In his new book, Blue is the New White: The Best Path to Success No One Told You About, Josh Zolin explains why a college degree is not necessarily the only path to success. He discovered this firsthand, rising through hard work from a technician at his dad’s small business to the CEO of a multi-million-dollar company.

The Skilled Trades, an Alternative

According to Zolin, high school students don’t understand how lucrative a career in the trades can be. These careers are thought of as unworthy, but there is actually a lot of room for growth and opportunity. Pursuing a career in the trades also allows young adults to succeed without a great deal of debt.

Shifting Perceptions

One reason why careers in the trades, such as plumbing or HVAC, seem undesirable is the perception that these careers are hard and dirty. Zolin points out that this is only one part of a trades career. There are many support roles in the trades, such as salespeople, managers, and people who own software companies that specifically serve the trades. These are all careers where knowledge of the trade is essential, but are not labor intensive. By shifting the idea that trades are dirty, they can be made more desirable.

There is also the perception that tradespeople make a low salary. While this might be true when beginning a career, in just a few years a tradesman can go from making $15 an hour to $30-$35 or more. Zolin believes that by making this information available, more young adults may decide to pursue a career in the trades.

Zolin also points out that many of the systems modern society relies on is a result of trade work. This means that the need for skilled tradesmen is only going to grow. This demand will lead to an abundance of opportunity.

Advice for Students

What should you do if you are not sure about college? Zolin recommends trying a trade. Even if you decide that a trade is not for you, you will have made some money to pay for a college education. If you try college first, you may not have the money to pay for it and incur debt that you will then have to pay off.

When it comes to deciding about a career, Zolin advocates giving students all available information, about both college and the trades.


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