An auction is open through Connect For A Cause to take me to lunch and support the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. Go to that auction and placing a bid. Here’s why.
The mikeroweWORKS Foundation Supports Trades & Skilled Labor – Like Us
I’ve embedded a video of Mike Rowe (host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs) speaking to the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in 2011 about his foundation, and calling on the committee to launch a PR campaign to support skilled labor. My favorite quote from Mike during this talk:
People are surprised that high unemployment can exist at the same time as a skilled labor shortage, but they shouldn’t be. We’ve pretty much guaranteed it. In high school the vocational arts have all but vanished, and we’ve elevated the importance of higher education to such a lofty perch that all other forms of knowledge are now labeled as “alternatives.”
As Mike discusses, there are two facets to this skilled labor problem.
First, our society is running out of skilled laborers and tradespeople, and we need these people desperately.
Second, the premium placed on higher education is an artificial premium. While education is certainly to be valued, there are tons of reports that it’s just way too overvalued. See, for example, this terrific article recently published in the Wall Street Journal: “Push to Gauge Bang for Buck from College Gains Steam.”
I’m an educated guy – possessing a bachelors and a post-bachelors degree (J.D.) – but I’ve abandoned my vocation of law and started a traditional company:zlien. I come from a family of contractors and tradespeople (we all do!), and being so involved with the construction industry through zlien, we know how special and critical skilled labor and the trades are to our country.
The mikeroweWORKS Foundation has a critical mission. Help me support it by placing a bid to have lunch with me. In addition to helping this charity, you’ll get to have lunch with me. BONUS!
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