Review of Blue Collar Cash
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Mazher Rizvi-Mazoo
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Review of Blue Collar Cash
[Following is a volunteer review of "Blue Collar Cash" by Ken Rusk.]
Blue Collar Cash is a one-of-a-kind book authored by Ken Rusk, a ditch digger in a waterproofing company who climbed up the ladder of success to become a company owner. Based on his own experience and many others he has cited, Ken unravels a novel perspective on career choices for young men and women who are at the crossroads of deciding whether to join college or to begin working with their hands using the skills and passion they have. Ken suggests that starting a job of one’s own choice and for one’s vision at a young age can lead to a life of “ comfort, peace, and freedom,” compared to four years of a college education at an exorbitant price in the form of student loans that have to be paid back. Ken Rusk supports his logic with examples of himself and many others who are millionaires today. He also discusses the US economy wherein there is a dearth of skilled labor and at the same time unemployment among college graduates. The author moves on to identify the soft skills and the basic skills needed to take up a blue-collar job and how to develop and attain them. The author has carved out a simple roadmap indicating the need for visions, goals, and plans to begin a blue-collar career. Considering unemployment figures, the scarcity of skilled labor, student debt burdens on the government, frustrations among those who drop out of college, and the financial burdens on parents and guardians, Blue Collar Cash should be read and pondered on before deciding on future career paths.
As I read through the book I wondered whether it was a book I was reading or a Human Resources counseling session I was attending. The counselor is none other than Mr. Ken Rusk, author of Blue Collar Cash. In a very friendly and practical manner, Ken has opened new vistas of employment opportunities. This is not just for young aspiring men and women but also for parents who dream about their children enrolling in college but worry about the cost. The book has reincarnated the dying concept of blue-collar workers which has been rapidly replaced by contract workers, gigs, and pink-collar workers. Skilled manual workers seem to have taken a place among immigrant workers. Segments of construction, mining, and manufacturing seem to be the only remaining blue-collar workers' industries. The book is indeed an eye-opener for the Human Resource community which should be planning on how to fill the gap of blue-collar workers as the baby boomers call it a day and retire. Rather than have students line up for college admission, the high schools might assess students' traits, skills, and work aptitude, and then channel them for vocational training.
The debatable issue here seems to be the fact that out of the examples given by Ken Rusk of skilled workers who rose to become millionaires almost all seem to have faced extreme hardships at a young age before and during blue-collar work. It wasn’t vision, aspirations, or planning that changed their lives but a do-or-die situation wherein they were forced to adopt the profession. So, it doesn't seem to be a preferred choice. Ken himself had been disfigured due to multiple surgeries, making him a misfit in a college environment. Ken’s daughter Nicole had a rough time too. There are hardly any examples to show that the choice of blue-collar work was a planned decision. The author seems to have veered off from his original theme when he begins to talk about personal financial planning, savings, and using credit cards. Instead, that space could have been better utilized through a self-test of traits and skills which could have added a flavor of fun to otherwise dry reading.
The book is unique and an eye-opener for the reader. I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars.
The book is recommended for all high school graduates planning their careers, and parents looking forward to sending their kids to college for higher education. Human Resource professionals may also want to take a look at the book as food for thought.
******
Blue Collar Cash
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Blue Collar Cash is a one-of-a-kind book authored by Ken Rusk, a ditch digger in a waterproofing company who climbed up the ladder of success to become a company owner. Based on his own experience and many others he has cited, Ken unravels a novel perspective on career choices for young men and women who are at the crossroads of deciding whether to join college or to begin working with their hands using the skills and passion they have. Ken suggests that starting a job of one’s own choice and for one’s vision at a young age can lead to a life of “ comfort, peace, and freedom,” compared to four years of a college education at an exorbitant price in the form of student loans that have to be paid back. Ken Rusk supports his logic with examples of himself and many others who are millionaires today. He also discusses the US economy wherein there is a dearth of skilled labor and at the same time unemployment among college graduates. The author moves on to identify the soft skills and the basic skills needed to take up a blue-collar job and how to develop and attain them. The author has carved out a simple roadmap indicating the need for visions, goals, and plans to begin a blue-collar career. Considering unemployment figures, the scarcity of skilled labor, student debt burdens on the government, frustrations among those who drop out of college, and the financial burdens on parents and guardians, Blue Collar Cash should be read and pondered on before deciding on future career paths.
As I read through the book I wondered whether it was a book I was reading or a Human Resources counseling session I was attending. The counselor is none other than Mr. Ken Rusk, author of Blue Collar Cash. In a very friendly and practical manner, Ken has opened new vistas of employment opportunities. This is not just for young aspiring men and women but also for parents who dream about their children enrolling in college but worry about the cost. The book has reincarnated the dying concept of blue-collar workers which has been rapidly replaced by contract workers, gigs, and pink-collar workers. Skilled manual workers seem to have taken a place among immigrant workers. Segments of construction, mining, and manufacturing seem to be the only remaining blue-collar workers' industries. The book is indeed an eye-opener for the Human Resource community which should be planning on how to fill the gap of blue-collar workers as the baby boomers call it a day and retire. Rather than have students line up for college admission, the high schools might assess students' traits, skills, and work aptitude, and then channel them for vocational training.
The debatable issue here seems to be the fact that out of the examples given by Ken Rusk of skilled workers who rose to become millionaires almost all seem to have faced extreme hardships at a young age before and during blue-collar work. It wasn’t vision, aspirations, or planning that changed their lives but a do-or-die situation wherein they were forced to adopt the profession. So, it doesn't seem to be a preferred choice. Ken himself had been disfigured due to multiple surgeries, making him a misfit in a college environment. Ken’s daughter Nicole had a rough time too. There are hardly any examples to show that the choice of blue-collar work was a planned decision. The author seems to have veered off from his original theme when he begins to talk about personal financial planning, savings, and using credit cards. Instead, that space could have been better utilized through a self-test of traits and skills which could have added a flavor of fun to otherwise dry reading.
The book is unique and an eye-opener for the reader. I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars.
The book is recommended for all high school graduates planning their careers, and parents looking forward to sending their kids to college for higher education. Human Resource professionals may also want to take a look at the book as food for thought.
******
Blue Collar Cash
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Worldlines by Adam Guest
