Here are some places where self-educated smart people thrive:
* Entrepreneurship: Starting your own business often relies more on creativity, problem-solving, and resilience than formal qualifications. Many successful entrepreneurs are self-taught in their specific fields.
* Freelancing/Gig Economy: Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr connect skilled individuals with clients, regardless of their educational background. Expertise in areas like coding, writing, graphic design, or marketing are highly sought after.
* The Arts: The creative fields often value talent and originality above all else. Many successful artists, musicians, writers, and designers are largely self-taught.
* Technical Fields (with demonstrable skills): While formal education is becoming increasingly common in tech, a strong portfolio demonstrating practical skills in coding, software development, data analysis, etc., can often outweigh the lack of a degree. Open-source contributions and personal projects are valuable here.
* Trades: Skilled tradespeople, such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etc., often learn their craft through apprenticeships or on-the-job training, rather than formal education.
* Highly specialized niche fields: There might be areas with limited formal education, and self-education leading to unique expertise will be highly valuable.
However, it's important to note:
* Demonstrating skills is crucial: Self-educated individuals need to actively showcase their abilities through a portfolio, projects, or other demonstrable evidence of their skills.
* Networking is vital: Building relationships with people in your field can open doors to opportunities.
* Continuous learning is essential: The world is constantly changing, so a commitment to ongoing self-improvement is necessary to stay competitive.
In short, while formal education offers advantages, it's not the only gateway to success. Intelligence, dedication, and demonstrable skills are highly valued, regardless of educational background. The key is to find areas where your unique strengths can shine and to actively prove your capabilities.