Trade school, then Navy (5.5 years) and an industrial mechanic, now electrician (automation controls) for the last 10. Never had debt, always have companies wanting me, and making 6 figures. And one more thing... I love what I do. I get immediate results, and job satisfaction, and a great job.

NYS has BOCES. My late husband (this is his account)became a Master Mechanic with his start at BOCES. My son is a Farmer & my daughter has a Masters in Equine Science. I went back to college in my 30s & became an RN. We need ppl in ALL types of jobs to make the world work.

When my daddy told me “work smart not hard”, he meant for me to use my own personal set of skills to make a job easier. I was always smaller than my siblings, growing up on the farm, but by using leverage, tools, and common sense, the small parts of big jobs that I did we’re just as important as the big parts of jobs.

Brains, beauty, a brilliant sense of humor....and he sticks up for all the "normal", hard-working, every-day people, getting right in there to do the work right along with them. What a man....

Mike Rowe for president

I love it. I live it everyday, a garbage collector after 8 years in the Navy and deal with the 2nd guy in the airport everyday. I told one such person one day, the world would look a lot different without people like me working can you say the same?

I'm 52. And I can say the only time u worked indoors was because it was raining. I've done every trade in the building industry except electric. Me and that stuff do not get along! 17 was my first job. Labor for a framing crew. Carried lumber all day till my shoulders bled. That job gave me the mind set I would need for the rest of my life. Made me strong. Thick skined. Determined. And always the satisfaction of a job finished. I can drive by just about any area where I live and I'll point out what I did to what house or building and smile. I would change a thing. Oh and BTW I have a 6th grade education. There's educated and then there's intelligence. I preferred the latter

Mike Rowe for President!!!

My son participated in the national Skills USA competition in Louisville in 2017, after winning the gold for our state in Mechanical Engineering. He had a wonderful experience, it changed his life! Thank you, Skills USA!

I'm just seeing this for the first time, though I've been a disciple of Mike's for quite a while now... When I was in HS, SkillsUSA was called VICA, and I ended up participating. It sounds silly now, but we ended up going to state to compete, and me, the lackadaisical shiftless kid, took home a gold medal. VICA, and now SkillsUSA, are the thin red line that is keeping us connected to our history of hard work, and the success we enjoy from the hard work of our forebears. Let's hope they're always around.

I won the district championship for Skills USA back in 2007 or 2008 at CFCC in Florida for the Adults in welding school I still have the medal 🏅 I scored the highest in the written exam out of all the schools students.

This is the greatest country in the world, because of you guys. It was 27 years between getting my journeyman plumbing license and my master. I wasn’t in the field the whole time but man am I glad I hung on to my license

I was lucky enough to be there as one of the Advisors of the year from Massachusetts, I taught for over 30 years and not once did I ever hear a student say ," it was a poor choice; regardless of whether they went straight to work wor onto a 2-4 year school - they were further ahead then anyone else. It's too bad all these years later parents still have mind sets to encourage college as the " end game" for work.

This was fantastic to watch in person, one of the biggest highlights of the entire conference for me.

Your mother is very very proud of your beautiful and easy smile,Mike. So are WE !!!!

To think a guy from Baltimore could be the definition of HUMBLENESS and SELFLESSNESS and has pretty much dedicating his life to giving back to others. Mike Rowe demonstrates how a REAL American citizen should conduct themselves. As an idiot from South Eastern Baltimore County you do our nation proud. Imagine if we all lived our life this way? Thanks Mike!

I was born in Cumberland Maryland! I miss the mountains, cliffs, and the beautiful cold creeks!

There's the same prob in Canada, where I live, and it's truely pathetic.. THANK YOU for helping to bring this to the forfront!

Seriously late comment, but thank you for your message. At 52, I was a child of that era. Dad, born in 1926, was the first person to get a 4 year degree. That was the expectation, and it has served me well as a nurse. I now have a 14 year old that is being pushed in the bachelor direction. I know that is not the path for her, Perhaps one day, but not straight out of high school. She is into the arts. Thank you for your message and giving families the permission and comfort to allow the kids to find their own path.

Love me some Mike Rowe, I have been doing a lot of research on him over the past couple of days for an upcoming video I am doing and he is as wise and polite as he is here in all of them! :)

As a 30+year Iorn Worker/welder.... Mike Rowe is my hero.

The predicament we’re in now stems from that poster!!! Thank you Mike!!! And thanks for the jobs you do!!!

I love your poster Mike. I went to trade school in 1984. I went to work as a helper & became a pro at my trade because of hard work & desire. Anyone can do it.

Mike, I changed your poster to "Working Hard Is Smart". Back in 1972 I was working hard to pay for my "getting smart" Turns out it didn't take me long to figure out that working hard at a job was making me money and working hard at school was costing me money. So I quit school and went to work. Started out driving a truck. Later I became a mechanic at a forklift dealer. Later I started my own equipment business. At that point I was working harder than I ever had and I was making less money. Sold the business and became an electrician. My last job was as an Operations Manager for a large scaffolding company. In 2016 I retired at 62 debt free. My wife and I decided to purchase a Travel Trailer. We also needed to upgrade the pickup truck so we purchase both a new truck and a new trailer and we paid cash for both. We both worked hard our whole life. Neither one of us went to college. I am proud to say that both of our children graduated from college and both are working successful lives in their chose fields. I appreciate what you are doing. I appreciate that you are letting young folks today that there is more than one path to a successful life. Keep up the good work.

I was there in person when he gave this and it was amazing!!!!!

Im going to nationals this year! I honestly can't wait for this, I am so excited and ready to compete! Go Maryland Skills USA!!!

I took a 4 year apprentice right out of school I was PAID a working wage every week, so no debt for me After it I always had a job. Some of them really hard work, but they put food on the table and a roof over my head.

Please bring Mike back. What a great example he is for anyone. I love his sense of humor AND his common sense. He has many God-given talents which he uses wisely! My daughter got one of his hats for me when he visited Caterpillar in Peoria. He is doing the best thing ever. How I pray people will listen and begin to encourage young people (mainly) to get out there and prove what Mike and all with him are saying is true. The figures say to me we would have no unemployment, no "idle hands", and a lot happier, a lot more people with self-respect, and respectful towards others. I grew up in a family of skilled workers and wouldn't trade it for anything. Our sons and grandchildren are skilled workers doing their best, and we are so proud of them. Our daughter who works at Caterpillar very skillfully and her husband and son have a lawn care business also doing fine! Keep going, Mike.

MIKE..YOUR AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN.. I HOPE YOUR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA...JUST PLEASE DON'T GET HURT AND SHOW UP IN MY EMERGENCY ROOM...BE CAREFUL..

When I was in the high school, I was in VICA and did radio and TV repairs. I worked on that trade to pay for my Civil Engineering degree which led me to becoming a structural engineer. If you trained in Vocational trade, you can always find a job.

One of my proudest days (crazy as it sounds) is when my youngest son turned down a grant to college and went out and found a job. He now is married just had his first child and owns his own home.

This should be mandatory viewing in every HS

I took welding and heavy duty diesel mechanic. No college just working my ass off I’ve made 6 figures welding pipelines I’ve also made great money working on diesels And still do today , OHIO CAT ,Detroit diesel And Cummins are awesome company’s and even better to be certified by To anyone struggling get ahold of me

Work smart AND hard

I was there to watch my son in this competition. His closing ceremony speech was awesome! I wish I would have recorded it. Can't wait for his new show to start.

You the man Mike!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

I am 76 yrs. old. I went 12 years to school and lacked 1 credit graduating. I grew up in the oilfields but always wanted to be a cowboy. I gave that up at 17 years old when I saw the difference of ranch & oilfield paydays. I started working as a roughneck on a drilling rig having to lie about my age. I retired at age 70 making a 6 figure income for the last 20 years. I really enjoyed every minute of it and have no regrets. My work caused me to work in 20 different countries and learn 3 langusges fluently while working and making 6 trips around the world. my daughter asked me dad what should I be when I grow up. I tell her be what you like but be the best at it. I don't care if you are a dish washer . Just try to be the best dish washer in the world and you will never be without a job.

So well done!

Who doesn’t want to have a beer with this guy ❓

PROFOUNDLY DISCONNECTED...BULL SHIT ..THIS YOUNG MAN IS SO REAL AND CONNECTED TO THE REAL WORLD...WHAT A KID ..AT 70 YRS. OLD.. I ONLY WISH..MORE YOUNG PEOPLE HAD HIS HONESTY..

awsome video great job for telling it really is

I'm a retired programmer. If I had it all to do over again, I'd have become an electrician. I'd have still gone to college and gotten my degree in math but I would avoided programming which consisted of uncountable sixteen hour days without compensation, all in the name of "the project." As for vocational education, I'd be happy if they just do basic wood and metal shop in middle school so young people would know how to cut a board and drive a screw.

My first paying job was packing wool sacks on a sheep ranch during shearing season. I have built houses, machine sheds, grain bins, grain handling equipment, dumpsters, airseeders for John Deere, dug dinosaurs, planted crops, worked cattle, fixed army trucks and construction equipment. Loaded ships in Central America, drove sugar beet truck, hauled grain,, farmed the land and carried an M-16 for Uncle Sam. My kids didn't have the best of everything but they had the best I could give them. No regrets.

Incredible speaker!

Love what skills USA does. I placed 2nd in my state for firefighting

I myself am a SkillsUSA Maryland competitor this year, I'm in Network Systems Applications as a Software Engineer. This year it's hosted in Louisville, Kentucky and I'm really hoping to see you all there. I'm going as the only level 1 competitor and only the 2nd ever level 1 from my VoTech program at Center of Applied Technology- South thought by the Amazing Mrs.Dugans

I was there that year and was delighted how a fellow Marylander represented our state with dignity.

my step mothers brother was an engineer working on the mac bridge he told me all the people and how it was made possible to build he worked on to build the highways thru michigan and bridges carl petry his dad walter was a carpenter builder and his mom maude was educated schooling at ferris college when it first started when ferris him self worked to educate kids

I have something to say. I have turned out better than most. Soon after dropping out of highschool, I went to trade school for carpentry. For many years I felt like a complete failure, till I realised that with my hard earned skill, I built my own small home. I don't feel like a failure anymore.

Why has this man not been put out there for the best looking man in the world???

Doubt you’ll see this...I learned to pick cotton by hard, picked up onios behind a sorter, stacked pop bottles and swept floors in a mom & pop store, dug holes and set miles of posts. I learned to work and appreciated it. I get it. My oldest (50) is a heavy equipment mechanic; second son (47) drives heavy equipment; # three started in the trenches for a gas company, he is now the per-OSHA inspector. I am proud!!!

MY FAVORITE VIDEO OF ALL TIME...MIKE RUN FOR OFFICE...PLEASE...YOUR HONESTY WILL BACK YOU...DO IT KID DO IT..PLEASE..

They tried to get me to go to SkillsUSA because I was leagues ahead of everyone in class but I was too old. I was also ahead of everyone because of that age gap. In fact, I was only in class because I couldn't get hired as an automotive technician without some sort of proof I had professional training. I had the knowledge and skills from the last 16 years of driving and fixing cars and reading about cars daily. I just needed the professional training and proof of that training.

Fantastic!

Mike Rowe for President!!!!!

Mike Rowe 2016

I ❤ that concept of work smart & hard!!!!! G-O G-O GO SKILLS 🇺🇸 USA

I'm a toolmaker and have been for over 30+ years, quick story, one day walking through our shop I see this mechanical engineer, fresh out of college, maybe 22-23, anyway I see him with a 1/2" drill pushing down as hard as he can on a piece of aluminum plate, his face was red, and I had to stop and ask, "what are you trying to do", he said "I'm trying to tap this plate", now mind you, like I said earlier, he's a engineer, right, I told him, "well, you have to have a hole in the plate first", this is what our college's are putting into the work force today, WTF. This guy would still be tapping this plate had someone not stopped him. Poor excuse for a engineer.

Sweetness! I was at SkillsUSA Nationals in Kansas City MO, 2008- such an awesome experience! Couldn't have asked for anything cooler to experience

Wow. Just wow !!! We are the fabric of what America is all about 😎👍🇺🇸

REAL GREAT HEART...AND ON POINT WITH HONESTY...GREATEST VIDEO OF ALL TIME FOR YOUNG AMERICA..LISTEN TO HIM...TO GOOD TO BE TRUE..BUT HE SAY'S FROM THE HEART, WITH HONESTY, ETHICS , AND MORALS ....GO.. MIKIE ..GO....

Hard work definitely pays off I started in the automotive field at the very bottom just with high school diploma now I am the lead installer in our company I have a company vehicle company credit card and I get to take trips with the company every year to Las Vegas. In everything you do in life give it your best But he is right we struggle to find help and our company people just do not have the initiative to work they expect a handout. I have no debt always avoid debt Be patient and say regularly and you will be successful

Thanks for helping America "Get it"!!

Sensible logic. Why is it so hard for people.

I was able to set in on this conference, and two more prior to it... Out of the three this was the most influential of my life. I am sad that I will not be returning for a few years... But SkillsUSA is part of the future...

I have said the same thing in hoghschool. I saw family go to collage, graduate and have no job. Me. tec school. building maintenance. went back auto mechanics. today, i do tv repair, computer repair, building repair, auto repair, auto body, I have 1 2nd place national show winner. I have 2 local 2nd and 3rd place show winners.. I had a contract painting fire truck ladders in my 1st body shop. My work is national in 4 years. I am studying law and stock trading right now. you hit it right Mike.

Mike is a good man

I graduated HS in 1977 and I remember seeing that "Work smart not hard" seemingly everywhere! I never had the money for college. I had to train myself in everything I did.

always a pleasure to listen to, I thought initially 'work smarter, not harder' was akin to measure twice, cut once =)

Very nice

Being an self-taught CIO of the company, all my Good IT manager are indeed not study IT or coding in their school life, but it is their own interest driven them to their success and satisfaction of their job, including me, every kids can be successful with any tools of trade, if he/she becomes a master of that tool of trade.

What a good man

this is very interesting. he definely have a point

Anyone else find him incredibly attractive?

Lord forgive me for being so shallow, but Mike Rowe is serious eye candy and yeah, he should be president, he's a hell of alot smarter than 99.999% of the current politicians that are currently in office.

A good job is what ever your passion is .Do the best with what you have and be passionate about it. I went to technical training got my degree worked for Ford for 26 years outside shop for 5 more . Busted my ass proved everyone wrong and made a name for myself and gave a dang about my customers . Very hard to find now days people who care can go a long way plus word of mouth advertising is the cheapest and greatest way to get your name out. Don't listen to professor's just want to push politics and that doesn't pay the bills.

I believe in you Mike.

Now thats just irony, the year I was at the SkillsUSA National Conference in 2008, Mike Rowe was in my home state....

I grew up on a farm outside of Lexington KY and in the 1980s things began to change in the countryside in my area. Many large family farms no longer had heirs willing to farm so the land was sold in 10 acre tracks to wealthy doctors and lawyer types all of who plopped a mansion on the land an turned the rest into a 10 acre lawn. The biggest mansion by far was owned by the guy that owned the company that picked up the garbage from all these other mansions - as city trash didn't service the county and a private company was formed.

Mike R for president!

That was deep.

Not too long ago, when parents taught their kids about an "honest " days work and about self respect and integrity, some of us actually WORKED our way through college and left with a hard earned degree and NO debt.

Wallace Wimmer Mike Rowe needs to be president Trumps JOBS CZAR. I'm 53 with an engineering degree and never made the $ before . That I'm making NOW in the oil & gas industry "with my HANDS". Sweating & stackin' cake MAGA Mike Rowe

YEEESSSSSSSSS!!!

Mike,you might want to check out the Fort Jefferson trade and marine biology school,Dry Tortuga,Florida

High Schools also had people in agriculture and Home building classes.

Wonderful speech Mike. Working hard to obtain a tertiary education to get a "better" job to pay back an (often) unpayable study loan isn't very smart.

Some people from my class were there for this last year. I will be there this year and I am competing for 3D animation!

MIKE ROWE FOR PRESIDENT!!! Mike has worked at many dirty, disgusting jobs, why not take on Washington DC. He knows what could really turn this country around, he has the pride in the working man and he gets it, he sees the profound negative impact the loss of the skilled working class has had on our economy and way of life. He is a known quantity, he has the personality and wisdom, has testified on the hill. Let's get someone in the Whitehouse who can truly make a difference, who can make America strong again!!!!

this is good advice. I like your poster. however IME, when my Dad told me to work smarter not harder, it was always in a limited context. as a simplified example: use a lever or dolly to lift something instead of just trying to manhandle the item. you know, that kind of thing. I've used the same principle within the trades (to save labor costs in general and my back specifically) many times and often have used that saying while doing so. work smart and hard, yes! but sometimes working 'smart' means you don't have to work quite as hard.

still relevant 7 1/2 years later. Just higher unemployment, lots of places looking for hard workers, and people disconnected between those who support everyone and those who dont get it.

With God as my witness I was driving a bus in Alaska, and asked the guy behind me who said he was from New York if he knew Bob. It was beautiful.

I work at a job that recycles the waste from retail stores to prevent stuff from going to a landfill

I wanted to be an auto mechanic; my parents tole me that I was going to college. I supported myself through college by fixing cars. After 30+ years as an electrical engineer, my job went to red china. I taught HS math for 2 years and was told to "indoctrinate" students into the college mindset. I did the opposite, I told them that the most successful people were those who were happiest in what the chose as a career. I'm retired now, and I fix cars as a hobby.

People like Mike Rowe should be running this country

Thats true....

SKILLS!!!

Happy Labor Day 2022

Make this guy president.

I would rather have mike Rowe narrate my life rather than Morgan freeman or James earl jones