Rocking the Boat: Why It Is Better to Question the Norm
Mark Twain was one of the most famous and prolific writers of his time. He wrote novels that have stood the test of time and throughout it all, he has made a very successful career by doing the opposite of what many others do. In fact, Twain was such a contrarian, one of his most famous quotes is, "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."
That isn't to say, automatically do the opposite of what the majority does, but definitely question the circumstances that have led you to that decision. There is a high probability that your conditioning and environment has led you to do things that may not be right for the life you would like to lead.
Education and Professional Life
Statistics show that in 2013, around 69 percent of college seniors graduated with debt. That is a staggering number of people who think they are getting an asset (diploma/education), but in reality are getting a huge liability that cannot be shaken with a bankruptcy proceeding.
For millions of young Americans, the debt is haunting and creates tension throughout life. It is worthwhile to question whether traditional education is right for you at all. Instead, it's possible to get a cheap education where you learn a real skill. This could be in the form of a skill like engineering or even plumbing.
The biggest mistake that people make is taking this education and jumping into the workforce simply so they can pay off their bills. As if the debt burden wasn't enough, people are confronted with the idea that they must work for decades in a job they do not like in order to pay off the debt they didn't want in the first place. It is a viscous trap that requires you to seriously consider options before going into college.
Of course, not everyone should avoid college. Getting an education is great, but expensive private schools might not be an accessible choice. It's plenty possible to find a local community college, get basic credits, then find a state school that is more affordable.
Approach to Life in General
Many people approach life in a very linear fashion as well. Going to college and getting a degree is a small portion of this approach to life. Integrated in this approach is a focus on other things that don't really matter, such as materialistic electronics, automobiles, and houses. Most times these aren't worth the money you pay and definitely not worth experiences you could have instead.
Instead of valuing your time as a limited and finite resource on the planet, somehow people have claimed money and "stuff" to be of real value.
Even lifestyle habits should ponder reflection. For the longest time everyone smoked cigarettes until some very intelligent people started to question the status quo. Today, almost everyone has some alcohol in one form or another, but it may be useful to question this every now and then. Is alcohol really worth it? If so, great! Go for a drink and have fun. If you find that it does not serve you, ditch it like the rest of things in life that have no value.
There is no binary answer of "do this" or "do that" which will help you make decisions. It is a case by case basis that only you can realistically know. You don't have to be a contrarian and do everything different from others. Sometimes everyone does the same thing because it works. Just be conscious of your decisions and change things when they don't make sense.
VOCABULARY:
1. Prolific - present in large numbers or quantities plentiful.
2. Contrarian - a person who opposes or rejects popular opinion, especially in stock exchange dealing.
3. Staggering - walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.
4. Ponder - think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.
5. Ditch – informal get rid of give up
DISCUSSION:
1. How closely do you follow the norms in the society?
2. What are the advantages of following the norms?
3. Do you ever get urges to violate the norms and be different?
4. What is the principle of being a contrarian presented in the article?
5. It is difficult to be a contrarian. True or false.
