The thing I worry about most, as a public figure with a large megaphone and a tendency to mouth off, is that someone will take my advice who shouldn’t. I’ve always been suspicious of so-called experts who deal in platitudes and bromides – especially those politicians, influencers, and myriad blowhards who fire off sound bites about complicated topics that can literally change the course of someone’s life. But it wasn’t until I became marginally famous that I realized how easy it was to become one of those blowhards.
Regarding a four-year degree, for instance. I genuinely believe that our university system is broken, bloated, and wildly overpriced. I’ve been consistent in my belief that “College for all” is a profoundly misguided sentiment that’s done far more harm than good, and that a trade school would be a better option for countless college graduates who can’t find work in their chosen fields and are saddled a mountain of debt. But of course, that doesn’t mean that lots of people haven’t benefited and will continue to benefit – despite the obscene cost – from purchasing a four-year degree. And so, I need to constantly remind myself not to paint with too broad a brush. Today, whenever I’m in front of a camera or behind a microphone or a keyboard, I try to remember that that the only thing more dangerous than taking cookie-cutter advice, is dispensing it. And I’m happy to tell you that my guest this week feels the same way.
Ken Coleman is in the advice business. He’s written some excellent books on man’s eternal search for meaning, and spent a lot of time on the radio, listening to unhappy people desperate to know why they feel so profoundly unfulfilled. I wanted to know – among other things – how Ken is able to dispense advice that’s deeply personal, on a platform that’s intensely public. His answer is in the clip below, but our entire conversation is even more enlightening, and available here https://bit.ly/TWIHI405 or on your favorite podcast app.
If you’ve ever wondered about your own purpose in this world, or if you might be able to make a bit more sense of the circumstances that surround you, give it a listen. I have no idea if it’s what everybody needs to hear on this particular day, but I’m pretty sure most of you will find it incredibly useful.
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