When you understand what people are trying to do with a college degree, which is buying a signal that says ‘I’m worth hiring’, you realize that signal is really not that strong. And if you set your mind to it, you can create a better, more powerful signal in a much shorter amount of time and for much less money.

In this episode of Nat Chat, I’m joined by Isaac Morehouse. Isaac’s the founder of Praxis, an alternative education system, which focuses on giving participants a lot of applicable skills and a broader understanding of subject knowledge at a self-paced rate. It also pairs participants with startups and gives them more hands-on experience with 6-month apprenticeships. Two previous Nat Chat guests, Hannah Phillips and Zak Slayback, have both had experiences with the system.

We cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Problems with the current education system and how it negatively impacts students.
• Why going to college is a riskier choice for most people.
• Why you don’t need a degree to get jobs and careers that you’re excited about.
• How you can begin self-educating yourself.
• Challenging the status quo and dealing with pressure from peers.
• The mistakes that most people make when learning a skill.

And much more. Please enjoy, and reach out to Isaac on Twitter!

 

If you enjoyed this episode and our discussion on self-education, be sure to check out my episode with Zak Slayback. If want more on education and improving college, you’ll enjoy my episode with Blake Boles, as well as my episode with William Deresiewicz.  

Find Isaac online:

• Website
• Praxis
• Twitter

Mentioned in the show:

• Praxis [0:28 ]
• MailChimp [7:00 ]
• Shopify [10:09 ]
• Github [10:22 ]
• Stop Telling Good Arguers to Become Lawyers article [19:39 ]
• Quora [51:30 ]
• Praxis blog [52:45 ]
• Isaac’s website [53:13 ]
• Isaac’s books [53:20 ]
• Isaac’s podcast [53:22 ]

Books mentioned:

• Smartcuts Shane Snow [34:42 ] (Nat’s Notes)
• The Inner Game of Tennis [44:22 ] (Nat’s Notes)
• The Future of School [54:20 ]

People mentioned:

• Hannah Phillips [0:58 ]
• Zak Slayback [1:00 ]
• Aaron Watson [1:58 ]
• Shane Snow [34:42 ]

1:43 - Intro to Isaac and some information on the alternative education system Praxis.

4:17 - Isaac’s story with developing Praxis, flaws in the college system, what makes a college degree not that valuable, and why it’s not the best usage of time and money. Also, why many people will prefer hiring people with hands-on experience compared to people with just a degree.

10:39 - Whether or not Praxis and the self-education process works even if you’re not going into a startup or new-age company. Also, a bit on soft-skills and hard-skills, having tangible evidence of work experience, and demonstrating your abilities. “The key is the ability to demonstrate is more important than what it is that you’re demonstrating.”

13:57 - The safety concerns with the risks associated with leaving college and not getting a degree. A bit on the societal and prestige concerns of not having a degree, as well. “That’s the safety you’re giving up. The safety of the good opinion of others. Other than that, there is no safety you’re giving up.”

15:22 - The negative habits picked up through the college system that makes success harder for you. Also, the de-schooling process necessary for some Praxis participants and a bit more on the safety concerns regarding a degree. “Once you have anything more valuable than a degree, which can include a year of work experience, demonstrating a product, nobody asks about your degree.”

20:05 - The social pressure of your friends making more than you, and you judging yourself negatively because of that, even if you’re enjoying what you do more. Also, the extreme benefits of having low-income as a young person and the extreme importance of opportunity-cost. “It’s amazing the number of things that you can do when you stop looking at ‘I need a sa