Bob Upgren ~ Author ⋅ Speaker ⋅ Master Chalk Artist

Across the United States, about seven thousand students drop out of school every day. This statistic may not have been noticed fifty years ago, but the era of a high school dropout earning living wage has ended.

By dropping out, these youth significantly diminish their chances to secure a good job and a promising future. Don’t bank on the story of “drop-out turned millionaire” either. For every one who makes it, I’ll show you one hundred struggling.

Furthermore, each class of dropouts is responsible for substantial financial and social costs to the communities, states and country in which they live.  Here are six statistics worth noting when it comes to the drop out challenge.

1. Dropouts suffer from reduced earnings and lost opportunities; there are also significant social and economic costs to the rest of the nation.
2. Over the course of his or her lifetime, a high school dropout earns, on average, about $260,000 less than a high school graduate.
3. Dropouts from the Class of 2010 alone will cost the nation more than $337 billion in lost wages over the course of their lifetimes.
4. If the United States’ likely dropouts from the Class of 2006 had graduated, the nation could have saved more than $17 billion in Medicaid and expenditures for uninsured health care over the course of those young people‘s lifetimes.
5. If U.S. high schools and colleges were to raise the graduation rates of Hispanic, African American, and Native American students to the levels of white students by 2020, the potential increase in personal income would add more than $310 billion to the U.S. economy.
6. Increasing the graduation rate and college matriculation of male students in the United States by just 5 percent could lead to a combined savings and revenue of almost $8 billion each year by reducing crime- related costs.

So let’s review. If a person drops out, you will make less money, slow the economy, burden tax payers, increase national debt, and live a less fulfilling life. It seems like that old saying of “stay in school” has real numbers behind it.

The two essential ingredients to your calling in life.

As a toddler, you snuggle in bed with mom or dad and start to dream about what life will bring.  Some call this a vocation or job, while others label it a “calling” or “life mission.”  To a three old kid though, itʼs simply a dream of something you think would be fun to do with your life. With no prompting from your parents, you share your dream to become a soccer player, an artist, or a fireman.

As an 8-year-old, at the family barbecue, your favorite uncle takes interest in your dreams and asks, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” You laugh and giggle your way to an answer filled with hope and optimism. “I want to be a teacher.“

As a twelve-year-old middle school student, a counselor analyzes the standard career assessment you just labored through and inquires, “What do you think you want to be when you grow up?” In nervous haste, you make up an answer you think will sound good, but in truth, isnʼt really even you.

In your bedroom, you’re hanging out with friends and dreaming of making it big. Everyone begins to talk about what they want to be when they grow up. Money, status, and fame are the filters now.  You want to be anything that will get you to the top. Whatever will make you successful. Even though if you were honest with everyone, youʼre a bit confused at what success really looks like.

As a high-school senior, eighteen-years-old, with graduation around the corner, you sit on the living room couch across from your parents, and they issue a one question quiz, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The reality of the situation is that you have no idea.

In a year, this question begins to feel more like an interrogation. Suddenly the fun and excitement of the question is gone. Itʼs stressful to talk about, confusing to think about, and down right avoidable. Eventually, even you begin the process of asking yourself the question,  “What in the world am I going to be when I grow up?”

Then, something changes; a moment where another person impacts your life.  This person asks the question with the same well-intentioned concern as everyone else, but in a much different context, “What do you think you were created you to be?” You pause, and for a moment donʼt know what to say. The question had always been about what you should become, not who you already are.

Then the person makes a statement that shocks you,  “You canʼt be anything you want to be.” This goes against everything anyone has ever told you in life.

“But,” the person says, “you can certainly be everything you were created you to be.” This is the moment it clicks. The lightbulb turns on and you realize a profound truth. Your job right now is not to try and figure out what you should become, but to discover who you already have been made to be.

There are two essential ingredients that create a “sweet spot” for someone. I have listed them below, with a few questions and statements to lead you toward your best path in life!

PASSION

Passion is often buried deep within us. Unless we go looking for it or are placed in a culture where it grows naturally, we donʼt find it. If we donʼt discover our true passions, we shouldnʼt expect to find purpose and meaning in life. So, let your passions rise!

• What causes your imagination to run wild?
• Listen to the whisper of your prayers.
• What do you crave?
• What motivates you?
• What do you truly care about?
• Where do you find yourself most comfortable?
• What groups of people do you find yourself enjoying the most?

ABILITY

The natural abilities that you possess are powerful evidence that become a part of the roadmap to your path in life. Over time, you are going to discover things that you naturally love to do and you naturally excel at, as well. People may even tell you that you were born to do a certain activity and that it looks effortless when you do it. Think of these things as clues to your life purpose.

• Are you someone who inspires other people?
• Do you excel in sports?
• Are you naturally talented in music, singing, or art?
• Do you like working with your hands?
• Are you mechanical?
• Do you have an innate ability to perform or act in drama?

When your passions and abilities meet, you will find meaning and purpose to what you are doing. In closing, remember your path may not look like others, but I can promise you this. If you honor who you are and honor who you were born to be, it will be every bit as fulfilling.

Before setting foot on stage or throwing your hat into the ring of the speaking industry, a very simple yet important question must be answered. To which category of presenter do you belong?  Organizations have budgets for each of the four categories, however, understanding which category you occupy can save you incredible amount of time and an enormous amount of money. I have included the first of the four categories below.  If you would like the other three categories, along with six other critical questions to answer before entering the speaking industry, click the “7 Questions to Lauch your Speaking Career” button on the right column of this blog post.

CATEGORY ONE – MOTIVATION

This is by far the most popular category in the speaking industry.  It is also the broadest and most populated.  Generally speaking, this category requires the ability to accomplish two things from stage, engage the audience (often with humor) and teach a life principle.  Now, let me warn you, this is not nearly as simple and easy as it sounds.  The expectations from the audience in this category have changed in recent years.  It used to be that this category of speaker was universally celebrated and respected.  Now, the motivational speaker can still receive this adulation, but if they fail to meet expectation, expect the opposite.  In this category, you cannot be average.  You must be either really good…or GREAT.  Here are some key questions to get you thinking more about your skill set in this category.

Can you captivate your audience?

Do you have a life lesson to teach?

Are you confident to stand before a large group of people and control the room?

Are you prepared to handle adversity before, during, and even after the presentation?

Are you funny?  Do you often use humor to engage people?

Is there a life experience that you have that can teach a life lesson?