People ask me how could I handle the pressures of putting myself through college and then through graduate schools, while working full-time in responsible positions.

My stock reply: It was easier than it would have been merely working or going to school.

Ive always found that it is a better thing to be doing two tasks, and perhaps more, than simply one at a time. While this flies in the face of conventional wisdom, Im sure a lot of people who have done the same thing would agree.

Heres why:

(1) When one activity is thriving, it is much easier to handle a disappointment with the other. You may not get that promotion at work, but youre racking up credits toward that degree, and that youll be able to cash in, later.

(2) Youll respect yourself for doing it the hard way. Its great to feel that youre the hero in your own life, that youre braving challenges and handling adversity. Managing two or more challenges at a time make you quite a person!

(3) Youre like a diversified investor in the stock market. Instead of loading up on one stock, on one activity, youre covering yourself if one crashes. The other activity might still be a big winner for you.

(4) Youll save a lot of time by doing two or more things at once. Why do things sequentially when they can be done simultaneously?

(5) Youll learn more than the average bears because youll have more inputs.

(6) Youll learn to discipline yourself and to say no to temptations and distractions.

(7) Youll rehearse the ability to handle pressure and multi-tasking, which will be inevitable as your career proceeds.

So, if you hear that a fresh high school grad needs to support himself, at least partly through working, congratulate him, and assure him, Youre going to love it!