Life experience vs formal education: 15 gains

There are various gains of life experience vs formal education.  Self-improvement is crucial for better success.  Yet, which one carries more weight?

There are benefits and drawbacks to both extremes.  In my article, I’ll compare them.  I’ll also highlight how they work together.

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Personal growth is at the center of my blog.  I share tips for bloggers and digital solopreneurs.  The ideas can also support anyone when applied to their circumstances.

My BBA degree has equipped me for jobs as well as solopreneurship.  As a business graduate, I’ve seen the formal side of learning.  I also embrace ongoing personal growth in my blogging journey.

Life experience vs formal education

Some people are rich in experience.  Others are highly qualified.  Most people are likely to have a combination of both.

You enrich yourself throughout life, and it never ends.  Being open to personal growth is beneficial.  Read my other post about lifelong learning, if you want to see how it can open up doors.

Life experience pros and cons

Having a good level of exposure boosts your knowledge.  You get to know what works and what doesn’t.  Instead of repeating the same mistakes, you can avoid them. 

You can consider a variety of options.  You get to spot differences.  Choose the best possible alternative, based on their benefits.

Pros:

• Personal growth
• Self-discovery
• Better perspective
• Skill development
• Enriching moments

Cons:

• Discomfort and fear
• Time and resource limitations
• Risking loss
• Missed opportunities
• Setbacks and failures

It’s a challenge to test things out.  You take risks and get out of your comfort zone.  You also might end up wasting time on things that finally don’t work.

Trial and error can be frustrating.  On the other hand, you can come up with discoveries.  For example, I sometimes experiment to get valuable first-hand results. 

Formal education pros and cons

At school and university, you receive structured lessons.  They’re proven ways that work in given fields.   You also take exams and are awarded recognized qualifications.

University life is interesting.  It’s youthful, and fun, and you make friends.  Later, you move to employment, and ongoing learning takes a new form.

Pros:

• Formal knowledge and skills
• Study diverse perspectives
• Qualified teachers
• Credentials through qualifications 
• Socialization and friends

Cons:

• Financial budget constraints
• Rigid curriculum with standardized assessments
• Potential passive learning
• Limited practical application opportunities 
• Limited chances for personalized approaches

University programs tend to cost a lot.  Some students spend years working to pay off student debt.  Standardized assessments sometimes leave little to no room for innovation.

Fortunately, online platforms offer affordable and flexible methods for skill-building.  You can also gain prestigious certifications from home.  Find more in my post, on the benefits of using learning platforms.

My Coursera platform choice

Coursera is one of the leading websites for online skill-building.  You can access courses at affordable prices.  Best of all, they’re offered by leading companies and universities.

Be it Google, Meta, or others that are well-known, you access high-quality skills.  Take assessments, and receive recognized certificates.  Use them to support your progress.

There are skills to hone in a wide range of fields.  Everyone, from corporate employees to business persons, bloggers, and solopreneurs can use Coursera.  You’ll find thousands of interesting skills-enriching courses.  Join the Coursera Community, and network with other students for mutual support.   

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15 gains from synergy

Formal education supports theoretical foundation and skills.  Life experiences support you in applying them in the real world.  They both go hand in hand, as in a synergy.

15 gains from mixing both:

1. Personal growth
2. Self-discovery
3. Better perspective
4. Skill development
5. Enriching moments
6. Formal knowledge and skills
7. Study diverse perspectives
8. Qualified teachers
9. Credentials through qualifications 
10. Socialization and friends
11. Embrace lifelong learning 
12. Creativity and innovation
13. Always evolving never stagnant
14. Stay informed about new opportunities
15. Stay active, network, and build connections

Life experience and learning, both equip you for success.  You’re better off with a combination of both.  It’s not either or, but a mixture.

When you study theory, you’ve only gained a part.  The other part comes when you apply the techniques.  Test through experience, practice in the real world, and see what works.

Adopt best practices, whenever possible.  Industry experts have been there and have seen it all.  Take advantage of existing available knowledge.

Make the most of flexible learning models, personalized approaches, and real-world applications.  Have a genuine curiosity for learning.  It’s a natural eagerness for personal growth.

The successful and famous

There are successful people with and without formal education.  Some have made it big through their experience, while others are qualified experts.  Both types have succeeded.

Richard Branson is an example of someone who made it through their journey.  On the other hand, there are lots of people who made it big and have great qualifications. 

Lots of factors can contribute to success.  For example, your environment can influence your progress.  So can family matters, and much more.  Have the willingness to persevere, as it can make things happen when chances seem dim.

What it means for bloggers

Life experience or education?  Bloggers don’t typically need any qualifications.  It’s one of the beauties of this activity.  You’re self-employed and cater to your skill-building.

To be competitive and stand out online, you have to be professional.  While qualifications aren’t a must for blogging, ongoing skill-building is to succeed.  You can learn at your pace, choosing skills that you require.

I use my academic training for better decision-making.  It’s an advantage, compared to not having a business degree.  I also discover new things all the time.

Embrace ongoing learning.  In blogging, you can’t be stagnant.  Technology changes all the time.  Be on your guard, embracing the latest trends and best practices.  

Know your learning style, as it indicates which methods work best for you. Once you’ve identified the formats that suit you, make the most of them. I find that self-improvement is never-ending and thus exciting!

Experience vs education?  The benefits of formal education vs self-education and experience are interesting!  You gain from all, not just a single one for success.

Conclusion

Find the right balance, and embrace your sweet spot.  There’s no life experience vs formal education.  Adopt a blend of both for learning success!  

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Editor’s Note: This blog article has been updated for better accuracy and comprehensiveness.