I.M. Comes 2nd but recently I have been doing well and think I could make a full time living from this ($200) a day but need more time. I know what all the responsible adults are going to say to this question but do you think I should leave school and go full time into I.M. knowing I can make it?
#$30 a day #i.m. #internet marketing #school
  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    I think you're looking for people to tell you to quit school.

    As one of those "responsible adults", you already know what I would say. So in the interest of saving electrons and database space, just play the tape in your head...
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      As one of those "responsible adults", you already know what I would say.
      Well, I'm irresponsible and barely an adult, and I think you'd be absolutely insane to think about leaving school. You'll be a better internet marketer and a better person for getting more/further education while you can. I don't claim you'll make more money, or know more about IM, but that's got nothing to do with it. Education isn't about making money (unless you're at law school or doing an MBA or something, arguably). "Education" is what remains after all the stuff you learned has been forgotten.

      There's a huge number of threads here discussing this issue in detail, with all sorts of perspectives and points of view aired.

      The way I look at decisions like that is to ask myself which potential outcome is more reasonably forseeable to regret later, if you get the decision wrong. (I don't hear so many people saying "I wish I'd left school a bit earlier", do you?).
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      • Profile picture of the author prodigaljoe
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        You'll be a better internet marketer and a better person for getting more/further education while you can. I don't claim you'll make more money, or know more about IM, but that's got nothing to do with it. Education isn't about making money (unless you're at law school or doing an MBA or something, arguably). "Education" is what remains after all the stuff you learned has been forgotten.

        huh? So other people are better than me because I dropped out of high school?

        "education" is not what remains after all of the stuff you learned is forgotten. "experience" is and you can get experience in many places outside of college.

        Also, education can be had in many ways. It depends on what you want to learn to determine the best place for an education. I can't think of anyone who has attributed their education in a university to success in internet marketing. I have met so many Internet entrepreneurs who have made millions. This is a unique field. At least it was when I started.

        NO school could have taught me how to make money online because I was one of the pioneers of it. Today might be a little different but the internet changes so fast that techniques taught will be useless by the time you can implement them. You must know from EXPERIENCE what will work and how to execute it.

        ... and don't get me started with all of the big time corporate guys with the fancy degrees who started .coms and went bankrupt in the late 90's. Those idiots caused a recession.

        I have had people wanting to work for me and they show me all of their degrees in marketing and this and that. They had experience and references from major corporations where they worked high up. They were the most useless people I have ever seen. I got rid of them and will never hire another. Give me someone with money in their blood and hunger to succeed because THAT is what it takes to be an internet entrepreneur.

        Colleges seem to prepare students to become good little employees for a major corporation. They waste time and work slow. They want benefits and coffee breaks and they brown nose to work their way up the pay chain and hope the company will pay for their retirement. It all sounds good. That is what college will prepare you for.



        Tom, I am not saying drop out of school. Just ask yourself what you want to do and what are you good at then choose the best path. Don't listen to these people who say you will be a better person for staying in school. College does NOT make you a good person. YOU do.

        As far as wealth is concerned it totally depends on the type of person you are which will determine if you can go out on your own to make money or if you will be better finishing college then working for someone else. Both ways can make you a lot of money.
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by prodigaljoe View Post

          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          You'll be a better internet marketer and a better person for getting more/further education while you can. I don't claim you'll make more money, or know more about IM, but that's got nothing to do with it. Education isn't about making money (unless you're at law school or doing an MBA or something, arguably). "Education" is what remains after all the stuff you learned has been forgotten.
          huh? So other people are better than me because I dropped out of high school?
          I wouldn't think so, no.

          I wasn't comparing you with anyone else. In fact, to be honest, I wasn't replying to you at all, but to Tom. And I wasn't even comparing him with anyone else.

          Sorry if I inadvertently touched a raw nerve, or whatever. :confused:
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          • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            I wouldn't think so, no.

            I wasn't comparing you with anyone else. In fact, to be honest, I wasn't replying to you at all, but to Tom. And I wasn't even comparing him with anyone else.

            Sorry if I inadvertently touched a raw nerve, or whatever. :confused:
            Dw I don't really know what's going on just when you do 2 hours of seo and get the first page of google and make $100 from two hours work it just makes me think.
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          • Profile picture of the author prodigaljoe
            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            I wouldn't think so, no.

            I wasn't comparing you with anyone else. In fact, to be honest, I wasn't replying to you at all, but to Tom. And I wasn't even comparing him with anyone else.

            Sorry if I inadvertently touched a raw nerve, or whatever. :confused:
            np. I just get defensive with this subject. I took so much slack for dropping out of high school and not going to college. Everyone thought I would be a looser.

            I argued for years that school does not make a person or make a person wealthy. School is a tool. Some people can use it to their advantage. I am the type of person who is too independent in my thinking and I always have my own ways to do things. This is just the way I am am probably one of the reasons why I have been such a successful business person.


            Am I a bore because I am a successful entrepreneur and I did not go to school? Maybe to some. I traveled the world, had tons of fun, get to drive exotic cars, relax when I want, play when I want, I found a beautiful European girl who thinks I am a little boring but she still married me , we have a beautiful daughter, we hang out with friends...

            Yeah, maybe college would of been a better for me :rolleyes: I chose the path that I wanted. If you do that and things will fall into place.

            But the question is what type of person are you and which path do you WANT?

            Everyone needs their own path to happiness other wise we will all be living is Stepford.
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        • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
          Originally Posted by prodigaljoe View Post

          huh? So other people are better than me because I dropped out of high school?

          "education" is not what remains after all of the stuff you learned is forgotten. "experience" is and you can get experience in many places outside of college.

          Also, education can be had in many ways. It depends on what you want to learn to determine the best place for an education. I can't think of anyone who has attributed their education in a university to success in internet marketing. I have met so many Internet entrepreneurs who have made millions. This is a unique field. At least it was when I started.

          NO school could have taught me how to make money online because I was one of the pioneers of it. Today might be a little different but the internet changes so fast that techniques taught will be useless by the time you can implement them. You must know from EXPERIENCE what will work and how to execute it.

          ... and don't get me started with all of the big time corporate guys with the fancy degrees who started .coms and went bankrupt in the late 90's. Those idiots caused a recession.

          I have had people wanting to work for me and they show me all of their degrees in marketing and this and that. They had experience and references from major corporations where they worked high up. They were the most useless people I have ever seen. I got rid of them and will never hire another. Give me someone with money in their blood and hunger to succeed because THAT is what it takes to be an internet entrepreneur.

          Colleges seem to prepare students to become good little employees for a major corporation. They waste time and work slow. They want benefits and coffee breaks and they brown nose to work their way up the pay chain and hope the company will pay for their retirement. It all sounds good. That is what college will prepare you for.



          Tom, I am not saying drop out of school. Just ask yourself what you want to do and what are you good at then choose the best path. Don't listen to these people who say you will be a better person for staying in school. College does NOT make you a good person. YOU do.

          As far as wealth is concerned it totally depends on the type of person you are which will determine if you can go out on your own to make money or if you will be better finishing college then working for someone else. Both ways can make you a lot of money.
          Another Awesome comment Thanks a lot!
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        • Profile picture of the author ladida
          I agree completely with Alexa. There is no need to take this personally. You can definitely be successful without a degree however one should not act like there is no benefit in receiving your degree. There is. And honestly, it's not about making money, it's about development; personal, intellectual, and emotional development just to name a few. If you have the opportunity to go to school now, do it. It's MUCH harder to GO BACK to school. Once your life really starts (family and other obligations) school will much more easily fall into the background.


          Originally Posted by prodigaljoe View Post

          huh? So other people are better than me because I dropped out of high school?

          "education" is not what remains after all of the stuff you learned is forgotten. "experience" is and you can get experience in many places outside of college.

          Also, education can be had in many ways. It depends on what you want to learn to determine the best place for an education. I can't think of anyone who has attributed their education in a university to success in internet marketing. I have met so many Internet entrepreneurs who have made millions. This is a unique field. At least it was when I started.

          NO school could have taught me how to make money online because I was one of the pioneers of it. Today might be a little different but the internet changes so fast that techniques taught will be useless by the time you can implement them. You must know from EXPERIENCE what will work and how to execute it.

          ... and don't get me started with all of the big time corporate guys with the fancy degrees who started .coms and went bankrupt in the late 90's. Those idiots caused a recession.

          I have had people wanting to work for me and they show me all of their degrees in marketing and this and that. They had experience and references from major corporations where they worked high up. They were the most useless people I have ever seen. I got rid of them and will never hire another. Give me someone with money in their blood and hunger to succeed because THAT is what it takes to be an internet entrepreneur.

          Colleges seem to prepare students to become good little employees for a major corporation. They waste time and work slow. They want benefits and coffee breaks and they brown nose to work their way up the pay chain and hope the company will pay for their retirement. It all sounds good. That is what college will prepare you for.



          Tom, I am not saying drop out of school. Just ask yourself what you want to do and what are you good at then choose the best path. Don't listen to these people who say you will be a better person for staying in school. College does NOT make you a good person. YOU do.

          As far as wealth is concerned it totally depends on the type of person you are which will determine if you can go out on your own to make money or if you will be better finishing college then working for someone else. Both ways can make you a lot of money.
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          • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
            Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

            You are young and have no idea what you will be doing for the rest of your life. An education will benefit you your whole life. Want to throw it away to make some quick money?
            Originally Posted by ladida View Post

            I agree completely with Alexa. There is no need to take this personally. You can definitely be successful without a degree however one should not act like there is no benefit in receiving your degree. There is. And honestly, it's not about making money, it's about development; personal, intellectual, and emotional development just to name a few. If you have the opportunity to go to school now, do it. It's MUCH harder to GO BACK to school. Once your life really starts (family and other obligations) school will much more easily fall into the background.
            Firstly this is what I hate!!!!! - "You are young and have no idea"
            Do you think that is a fair comment? No Don't think so!

            And thanks for the 2nd answer.
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            • Profile picture of the author mcmahanusa
              Okay, now for my $.02. My memory hasn't completely gone yet, and I can remember what I was like at your age. Not as ambitious, certainly, yet I "had an idea". I had lots of ideas. Most of them were wrong.

              The smartest, most knowledgeable, most self-assured person in the world will find that life has a way of changing all those pre-conceived notions and/or ideas. Time will alter your perspective. Unless, of course, you are one of those who refuses to learn and adapt, in which case you will be just another of the whiners and complainers who never really succeed at anything. Your question makes that scenario unlikely, however.

              Yes, you can probably make it full time, by expanding upon what you are already doing. And, yes, you can go back to school at some time should that be your desire. But you will never regain what you will lose by dropping out at this point. I finished high school, and am happy that I did.

              Believe it or not, if you keep up the discipline you obviously already have and finish at least this segment of your education, you will find yourself stronger and even better equipped to pursue and succeed at IM or whatever you desire. That discipline will help you succeed in anything.

              I dropped out of college, then later went back when I realized what I really wanted out of college. Glad I did that, too.

              You've gotten some good advice here. What you get from it is up to you. In any case, I wish you the best.
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              • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
                Originally Posted by mcmahanusa View Post

                Okay, now for my $.02. My memory hasn't completely gone yet, and I can remember what I was like at your age. Not as ambitious, certainly, yet I "had an idea". I had lots of ideas. Most of them were wrong.

                The smartest, most knowledgeable, most self-assured person in the world will find that life has a way of changing all those pre-conceived notions and/or ideas. Time will alter your perspective. Unless, of course, you are one of those who refuses to learn and adapt, in which case you will be just another of the whiners and complainers who never really succeed at anything. Your question makes that scenario unlikely, however.

                Yes, you can probably make it full time, by expanding upon what you are already doing. And, yes, you can go back to school at some time should that be your desire. But you will never regain what you will lose by dropping out at this point. I finished high school, and am happy that I did.

                Believe it or not, if you keep up the discipline you obviously already have and finish at least this segment of your education, you will find yourself stronger and even better equipped to pursue and succeed at IM or whatever you desire. That discipline will help you succeed in anything.

                I dropped out of college, then later went back when I realized what I really wanted out of college. Glad I did that, too.

                You've gotten some good advice here. What you get from it is up to you. In any case, I wish you the best.
                Thanks nice good comment
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            • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
              Banned
              Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

              Firstly this is what I hate!!!!! - "You are young and have no idea"
              Do you think that is a fair comment? No Don't think so!
              It wouldn't have been a fair comment at all; but it wasn't the comment made, Tom.

              What Suzanne actually said was "You are young and have no idea what you will be doing for the rest of your life".

              That's simply a factual observation, with absolutely no connotation of criticism at all.

              By truncating the last eleven words of the sentence, you've totally changed both its literal meaning and its tone, and made it sound like a criticism. Maybe you didn't do that deliberately? Maybe that was just how you read it, yourself, and saw the words "have no idea" and stopped reading there, having already mistakenly decided that you were being criticised?

              Reading and replying to the whole sentence is one of those things you learn about at school. If you stay there.

              It reduces your chances of going through life misunderstanding and misquoting people, which really isn't a great way to make friends and influence people. I'm just saying.

              Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

              The problem with threads like this is the OP's question sounds logical - but as the thread unfolds it seems he is only looking for advice he wants to hear.
              Exactly so. He's congratulating and thanking the people who agree with him, and misquoting and misunderstanding others. It's only in his own mind that he's "asking for advice" or really wants to hear a range of views and opinions.
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              • Profile picture of the author Alexandre Valois
                I'm going to play the devil's advocate here and say ...

                I'm a 3-time college drop-out. Tried to make it work, but it never did it for me.

                Then I quit and dedicated myself to working on my business and improving myself full-time. And it's paid of ever since. Took a year to travel. I usually buy for around $200 per month in books from Amazon.

                I'm more educated than most people fresh out of university, and not only am I making money with my business while they're out there looking for work... I have the security of knowing I'll never run out of value to provide people, while their diplomas only go so far.

                My tip? If you're going to do it, be prepared to go all the way, and understand it won't always be easy. As some mentionned, you'll miss opportunities to meet new people since most people your age will either be students, or work in an office. You'll have to find ways to spend your free time, develop hobbies, meditate, and kick yourself in the ass to force yourself to go out once in a while and meet new people.

                If this sounds like trouble, you're probably better in school. It's a harsh world out there in the streets that forces you to always be brutally honest with yourself, and it's not for everyone.
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                • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
                  Originally Posted by Alexandre Valois View Post

                  My tip? If you're going to do it, be prepared to go all the way, and understand it won't always be easy. But for me, it was the only way...
                  Hello, Charles Bukowski? Haha, just kidding. But the bit quoted reminded me of the end scene from Factotum:

                  If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is.
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                • Profile picture of the author paulie888
                  Originally Posted by Alexandre Valois View Post

                  I'm going to play the devil's advocate here and say ...

                  I'm a 3-time college drop-out. Tried to make it work, but it never did it for me.

                  Then I quit and dedicated myself to working on my business and improving myself full-time. And it's paid of ever since. Took a year to travel. I usually buy for around $200 per month in books from Amazon.

                  I'm more educated than most people fresh out of university, and not only am I making money with my business while they're out there looking for work... I have the security of knowing I'll never run out of value to provide people, while their diplomas only go so far.

                  My tip? If you're going to do it, be prepared to go all the way, and understand it won't always be easy. As some mentionned, you'll miss opportunities to meet new people since most people your age will either be students, or work in an office. You'll have to find ways to spend your free time, develop hobbies, meditate, and kick yourself in the ass to force yourself to go out once in a while and meet new people.

                  If this sounds like trouble, you're probably better in school. It's a harsh world out there in the streets that forces you to always be brutally honest with yourself, and it's not for everyone.
                  Alex, I obviously know about the many college drop-outs who went on to become huge successes in business, and off the top of my head I can mention Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Michael Dell.

                  Tom is thinking of dropping out of high school though, and it just sounds like he wants to party and enjoy the high life right now (notice how he said above that he doesn't want to give up his partying on the weekends). Tom, if you were really serious about your business you'd think about cutting out your partying first before ever thinking of dropping out of school.

                  I know you've probably read and seen how the young internet marketers party and live the 'internet lifestyle', and understandably you want to enjoy that right now, but wouldn't it make more sense to slog on for just one more year or so, finish up your A-levels, and then go to work full-time on your internet business?

                  I don't see the point of dropping out of school when you're already more than halfway through it. Furthermore, what is likely leaving you exhausted everyday is all that partying you're doing on the weekends, in addition to the sports. It sounds like you're unwilling to give up any of your leisure activities in the name of IM, but yet school is something you'd readily pass up on!

                  Paul
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                  • Profile picture of the author jan roos
                    If it was me I would at least finish high school. Get that basic education such as math etc out of the way then you can hit IM with everything you got.

                    I dropped out of college as well. I felt that I was being trained to be an employee and I didn't like it. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur so I quit to go travel the world.

                    I lived in youth hostels, made my own way working as a bartender, labourer on construction sites etc. The education I got about life, people and how the world ticks from my travelling could NEVER be taught in any university.

                    I now run my own IM business from home. I have all the freedom in the world to go travel again, hang out on the beach and spend time with my wife who also doesn't have to work.

                    This is what I always wanted and so I am happy and do not regret not going to college one bit.

                    However, If your life goal and dream is to become a doctor, engineer, dentist, marine biologist etc then yes go to college and follow your dream.

                    College life is GREAT! You meet girls, friends, sick parties etc.

                    But pls don't go to college to study something you are not interested in and don't see yourself pursuing forever. I see way too many kids getting pressured into going to college right away and most of them end up wating their parents money. y wife was one of them.

                    She dropped out and went travelling with me for a few years. In that time she figured out what she really wanted to do and now she is almost finished with her degree in nutrition. Number 2 in her class..

                    Why?

                    Because she has a genuine desire and interest to learn more about that field and she can see herself working in the field her whole life.

                    So what I'm really trying to get at is this. You are still young bro..

                    You do not need to go to college right now. Figure out what you want to do with your life first. Most people don't know what they really want to do until their mid 20's at least. Take that time and build you IM business. See if you dig it.

                    If you do, GREAT! Stick with it and be happy. If you realize you really want to go to college to become a CPA or whatever then GREAT! Go do it!

                    Cheers

                    Jan

                    Ps. I highly recommend you go travel for a year or two. That experience will help you in your future believe me.
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                  • Profile picture of the author brendawyles
                    At your age now, you must experience things that is due for you. Education is one thing that can't be taken away from you. I have this feeling that you're just been swayed with the fortune that you're getting in right now by engaging IM. But on my own opinion, you should put your study as the cream of crop now.

                    And if you're doing well at class, no doubt you will also do well in the field of IM.
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      • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        Well, I'm irresponsible and barely an adult, and I think you'd be absolutely insane to think about leaving school. You'll be a better internet marketer and a better person for getting more/further education while you can. I don't claim you'll make more money, or know more about IM, but that's got nothing to do with it. Education isn't about making money (unless you're at law school or doing an MBA or something, arguably). "Education" is what remains after all the stuff you learned has been forgotten.

        There's a huge number of threads here discussing this issue in detail, with all sorts of perspectives and points of view aired.

        The way I look at decisions like that is to ask myself which potential outcome is more reasonably forseeable to regret later, if you get the decision wrong. (I don't hear so many people saying "I wish I'd left school a bit earlier", do you?).
        I wish I'd left school a bit earlier. *hides*

        Nah, in honesty, I think it might be a bad decision for a good deal of people to shun the opportunity to take their education further in a formal capacity. Depends on the person, though.

        I was going to go the whole college/uni route, but I didn't bother, for a number of reasons. I haven't really regretted that decision yet, and in hindsight I actually think it's been beneficial to me.

        I agree with what you say about the motive behind education not being about earning better money, or what not. Unfortunately though, I don't think that's a true reflection of most peoples' attitudes towards education/learning. That is to say, from my perspective, a lot of people aren't that open to learning for the sake of it. A lot of people aren't open to learning at all. They're not interested in being knowledgeable, well-rounded, or whatever. They're there to receive a degree/diploma in the hope it'll increase their future career prospects.

        For me, I couldn't see any real benefits of pursuing a formal education any longer. I actually find institutionalised education to be quite stifling. I mostly despise working for others, I simply couldn't stand being around the majority of other people any longer (not interested in listening to / witnessing their crap: their emotional outbursts, their lies, their deceit, their backstabbing, their phoniness, their shallowness, their inability to put logic ahead of emotion even when it'd serve them better / their mental weakness).

        But I'm naturally curious, about pretty much everything. I'm always learning about something. Always reading (about allsorts of subjects) always questioning, always philosophising, always trying stuff, always seeking a better way, always trying to initiate deep-level discussions with others.

        My experience is that most people simply aren't that interested, in general.

        (Oh sure, they can tell you on what date Cheryl Cole contracted Malaria, and how good their best friend's boyfriend/girlfriend supposedly is in bed, and other such stuff ... because that's more interesting ).

        So if they can't/don't push themselves, perhaps being in an environment where they're "pressured" or challenged (by their peers or professors) is the only way they're going to muster up the motivation to learn anything useful, and grow. Or maybe they never will, anyway.

        EDIT (woops - hadn't finished, lol): So basically, I feel it's sort of "courses for horses". What is best for some (and perhaps even most) people is not best for all people One must decide what is likely to be best for oneself, act accordingly, and face the outcome - be it good or bad.
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        • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
          Originally Posted by DireStraits View Post

          I wish I'd left school a bit earlier. *hides*

          Nah, in honesty, I think it might be a bad decision for a good deal of people to shun the opportunity to take their education further in a formal capacity. Depends on the person, though.

          I was going to go the whole college/uni route, but I didn't bother, for a number of reasons. I haven't really regretted that decision yet, and in hindsight I actually think it's been beneficial to me.

          I agree with what you say about the motive behind education not being about earning better money, or what not. Unfortunately though, I don't think that's a true reflection of most peoples' attitudes towards education/learning. That is to say, from my perspective, a lot of people aren't that open to learning for the sake of it. A lot of people aren't open to learning at all. They're not interested in being knowledgeable, well-rounded, or whatever. They're there to receive a degree/diploma in the hope it'll increase their future career prospects.

          For me, I couldn't see any real benefits of pursuing a formal education any longer. I actually find institutionalised education to be quite stifling. I mostly despise working for others, I simply couldn't stand being around the majority of other people any longer (not interested in listening to / witnessing their crap: their emotional outbursts, their lies, their deceit, their backstabbing, their phoniness, their shallowness, their inability to put logic ahead of emotion even when it'd serve them better / their mental weakness).

          But I'm naturally curious, about pretty much everything. I'm always learning about something. Always reading (about allsorts of subjects) always questioning, always philosophising, always trying stuff, always seeking a better way, always trying to initiate deep-level discussions with others.

          My experience is that most people simply aren't that interested, in general.

          (Oh sure, they can tell you on what date Cheryl Cole contracted Malaria, and how good their best friend's boyfriend/girlfriend supposedly is in bed, and other such stuff ... because that's more interesting ).

          So if they can't/don't push themselves, perhaps being in an environment where they're "pressured" or challenged (by their peers or professors) is the only way they're going to muster up the motivation to learn anything useful, and grow. Or maybe they never will, anyway.

          Oh man I love this answer so much! Its so true. I know everyone uses this example but when am I going to use algebra in any of the jobs I am interested in going into? Hmmm All the time.
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  • Profile picture of the author prodigaljoe
    What year are you in? What do you want as a career? You will succeed by doing what you want to do.

    I dropped out of high school in the late 90's and messed around with internet marketing. It was the best decision I made. I have made millions because this is something I like to do and I always had a drive to learn more and most importantly try and fail many times. So many people spend so much time learning they don't just get out there and do it.

    Anyways, my recommendation is if this is something that really interests you take a semester off and try it. If you can't make at least $2000 profit by the third month or at least on your way to that then go back to school and rethink things.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnLeonard
      Stay in school...Finish up what you started...But why don't you gear your course load more toward skills that you could use as an internet marketer.....take some Graphic design , business writing, sales and business management classes....you are already invested so whay not get some "real world" education.

      All the while you are learning from the professors you should be thinking about how you can make it work with IM and what you can so to Inernetmarketize it....

      Ya I just made up Internetmarketize it but it works
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  • Profile picture of the author wfhblueprints
    Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

    I'm currently on about $30 a day and I am going to college 6th Form so am at school most of the time, when I get home I am tired and have to do homework and sport. My I.M. Comes 2nd but recently I have been doing well and think I could make a full time living from this ($200) a day but need more time. I know what all the responsible adults are going to say to this question but do you think I should leave school and go full time into I.M. knowing I can make it?
    Gain an education and get your qualifications! At the same time continue to develop your IM skills......

    If you leave school and dont make it in IM what will you do next......

    Coming from a Teacher I'd say stick it out.....you've already done at least 12 years of it (assuming your in year 12!)

    Regards

    Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author Travis72802
    There is the idea of going to school for internet marketing...full sail, etc...

    Just a thought
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    http://www.BumMarketingMethod.com

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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Thanks for the info soo far, and yeah the thing is that I don't have enough time to make a lot of money from it because I only get 1 2 at most hours a day to promoting SEO whatever I.M. But I think I could get so much more.

    2.) Yeah I am in year 12 but A levels are harder than expected (I know everyone says that but they really are) And if you can make money doing something you enjoy more then surely that would be a good idea.
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  • Profile picture of the author tmeachum
    Coming from a father of 5 children, you probably already know what I'm going to say. I'll tell you like I tell my own kids. Do what you are passionate about.
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Thanks for the resonses keep them coming.

    1.) Travis thanks about your bum marketing I have used it before and also I like your idea about an I.M. school.

    2.) Alexa Smith - You may be right but surely the people who have become successful don't need to say I could have made my first million 2 years early if I left school.

    3.) wfhblueprints Where do you teach and what?

    Thanks.
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    • Profile picture of the author wfhblueprints
      Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

      Thanks for the resonses keep them coming.

      1.) Travis thanks about your bum marketing I have used it before and also I like your idea about an I.M. school.

      2.) Alexa Smith - You may be right but surely the people who have become successful don't need to say I could have made my first million 2 years early if I left school.

      3.) wfhblueprints Where do you teach and what?

      Thanks.
      I teach Science........and yes A levels are hard.....but you need to work at it!
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Coming from a father of 5 children, you probably already know what I'm going to say. I'll tell you like I tell my own kids. Do what you are passionate about.
    Now that is a reply
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  • Profile picture of the author dsm091
    Military or college gives you life lessons that you will never learn online. Speaking in front of an audience is the one example I like to use. Do the IM career after college. The money is there for you take, embrace the college experience.

    you are young and you will be fine.
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    • Profile picture of the author bizwithbrit
      If you are basing you're decision on making money, then you should not quit school.

      I have bachelor degree and am glad to have it and to have had the college experience, and recently started looking into online business. But that is just my path, and everyone is different. You are the only one who can decide what to do for yourself in your own situation and all the factors that go into your decision.

      But if you have the opportunity to go to college and get a degree, then take it because you can still make time for your internet marketing and continue to make money with it
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    You're crazy if you leave school to do IM full time. It will still be here but your school opportunities may not. Get your education. Do this part time when you can.
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  • Profile picture of the author AidenChong
    I haven't get the chance to go to uni or college, but I love what I'm doing now. I guess if I had the chance to go to, I would definitely finish doing it, meaning to continue with the high school stuff, university life, etc..

    I.M is always there, always changing... (Maybe this is just me)..
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  • Profile picture of the author excuzemee
    I can't tell you what to do.

    I hate school and honestly hate my kids having to go to school. I would much rather teach them about business and then be able buy the schools. If you don;t like what you are doing... then change.

    I have a friend he has 7 degrees... yes 7. From one of the world's best universities too. He doesn't do what he went to school for... a doctor. He did realestate investing while in highschool because he knew that school wouldn't teach him to mak money. He then did well with ebay and now owns his own hedge fund.

    He still tells everyone to go to school and finish.

    If you are in school, and you like what you are doing... keep going. If this is about money - you are already making that. It will only grow from here, even if it is part time.

    look at it this way, when you graduate it won't matter if there is no work in your field, you will know how to make money either way.

    Quitting school, not quitting school... school is about having fun and learning stuff-have some fun and learn some stuff. Make some money at night. To be honest, if I were you i would quit the sports... unless you are going to do that professionally... lol!
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    Ask all the questions you want, but in the end they will all be answered by just doing it!... Get to work!

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  • Profile picture of the author IWinYouLose
    Education is the back bone of the modern man and women.
    It has become an even larger "requirement" for the today's job environment.

    Making money online is very fickle.
    Get your education first. Get that backbone support. Then play around with internet marketing on a later date.
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  • Profile picture of the author Big Al
    Heya mate

    Sounds like you're in the UK (6th form?).

    If that's the case then 6th Form is only for 2 years or so and will leave you with A levels - pretty much the necessary qualification if you want to go onto University.

    Plus you're not quite where you need to be yet (financially).

    For the sake of less than 2 years to finish 6th form - I think you should stick it out ... get your A levels under you belt and get your income up to over $100 a day.

    The average UK salary is around $118 per day (so you won't be far off), you'll have qualifications that give your more options (ie. jobs or further education should you need them later) and more money that anyone else your age.

    I'm not a huge fan of higher education - I think our country is geared up towards it far too much and it's not necessary but I think that 6th form isn't that long in the scale of things (ie. a lifetime), it will give you a good base and keep your folks happy.

    A good example of someone who makes this work is James Penn from the UK. A full-time University student and Internet Marketer.

    Check him out.

    Al
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    • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
      Originally Posted by Big Al View Post

      Heya mate

      Sounds like you're in the UK (6th form?).

      If that's the case then 6th Form is only for 2 years or so and will leave you with A levels - pretty much the necessary qualification if you want to go onto University.

      Plus you're not quite where you need to be yet (financially).

      For the sake of less than 2 years to finish 6th form - I think you should stick it out ... get your A levels under you belt and get your income up to over $100 a day.

      The average UK salary is around $118 per day (so you won't be far off), you'll have qualifications that give your more options (ie. jobs or further education should you need them later) and more money that anyone else your age.

      I'm not a huge fan of higher education - I think our country is geared up towards it far too much and it's not necessary but I think that 6th form isn't that long in the scale of things (ie. a lifetime), it will give you a good base and keep your folks happy.

      A good example of someone who makes this work is James Penn from the UK. A full-time University student and Internet Marketer.

      Check him out.

      Al
      Thanks for the info, Nice post
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      I'll put it this way...

      If the center of your universe is making money sitting in front of your computer, and you don't see yourself ever doing anything else, sit in front of your computer and make money.

      But know that you are giving up on an education, something that will make you a more complete human being.

      Picture this...

      You've met the girl of your dreams. She's into you, you're into her, things are going nicely.

      Then comes time to meet the parents. You sit down for a nice dinner and conversation.

      Mom asks you what you think of some local issue. You can discuss building backlinks.

      Dad wants to talk about what's happening with the local sports team. You can talk about meta tags, seo and 'how much bank you're making'.

      The parents come to the justifiable conclusion that their daughter is dating a dolt.

      Once you get past the rapture and the flush of new love, she wants to talk about movies, music, maybe an exhibit in a museum, what's happening in the world. You want to jabber about seo, ctr, backlinking and 'killing it with an anal warts cpa offer'.

      Of course, you'll also have your Internet buddies to commiserate with. They have no one else to talk to either.

      Obviously, I'm exaggerating here.

      Don't go to school to 'learn to be a good little employee' if that doesn't trip your trigger. Use the opportunity to learn about the world around you. Create a program that does capture your interest and samples a wide variety of experience.

      I used to have a friend who followed the 'screw school, I'm making too much money' path. When he passed, he could have bought and sold me. He was a sweet guy with a good heart, too. But unless you were in his business, after 15 minutes he was a crashing bore...
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      • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
        Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

        I'll put it this way...

        If the center of your universe is making money sitting in front of your computer, and you don't see yourself ever doing anything else, sit in front of your computer and make money.

        But know that you are giving up on an education, something that will make you a more complete human being.

        Picture this...

        You've met the girl of your dreams. She's into you, you're into her, things are going nicely.

        Then comes time to meet the parents. You sit down for a nice dinner and conversation.

        Mom asks you what you think of some local issue. You can discuss building backlinks.

        Dad wants to talk about what's happening with the local sports team. You can talk about meta tags, seo and 'how much bank you're making'.

        The parents come to the justifiable conclusion that their daughter is dating a dolt.

        Once you get past the rapture and the flush of new love, she wants to talk about movies, music, maybe an exhibit in a museum, what's happening in the world. You want to jabber about seo, ctr, backlinking and 'killing it with an anal warts cpa offer'.

        Of course, you'll also have your Internet buddies to commiserate with. They have no one else to talk to either.

        Obviously, I'm exaggerating here.

        Don't go to school to 'learn to be a good little employee' if that doesn't trip your trigger. Use the opportunity to learn about the world around you. Create a program that does capture your interest and samples a wide variety of experience.

        I used to have a friend who followed the 'screw school, I'm making too much money' path. When he passed, he could have bought and sold me. He was a sweet guy with a good heart, too. But unless you were in his business, after 15 minutes he was a crashing bore...
        Another poor example I am sorry: Some points you were right but the meeting the parents example hmmm:

        "Mom asks you what you think of some local issue. You can discuss building backlinks."
        Because I work online does that mean I cannot watch the news?

        "Dad wants to talk about what's happening with the local sports team. You can talk about meta tags, seo and 'how much bank you're making'."
        I play sport for my country?

        "The parents come to the justifiable conclusion that their daughter is dating a dolt." - You have never meet me.

        "Once you get past the rapture and the flush of new love, she wants to talk about movies, music, maybe an exhibit in a museum, what's happening in the world. You want to jabber about seo, ctr, backlinking and 'killing it with an anal warts cpa offer'."
        What? - Because I work online all of a sudden I have no life?

        Obviously, I'm exaggerating here. - No way! haha but still no one has given me a good example yet...

        Nice info at the end.
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        • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
          Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

          Another poor example I am sorry: Some points you were right but the meeting the parents example hmmm:

          "Mom asks you what you think of some local issue. You can discuss building backlinks."
          Because I work online does that mean I cannot watch the news?

          "Dad wants to talk about what's happening with the local sports team. You can talk about meta tags, seo and 'how much bank you're making'."
          I play sport for my country?

          "The parents come to the justifiable conclusion that their daughter is dating a dolt." - You have never meet me.

          "Once you get past the rapture and the flush of new love, she wants to talk about movies, music, maybe an exhibit in a museum, what's happening in the world. You want to jabber about seo, ctr, backlinking and 'killing it with an anal warts cpa offer'."
          What? - Because I work online all of a sudden I have no life?

          Obviously, I'm exaggerating here. - No way! haha but still no one has given me a good example yet...

          Nice info at the end.
          Give me a break - I've been married for almost 30 years, so it's been awhile.

          Like I said, the example I gave was a gross exaggeration. And no, I don't know anything about you personally, other than what you've posted on this forum.

          Some people, like my late friend, get so immersed in their business that

          > while they could watch the news, they don't.
          > while they could play sports, for their country or otherwise, they don't.
          > Our fictional girlfriend's parents don't know you either at this point. If you were the unbalanced caricature I drew, they'd be right in assuming that caricature was an idiot.
          > Some do fall into it so far that they do have no life.

          As I said in my first post, it sounds like you already know what you want to do. The fact that you've mainly agreed with the people telling you to do what you already want to do lends weight to the idea.

          Odds are, you won't get an example that changes your mind.

          Mixing metaphors, when the time comes to actually act, cowboy up and either fish or cut bait...
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          • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
            Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

            Give me a break - I've been married for almost 30 years, so it's been awhile.

            Like I said, the example I gave was a gross exaggeration. And no, I don't know anything about you personally, other than what you've posted on this forum.

            Some people, like my late friend, get so immersed in their business that

            > while they could watch the news, they don't.
            > while they could play sports, for their country or otherwise, they don't.
            > Our fictional girlfriend's parents don't know you either at this point. If you were the unbalanced caricature I drew, they'd be right in assuming that caricature was an idiot.
            > Some do fall into it so far that they do have no life.

            As I said in my first post, it sounds like you already know what you want to do. The fact that you've mainly agreed with the people telling you to do what you already want to do lends weight to the idea.

            Odds are, you won't get an example that changes your mind.

            Mixing metaphors, when the time comes to actually act, cowboy up and either fish or cut bait...
            Didn't get any of the metaphors but okay and yeah but the people who just say finish school because umm err its good don't have a point.
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Well I know you laugh but I could maybe make it professionally but the sport(s) I do don't pay well so unless you are in the top 200 in the world you cannot do it full time. Nice post though, really nice. But that's the thing I come home from school, then do homework, then sport then there is no real time for I.M. unless I give up the weekend social life I have.... Loved the post though THANKS.

    Keep them coming
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    You are young and have no idea what you will be doing for the rest of your life. An education will benefit you your whole life. Want to throw it away to make some quick money?
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
    Banned
    Tom, it is ALWAYS a good idea of having a back up plan, in case things don't go as planned. College is your back up plan.

    You can reach your desired income level without leaving college. Just figure out ways to leverage your current efforts.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
      Banned
      I just wanted to add that I currently attend college. I'm not one of those "grumpy adults". Besides being a good back up plan, you get some very valuable knowledge.
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  • Profile picture of the author deannatroupe
    Well this is my two cents on the issue. I was attending school formally dropped out, finished my Associate's degree online. I wished I would have just gone on and finished school when I was attending the traditional way because I wouldn't have as much student loan debt as I do now. I'd say figure out a way to do your IM stuff on the weekend (yes, that would mean less partying).
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  • Profile picture of the author excuzemee
    Your "when am I going to use algebra in real life" statement triggered a memory. Maybe it helps, maybe not.

    In order to make today and in this world, (outside of being a good employee) is using both sides of your brain. Right AND left.

    I left school early and did go back to get my HS diploma, but I did find the "business" world a little tough. I was good with the ideas, I was good with the people, I was good with a lot of things... but one thing did hurt me... my left brain stuff... the stuff I would have learned in school if I went on.

    I scoff at university educated people because I know that most are only trained to be an employee - and always in the rat race of always just a few years from being laid-off, whereas I can go start a business and adapt at anytime. But business hit me hard because I was not developed enough in handling the day to day stuff. Like keeping the books, dealing with government employees (tax people), dealing with employees in general... I can't relate and see the world through their eyes. I had to put myself through school again just to learn these crappy (I thought) but necessary things.

    Its fine when you have a business that will support hiring for these things, but starting out, with no bankroll. You end up having to do it anyways, and that costs extra because it's living/rent money, not part-time fluff –weekend party money.

    To be successful, you need to have both developed well. And this is what you are doing by learning algebra and then doing IM when you can fit it in. You have figured out that you may not need the school right now. Have you done taxes yet? Been audited? Come up with an employee schedule, discussed benefits? How about corporate structures and the best way for you to take money from your IM business?

    This was stuff I had trouble with because I was not used to dealing in this lingo, pen and paper stuff, and had to pay dearly for it.

    You have a focus, which is to make your IM full-time, and that is the best thing you are doing and the best thing you can do, just with that alone you are way ahead.

    In a small way I do wish I had done some higher level education that would have saved me some ridiculous headaches I had just because I wasn't familiar with school type stuff.


    Sometimes doing this business thing you need to earn “for sure money” until the business money kicks in. And they usually pay more to a graduate of something than to a non-graduate at the corner gas station. Business is bumpy, up and down. Anything can happen and when you get caught(because you will get caught) with your pants down... where do you go? What do you do with your time until your business is back up and running?


    Pumping gas with no diploma? I’ve been broke so many times with failed business it’s not even funny. When in between, I could command a high wage because of a trade I picked up. (which is basically like going to secondary school) with that and working on my business part time, I could build a proper business and not some one man show.


    I think this is what everyone is talking about when they say backup or fallback.
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    Ask all the questions you want, but in the end they will all be answered by just doing it!... Get to work!

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    • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
      Originally Posted by excuzemee View Post

      Your "when am I going to use algebra in real life" statement triggered a memory. Maybe it helps, maybe not.

      In order to make today and in this world, (outside of being a good employee) is using both sides of your brain. Right AND left.

      I left school early and did go back to get my HS diploma, but I did find the "business" world a little tough. I was good with the ideas, I was good with the people, I was good with a lot of things... but one thing did hurt me... my left brain stuff... the stuff I would have learned in school if I went on.

      I scoff at university educated people because I know that most are only trained to be an employee - and always in the rat race of always just a few years from being laid-off, whereas I can go start a business and adapt at anytime. But business hit me hard because I was not developed enough in handling the day to day stuff. Like keeping the books, dealing with government employees (tax people), dealing with employees in general... I can't relate and see the world through their eyes. I had to put myself through school again just to learn these crappy (I thought) but necessary things.

      Its fine when you have a business that will support hiring for these things, but starting out, with no bankroll. You end up having to do it anyways, and that costs extra because it's living/rent money, not part-time fluff -weekend party money.

      To be successful, you need to have both developed well. And this is what you are doing by learning algebra and then doing IM when you can fit it in. You have figured out that you may not need the school right now. Have you done taxes yet? Been audited? Come up with an employee schedule, discussed benefits? How about corporate structures and the best way for you to take money from your IM business?

      This was stuff I had trouble with because I was not used to dealing in this lingo, pen and paper stuff, and had to pay dearly for it.

      You have a focus, which is to make your IM full-time, and that is the best thing you are doing and the best thing you can do, just with that alone you are way ahead.

      In a small way I do wish I had done some higher level education that would have saved me some ridiculous headaches I had just because I wasn't familiar with school type stuff.


      Sometimes doing this business thing you need to earn "for sure money" until the business money kicks in. And they usually pay more to a graduate of something than to a non-graduate at the corner gas station. Business is bumpy, up and down. Anything can happen and when you get caught(because you will get caught) with your pants down... where do you go? What do you do with your time until your business is back up and running?


      Pumping gas with no diploma? I've been broke so many times with failed business it's not even funny. When in between, I could command a high wage because of a trade I picked up. (which is basically like going to secondary school) with that and working on my business part time, I could build a proper business and not some one man show.


      I think this is what everyone is talking about when they say backup or fallback.
      Nice answer Very good.
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  • Profile picture of the author frankm
    I quit my job to do this full time and it was a mistake... it turned out I wasn't putting IM first at all, but my social life. I also qualified as an accountant but never joined the Institute of Accountants so basically wasted those years I spent qualifying.

    If I had been really serious about it I would have sacrificed my social life to do IM and still worked.

    So to convince me you're serious I'd want to see you sacrifice your weekends to do this, and then you should be able to reach your $200 goal pretty quickly.

    Then you can quit school if you like.

    But you never know, one day you might want to get into a career that requires A Levels... let's say you decided that marketing was too sleazy for you and you wanted to give back more and become a doctor.

    You know you can do this as you're motivated enough to do so. But if you're putting your social life first you might want to take a closer look at what's going on inside!

    Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author taylormarek
    Don't leave school just yet. Keep this part-time and if it grows to the point of some pretty decent income, that you could live on, then you can make a decision. Right now just stay the course. You wouldn't want to make a rash decision and find out your IM business falls flat on its face.

    Just my thoughts.
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  • Profile picture of the author theoneinventor
    One thing I haven't really seen mentioned is the relational aspect of higher ed. If you go to a large institution, I'll use the University of Washington in Seattle as an example, there are soo many opportunities.

    One, being around a bunch of other students, in my case living with other students is an amazing experience that has helped me to learn so much about myself. There are awesome clubs for sailing, climbing, fencing etc. Business networking events, parties, speakers, sports teams (there is even a Quidditch team here...). The people I meet and the friends I am making I could literally not make in any other environment. Obviously there are millions of ways to meet people but school does help a lot.

    Force yourself through school if you hate it? No.

    But if you take some time to find the unique benefits of being in school, you might find it quite rewarding.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      The problem with threads like this is the OP's question sounds logical - but as the thread unfolds it seems he is only looking for advice he wants to hear.

      If your sites are earning $30/day and are well developed, the will continue to earn with little attention from you. When you do have time to add to them you should be able to increase the income quickly as they will have some age on them and be more established.

      I've never met anyone who COMPLETED their education who regrets doing so.

      However, it's your life and your education. What you do or don't do affects only you and those who care about you. In my view leaving school for IM when you have not yet been able to create a full time income would be foolish - but it's up to you to decide and live with the decision.

      kay
      Signature
      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
      ***
      One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
      what it is instead of what you think it should be.
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  • Profile picture of the author BonganiS
    Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

    I'm currently on about $30 a day and I am going to college 6th Form so am at school most of the time, when I get home I am tired and have to do homework and sport. My I.M. Comes 2nd but recently I have been doing well and think I could make a full time living from this ($200) a day but need more time. I know what all the responsible adults are going to say to this question but do you think I should leave school and go full time into I.M. knowing I can make it?
    I think both are important. Be patient you will finish college and then work on your IM.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tyrus Antas
    The probability of you getting a job after college is much
    higher than the probability of you making this a full time
    income. It can happen, but it's difficult.

    Here's the deal: If you can make this work, you can make
    it work part-time. Don't quit school yet.

    Tyrus
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  • Profile picture of the author alexdigital
    IM can be a lonely existence.

    School and college has friends, girls and parties.

    Try and do both for as long as possible..!
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  • Profile picture of the author joscarff
    You can do school any time in your whole life. You can quit now and go back to it when you're 80. But right now is the only time you can only do it when you're young and the same age as everyone else. There's nothing sorrier than a Mature Age Student wandering around campus trying to find friends.

    It's only another year. What the hey. Stick it out and jsut have some fun. If you don't care about your grades, then don't care. You've obviously got some kind of support structure that will see you through, whether you pass or fail. You don't NEED this $200 per day. And the internet isn't going anywhere.

    Time flies. Don't waste the most carefree years of your life stuck behind a computer.
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  • Profile picture of the author TK1
    There's only one answer to your questions:

    Do both.

    Always have some nice back up plans in life.

    And IM stuff is a nice stuff to do on the side etc.

    As a kid I had always my main focus "long term" way and my side ways called moneymakers.

    Moneymakers paid all my stuff that I had to handle day to day like rent, phone, car blah blah.

    My study etc. was the long term big moneymaker way.

    And to be even more honest:

    I think a questions like this should only be decided by your own thinking and not by a forum, so I hope you make your decision wise.

    TK
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      prodigaljoe and Alexandre, you both seem to have dodged the "rich hermit" bullet. Yes, it is possible to educate yourself through travel and reading, etc.

      Well done.

      My own father never went to college (blame me for that one...), yet he's one of the best educated men I know. He can talk to anyone about just about anything.

      I was a three-time dropout myself before finally finishing things off.

      Looking back, the most valuable things I got mostly either came outside the classroom or were a byproduct of my class work.

      > I learned how to analyze problems from multiple angles.

      > I learned how to see other peoples' points of view clearly enough that I could argue them even if I didn't agree.

      > I learned to navigate a bureaucracy effectively.

      > I gained valuable exposure to other cultures and classes of people. My classmates ranged from silver-spoon trust fund babies who traced their line back to the DAR to newly-arrived Hmong living in the back room of a store while the parents saved money to buy the store and the kids went to school.

      > I got exposed to a lot of different cultural activities. While I tend to favor classic country music, I have an appreciation for classical, opera, rock and roll, even Hawaiian slack-key guitar music. The same kind of thing goes for theater, movies, books, etc.

      > I got to meet people I might not have met otherwise. For example, my first macro-economics teacher was Dr. Walter Heller, one of President Kennedy's senior advisers.
      =====

      Tom, about the metaphors...

      "cowboy up" --> Get tough, grow some bollocks

      "fish or cut bait" --> **** or get off the pot
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      • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
        Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

        prodigaljoe and Alexandre, you both seem to have dodged the "rich hermit" bullet. Yes, it is possible to educate yourself through travel and reading, etc.

        Well done.

        My own father never went to college (blame me for that one...), yet he's one of the best educated men I know. He can talk to anyone about just about anything.

        I was a three-time dropout myself before finally finishing things off.

        Looking back, the most valuable things I got mostly either came outside the classroom or were a byproduct of my class work.

        > I learned how to analyze problems from multiple angles.

        > I learned how to see other peoples' points of view clearly enough that I could argue them even if I didn't agree.

        > I learned to navigate a bureaucracy effectively.

        > I gained valuable exposure to other cultures and classes of people. My classmates ranged from silver-spoon trust fund babies who traced their line back to the DAR to newly-arrived Hmong living in the back room of a store while the parents saved money to buy the store and the kids went to school.

        > I got exposed to a lot of different cultural activities. While I tend to favor classic country music, I have an appreciation for classical, opera, rock and roll, even Hawaiian slack-key guitar music. The same kind of thing goes for theater, movies, books, etc.

        > I got to meet people I might not have met otherwise. For example, my first macro-economics teacher was Dr. Walter Heller, one of President Kennedy's senior advisers.
        =====

        Tom, about the metaphors...

        "cowboy up" --> Get tough, grow some bollocks

        "fish or cut bait" --> **** or get off the pot
        Nice info but clearly you have never seen the 6th Form/college education system in the UK. It is tired and old best words to describe it. There is a subject (I call it a subject its just a thing..) We are forced to do called welsh welsh baccalaureate, it all sounds well and good when you have done it because uni's are thought to like it, but to get it you have to do pointless medial tasks. An Example we did the other day create a product for the company virgin (sounded okay at first) But what were you marked on? How much you could write down about it? - how well you worked in a team, nothing to do with if you were going to make money from it or how you would promote it....
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    • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
      Originally Posted by Tyrus Antas View Post

      The probability of you getting a job after college is much
      higher than the probability of you making this a full time
      income. It can happen, but it's difficult.

      Here's the deal: If you can make this work, you can make
      it work part-time. Don't quit school yet.

      Tyrus
      Originally Posted by alexdigital View Post

      IM can be a lonely existence.

      School and college has friends, girls and parties.

      Try and do both for as long as possible..!
      Originally Posted by joscarff View Post

      You can do school any time in your whole life. You can quit now and go back to it when you're 80. But right now is the only time you can only do it when you're young and the same age as everyone else. There's nothing sorrier than a Mature Age Student wandering around campus trying to find friends.

      It's only another year. What the hey. Stick it out and jsut have some fun. If you don't care about your grades, then don't care. You've obviously got some kind of support structure that will see you through, whether you pass or fail. You don't NEED this $200 per day. And the internet isn't going anywhere.

      Time flies. Don't waste the most carefree years of your life stuck behind a computer.
      Originally Posted by TK1 View Post

      There's only one answer to your questions:

      Do both.

      Always have some nice back up plans in life.

      And IM stuff is a nice stuff to do on the side etc.

      As a kid I had always my main focus "long term" way and my side ways called moneymakers.

      Moneymakers paid all my stuff that I had to handle day to day like rent, phone, car blah blah.

      My study etc. was the long term big moneymaker way.

      And to be even more honest:

      I think a questions like this should only be decided by your own thinking and not by a forum, so I hope you make your decision wise.

      TK
      Yeah I think that is the general feel, it's just when you know you can succeed at something but you just don't have the time to do it. My parents at this rate will be working into their 60/70s and I would love to help them retire earlier. But its just a decision.
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Awesome answers : prodigaljoe
    Hahaha less partying NOOOO!!!! -
    Well this is my two cents on the issue. I was attending school formally dropped out, finished my Associate's degree online. I wished I would have just gone on and finished school when I was attending the traditional way because I wouldn't have as much student loan debt as I do now. I'd say figure out a way to do your IM stuff on the weekend (yes, that would mean less partying).
    Nice answer frankm but I am not the doctor type. But good advise none the less.

    Also Alexa Smith I am not "congratulating and thanking the people who agree with him, and misquoting and misunderstanding others." It is just no one has given me a valid example, someone tried but it was a poor example. If its a good one then I would admit it and say thanks for the advise but it hasn't happened yet - I think that is a bit of a bitchy comment.

    Alexandre Valois - Thanks for the comment good advise.

    paulie888 - Nice information and you are right about the partying but I don't (that much) anyway but if I could work in the day I would have the time at nights wouldn't I. Good points and at the moment I do put sport first school second and I.M. third.
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  • Profile picture of the author chrisbear
    I't always great to have a backup plan. Finish school and work on your interent business when you can.

    Have you thought about outsourcing some of your IM work?
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

      Nice info but clearly you have never seen the 6th Form/college education system in the UK. It is tired and old best words to describe it. There is a subject (I call it a subject its just a thing..) We are forced to do called welsh welsh baccalaureate, it all sounds well and good when you have done it because uni's are thought to like it, but to get it you have to do pointless medial tasks. An Example we did the other day create a product for the company virgin (sounded okay at first) But what were you marked on? How much you could write down about it? - how well you worked in a team, nothing to do with if you were going to make money from it or how you would promote it....
      You're right. I know very little about the UK higher education system. And what I do know is probably flawed, since it's been gained from fiction.

      As for the Virgin product exercise, have you considered that the main point of the exercise might have been about learning to work with teams? Just saying, sometimes the learning to be gained from an exercise has nothing to do with the actual exercise.

      And if you ever plan to go beyond being a solo entrepreneur, team building skills might just come in handy.

      For the record, one of the reasons I had so many false starts at higher education was because I got frustrated with what I saw as BS courses created to keep tenured professors busy. Once I got it through my head that I could learn stuff from a course that had nothing to do with the actual course content, it became easier to deal with.

      And once I dealt with it, I got much more freedom in what courses I could take.

      Ultimately, though, it's you who has to make the decision and you who has to live with the consequences.

      Final bit of advice...

      If crunch time comes and you haven't made a decision, flip a coin. Heads you do, tails you don't. The actual result of the flip doesn't matter, because by the time the coin lands, you'll know how you want it to land. Do that.

      Good luck to you either way...
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      • Profile picture of the author miklanderson2
        I strongly agree with those saying you need to finish school. What happens if you don't make it as an Internet marketer? I know that seems like an impossibility and you're already making a little money but the cold, hard truth is there are more people that fail at this business than make it big.

        If you spend a couple years working full time at IM and decide it isn't for you, where will you be? You will be looking at returning to school which will be significantly more difficult than finishing it now. Finishing your schooling should be your top priority at this point in your life. That way, if you don't make it as an Internet marketer, at least you'll have something to fall back on.

        The people saying they wish they would have left school sooner are people who have made it in the IM world. What you don't see on this site are all of the people who didn't make it and ended up returning to school...or worse. It's much more difficult to go back later on in life. Trust me, I've been there and done that and wished the whole time I would have finished it the first time around...
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by miklanderson2 View Post

          The people saying they wish they would have left school sooner are people that have made it in the IM world. What you don't see on this site are all of the people who didn't make it and ended up returning to school...or worse.
          Indeed.

          Absolutely.

          And there are very, very few people actually claiming that they wish they'd left school earlier, anyway. And that tiny minority is saying it only to try to prove that there are some, and they're "protesting too much" because they actually have a subconscious/inner conflict about it.
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          • Profile picture of the author Alexandre Valois
            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            Indeed.

            Absolutely.

            And there are very, very few people actually claiming that they wish they'd left school earlier, anyway. And that tiny minority is saying it only to try to prove that there are some, and they're "protesting too much" because they actually have a subconscious/inner conflict about it.
            Gee, thanks Alexa

            Why are you so rude to me?
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            • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
              Originally Posted by RasiFranks View Post

              I would say you should drop out honestly. I was in my 2nd year of school sort of in the same position as you when I started my Digg marketing site and since it has grown substantially and I'm currently making 6 digits a year in my business. It can be very time consuming and theres just no need for school at that point. You have the idea you have the ambition you have the means just go for it.

              Its not like dropping out of college is for a lifetime...you can always go back and finish what you started and who knows in the months or years to come of IM you may find another area you like more than the field you were in. Its always best to take the chances you have RIGHT NOW and wait on the ones you can do later, because years down the road you may be thinking what if I had taken that one chance I had.

              1 vote for dropping out here.
              Nice answer thanks.


              Originally Posted by Alexandre Valois View Post

              Gee, thanks Alexa

              Why are you so rude to me?
              I know she is....
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              • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
                Banned
                Originally Posted by Alexandre Valois View Post

                Why are you so rude to me?
                Why do people I wasn't talking to at all keep asking me questions about things I've allegedly said to them, in this thread? :confused:

                Alexandre, I know nothing about you, wasn't addressing you, wasn't thinking about you, wasn't referring to you and wasn't even aware that you'd posted in the thread. I was replying to someone called "miklanderson2" (the clue was in the fact that I quoted an excerpt of his post with his name showing).

                That said, I apologise unreservedly if my facetious comment (the clue was in the smiley!) was something with which you identified enough to find it "rude". That was not my intention at all, nor was I even aware of the possibility/risk!
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                • Profile picture of the author Alexandre Valois
                  Alexa,

                  Haha, no worries, no harm no foul.

                  I just enjoy talking ****, please do not take anything I say too seriously, because I sure as hell don't.

                  Life is too serious to be taken seriously...

                  Alex.

                  Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

                  Why do people I wasn't talking to at all keep asking me questions about things I've allegedly said to them, in this thread? :confused:

                  Alexandre, I know nothing about you, wasn't addressing you, wasn't thinking about you, wasn't referring to you and wasn't even aware that you'd posted in the thread. I was replying to someone called "miklanderson2" (the clue was in the fact that I quoted an excerpt of his post with his name showing).

                  That said, I apologise unreservedly if my facetious comment (the clue was in the smiley!) was something with which you identified enough to find it "rude". That was not my intention at all, nor was I even aware of the possibility/risk!
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      • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
        Originally Posted by chrisbear View Post

        I't always great to have a backup plan. Finish school and work on your interent business when you can.

        Have you thought about outsourcing some of your IM work?
        What do you mean?

        Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

        You're right. I know very little about the UK higher education system. And what I do know is probably flawed, since it's been gained from fiction.

        As for the Virgin product exercise, have you considered that the main point of the exercise might have been about learning to work with teams? Just saying, sometimes the learning to be gained from an exercise has nothing to do with the actual exercise.

        And if you ever plan to go beyond being a solo entrepreneur, team building skills might just come in handy.

        For the record, one of the reasons I had so many false starts at higher education was because I got frustrated with what I saw as BS courses created to keep tenured professors busy. Once I got it through my head that I could learn stuff from a course that had nothing to do with the actual course content, it became easier to deal with.

        And once I dealt with it, I got much more freedom in what courses I could take.

        Ultimately, though, it's you who has to make the decision and you who has to live with the consequences.

        Final bit of advice...

        If crunch time comes and you haven't made a decision, flip a coin. Heads you do, tails you don't. The actual result of the flip doesn't matter, because by the time the coin lands, you'll know how you want it to land. Do that.

        Good luck to you either way...
        Thanks for the advise again, nice coin analogy.
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  • Profile picture of the author secrets2010
    Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

    I'm currently on about $30 a day and I am going to college 6th Form so am at school most of the time, when I get home I am tired and have to do homework and sport. My I.M. Comes 2nd but recently I have been doing well and think I could make a full time living from this ($200) a day but need more time. I know what all the responsible adults are going to say to this question but do you think I should leave school and go full time into I.M. knowing I can make it?
    You shouldnt leave school...quit your job yes (especially if you work for someone else...) but leave school? no way...I had the best time there...and study will allow you to become a lawyer, doctor or whatever you want to be...for example you could specialize in internet marketing law...which I don't think is that boring...

    just imagine in a few years your online business is working fine but all of sudden something bad happens...you get sued or whatever happens...it's always good to have studies...
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  • Profile picture of the author RasiFranks
    I would say you should drop out honestly. I was in my 2nd year of school sort of in the same position as you when I started my Digg marketing site and since it has grown substantially and I'm currently making 6 digits a year in my business. It can be very time consuming and theres just no need for school at that point. You have the idea you have the ambition you have the means just go for it.

    Its not like dropping out of college is for a lifetime...you can always go back and finish what you started and who knows in the months or years to come of IM you may find another area you like more than the field you were in. Its always best to take the chances you have RIGHT NOW and wait on the ones you can do later, because years down the road you may be thinking what if I had taken that one chance I had.

    1 vote for dropping out here.
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  • Profile picture of the author mark587905
    Do what makes you happy, thats all that matters in life IMO.
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  • Profile picture of the author James Foster
    Go to their schools. Get their degrees. But use it as a FALLBACK plan.

    Worst case scenario insurance if something catastrophic happens to you or your business.

    And don't forget 99% of the people in front of the class are teaching because they couldn't make it work themselves.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randy Daugherty
    You can look for someone to have partnership with you so every time you're in school they can take care of the site...you can ask your relative or a friend to assist you with this...
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  • Profile picture of the author danish_123
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexandre Valois
      Originally Posted by danish_123 View Post

      hi
      Gain an education and get your qualifications! At the same time continue to develop your IM skills My tip? If you're going to do it, be prepared to go all the way, and understand it won't always be easy. As some mentionned, you'll miss opportunities to meet new people since most people your age will either be students, or work in an office. You'll have to find ways to spend your free time, develop hobbies, meditate, and kick yourself in the ass to force yourself to go out once in a while and meet new people.
      Originally Posted by Alexandre Valois View Post

      I'm going to play the devil's advocate here and say ...

      I'm a 3-time college drop-out. Tried to make it work, but it never did it for me.

      Then I quit and dedicated myself to working on my business and improving myself full-time. And it's paid of ever since. Took a year to travel. I usually buy for around $200 per month in books from Amazon.

      I'm more educated than most people fresh out of university, and not only am I making money with my business while they're out there looking for work... I have the security of knowing I'll never run out of value to provide people, while their diplomas only go so far.

      My tip? If you're going to do it, be prepared to go all the way, and understand it won't always be easy. As some mentionned, you'll miss opportunities to meet new people since most people your age will either be students, or work in an office. You'll have to find ways to spend your free time, develop hobbies, meditate, and kick yourself in the ass to force yourself to go out once in a while and meet new people.

      If this sounds like trouble, you're probably better in school. It's a harsh world out there in the streets that forces you to always be brutally honest with yourself, and it's not for everyone.

      I guess coming up with your own content for spamming the forum is too much had work?

      I mean come on, how low can you go?

      Here's a shovel, show me how deep you can dig...
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  • Profile picture of the author Will Edwards
    Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

    I know what all the responsible adults are going to say to this question but do you think I should leave school and go full time into I.M. knowing I can make it?
    I consider myself to be responsible and I guess I am going to first reinforce what I think is your basic assumption: yes, finish school first. You need a decent education for all sorts of things and if you miss your opportunity now, it will be unlikely you will go back later.

    OK, that said, now let me shatter your assumption. If I were in your shoes, I would not get a job. I would learn how to survive on whatever means I had available whilst I built my online business. Everything else (after my education) I would put aside.

    In a couple of years, if you are dedicated, you will never need to work again.

    And good luck my friend.

    Will
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Thanks for all the good answers.

    Looks like this topic is quieting down now so thanks for the info.
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  • Profile picture of the author CalvinWarr
    Hey! I have a good reason to stay in school... the friends you meet in school are way cooler than the ones you meet in "the real world"... you see... In school

    - everyone is "learning"
    - back stabbing you won't gain them more marks
    - if one group don't talk to you, it doesn't matter, politicking is just not effective as all the power is in the hands of the teacher
    - the girls dig you for you, not because you have the corner office
    - girls in school are easily impressed if u tell them that you are just studying for the heck of it...

    Frankly, school is not about becoming a good employee. A levels are tough. But then, so if life. In the end, while you should do what you love, don't take the short cuts as you will be missing out on various experiences. Schooling is not necessary to become rich. However, it is yet another set of experience... college is really an interesting experience that no amount of movie watching can prepare you for.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by CalvinWarr View Post

      - girls in school are easily impressed if u tell them that you are just studying for the heck of it...
      Ooh, yes, we love that; nothing impresses us more. :rolleyes: :p
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      • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        Ooh, yes, we love that; nothing impresses us more. :rolleyes: :p
        Hehe. Where I'm from (Hull), there seems a no more effective way to remain a female-friendless virgin for as long as possible, than by giving off an air of intellect - no matter how mild.

        (And I'm not even joking :p).

        It's a sorry state of affairs when becoming a slobbering drunk and damaging your brain and body with hard drugs seems like a sound strategy to increase your social standing and sex appeal, let me tell you.
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Decided to stay until A.S. and if results are good continue, if not then leave but continue for now.
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  • Profile picture of the author joadcrank
    Hi there!
    Both are important, Internet Marketing and School.
    So..the interesting thing is to make them both if you want to feel good about you.
    Personally, in your case, I give more importance to I.M. and see if what I thought it works. If not, I return back to school and recover what I lose.
    Patience is a very important thing to success!
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  • Profile picture of the author SirHarrrison
    Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

    I'm currently on about $30 a day and I am going to college 6th Form so am at school most of the time, when I get home I am tired and have to do homework and sport. My I.M. Comes 2nd but recently I have been doing well and think I could make a full time living from this ($200) a day but need more time. I know what all the responsible adults are going to say to this question but do you think I should leave school and go full time into I.M. knowing I can make it?

    First get a miserable job so you can say you quit your miserable job to go full time into internet marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author LauraJames
    While it may be tempting, it is usually better to stay the course and finish your time in university. I acknowledge, however, that this belief may be fading, especially since many now believe the cost of getting the degree sometimes outweighs the financial benefit.

    Whether a person has a degree is not a determining factor when I hire someone to work for my company. Three staff members, for example, have more than 25 years of experience, so a university degree is has faded in importance. Of course, I know that in some professions, having a degree is a requirement. It really depends on the field.

    No one I know has ever regretted getting their university degree though.
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  • Profile picture of the author CCGAL
    Whether you like it or not, the fact is a college degree will open doors that you absolutely cannot open without one. For every Michael Dell or Bill Gates, there are literally thousands who drop out and never achieve that level of success.

    If you ever write a book, having a degree will automatically provide you with a level of authority that being a regular guy will not, and it won't matter how genuinely intelligent you are or how much you know. It's just how the human mind works.

    The older you get the harder it becomes to justify the time, expense and labor of obtaining a genuine degree. If you have a chance to get one while you are young, I sincerely doubt you will ever grow old and say, "I regret having spent that time in college" but if you drop out, you will always wonder what you might have been if you'd completed your education.

    Life has a way of tossing curve balls at you ... and your life could very well turn out a LOT different than you think it will right now. If you or your significant other experience one bad car wreck, one disabled child, one terminal illness, or any one major life changing event, your entire future can turn on dime.

    That said ... remember that we are all viewing your question through the filters of our own lives, and offering you what we have learned through our mistakes. Learn from the mistakes of others because life is too darned short to make them all yourself.
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  • Profile picture of the author jointaldc
    That's hard, see, I never went to college and always just wanted that education, and I still want to go. I would never tell you to forgo your education, but if you can make money now ... if I could do it again, I'd make money again, because you do gain knowledge through it as well
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  • Profile picture of the author dagaul101
    I would stick with the school, IM is getting tougher to maintain the levels of income, if you quit school now and IM doesn't work then you have nothing to fall back on, which would be a shame
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      This isn't aimed at Tom, or anyone else for that matter...

      There was a time, not all that long ago, when "being educated" was not the same thing as "training to get a job", even if that job was running your own business.

      Getting an education, especially a college degree, was a luxury reserved for either the very rich or the very ambitious. It was a period to delve into the humanities, explore the sciences, learn from history during the day, and have a good time building lifetime friendships during the evening. Maybe even raise a little hell...

      During that not-so long ago time, a high school diploma meant that even the kids at the tag end of the class had basic skills in reading, writing and math.

      If you didn't have the luxury of college, you either went to a trade school or found a job (even if that meant starting your own business). There was no stigma attached to going to a trade or vocational school as long as you did honest work.

      Then sometime between my parents generation and mine, things started to change. High schools changed their focus away from preparing people for a normal, respectable life and toward being college prep courses. And colleges and universities started moving away from being "institutions of higher learning" and toward being the new vocational schools.

      I was fortunate. I went to a high school which actually gave me a basic education. I also had counselors who showed me how to test my way out of many of the freshman requirements that drive so many of you to quit in frustration. I saw some of my classmates tearing their hair out because they had to waste time taking courses that covered material they had mastered years earlier.

      The opportunity for a real education is still there, but you have to dig a lot harder to find it. One alternative is indeed traveling the world. But not in the "21 countries in 14 days" kind of whirlwind. Jan and some of the others learned about other cultures by going there and living in them. I learned some of the same things when those cultures came to me at the university. Thinking back, I had friends, study buddies and lab partners I spent a lot of hours with from over a dozen different countries and just about every continent.

      Even most of the folks who posted here who skipped or quit school talk about alternative education via traveling, reading, etc.

      I haven't heard one yet say, "Damn, I wish I'd spent more time spinning articles and grubbing for backlinks..."

      Thanks for letting me get this off my chest...
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  • Profile picture of the author twentyone
    The best thing you can do is to have a good time management.
    You can continue with your education that's very important.
    And you can also continue to enhance your IM skills find a good time for you to work for it.
    You dot need to go full time immediately wait until you graduate. That's wont take you to long.
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  • Profile picture of the author SeanyG
    Do both and find a way. Thats why I did! If you can't do both then something needs to drop!
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Thanks for the info and the opinions they are all really good as always.
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  • Profile picture of the author richjo
    I found Internet marketing some 9 years ago, when I was just starting my a levels. I, like you, couldn't find the time to commit so I put it on the back burner. When I finished my a-levels i found I had nothing to go to, so, back to the Im stuff. Out of nowhere I found myself offered an engineering apprenticeship with a major uk airline, 4 years of work. How could I turn down an opportunity like that? So, the marketing was forgotten for 4 years. After 4 years of graft, exams, stuffed knuckles over 3 stone in weight lost and a qualification, I find myself offered a more senior position some 300 miles away from where i I live. I took it, and 3 years later brings me to where I am today, picking up the marketing because i have the time to integrate it with my very generous shift hours, I have 4 free days a week to concentrate on it, and I earn 10 times more than I did when I started as an apprentice.*
    I chose to put the marketing second to my education, but now I have the opportunity to add new skills.

    Sorry for the poor layout of this post, I can't do writing well on the iphone
    The choice is yours.*
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    • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
      Originally Posted by richjo View Post

      I found Internet marketing some 9 years ago, when I was just starting my a levels. I, like you, couldn't find the time to commit so I put it on the back burner. When I finished my a-levels i found I had nothing to go to, so, back to the Im stuff. Out of nowhere I found myself offered an engineering apprenticeship with a major uk airline, 4 years of work. How could I turn down an opportunity like that? So, the marketing was forgotten for 4 years. After 4 years of graft, exams, stuffed knuckles over 3 stone in weight lost and a qualification, I find myself offered a more senior position some 300 miles away from where i I live. I took it, and 3 years later brings me to where I am today, picking up the marketing because i have the time to integrate it with my very generous shift hours, I have 4 free days a week to concentrate on it, and I earn 10 times more than I did when I started as an apprentice.*
      I chose to put the marketing second to my education, but now I have the opportunity to add new skills.

      Sorry for the poor layout of this post, I can't do writing well on the iphone
      The choice is yours.*
      Nice post and yeah where did you study A levels?
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      • Profile picture of the author richjo
        Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

        Nice post and yeah where did you study A levels?
        I went to sixth form in Devon. I didn't do particularly well, and I had no ambitions of university, but I enjoyed myself and gained a few qualifications from it. It also kept me busy until the right opportunity arose. I worked part time at sainsburys to by beer and cigs and earned considerably
        More that I did as an apprentice later on, but not having money was a worthwhile sacrifice at the time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    Don't ask me, I dropped out of college to pursue my business full-time when I discovered that I could make more money in a month than I would make in a year if I actually got the job I wanted in the field I was studying for.

    It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

    Years later, after I had built my income and set myself up comfortably, I got married. My wife and I don't believe in day care, so being financially set was great for us because my wife hasn't ever had to work. When we had two children, she was home to raise them. Once they reached junior high school level I decided that it was time to go back and get my degree. I didn't get the degree because it will do anything for me from a career perspective, but I got my degree simply because I want my daughters to have an example in their two parents: if they succeed in business and aren't interested in pursuing a degree (as I did), we support them; if they decide to go after a degree (as I did), we support them; if they decide that they'd prefer to just be a mom or a homemaker, we support them.

    I guess you might say that my wife and I "walk the talk" when it comes to trying to set a good example for our children.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kevin_Hutto
    Its your life... So nobody can tell you what to do. And in my experience most people who ask questions like this already have made up their mind but are looking for validation. That being said, college was some of the best and funnest days of my life. Its a special time. It wont be quite the same if you go back and do it at 40...
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  • Profile picture of the author angelawang
    May be you're looking for people who support you to quit school.
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  • Profile picture of the author jesus72knight
    Definitely a big NO! Always remember that IM is not a constant and spontaneous business model. Things could go out of your hand anytime. What if one day IM will not be lucrative as it is now? (Knock on wood. Hope this would not happen) What will you do?

    Are you willing to do odd job for a living if you fail IM? Kid, get a diploma and a degree. Never ever prioritize IM over education. Only few people are lucky enough to finish college and are proud of it. Be one of them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ashley Skuse
    TomBuck, you have your whole life to make money with Internet Marketing. You're in college 6th form - complete it while you can, there is really no hurry for someone your age. It's also a greater means of security - you should always have something to fall back onto.

    I have all sorts going on with my CV.. and you never know when you might need it. Get your 6th form over and done with and then be a free bird for the rest of your life.
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    • Profile picture of the author AlienSEOMan
      Originally Posted by Ashley Cooper View Post

      TomBuck, you have your whole life to make money with Internet Marketing. You're in college 6th form - complete it while you can, there is really no hurry for someone your age. It's also a greater means of security - you should always have something to fall back onto.

      I have all sorts going on with my CV.. and you never know when you might need it. Get your 6th form over and done with and then be a free bird for the rest of your life.
      Totally agree with Ashley Cooper.
      You have a whole life to work.
      Even Bill Gates has regretted quitting college
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  • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
    Haha Bill Gates regretted quitting college, I doubt that but still I know for every 100 people who leave college 90 don't make it and 10 do but still....
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

      Haha Bill Gates regretted quitting college, I doubt that
      You may doubt it, Tom, but Bill Gates has said it openly and repeatedly. He's actually a great advocate of formal, academic education and has endowed many scholarships to enable people short of funds to take advantage of it. (Curious that your reaction to information that surprises you is apparently to laugh at it?)
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        Alexa -

        He will argue with anyone who disagrees with his "success theories". We aren't talking university - he's 17 (or so he posted elsewhere).

        I knew everything at 17, too - didn't get dumb until I was at least 21
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        • Profile picture of the author YseUp
          Life isn't all about making money. There are all kinds of experiences to be had. In fact the best things in life are free.

          Remember school and college are also about socializing and meeting people from different backgrounds as well. (And never in your life will it be as easy to meet girls as in school and college).
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          I knew everything at 17, too - didn't get dumb until I was at least 21
          I am 21 now ... and working on it!
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      • Profile picture of the author TomBuck
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        You may doubt it, Tom, but Bill Gates has said it openly and repeatedly. He's actually a great advocate of formal, academic education and has endowed many scholarships to enable people short of funds to take advantage of it. (Curious that your reaction to information that surprises you is apparently to laugh at it?)
        Easy to say as a billionaire don't you think?
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

          Easy to say as a billionaire don't you think?
          For me, it's not so much about just what he says: it's also about what he does with his wealth: "follow the money", as they say. Do you think that a lot of Gates Foundation scholars and graduates share your perspective on that point, Tom?
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        • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
          Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

          Easy to say as a billionaire don't you think?
          It's quite possible that he feels incomplete in some way. Perhaps that
          could be one of the reasons he contributes so much to education for
          others. That plus he needs to do something with a significant amount
          of money for tax purposes - charities, etc.

          I wouldn't be surprised if he does feel incomplete regarding his education.
          He walked away from one of the finest universities in the world. Of course
          I understand why he did it, and I probably would have done it, too. Maybe,
          I don't know.

          He was probably too busy in all the ensuing years to finish his education. Yes,
          this discussion has sparked my curiosity a little bit.

          The thing about an education is it enriches your mind and therefore your life.
          It does so in quite a number of ways. Not to mention it trains your mind to
          be able to use it (the mind) to a greater extent.

          If a person has wealth, then much depends on that person's unique disposition.
          So much in one's perspective changes, and it's easy I think to get caught up
          in what it can provide, or make possible. But I know that I would return to
          school if I had wealth at an earlier age and lacked education.

          Even at my current age, I would definitely return to school for certain things.
          I finished my formal education in the mid 80s, but I've continued to attend
          university classes off and on ever since. I just finished one several weeks ago
          and will be starting another in January.

          I'm always impressed to think about the guitar player for Metallica. Long after
          they were wealthy and famous, he attended UCLA (I think) full time and graduated
          with a degree in history or literature. I believe it was related to Asian lit or
          history. I think that's pretty cool.

          Education opens the doors and windows of your mind much more. The rooms are
          brighter for it. But I don't say that in any negative comparison to those who did
          not have the opportunity for higher education.


          Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

    I'm currently on about $30 a day and I am going to college 6th Form so am at school most of the time, when I get home I am tired and have to do homework and sport. My I.M. Comes 2nd but recently I have been doing well and think I could make a full time living from this ($200) a day but need more time. I know what all the responsible adults are going to say to this question but do you think I should leave school and go full time into I.M. knowing I can make it?

    I do have an opinion on the matter, but it's your life. No matter what you decide,
    one important thing I feel you should learn, or cultivate, is making your own
    decisions. Once you do, then you deal with what ever consequences arise.

    That's life.

    I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic with your reference to adults, and I don't
    care one way or the other. I feel you're smart enough to consider the question
    from all relevant perspectives. Plus you have received, I'm assuming, a fair
    amount of opinions offered by others.

    I will say this, though, there may be a time down the road when the only thing
    you have are your wits. If your knife is dull... well then.


    Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author balilong
    life is not money all the time since we all gonna stop working when we get to the retiring age. but learning can be infinite and unlimited.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by balilong View Post

      we all gonna stop working when we get to the retiring age
      I'll never make it: every time I get a year older the "retiring age" goes up another year.
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  • Originally Posted by TomBuck View Post

    Do you think I should leave school and go full time into I.M. knowing I can make it?
    This boils down, mainly, to one single question: in the future, do you see yourself as an entrepreneur or as a white-collar worker?

    By definition, entrepreneurs will have to take risks and accept uncertainties in their lives aiming for a far greater reward. In the other hand, college-degree'd white collar workers will probably walk a paved 9-to-5 career that should be more comfortable and/or certain yet less rewarding (both in terms of money and self-achievement).

    Yes, I know, this is a blatant generalization, but let's be honest: it's pretty close to reality.

    So, do you want to be an entrepreneur or a white-collar worker? if the earlier, sooner or later you WILL HAVE TO step off the beaten path (meaning the college followed by the 9-to-5 thingy).
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Tom, I think it's futile and utterly useless for any of us to argue with you on this issue. You clearly came on here looking for people to validate your opinion, and not to hear the subjective and unbiased opinions of others.

    Even though it appears that your mind is made up, you should at least consider some of the opposing advice given in here.

    Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author rkz0121
    Getting an education may also be considered a good 'back-up' plan
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