Groomed for Mediocrity

We sit in front of flat screens, drooling over the lives of people who have absolutely no impact on our own life and wonder why the vast majority of us are living paycheck to paycheck and comfortable with a government that has educated and groomed so many to live a life of mediocrity.

You know there is something wrong when a recent article makes a case for kindergarten teachers making $320,000.00 for laying a solid educational foundation, only to realize that in the real, real world , we care little about the quality of a child's education, nor do we care what we pay teachers, kindergarten or not. Look the fact is educators do not increase revenue, entertain, create jobs or pay out lottery dividends. They are just not the "elite" group in America, like entertainers, politicians, athletes, actors and Wall Street swindlers. http://www.cnbc.com/id/38447475

Nonetheless we all want to live high on the pork rind, everybody wants to be somebody, even if they say they don't and everyone wants to make more money and live a more comfortable, happy life…and why not?

Everyone wants something for nothing. If you want an education, you no longer work and go to school, it's too expensive. So, what do we do? Students, young and old, take out loans they can never pay back or apply for grants and scholarships that are ripping the seams out of the pockets of taxpayers.

Take a peek at any discussion forum set up to help entrepreneurs and you will see information that gives you just enough to keep you coming back. It's a "crack forum", shelling out information that teases, provides short lived mediocre value and insight. The fact is the folks who use these forums do not realize the individuals posting rarely have their best interest in mind; and are actually more interested in either selling their product or service or feeding their ego.

Truly good information, something that might move you, your family or business forward will cost, and it matters not if it is a little or a lot, no one wants to purchase information. Today, the Internet has transformed us into a society of folks seeking "handout-information". Have we forgotten the old saying, "Nothing in life is free"? Nope, we stand by the belief that everyone in need should receive, "Give me what I want when I want it or I'll have a fit!"

It is apparent if we keep on the current path Americans will be a pool of mediocre, mindless, moles popping our heads up at night to see what the other moles are doing, not realizing that none of us are doing much of anything.

Stopping this madness will be painful. We are looking at the total re-education of the American people. It is no longer about leaving a world for our children or taking care of our parents, but redefining life as we know it. The idea that we do just enough to get by, build a life by hanging on the every word of Bloggers, tweet about "Winning" and boggle our minds with thoughts of who is winning American Idol is just ridiculous. This magnetic mediocre field of dreams keeps us stuck in mediocrity.

So what is the solution? Learn, then learn some more. It's simple and involves work, real work. There is nothing new under the sun and there are folks in the world who can assist you with your every need; start taking classes and networking with people who can offer you sound information and advice.

Did you know there are free and low cost online courses available with the click of a mouse?

It is not true that everything that is free is worthless, or that anything of value can only be redeemed by giving up your first born. Here are a number of online educational programs that will assist you in learning. Learning what? Whatever it is that you want to know, accounting, history, how-to start your own business, the list is endless. Take a stroll through these sites and sign up to learn. Don't give lame excuses like, "I won't get any credit for these courses, I can't learn online, I am not a good reader, or my attention span is short;" just try it, you might like it.

What American's must ask today is "What is knowledge, know-how, and experience worth?" Is a free online course worth time away from the flat screen? What price would you place on learning $10, $50 $100 or more? If a job promotion demanded that you learn Excel, would you pay for a course to learn it or just look for something else to do? Why are Americans living a life of mediocrity, whining about high gas and food prices as opposed to looking for ways to increase their personal wealth?

What have you learned lately?

Harvard University Extension School
Open Learning Initiative
http://www.extension.harvard.edu/openlearning/

MIT Open Courseware - Free Online Courses
http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

Open University - UK - Free Online Courses
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/

Carnegie Mellon University - Free Online Courses
http://oli.web.cmu.edu/openlearning/

Tufts University - Free Online Cou
http://ocw.tufts.edu/

Sanford University - (iTunes)
http://itunes.stanford.edu/

University of California, Berkeley
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/courses.php

ed2go
Largest provider of online courses for adults. More than 300 affordable, fun, fast, and fully interactive online courses.
http://www.ed2go.com/