Work is Not a Four-Letter Word

There are seven million job openings, waiting to be filled. Mike Rowe, the Dirty Jobs guy, thinks we need to change the way we think about work. 

His speech at the Independent Women's Forum is worth watching. Listen closely. (Hint: you can skip to 16:00 to get the real message).

"What we need to do in our country is change the way people think about work. We have to change the perceptions, the misperceptions, the myths, the stereotypes and the stigmas that are affirmatively keeping millions of kids in this generation from pursuing the millions of opportunities currently in the offing...We have to look at our language.  We have to look at our messages...We need to tell better stories of men and women who master a trade, and then go on to succeed. We have to put these people on a poster. We have to celebrate them.  We don't need American idols; we need American icons. Icons of work...We need to stop talking about education in a cookie-cutter fashion that leaves us with no choice but to conclude the best path for the most people is the most expensive path.  Friends, this is nuts...Seventy-five percent of [our] available jobs don't require a four-year degree. They require training."