Last updated: January 23

Imagine Your Success 

If you struggle with a career goal that you can see in your mind’s eye, but continually fail to act on, you’re not alone.

There are amazingly successful people in business today who have achieved impressive accomplishments and have the power to move forward.

But they don’t, because of a perceived shortcoming that has become a barrier for them to take the right steps toward realizing their future. I see many perceived shortcomings; however, the one that comes up time after time for professional people is a lack of something.

A lack of education.

A lack of experience.

A lack of knowledge.

The one perceived “lack” I most often see is not lack of experience, but a perceived lack of education. Perhaps they did not finish their undergraduate degree or their MBA. Life got in the way and they were recruited into an organization because of the significant value they brought. Here is what I hear:

“I can’t get a job outside my organization because I don’t have a degree.”

“I can’t get a promotion in my organization because I only have a community college diploma.”

“I can’t get a better-paying job in my field because I only have a private college certificate.”

Most times, the people I work with are highly successful professionals and executives who have achieved noteworthy accomplishments for their organizations in spite of NOT having a university degree.

What’s the evidence that they are successful?

Sales: They’ve been able to maximize revenues and improve customer loyalty.

Product Development: They’ve designed a product that is leading the marketplace.

Applied Knowledge: They have subject matter expertise (sometimes known as a “gift”) that no one else has and are an integral member of the organization.

This is all in spite of not having a university degree or college diploma.

So, if the evidence that they are successful is in the numbers (numbers don’t lie), where is the evidence that a lack of education is stopping them from achieving a new career goal?

The fact is, there is no evidence that a lack of education is stopping them from achieving a new career goal.

It is only a perception.

If you are one of those successful professionals or executives who have achieved monumental success in spite of not finishing your degree, diploma or certificate, it’s time to change your beliefs and perceptions.

Don’t believe me? Here’s my evidence:

  • Michael Dell (Dell Computer, CEO) dropped out of college.
  • Peter Gzowski (famous late Canadian broadcaster) did not complete a degree.
  • Sonny Bono (singer, actor, songwriter and U.S. congressman) did not finish high school.

If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. Imagine: What will it look like when you succeed?

What one thing you can do today to move you closer to your goal?

Photo by evaileva / BigStockPhoto.com



We look forward to welcoming you into the Westgate Family of success stories.

About executive resume writing author 

Westgate - Maureen Farmer, helping C-level executives step up or step out.

Maureen Farmer is the Founder & CEO of Westgate Executive Branding & Career Consulting Inc., an international personal branding and career consulting firm delivering premier executive branding and career consulting services for high-profile leaders. Author of The CEO Script Vault: Job Search Scripts for Busy Executives, Maureen believes that when we’re doing work aligned with our values, everyone wins. Using the law of attraction to identify quality employers utilizing the hidden job market is a cornerstone of her career management strategy.

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