Beyond Degrees: How Calculated Risks and Networking Helped this Entrepreneur—Faisal Abid | E187

He was a consultant for businesses WHILE he attended high school. Faisal Abid went to college but dropped out after serious consideration. In this episode, he delves into his career path, underscoring self-learning and constructive criticism as key growth factors. He narrates navigating through his insecurity around not having a degree, his shift into AI and starting and stopping business. Tune in to find out how networking and selling skills can benefit your career if you don’t have a degree, as well as how budding engineers can differentiate themselves in the competitive job market. Key points discussed:- Networking and continuously talking to people is crucial for success, especially for those without a college degree, as it compensates for the networking opportunities that universities typically provide.- Learning through doing, such as reverse engineering problems and seeking practical experience, is more valuable than simply acquiring theoretical knowledge from formal education.- The ability to sell oneself and one's skills effectively is as important as technical knowledge in engineering, particularly in a competitive job market. Timestamps:(0:00) Intro(1:42) Faisal's journey into the tech world and entrepreneurship(5:52) Salary ranges for tech roles without a degree & Faisal's early experiences(13:59) Faisal's self-taught journey in coding and fundamentals of programming(10:12) The importance of sharing knowledge and finding a niche(15:31) Need help refining your resume?(16:23) The strategy of taking calculated risks in career decisions(24:38) Faisal's career pivot to AI and the value of experience(26:57) The long-term benefits of an abundance mindset in career growth(29:13) The importance of networking and starting a business in Japan(33:22) Overcoming the challenges of scaling a business(38:03) Dealing with failure and insecurities about not having a degree(41:07) Advice for aspiring engineers without a degree and self-marketing Support/Contact Faisal:- Website: https://eirenecremations.com/Books and resources mentioned in this podcast: - Resume course: https://bit.ly/podcastpca Need career or resume advice? Follow and/or connect with Jonaed Iqbal on LinkedIn.- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonaed Connect with us on social media!- Instagram: @nodegreecareers- TikTok: @nodegree Thank you for sponsoring our show. If you'd like to support our mission to end the stigma and economic disparity that comes along with not having a college degree, please share with a friend, or drop us a review on Apple Podcast. Remember, no degree? No problem! Whether you're contemplating college or you're a college dropout, get started with your no-degree job search at NoDegree.com.