Michael Rock Teaches Media Class At GNB Voc Tech: Tells Students “Money Doesn’t Matter” [VIDEO]

I was invited to speak at a media class at Greater New Bedford Voc Tech today. We talked a lot about the radio industry and how media in general is changing so rapidly. The students were armed with a number of terrific questions and the hour flew by.

The students asked how my career in radio began. I explained to them that radio was something that I had wanted to do since I was a 9 year old boy. My career path was pretty focused. I was very lucky to know exactly what I wanted to do at such a young age. I told them that I have never truly "worked" a day in my life; that my personal life and career are intertwined into one. I enjoy what I do so much, I don't even really consider it work. There's never a day that I don't want to go to work, it's just a part of my lifestyle. How many people can say that about the work they do? We spend so much of our lives at work...why NOT make it something we love to do?

Looking out at the young faces, I realized how unfair it is that there are such critical choices that we need to make at such a young age. We ask 17 year olds to choose a college and pick a major...essentially saying, "Hey 17 year old, how do you want to spend your ENTIRE working life?"

My piece of advice to the class was to completely remove money from the equation when picking a vocation. I told them to imagine a world in which money didn't exist. A world where money didn't rule supreme. I asked them how they would choose to spend their time in a world like that. What types of things would they truly enjoy do doing?  Their ideal vocational path lies within the answers to those questions. If they can figure out what they TRULY ENJOY doing, they will be able to make money. The money will follow.

My "life lesson" was inspired by a video that I had recently seen, one that was narrated by the late radio programmer, Alan Watts.  The video captures the point much more eloquently than I can express it.  It is brilliant.  If there is a young person in your life...please share it with them. Coming from a person who is living their dream...it could mean everything.