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://bit.ly/JonaedIqbalND

Connect with us on social media!

- LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/NoDegreeLinkedIn

- Facebook: https://bit.ly/NoDegreeFB

- Instagram: https://bit.ly/NoDegreeIG

- Twitter: https://bit.ly/NoDegreeTW

- TikTok: https://bit.ly/3qfUD2V

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, drop us a review on Apple Podcast and/or subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nodegree.

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.