I suppose an “About Me” page is where you would expect to read a third person professional write up on myself. Hmmm…. well that’s not really my style, so I’ll just go ahead and tell you “about me” in my own words. 
Becoming An Internet Entrepreneur Or Going To College (Which will make you wealthier?)
November 6th, 2007 by Jeremy EnkeWow, when I decided to write this blog post today I went to google images to look for a picture and simply googled the word college. Keep in mind I have no filters on my searches (or my brain and writing for that matter). Apparently to google images, college now days consists of lesbians and plenty of oral sex. <———-I’m thinking about going back for my masters. 
Anyhow, on to the topic at hand. I have my bachelors degree in business management and communication. (Bill Gates does not) I suppose I wouldn’t necessarily trade it for anything. But at the same time I can also say with a fair amount of confidence that I will never use it again. If I did, it would be because I were taking some executive position that had a degree as a requirement, but not because the degree qualified me……if that makes sense.
Let’s hypothetically say the ballers over at PartyGaming offered me a seven figure executive position. (Feel free to ship that offer over when you have a second Mitch)….. Do you really think they would want me because of my B.A., or instead because of industry knowledge, experience, and more importantly my ideas for the future of PartyGaming?
So let’s look at the question again. What will make you wealthier, going to college or becoming an entrepreneur? I say unequivocally without a doubt, becoming an entrepreneur will make you much wealthier. Especially if you are involved in affiliate marketing or making money on the internet in some fashion. If anything go to college just so you can get a degree and a middle class job to fund your entrepreneurship and stupid investments that you will inevitably make. That was the JE plan, and it worked fairly well.
If you are thinking of “being an entrepreneur” and opening up a hot dog stand at soldier field in the post season, then certainly go to college. But if you already have a moderatly successful affiliate business, the only point of college is for something to fall back on. <——-not right or wrong, just my opinion.
Here is a list of the highest paying U.S. jobs according to Career Builder.
- Surgeon — $181,850
- Anesthesiologist — $174,610
- OB/GYN — $174,610
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeon — $169,600
- Internist — $156,790
- Prosthodontist — $156,710
- Orthodontist — $153,240
- Psychiatrist — $151,380
- Chief Executive Officer — $140,880
- Engineering Manager — $140,210
- Pediatrician — $140,000
- Family or general practitioner — $137,980
- Physician/surgeon, all other — $137,100
- Airline Pilot — $134,090
- Dentist — $132,660
- Podiatrist — $111,130
- Lawyer — $110,590
- Dentist, any other specialist — $106,040
- Air Traffic Controller — $100,430
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $100,110
- Marketing Manager — $100,020
- Natural Sciences Manager — $97,560
- Sales Manager — $96,950
- Astronomer — $96,780
The amount of money to be made as an internet entrepreneur far trumps any of these careers. I will never have a pager going off at 2:00 AM paging me into the hospital. I will never get sued for malpractice. I will never have to operate on some stinky ass feet. Yet every year I will make a nice six figure income working my own hours in the comfort of this pimped out office.
I am not knocking anyone that does choose to go to college. Hell I already have college funds set up for my daughters and I will encourage them to go. To be honest, the life of an entrepreneur is not for everyone. The income varies from month to month, and the word “certainty” will never even enter your vocabulary.
Entrepreneurs are risk takers with a mentality that is completely different than the traditional 9-5 worker. I just wanted
to make this post to point out #1 how lucky us affiliates doing this full-time really are. And #2 to show what the top “professional jobs” pay. These incomes are peanuts compared to what the top affiliates are making each month.
Again all the readers working the 9-5 or with college degrees will probably flame this post in the comments. All I am saying is that you can never become truly wealthy working for the man. Except in the case of commissioned sales you can, but even this is considered entrepreneurship in most circles.
Here is a list of the biggest baller entrepreneurs in the world. They all have one thing in common, none have a higher education.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Great post. I think the only reason I am finishing school is so I can learn more about coding in general to supplement my online projects. Yea, that and to keep the haters (parents) at bay.
November 6th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I go to college because my parents are paying for it, but I make a better living at my current job than any entry level job I would get with my degree.
Problem is, having a college degree can be like a status thing to some people, which is completely ridiculous, hence the list you mention.
It’s something to fall back on though I hope I never have to.
Nothing would be better than making my own hours, rules, and money.
November 6th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Jeremy keep these posts up! Everyone is pushing me one step forward to quitting and doing this full time. I appreciate it!
November 6th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
I meant “every one” not everyone.
November 6th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
I don’t regret getting my degree. In fact it made me some decent money while I was using it. I am just glad I didn’t get stuck in the pipe dream of someday making “six figures” in Corporate America simply because I have a degree.
There is nothing better than being an entrepreneur and seeing your long years of hard work pay off. And I think many successful affiliate marketers can attest to that.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:24 am
Well, if money is your main goal then for surely being an entrepreneur is right for you. However, many people enter careers with the ambition to help people. Ex. the surgeons that will operate on stinky feet, thank god for these people… it’d be scary to think a world without these people.
There are different motivational factors when choosing a career. I’m not trying to knock you or your post by any means but, I think you should point out having a job that makes you happy is more important then any dollar figure.
November 7th, 2007 at 8:45 am
Nice response Aidan, I think you hit the nail on the head with that one.
November 7th, 2007 at 10:11 am
I don’t regret college either. I had no clue what I wanted to do right up until it was almost too late (Environmental Law).. The world needs all kinds of people and I agree with Aidan’s’ response.
In the end though, you just have to figure out what will make YOU happy when it’s all said and done..
November 7th, 2007 at 10:25 am
I knew this post would bring some mixed feelings in the comments. Hence the reason I wrote it
My next entry later today or this evening will be about the benefits of working in the “real world”.
I agree with Randy’s comment too. What makes ME happy is money, security, and freedom. The poker affiliate market provides me with all of this.
Well, I suppose finding out mid way through a $40 lapdance that the extended version of the song is playing also makes me happy………but that’s a whole other story.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
That list is pretty crazy, a CEO makes 140K while an Astronomer makes 96K? How the hell does an astronomer make 96K? Do you get a planet discovery bonus?
November 7th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Nice article Jeremy, I am currently in college and new to the affiliate game. I am constantly trying to learn new things so one day I can do it as a full time job as well.
Do you think its realistic for someone still in college and just starting out to hope for a full income from solely poker affiliating? Is the market going to continue to grow? What things should I focus on?
November 7th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Hey Kevin,
Yes it is completely possible, but it will also take a lot of hard work. The market is still growing especially in several European countries.
Here are a couple blogs you should read that are by two of my friends who also went to college but opted to go the full time affiliate route.
www.kylehealey.com
www.justingoff.com
November 7th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Kevin, there is still tons of room. New sites are popping up all the time, you just need to hustle a lot more. If you give it a lot of effort, keep at it and don’t give up (it took me over a year before I started noticing any kind of profits (though you can do it much faster)), your hard work will eventually pay off.
Good luck!
Graham
November 8th, 2007 at 5:40 am
Great Article. Nothing is better than working from home.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Good post Jeremy. You know I just recently quit University (College for you yanks ;)) and I’m so glad I did.
November 9th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
I would’ve figured proctologists made the most.
You know, having to deal with a-holes all day.
November 9th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Justin’s Blog is a must read guys. I’m checking out Kyle’s now. Also, why do astronomers make that much and teachers make 30k if they are luck?
November 10th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Great post. I think its a lot of potential in the poker affiliate business in the years to come. More and more markets will open up and more countries will legaliZe online poker. Also, every year there is millions of people in the world turning 18 and turning out to be potential new customers. (RMPs)
November 20th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Intresteing read! One great thing about internet is that it does not shut down. So if you have a good page you have it working for you even when you are not at work.