Why experience, relationships, and results are becoming more valuable than credentials alone
A recent newsletter from entrepreneur Codie Sanchez caught my attention.
Her headline was provocative: “The MBA Is on Clearance.”
She pointed to reports of business schools discounting tuition and offering larger scholarships to attract students. Whether or not you agree with her conclusions, she raises an important question:
What are people really paying for when they pursue additional education?
For decades, the answer seemed obvious. A degree was viewed as a pathway to better opportunities, higher income, and greater career security.
Today, that equation is becoming less certain.
This doesn’t mean college is dead. Many professions still require formal education, and degrees continue to open doors. But the workplace is changing rapidly. Information is more accessible than ever, technology is accelerating disruption, and employers increasingly want evidence of what someone can do rather than simply where they studied.
In many ways, we’re moving from an economy that rewarded permission to one that rewards proof.
This article was inspired by concepts discussed in Codie Sanchez’s June 4, 2026 newsletter, “The MBA Is on Clearance.”
The Proximity Premium
The idea is simple.
As knowledge becomes easier to access, proximity becomes more valuable.
In other words, what matters most is often not the information itself. It is your access to people, experiences, opportunities, and environments that help you apply that information in meaningful ways.
Many professionals can watch the same videos, read the same articles, or ask the same AI tools for advice.
Far fewer have direct access to mentors, business owners, decision-makers, customers, or real-world situations where learning is tested through action.
That is where growth often happens.
What I See in Coaching Conversations
As a Career Ownership Coach®, I regularly speak with accomplished professionals who have impressive credentials and successful careers.
Many have advanced degrees. Many have spent years developing expertise in their field.
Yet some find themselves frustrated, uncertain, or questioning their next chapter.
Some are navigating corporate restructuring.
Some are struggling through a difficult job search despite submitting countless applications.
Many of these individuals have strong resumes, respected employers, advanced degrees, and years of experience.
Yet they find themselves sending application after application into what feels like a black hole.
Often, they receive no response at all. When they do receive a rejection, it rarely provides meaningful feedback about why another candidate was selected or what they could improve.
The result is understandable frustration.
Many begin questioning their qualifications, their value in the marketplace, or whether they are pursuing the right opportunities.
What I often observe, however, is that the challenge is not necessarily a lack of capability. Instead, today’s job market increasingly rewards visibility, relationships, demonstrated results, and strategic positioning in addition to credentials and experience.
In other words, proof is becoming more influential than permission.
Others have achieved career success but are asking deeper questions about fulfillment, flexibility, control, and long-term wealth creation.
Rarely is the issue a lack of intelligence, education, or work ethic.
More often, the challenge is that the rules of the game have changed.
The old career economy rewarded credentials, tenure, and climbing a predictable ladder.
The emerging economy increasingly rewards adaptability, relationships, demonstrated results, and the ability to create value in new ways.
A Better Question
When people feel stuck, they often ask:
“What job should I pursue next?”
I think a more valuable question may be:
“What experiences, relationships, and opportunities will move me closer to the future I want?”
That question shifts the focus from titles and credentials toward intentional growth and meaningful proximity to our goals.
The Career Proximity Test
- Am I learning from people who have achieved results I want to achieve?
- Am I gaining real-world experience that builds transferable value?
- Am I receiving feedback from the marketplace, customers, leaders, or stakeholders rather than only performance reviews?
- Am I building skills and relationships that increase my future options?
- Is the path I am pursuing creating momentum toward my income, lifestyle, wealth, and equity goals?
The more “yes” answers you have, the more likely you are investing in genuine growth rather than simply collecting credentials.
My Own Career Crossroads
Several years ago, I experienced restructuring in my own career.
Like many professionals, I was forced to evaluate assumptions I had carried for years about security, stability, and career progression.
That experience ultimately led me to explore entrepreneurship and eventually become a Career Ownership Coach with The Entrepreneur’s Source.
What I discovered was that career fulfillment is often less about finding the perfect job and more about gaining clarity around what you truly want your life and work to look like.
For some people, that path remains in Corporate America.
For others, it may involve business ownership, consulting, acquisition, franchising, or building multiple income streams.
The right answer is different for everyone.
The important thing is creating enough proximity to explore your options thoughtfully rather than simply reacting to circumstances.
Final Thoughts
Information has become abundant.
Opportunity has not.
The professionals who thrive in the years ahead will likely be those who intentionally place themselves near the people, experiences, and opportunities that accelerate growth.
Whether you are considering a career change, evaluating a business opportunity, or simply thinking about your next chapter, it may be worth asking:
Who do I need to learn from?
What experiences do I need to gain?
And is my current path bringing me closer to the future I want to create?
Because in today’s economy, proof is becoming more valuable than permission.
And the people who focus on building real-world experience, meaningful relationships, and demonstrated results will often have more options than those who rely solely on the credentials they earned years ago.
About the Author
Steve Ebben is a Career Ownership Coach® with The Entrepreneur’s Source®, helping professionals explore career options that align with their desired income, lifestyle, wealth, and equity goals. Through a structured discovery process, he helps individuals gain clarity around career transitions, business ownership, and other opportunities that can provide greater control over their professional future.
Steve Ebben
Career Ownership Coach®
The Entrepreneur’s Source®
Email: steve@esourcecoach.com
Phone: 734-768-3663
Calendar: https://sebben.esourcecoach.com/schedule-a-call/
If you’re evaluating your next career move and would like an objective conversation about your options, I’d welcome the opportunity to connect.