The year is 1096, it will be 203 years until the Ottoman empire will begin and start decorating many a living room with comfortable foot stools.

這年是 1096 年， 203 年後鄂圖曼帝國開始以舒適的腳凳布置客廳。

In 334 years, the Aztec empire will be founded and begin sacrificing 20,000 humans a year to keep themselves occupied.

在 334 年後，阿茲特克帝國建立並每年犧牲 2 萬人，以維持政權。

And it will be 487 years, until the British Empire start taking over the world by sticking flags in things and people.

487 年後，大英帝國開始到許多地方插旗掌管世界。

Yet, in this year of 1096, what is today the world's oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford University, will teach its very first lesson.

然而在 1096 年，現今在英文世界歷史最悠久的大學——牛津大學——創立，開始傳授最頂尖的課程。

One hundred and thirteen years later, Cambridge University will be founded.

在 113 年後劍橋大學創立。

And between them, both these two powerhouses of education, spanning back almost a millennium, have changed the world in more ways than one can count and definitely for the better.

這兩所教育界的泰斗橫跨了將近 1000 年，以數不盡的方式改變了世界，影響十分深遠。

These two research and education establishments are responsible for world-changing inventions and discoveries such as the theory of evolution, IVF, artificial intelligence, heart and lung transplants, stem cell research, gravity, the discovery of electrons and nuclear fission, and last but not least, the Internet.

這兩所大學的研究與教育建設帶來了許多改變世界的發明和發現，例如進化論、人工受孕、人工智能、心肺移植、幹細胞研究、地心引力、發現電子和核分裂，最後最重要的是——網路。

And those are just a small selection.

而以上只是列舉一小部分。

So to try and argue that a university education is a waste of time and money would be futile, would it not?

所以試著去討論大學教育浪費金錢時間是沒用的，不是嗎？

Well, all over the world education has changed dramatically since the days when the inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners Lee, studied at Oxford University.

全球資訊網的發明者 Tim Berners Lee 就讀牛津大學之後，讓全世界的教育型態急劇轉變。

And it has even changed over the past 15 years, since Mark Zuckerberg learnt how to ruin the World Wide Web with Facebook at Harvard University.

過去 15 年間也變化很多，Mark Zuckerberg 在哈佛大學就讀期間，學會如何以臉書打破全球資訊網既有的模式。

University, or college education as our transatlantic cousins call it, is today less relevant than ever before in history. And for many young people, attending university could be one of the most expensive and biggest mistakes they ever make.

University 或我們的友邦美國所稱的 college 教育，對年輕人而言現在是否不同於過去的傳統觀念，去上大學是最高昂又錯誤的選擇。

Aside from pre-purchasing "No Man's Sky."

除了預購「無人深空」遊戲以外。

All over the developed world we have it drilled into our heads during our school days that higher education is the path to gold and riches.

對於身在已開發國家的我們，在求學時代「高等教育是攀向上流社會途徑」的概念已經根深蒂固。

Get a college diploma they said, get a university degree they insisted, and you too will be able to afford champagne, hot tubs and unlimited naked women.

他們堅持告訴你拿到大學文憑，然後你就可以買得起香檳、熱水浴缸、還有無限的性感裸女相伴。

We get told that so frequently by our elders because when they attended university that was mostly true.

長輩常常這樣講是因為在他們讀大學的時代確實是這樣。

Thirty years ago if you were lucky enough to study at university you were pretty much guaranteed a job in your field of study.

30 年前如果你夠幸運能上大學，在你的專業領域中就很有可能保障就業。

Engineering graduates would go on to work for a car or aircraft manufacturer; media students could get a job at a broadcasting house and so on.

工程學畢業生很可能去汽車和飛機製造商工作，廣電系學生可以去廣播公司上班，以此類推。

Provided you got a decent grade your future in a well-paid job was almost guaranteed.

取得大學文憑代表你未來保證高薪。

Today things have changed, on average, only half of university and college graduates get a job in the years following graduation.

現在局勢與過去不一樣了，通常只有一半的大學生在畢業後幾年內找到工作。

And I'm not even talking about a job that has anything to do with what they studied.

而我還沒提到那些與所學不相關的工作。

Statistics show that many of those 50% of employed graduates are working in completely unrelated, menial jobs because today less than 30% of all university graduates go in to work in the field of their degree.

數據顯示在 50 % 有工作的畢業生中，很多都在從事與所學無關的工作或低層的工作，因為現在少於 30% 的大學畢業生會在他們所學的領域工作。

Unless you took The Underwater Basket Weaving Degree; the demand for those things is off the bloody charts.

除非你唸的是野雞大學水下編織的課程，他們很缺學生。

Yes, that is a genuine course.

沒錯那是真正的課程。

The reason behind this has a lot to do with numbers.

背後的原因跟數字很有關係。

In the 50s, 60s and 70s, only the middle classes and affluent families could afford to send their little cretins to university.

在 50、60、70 年代只有中產階級和富裕的家庭可以把家裡的小屁孩送去大學。

Even in the UK, where university tuition fees have only existed since 1998, it didn't matter. Because to support the family, children would have to go off to work at the age of 18 or even younger, higher education was just never an option for most people.

雖然從 1998 年起英國人要讀大學就得繳學費了，但也沒有影響，為了維持生計，孩子要在 18 歲或更年輕的時候就出去工作，高等教育從不會被列入考量。

As a result, in 1950 a pitiful 3% of people in the UK attended university.

因此，在 1950 年只有 3 % 的少數英國人上大學。

Today that has risen to 49%.

現在已經上升到 49 % 了。

That's obviously a really good thing, as a society we are all now more driven and more financially able to attend university and educate ourselves in any field we choose.

很明顯是件好事，現在社會上我們更奮發向上也更能負擔上大學的費用，也能選擇自己所愛的領域學習。

But the problem is the number of jobs available has hardly risen at all.

但問題是，職缺並沒有隨之增加多少。

With so many hundreds of thousands of graduates each year in the UK and over 4.5 million new graduates each year in the US, the competition for the specialised, high paying jobs is greater than ever before.

英國每年數以千計的大學畢業生和超過 450 萬人的美國大學畢業生，對於要求專業度又高薪的職業，競爭比以前更加激烈。

And if you graduated in something more general that isn't so specialised, such as media or business studies, then good luck to you my friend because you've a got an extremely tough journey ahead of you.

如果你是從比較普遍、專業性沒那麼高的學系畢業的，像是傳媒或商業相關學系，那祝福你，因為在前方等著你的是一段艱難的路程。

If you currently are or have been in this situation yourself, you will know just how horrible it feels.

如果你現在或曾經面臨這樣的處境，你應該知道這種感覺多可怕。

But if not, imagine spending two to six years at university, studying hard, sitting through countless lectures with a hangover probably and living off nothing but the two important student food groups, instant noodles, and whatever you just found in the cupboard, on toast.

如果沒有的話，想像一下花了 2 到 6 年在大學用功向上，坐在教室聽了無數堂課還熬夜苦讀，只靠著兩項對學生很重要的食物組合——泡麵和從碗櫥翻到的隨便一個東西過活。登登！

But finally, after the seemingly longest and hardest years of your life so far, you have a moment of glory, you graduate.

但最後，度過這段在你人生中看似漫長煎熬的時光後，你享有片刻榮耀。

You throw your cap into the air and you are filled with optimism for the fruitful career that awaits you.

你畢業了，你將學士帽拋向空中，然後你對前程似錦的未來滿懷期待。

Then six months later you're working in a call centre, still eating your typical student diet.

6 個月後你在客服中心工作，還在吃你學生時代的垃圾食物。

Now imagine all that but you are also joyfully over £50,000 in debt.

現在想像一下你還得「歡喜地」面對 50,000 英鎊的債務。

And this exact situation is not just befallen on a fringe group of graduates, the majority of university graduates, over 70% find themselves in a career they never wanted. And almost 100% will be in debt for the next 30 years of their life.

這種情況並不只降臨在少數大學畢業生身上，多數大學畢業生超過 70 % 的人發現他們找不到想要的工作，而幾乎快 100 % 的人在接下來的 30 年內還要背債。

I'm not here to say whether universities should be free or not because, truthfully, there are incredibly strong arguments on both sides of that fence.

我並不想談論大學教育是否該免費，因為說真的，雙方都有各自的論點。

On one hand, charging tuition fees makes students value and appreciate the opportunity more strongly; and they tend to put more effort into their work.

一方面，收學費會使學生更珍惜教育機會而更加認真學習。

Also, without having to rely on government handouts, universities can also offer a higher quality of education and more resources for students.

此外，沒有依賴政府的經費補助，校方可以提供更高品質的教育和更多資源給學生。

But conversely, if university fees are completely abolished, a greater diversity of people are given an opportunity to better themselves. And in the long-term, it actually pays off for the government and for society because a generally better educated society are going to contribute more to the country's economy in the future through increased innovation and business.

但相反的，如果大學學費免費，更多不同背景的人得到機會提升自己，長期下來其實是值得的，對於政府和社會來說，因為民眾廣受教育，透過更多的發明和產業，社會上對於未來國家經濟會更有幫助。

The shittin' Shake Weight didn't invent itself, you know.

他 X 的搖擺鈴不會平白無故發明自己！

University or college graduates are also statistically far less likely to be involved in crime, reducing policing and prison costs and are less likely to rely on social welfare during their lifetime.

在統計上，大學生犯罪率也很低，可以減少警力和監獄的支出，而且也比較不會仰賴社會福利過一生。

Just think about it, when was the last time you saw a doctor of theoretical physics having a custody battle with their sister on Jeremy Kyle?

想想看，上次你看到理論物理學博士因為拘留問題和姊妹在「傑瑞米．凱爾秀」吵架是什麼時候的事？

Each year millions of young people graduate from universities. But a poll, recently conducted in the UK, shows that one-third of university graduates regret going to university all together.

每年都有數百萬年輕人從大學畢業，但最近在英國進行的調查發現，三分之一的大學畢業生後悔當初上了大學。

So what's the issue here?

所以問題是什麼？

Do students just regret how much money they spent on instant noodles and booze?

學生後悔在泡麵和派對酒宴上花太多錢嗎？

Probably, but that's not the main issue.

有可能是，但這並非主因。

Whether you paid for your tuition or not, the problem is what you're actually getting in return for your hard spent time and money.

無論你是否有付學費，問題是你所耗費的金錢和苦讀的時間是一去不復返的。

When polled 49% of graduates said they could have gotten the job they are currently doing without ever attending university or higher education.

49 % 的畢業生表示他們不讀大學或更高等的教育，就可以從事現在做的工作。

The problem isn't just the sheer number of university graduates out there and the huge competition.

問題不光只是大學畢業生的數量和巨大的挑戰。

Over the years, the true value of a university degree has been eroded away becoming increasingly worthless, just like Windows.

這幾年下來，大學文憑變得越來越沒價值，就像 Windows 一樣，隨處可見。

Over recent years, the percentage of university graduates achieving a first or 1:1 has risen sharply.

近年來大學畢業生的比例到達顛峰，拿到大學文憑的人數正在急劇上升。

In the UK, ministers have spoken out about how they believe universities are increasingly making it easier in very sneaky ways for their students to achieve higher marks, so that the establishment looks better on paper. And thus, they can better compete in university league tables.

英國首相表示他們相信大學校方更容易取巧讓他們的學生得到較高的分數，這樣在評鑑報告裡比較好看，在大學排行榜中也更能角逐名次。

And to make things worse, it's believed that in many universities across the globe, corruption and abuse of funds is rife. If the many reports are to be believed, then it's particularly bad in US higher education.

更糟的是，據說世界很多所大學盛行貪污和濫用資金的情況，如果報導屬實，那對於美國高等教育是很負面的。

Surely the 50 thousand plus you borrowed to attend university is put to good use, is it not?

確定你借去上大學的 5 萬有被妥善運用嗎？

It's spent on hiring the best teachers in the world; purchasing the best facilities for students.

花在聘請優良師資和購買先進設備給學生，不是嗎？

Well... Yes, a lot of it is, but many journalists have uncovered a seedy underbelly in many top universities.

沒錯，很多是這樣，但很多記者揭發了很多頂尖大學的醜聞。

Many higher up staffs, such as university presidents, can earn more than many CEOs of big corporations.

很多高層人員，像是大學校長比很多大公司的 CEO 還要有錢。

And one really has to think, should they be really earning that much from a nonprofit organization?

Apart from day to day management, the primary role of a university president is fundraising.

除了平日管理，大學校長的主要角色是募款。

This involves horrendously arduous tasks, such as wining and dining international visitors, or even jet setting off for days at a time for "meetings". How hard it must be for them?

包含一些很窘迫的案子，像是接待外國訪客的餐宴，或是搭飛機到異國去會見客人。

And of course, university funds are used to pay for all of these activities.

而當然，大學經費會用在這些活動上。

Universities have long been viewed as nonprofit establishments. But journalists believe that today many large American universities are acting more and more like for-profit corporations.

大學長期以來都被視為非營利組織，但記者相信很多大型的美國大學看起來更像是營利公司。

They are increasingly engaging in patenting and licensing of ideas, concepts and innovations, which only opens up opportunities to profit from an idea and is directly contradictory to providing open education for all.

他們越來越傾向為一些想法、概念和發明申請專利和執照，從一個點子就能創造獲利機會，也讓是否公開提供教育這點變得很矛盾。

And this is just scratching the surface, UNESCO released a report called "Corrupt Schools, Corrupt Universities: What Can be Done?" after six years of investigation into schools and universities worldwide.

而更深入下去，聯合國教科文組織經歷 6 年對於世界各地學校和大學的研究後，發表了一則報告「腐敗的學校，腐敗的大學：我們能做什麼？」

The report claims that education at all levels is corrupted with embezzlement, illegal registration fees and academic fraud, among other shady practices.

這份報告指稱教育界各階層都已經腐敗，有盜用公款、非法登記費用、學術詐欺、還有很多小手段。

I'm not trying to put anyone off higher education. For so many people, it can absolutely be the right choice; and the best thing they will ever do.

我並不是要貶低高等教育，對多數人而言這絕對是正確選擇，也是他們所經歷過最棒的事。

But if you are turning against the idea, then what are your alternatives?

但如果你持相反論點，請問你有替代方案嗎？

Well, unfortunately, if your dream is to be a doctor, dentist or engineer, I'm afraid you will have to attend university, since they are strictly regulated. After all, would you want to operated on by a surgeon who got their diploma from the University of YouTube?

不幸的事如果你夢想當個醫生、牙醫、或工程師，恐怕你還是得去上大學，因為這些職業有嚴格規範，畢竟，你願意讓一個從 YouTube 大學出來的人幫你開刀嗎？

But those specific careers aside, the only thing stopping you from achieving your dream job is your passion.

但除了這些特別的職業以外，唯一可以阻止你達成夢想的，是你的熱情。

The most important thing you can do in your professional life is whatever makes you happy. If you're currently thinking about your future career, you may think that by opting for a well-paid but boring job you will have a happy life. But I promise, you the day will come when you wish you had followed your true passion instead.

最重要的是在職涯裡找到能讓你快樂的事，如果你準備要開始工作了，你可能會選擇高薪但無聊的工作，想著這樣就可以快樂，但我保證日子久了你的熱情可能會減少。

And if you're 30 years down the line and you already realized this 20 years ago, then I'm truly sorry my friend.

如果你這樣過了 30 年，而 20 年前就已經開始職業倦怠，那我很抱歉。

But I think it's about time for your mid-life crisis, I can just go ahead and give you a list of numbers for Porsche dealerships if you'd like.

我認為你的中年危機可能到了，如果喜歡的話我可以提供保時捷經銷商的聯絡方式給你。

Today, with the internet, the opportunities to do what you love are limitless; and literally the only thing stopping you from accomplishing your dreams is your willingness to try.

現在網路發達，你可以自由追求所愛，唯一阻止你追求所愛的是你的意願。

And if you stick around until the end of this video, I'll tell you a story that will make you want to stop everything you're doing and follow your dreams no matter how big they are.

如果你把這部影片看到最後，我會告訴你一個故事讓你停下手邊的工作去追求你的夢想，無論夢想有多遠大。

One of the absolute best places on the internet to allow you to achieve your dreams and follow your passion is SkillShare.

在網路上最好追求夢想、釋放熱情的地方就是「SkillShare」。

Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, business, technology and so much more.

SkillShare 是一個網路學習社群，涵蓋上千種設計、商業、技術 ...... 等等課程。

Premium Membership gives you unlimited access to high quality classes on must-know topics; so you can improve your skills, unlock new opportunities, and just do the work you love.

成為付費會員可以無限地上高品質的實用課程，讓你提升技能，取得新的機會，追求你喜歡的工作！

One Skillshare course I found absolutely essential is "The Writer's Toolkit: 6 Steps to a Successful Writing Habit."

其中一堂很基本的 Skillshare 的課程是「寫作小撇步：6 個步驟完美寫作」。

Whether your dream is to be a novelist, journalist or even write videos like me, this course teaches you how to express your ideas and avoid writer's block. It's an absolute must.

不論你夢想成為小說家、記者、或像我一樣寫影片腳本，課程會告訴你如何表達想法並避免寫作錯誤。這是必備的。

What's so great about Skillshare is how affordable it is. An annual subscription is less than $10 a month; and for what you get, that's unbelievable value.

Skillshare 很棒的一點是價格很實惠，一年訂購一次，一個月少於 10 元，而你從中得到的絕對很超值。

I have yet to find a self-learning platform out there that rivals the professionalism and the wealth of incredible knowledge you can find on Skillshare. Whether you want to realize a lifelong dream or simply start a new side project, Skillshare is a must have tool.

我還沒有看過其他自學平台的專業度可以與之抗衡,Skillshare 有無限的知識寶庫等你探索，不論你想要實現畢生的夢想，或只是有規劃學習新技能，Skillshare 是必備的工具。

And since Skillshare is sponsoring this video, the first 500 people to use the promo link in the description will get their first 2 months for free.

由於 Skillshare 有贊助這段影片的，前 500 人點入下方資訊欄的連結可以享有前 2 個月免費的優惠。

So about that story I promised you.

所以我向你保證了一個故事。

There are hundreds of rags to riches stories; and each one is inspiring in its own way. But there is one entrepreneur who has perhaps suffered more than any other on his journey to success.

有數百個豐富的故事，每一則故事都有發人深省的地方，但有一位企業家在成功路途上也經歷了艱辛的歷程。

Californian John Paul DeJoria is today worth $4 billion, but not so long ago he was homeless.

加州人 John Paul DeJoria 現在身價 40 億，但不久前他還無家可歸。

Let me tell you exactly how that happened.

讓我告訴你們事情是怎麼進展的。

DeJoria grew up in a very poor household without a father. At nine years old, he started selling newspapers just so his mother and brother could eat.

DeJoria 從小喪父，家境窮困，9 歲起他開始賣報紙，讓他媽媽和兄弟可以糊口。

Eventually, DeJoria was sent to a foster home when his mother could no longer support him and his brother.

最後 DeJoria 被送到育幼院，因為媽媽沒錢再扶養他和兄弟了。

In school, his maths teacher once told him that he would never succeed at anything in life; and DeJoria says that ever since that moment he was determined to change his life.

在學校他的數學老師說「他以後人生做什麼都不會成功」，DeJoria 說在那個瞬間他決定改變人生。

An interesting side note, my maths teacher once told me the exact same thing. Seriously, what is wrong with maths teachers?

有趣的是，我的數學老師也曾經跟我說過同樣的話，數學老師是怎麼回事？

Also, if you're watching, "haha!"

如果數學老師你有在看我們影片，哈哈！

But if only things were that simple for DeJoria, because from here on out things only got worse for him.

不過對 DeJoria 來說事情不會那麼簡單，接下來的故事他會面臨更多挑戰。

At 22, DeJoria's wife abandoned him and their two-year-old son, but not before she drained every dime from his bank account and took his only car.

22 歲 DeJoria 的妻子拋下他和 2 歲的孩子，在這之前妻子花光了他銀行的積蓄還拿走他唯一的車。

It's not really my place to say, but wow, what a grade A bitch!

我沒有權利說這些，但是哇，真的好婊！

DeJoria was subsequently evicted from their flat and forced to live on the streets with his infant son.

DeJoria 隨後被趕出公寓然後被迫和襁褓中的兒子流落街頭。

He was homeless for some time and resorted to rummaging through bins to find empty bottles.

無家可歸的他有時候要去垃圾桶裡翻空瓶子。

At that time, you could trade in empty bottles at grocery stores for a couple of cents.

翻到了就可以到雜貨店裡賣空瓶子換個幾分錢。

He did this for a while just to make money to buy food for his son.

他為了買東西給兒子吃這樣過了一陣子。

Eventually, DeJoria got a job as a door to door salesman.

最後 DeJoria 找到了一個上門推銷的工作。

The job requirements must have listed "must make a good stereotype" because he sold encyclopedias.

工作條件是「營造良好形象」，因為他賣的是百科全書。

One day, DeJoria decided to start a hair care company with his friend, Paul Mitchell, who was also broke.

有天 DeJoria 決定和一樣破產的朋友 Paul Mitchell 開一家護髮公司。

Incredibly, they managed to secure a $500,000 investment from a venture capitalist.

神奇的是有位風險資本家願意投資他們 500000 元。

But on the day they were supposed to launch the company the only investor pulled out, leaving them with nothing.

但是他們要開始營運前，這位唯一的投資人撤資了，於是他們又一無所有。

This forced DeJoria to become homeless. Once again, he began living out of his car.

DeJoria 又被迫無家可歸，他開始以車為家。

So in one last ditch attempt to make his hair care company a success, he and his business partner Paul Mitchell pooled all their money together. And DeJoria asked his mum for a loan of $300.

所以把握最後一次讓護髮公司成功的機會，他和生意夥伴 Paul Mitchell 集資，DeJoria 也跟媽媽借了 300 元。

All of this added up to just $700.

這些錢加起來只有 700 元。

But it was just enough to produce their first bottles of shampoo; they even had to print the packaging in black and white because they couldn't afford color.

但已經足以申請第一批洗髮精，他們的包裝甚至只能印黑白色，因為他們沒錢印彩色。

According to DeJoria, during the first two years they nearly went bankrupt almost every single day.

根據 DeJoria 的說法，前兩年幾乎快破產。

But, eventually, they managed to slowly build up the business through hard, hard graft and their customer base of salons increased.

但最後他們努力讓生意有起色，也努力建立美髮院客源，

After two years, they were able to finally pay their bills and focus on growing their business.

兩年後他們終於還清了資金然後專心發展事業，

Their brand John Paul Mitchell Systems became a global success, selling in 150,000 salons all over the globe.

John Paul Mitchell Systems 變成全球知名的品牌，在全球的 150000 家美髮院提供服務，

John Paul DeJoria had everything taken from him twice and became homeless twice. Today the man is worth $4 billion.

John Paul DeJoria 經歷了兩次一無所有又無家可歸，現在他是一個身價 40 億的人，

Off the back of his success in hair care, he also started a premium Tequila company called Patron Spirits, which he just recently sold to Bacardi for $5.1 billion.

在護髮生意成功後他也創立了高檔龍舌蘭公司 Patron Spirits 最近以 51 億的價格賣給酒商 Bacardi。

Now, if DeJoria's story doesn't give you the motivation to stick to and pursue your dreams no matter what, then nothing will.

現在如果 DeJoria 的故事還不足以讓你下定決心追求夢想，那也沒什麼可以鼓舞你了。

At the end of the day, whether you're university educated or not, there's only one person that can make you successful—you.

最後，無論你是否受了大學教育，只有一個人可以讓你成功，那就是你。

And it won't be your college or university diploma that is responsible, it will be your determination to make it happen.

必要的不是你的大學學歷，而是你實踐夢想的決心。

Thanks for watching.

謝謝收看。

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