What Should You Do If Your Child Wants To Make Money Online?
Is making money online an good career choice for your child? What would your reaction be, and what would you do if your own kid told you that they want to pursue a career as an Internet marketer, digital product developer, or even a pro blogger? Let’s assume for a moment that your child was doing excellent in their last year of high school. Everything is set in stone. Your child is set to gain a higher education and plans have been made for college. Their path will soon lead them to having an amazing education which will result in having an amazing and high paying job. The problem though, is now at the last minute, your child comes to you and tells you that they don’t want to follow this path. Instead, they want to learn more about making money online.
This question comes direct from a GarryConn.com reader named Roman, who owns a blog titled, How This Website Makes Money.
Here is a question I always wanted to ask but was never appropriate. If you had an 18 year old son or daughter just out of high school, with honors and scholarship offers, and they came to you and said, “Dad, I do not think I will go to University. I want to be like you. I am going to start a blog and make my living online.” What would your reply be?
I think it is an excellent question to ask and one that I wanted to share with you and gain your input on. What do you think? If you had a child who wanted to earn a living by making money online, what would you do? What would your reaction be as a parent? Would you support their efforts or would you discourage them? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
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28 comments
High school? Shoot, my kid isn’t yet 2, he’s mastered pbskids.org with the mouse and the games and the whole nine. I’ve already said he’ll be creating sites earning Google Adsense before he’s 10. Surely with my direct, or indirect, influence, he’ll at least be blogging by then. I’m certainly not going to push him into it, he’s free to pursue any old thing he wants, but I’d be thrilled and ecstatic if he decided to follow in his mom’s footsteps!!! And college is overrated. What a great question!
Garry,
Tough question, but I think many have heard of the stories of Bill Gates and Michael Dell having dropped out of college to pursue endeavors that resulted in huge earnings. I personally have the real life “rich uncle” that made a fortune without the college degree. So I am convinced that higher education is NOT necessary nor a guarantee of higher earnings, although I do think the college experience can help guide one toward maturity (helped me) and can also help learn critical thinking/problem solving skills. That said, college is a costly venue to gain these attributes and I’m sure can be done elsewhere – life itself is a great teacher. I also think that societal norms are changing in the information age such that a college degree no longer confers the status it may have done in the past. As my own kids are still more than a decade away from this life transition, I have a while to determine exactly how I would respond to them. But seeing how much has changed, how many career opportunities have emerged in the last decade, I think that even the traditional college experience will either have to adapt to the new environment or eventually dwindle away into history.
My children are grown now but I think higher education gets more important with each generation. With that said and without down-playing the importance of collage I believe it’s our job to guide and encourage our children. Traditional education is mainly career oriented and I would rather guide them toward entrepreneurship. I don’t see why both can’t be done at the same time. Personally, I would love to have that as a concern. I always thought it would be cool to tell someone to set an income goal in the expected range of their chosen career. Once that income can be earned online consistently they would have my full support – and respect.
I plan on starting college in September and taking it through university, the whole lot. But I have had that thought in my mind. But I love learning, so I could not stay on the computer 100% of the time lol.
There is no question here. You go to college.
There are two reasons that this is the answer:
1. A college eduction is one of the few things in life that you can get that can never be taken away from you. Once you have it, it’s yours for life. Since you will live an average of 67.8 years after college, it is IMPOSSIBLE to guess what opportunities you might miss without a degree – including some on-line opportunities.
2. Nothing is stopping you from starting a IM business in high school and working it through college. No need to make the choice. What better environment to work on line than a university?
Regards,
Mark
Everyone can chose for him self, even my kids from the future! Lol! I don’t have kids, but I’ll like to have! Now, about those money… Yes, money are the essence of our existence, but knowledge is our pattern in life and the prove of our universal existence! I regret and i will regret, all my life, for not finishing my highschool…! It’s extremely sad! But, what can i say or do now?! Is too late! I will remain a dillettant in everything I’ll ever do… Learning from others! Garry please see my review about your site from my my blog ! Thanks my friend! Your Vanea Alexander Bell
As a current college student, I would have to say that if I were a parent in the situation you describe, I would say GREAT and encourage the young person to make money online, but would not allow them to skip out on their education to do it. It is possible to go to school (especially college) and make money online on the side…if they are successful at it, it would roughly be the equivalent of having a part (or full)-time job while going to school. If not, they can learn from it, have fun, and still squeeze it in between a real job and classes (I know, because I’m doing it)
I didn’t finish college and I wish I had. And the fact is you don’t start of making $1000s a month so you will need something steady until you do.
I echo Mark’s comments. When I was looking to change jobs, almost nobody would give me an interview, because I didn’t have a degree. If it weren’t for friends I wouldn’t have got my foot in the door at varoius places.
Employers have to use a screening process and usually the resumes with a degree will get by the first screen. Without, you usually don’t.
I do hope my children pursue a higher education and I also would be thrilled if they pursued making money online.
Hi Mark!
Excellent comment. You’ve provided an amazing opinion on the matter. In a few comments below yours, Nick, who is currently a college student agrees and illustrates that he is using the Internet to earn money in place of a typical part-time job. I think that is excellent. What are your thoughts regarding feedback provided by Jeannie, who feels that college is overrated?
Hi Phillip,
Thanks for your comment. I agree, it is a very tricky topic. I enjoy the success stories of folks who find huge success online. One person who comes to mind is Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of FaceBook. I am not completely sure, but isn’t he a Harvard drop out?
I’d like to see if you would expand on your thoughts, specifically regarding what Top CD Rates had mentioned in a comment below yours. He shared a life experience explaining some difficulties he faced with landing a great job without a degree. He further explains of the screening processes places within companies, which make it very difficult for folks without a degree to gain employment over someone with a degree.
What are your thoughts regarding a situation like that? I mean, what if things simply don’t work for your kids. What happens if they do well for perhaps five years and then go bankrupt? What happens next, how do they pick things up? How do they move on?
Also, another thing that I think might be of interest to talk about would be retirement. Most companies provide 401K, and various other retirement programs. How can retirement planning be incorporated into a self-employment career for a young adult who inspires to create a life within the business of making money online?
Hi Nick!
Amazing comment and thanks for sharing more about yourself. I think its wonderful that you are in school gaining a higher education while at the same time being able to support yourself with earning money online. I am sure it beats the typical part-time jobs that many college students work while in school. Good for you man.
Are you at a level with your education to where you can say that indeed some of these classes you have been taking have enhanced your ability to perform better and make better decisions? The reason I ask, and I’ll admit, I don’t have a college education, and many times I am faced with situations where I think if I had a degree in business, or even marketing, etc… that certain tools would have been in my lap and ultimately better decisions could be made towards advancing my career online. What are your thoughts about that?
Hi Top CD Rates!
In the comment above yours, I had asked Nick about his experience so far in school and whether his knowledge so far has had an impact on his ability to earn money online, or not. Like you, I don’t have a college education, and I am curious to discover if you feel at times if you had the extra education if it would have enabled you to perform better online? I totally understand that many employers screen and prefer to hire people who have degrees; however, I am more curious to gain your feedback on whether having a degree or not having a degree can have an impact on how an online business is run? What are your thoughts about that?
Hi Jeannie,
Thanks for sharing your opinions on this topic. Indeed, it would be very rewarding to see my kids actually earn some money online. However, I am curious to learn more about why you feel college is overrated. Can you expand on these thoughts? Also, if anyone else feels the same, I would love to learn more about your thoughts on this as well. I can relate slightly, but in this world, lets face it, without a degree, its very hard to find a very good paying job or successful career. The only thing left would be to do something for yourself. And with that, I often feel that a college education can totally have a positive impact on the entrepreneur’s level of success.
Wow…such great points from everyone. As with all of life, our opinions are determined by our scope of experience. You see what you look for. I have no college degree. I enrolled as non-degree seeking and took a total of 4 classes in a community college.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not making millions on the internet…yet. However, I started off in the corporate world at 16, just like everyone else. Without a college degree, or anything even closely resembling a college degree, I landed a position as a computer programmer at age 24. I quickly received salary increases and was earning almost $50k per year by around age 26. In fact, the boss at my last programming position mentioned once, jokingly, that he probably wouldn’t have hired me if I had HAD a degree.
I got laid off, and decided the corporate BS wasn’t for me anyway. Since then I’ve been working here and there and learning everything I can about making money online. I prefer attracting mentors, like Garry, over reading books and taking tests. And as I said about seeing within your scope of experience, I see college as four years of drinking and partying before you have to get serious. I can drink and party for quite a bit less than $20k or $40k or $120k, whatever it costs to go to college nowadays.
Now I’m going to get a bit more philosophical on ya. We are programmed to go by what’s worked in the past. College educations and degrees have worked in the past. Our reality is changing. Having a college education worked when we could apply for a job, get it, stay for 40 years, and retire with a pension. Those days are gone. We are rapidly progressing forth in the age of information; the age of creativity and new ideas. Why would anyone spend that kind of money for a degree when most of the information is free for the taking right inside the screen you’re looking at to read these words?? If someone tells you that you must have a college degree to get a job at his/her establishment, do you really think that you’ll be able to make a longstanding career at that establishment? With those kind of limitations? If so, then you’re a person who needs to go to college and get a degree. If not, then skip it, and start making your internet mark four years earlier and with a lot less debt.
I’d probably advise them to do it part time and still go to university.
First off, I agree with Jeannie, that many great points have been made in this discussion. I also agree with her in that our “opinions are determined by our experience” or as my former boss said, “we tend to view life through a straw”. I like Mark’s response as well as others that it does not really have to be a choice but can easily be both. Especially considering Mark’s profession (engineer I believe). I can’t completely scoff a degree for jobs like that and I definitely would not go to a physician who did not have a degree.
The quandry Top CD Rates experienced is valid,but I still maintain that the degree is not absolutely necessary with the added disclaimer of – in certain environments (see above). In a more individualized, entrepreneurial endeavor the degree or lack of may be less of an issue (most likely also depending on the particular field).
Regarding the retirement issue, I believe that is moot. A self employed individual has as many opportunities (if not more) to put funds away for retirement as any employee. And a 401K is no guarantee of a comfortable retirement, Enron anyone?
Stay in college and do it part time, nothing wrong with wanting to do it but you need the piece of paper that the colleges give you. If you MMO carrier fails, then you can use the piece of paper.
Actually, it’s funny because I’m trying to teach my kids about blogging and technology so *that* will be their fall back plan if what they study in college doesn’t pan out.
Most people don’t use their majors and switch careers several times throughout their adult lives.
I read a travel blog the other day where the author said she learned more by traveling the world than she did sitting in a college classroom.
We now homeschool for a bunch of reasons, but one of them is that the public schools are so far behind on computers and technology in our area. Their school life was not even close to me and my husband’s career lives.
So now we use computers, internet, iphones, video games, software and television (history channel, travel channel, science channel, discovery) to teach them.
By the time college rolls around, I don’t really care if they skip it. As long as they’re productive members of society and can take care of themselves, that’s what matters. We could negotiate them sticking around home for a little longer if they need help getting started.
One more thing…
My husband doesn’t have a college degree and he has a great job as a software programmer. He makes almost three times as much as the highest salary I have ever made. I’m the one with the bachelors degree.
My brother also doesn’t have a college degree, and he works in Hollywood. He started out as a Production Assistant on music videos and commercials. Then he got a few TV gigs. Now, he’s been doing some some jobs as Assistant Director. He’s also been in a few music videos b/c he plays bass.
Before that he managed apartments (which got him free/reduced rent).
I’ve got all the proof I need that whatever path you choose can pay off.
Follow your dreams is my answer, school can be a soul crushing experience. And often not very dream inspiring. High drop outs anyone, yeah you know its true. If the kid has a dream feed it ravenously
Interesting topic. I say why wait until they are 18 or out of school. My daughter is only 7 years old. She doesn’t get an allowance from me. Instead, I spend time every week helping her find an item and list it for sale on eBay.
I was surprised to see just how interested in this idea she was. She sold her first item a few weeks ago and has had a blast working in her business. She even painted some Open / Closed signs. I’m not sure where she is going to hang those at
Once she is old enough to decide, she will be highly encouraged by me to attend college. If she does and decides to pursue a career online, that’s fine with me as long as she is happy.
I must agree with Mark Mason, a degree if for life. The internet does not have to be the only thing in you life. You can always make money online and go to school. College opens many doors and expands your horizon. Why limit your knowledge to just one from of income. We need to have multiple forms of income. Having a degree allows you more options. You may not need your degree to make money, but its always better to be safe than sorry.
First off, I must clarify, I’m NOT able to support myself making money online, which is why I’m squeezing it in between a real job and classes.
In response to your question, I have noticed several occasions where I happened across a situation in life (not always in regards to MMO but sometimes yes) where I have applied things that I learned in my classes to gain a better understanding and/or make a more informed decision. Whether the decision made with this is additional information/insight is ultimately “better” than what would have otherwise been chosen is something I cannot attest to…besides, you’re the one making money online
I’ve seen quite a few schools coming out with internet marketing courses lately. That being said, I also added a major to my film track in college to provide a more stable career option- thank goodness for that!
I think it’s great to persue a career path you’re passionate about, whether it be internet marketing or basket weaving. You don’t have to alter your entire path to do it, you can minor in marketing, double major, or get a general degree and work on your online business while going to school full time. There are so many options nowadays, I think if kids have a dream or goal they’d like to go after, you have to encourage it and find a compromise.
So why not both. He doesn’t have to go to college with the idea of getting a high-paying job. It’s about the education. I would encourage him to study business or finance so he can learn how to manage and use the wealth he is going to create online. So many people make money, then don’t have any clue how to make their money work for them, they don’t know the language of money – If I were in his shoes that’s the kind of education I would pursue while I was building my online business.
Wishing you lots of Success!
Debbie
twitter.com/debbieblunt
I have to say this is a great question…My son is home schooled, and I’ve found that letting go of stressing over the things and learning method he had problems with in a traditional school have helped tremendously. The boy shows a natural aptitude for technology, so he has his own site, which he made the banner graphic for, posts videos that he makes and edits, and does the posts himself (I don’t let him skip out on keywords, tagging, etc).
It encourages him to write..he’d rather type than write. Traditional writing is a battle with him, but he is eager to type about himself to his friends, and receiving comments helps to further encourage him with learning. I use his site as a way for him to learn.
I think a big problem with current educational methods is that not everyone is meant for college, and that includes really intelligent people. I think it comes down to following your passion..whether it be through college, online, or out exploring the world around you…
Hello All,
Garry, thanks for posting my question. All these comments are great and I can see that people have varied opinions on this.
To answer my own question: I would strongly encourage my kid to go to university. Regardless what the subject or even if it is just one big party. It is an experience that is a privilege and will add to your character. It will fill your head with things that nobody can take away – an investment that pays off for the rest of your life.
I would argue to the kid that making money online will always be around, if after university you are still interested then you can do it then. But the opportunity to experience university is not there forever. Use it while you can, while you are still young, and your horizons are completely open.
If after this speech the kid stills says that he does not want to go, then I would show him how much money I make with my online ventures. That should definitely convince the kid to go to school.
But for you Garry it is different. Your kid would see that you make money online. I think it would be a lot harder for you to convince your kid to go to school. Thats why I was wondering what you would tell your kid? And lets say that he cannot do both – either puts all his time into school or all his time into MMO.
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