The trending conversation about college education as a waste of time and money is interesting and unfortunate. The strongest argument against college is, “Is college worth it?” Specifically, is racking up debt to pay for college justifiable? Coincidentally, I’m conversing with my son, who will graduate from high school in two years. While I strongly encourage him to pursue education beyond 12th grade, I encourage him to consider what he’s good at.
How to find what you’re good at
Let’s explore the question, “What are you good at?” from the standpoint of your ability. The term ability is your competency to do something. It’s your natural skill to succeed at a task. It’s easy to spot someone who likes what they do. They appear to be naturally good at it. Also, if they’re good at it, they will likely stick with it.
One of the students I mentor at the University of Memphis Institute of Leadership (MILE) program is pursuing a degree in hospitality. When discussing her plans after graduation, she mentioned possibly working in a hotel. She also expressed a strong interest in working in art and music. Reflecting on the Ability Explorer (scroll to the last paragraph), I asked her, “Do you think you’d be happier working in a hotel by the airport or a boutique hotel in the city center?” It was no surprise she preferred working in a boutique hotel.
This is an example of the dilemma many people face in life. You know you need to make money using your degree, but you also have other strong desires that don’t seem to align with your main career aspiration. This is the junction where many people delay or avoid education because they do not know what they want to do.
What are the top 3 things you are good at? Your response likely includes some of your natural abilities. Thinking about your career path from this perspective of what you’re good at may be the key to deciding what path to pursue.
By the way, the discussion with my mentee led to exploring event planning in the hospitality business. She figured out how to make a living while incorporating what she loves.
How can I help you know what you’re good at
Are you unsure about your career path? Whether you are entering college, starting your first job, or developing leadership to thrive in the workplace, I help you explore your strongest interests and abilities using the Ability Explorer.
Are you a parent, teacher, or career advisor struggling to support your student, “What do you want to do after graduation?” In this short video, I share a suggestion for talking with young people whom you’d like to support. Do you want to discuss more? Email me directly, laura@memphisspeech.com, or book a consultation at www.calendly.com/laurabresee
My path to falling in love with what I do
Since I help high-performing, motivated professionals communicate confidently, intense training and education are required. I’m 20 years into my career and still pursuing degrees and certifications. Is it logical to spend money on an Ivy League school to get a coaching certification? For me, the answer was “Absolutely 100%!” I invested in a year-long Associate Certified Coaching program at Brown University’s Leadership and Performance Coaching School of Professional Studies (LPCC) that I recently completed in December 2025.
Am I good at my work? Yes! Am I natural at exploring and resolving one’s innermost communication fears? Yes, I fostered my ability to connect with people on a deep level by breaking barriers in my personal communication. I had to become my own expert in resolving my difficulty in communicating, which I thought was unreachable. Communication improvement changed my work and social life in profound ways. I help you achieve the same!
A word about the Ability Explorer
I was inspired to write this article after learning that a dear friend, Tom Harrington, narrowly survived a severe infection. The pharmaceutical drug that saved his life was one he developed while working as a biotech engineer at Abbott. Toward the end of Tom’s career, he began coaching entry-level employees. His team noticed the benefits of getting to know their colleagues’ natural abilities and interests. Tom and his team later developed an aptitude test to help young professionals embark on their career path with consideration of their natural abilities. Due to unforeseen circumstances, publishing the Ability Explorer for commercial use has been halted. Tom permitted me to use the Ability Explorer as an informal assessment tool for high school students to measure their natural abilities and interests. If you’re interested, I’d welcome the opportunity to help curate your career.
Book a consultation at www.calendly.com/laurabresee or email me directly laura@memphisspeech.com
