As we celebrate our nation’s independence, we should remember that one of the benefits of our American way of life is free enterprise. With hard work you can be your own boss and accomplish your dreams. Why aren’t more of us striving towards this goal?

90% of Americans are suffering through this recession and are finding it difficult to take care of their families. Why is that? Is it because there’s no recourse? Is it because there’s no possible means of support in these desperate times? Is it the government’s fault for not lending a helping hand? Could it be that for some reason the degree you chased and finally achieved isn’t stuffing your checking account to overflow?

Now, it’s not for lack of effort, and your intention is success; however there is a lack of what made this country great in that paradigm, and that is self-reliance. It’s self-reliance and the desire to plan for the best future possible. Now that’s a plan to win.

It’s interesting that for years we were told to stay in school and to, “do what’s right”. It was the only way.

To be sure, it provides for some specific options out of school. Indeed, there are professions that require a degree, a physician, a lawyer etc. Certainly continuing your education is extremely desirable, no matter what your goal is. The point is, you must have a goal. Now for instance, with a history degree you might be able to get a teaching job. Unfortunately, it will take a lifetime to pay off your student loans on a teacher’s salary, and with the cuts to the education budget there are no guarantees of maintaining that job. Until that day, here you are with a teaching job you might lose due to cutbacks, and a mammoth student loan debt.

All through my adolescence I was told time and time again to avoid the “sales” route.

“You don’t want to work on a commission basis because it’s way too stressful.”

Would it be as stressful as being four years older, eighty thousand dollars in debt, with an ulcer and a job you’re anxious about losing to show for it?

Working in a commission-based job affirms your self-worth with every check. You’re never in a position where you’ll go unrecognized for your best work possible. If you’re truly doing all you can to succeed, it will reflect in your commission checks. Your self-worth will be defined for your employer and he’ll thank you for it. Every pay check, commission or otherwise, is your report card. Commission removes subjectivity. That’s important because it separates you from the heard. You will distinguish yourself, and prosper for having done so.

Understand, I’m not saying that you need to make millions, though who wouldn’t like that? What I am saying is that a hard-working cell phone salesman can earn a nice living and get some “real-world, real-money”, training before he reaches his early twenties. He can take that drive and that talent and plug it into his next project, perhaps temping for an attorney or a CPA. He brings his self-starting work ethic into a much larger financial world. He’s now an apprentice to a giant in his field. From there he could take that practical experience and motivation into any sales position he chooses.

For example he could join an investment team that’s purchasing homes that are on the market for a steal. The commissions from these projects would propel our young entrepreneur into the real world, with real money, real savings, real health insurance, and zero student loan debt. Who knows? Those commissions might even pay for you to get you that history degree and end up debt-free doing it. Imagine the quality of the teacher who has a full bank account and can now concentrate exclusively on providing the most innovative lesson plans possible.