The Richly or Poorly Show
Show Transcript
shdawson-20260217.mp3
Episode 02/17/2026
02/17/2026

Hello! Welcome to The Richly or Poorly Show!

My name is Dr. Stephen Dawson, and I am your show host.

Thank you for joining me.

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The show's motto is unmistakable: RICHLY IS GOODLY!

Please consider how you define the term good as we journey through life together in your pursuit of defining the term richly in your life.

The plan for my presentations to you was to first establish a foundation of shared understanding between you, the listener, and me. Then, proceed to build on that foundation with subsequent episodes. I recommend that you review the nine episodes between December 2nd, 2025 through January 27th, 2026 as you see fit to help you remember the foundation of our shared understanding as we proceed through each episode you hear in the coming weeks, months, and years.

Last week, we took a deep, tangible look at how the show's intended audience can connect their shared worldviews by way of the small modular reactor technology. I encourage you to listen to the previous two episodes to catch up on our learning, should you just now be joining in to listen to the show.

Today, I will present a deep, tangible way for the show's intended audience to advance their shared worldviews and move into ethics. Remember, ethics is what a person does based on what they believe, as declared by their worldview.

The presentation today will cover an example that touches on my personal learning journey. You will conclude your listening to today's episode with an excited interest in the possibility of applying the presentation today to your life in a meaningful and beneficial manner. I justify this statement based on the position you have reached the point of being sick and tired of being sick and tired of not being able to live your life in a way that you define as more richly. You have reached a breaking point, tired of not living a richer life on your terms. This combination of circumstances motivates you to seek help to achieve your specific goals.

Now, a way to advance your worldview to ethics.

I focus the presentation on the education system in the United States, based on firsthand knowledge. I invite listeners outside of the United States to email me at SERVICE AT SH DAWSON DOT COM to discuss the education system in your country.

Education is segmented into book learning and applied learning. Both forms of learning are necessary to master any subject. Both forms of learning, in my view, are of equal value.

The United States had what are referred to as junior colleges since the year 1850. States later formalized junior colleges into state-operated learning institutions and called them community colleges. The community college concept became quite popular after World War II, based on the military benefit program to educate those who served in the military. The same military benefit became even more popular in the late 1960s. I am an advocate of community college learning. I attended three different community colleges in my learning journey. I also completed distance learning in my learning journey. I am a supporter of the four year single college and university experience when it is best for the student.

There was little to no learning for skilled and service workers from state education institutions until the mid-1960s. The most popular programs in these schools were and still are truck driving, welding, electrician, automotive technology, practical nursing, and cosmetology.

The state of Tennessee established in 1967 the school system called the Tennessee Technology Centers to provide skilled and service worker education programs. The school is classified as a public technical college. The Tennessee Board of Regents regulates the schools. Tennessee Technology Centers was renamed in 2013 as Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology. Today there are 27 campuses in Tennessee. More degree programs are added yearly. The school system is quite successful in educating and graduating students.

Students in community colleges, skilled and service schools, colleges, and universities are faced with the decision of leaving school before graduating. The reasons for this decision are degree selection, money, and fit with the school faculty. I cannot overemphasize the value of graduating from a degree program. It is difficult, almost impossible, to justify having knowledge, skills, and abilities for employment apart from earning a degree. The combination of some of this and some of that does not define education as does a diploma earned from graduating from a degree program.

It is tempting to receive a job offer before completing a degree program and earning the diploma. I urge extreme caution when accepting such work offers for employment, as not having a means to finish the pursued degree program and earn the diploma is most likely one of the worst choices a person can select. I say this based on the ability to transfer to another school should that option need to occur after starting the new position, or the inability to complete the degree program based on the absence of enough time to focus and do the coursework. I faced this decision in 1991. I chose not to transfer to a school that required relocation. It was the right choice for me. Again, finishing a degree program and gaining the diploma is a huge enabler for living life more richly in every sense of the term rich.

I am convinced learning never ends. Learning is a journey, not a destiny. It does not matter the topic, the subject, or the line of work. There is always something to learn by choice, and much to be learned by necessity. The arrival of new technologies alone is proof enough that learning must occur as a matter of living life beyond surviving and well into thriving.

So, the first part of the presentation today has covered the plan to get an education to prove knowledge, skills, and abilities to either gain employment or start your own company. The second part of the presentation today focuses on applying your credentialed knowledge, skills, and abilities to the topic of the small modular reactor.

Here is a way to pull together the worldview of the four intended audience members. I am not saying it is the best way, or the only way. I am saying I would pursue this way in a heartbeat if I were sick and tired of being sick and tired of not being able to live my life in a way that I define as more richly.

I had a service company for almost 20 years. I would go to the supply house and get supplies for doing my work on my job sites. I would talk with other service workers about the clothing and tools they used to do their work. My intent was to help me arrive at purchasing decisions for my workers and me to accomplish the work of my service company.

We know that money and materials are connected by labor for the small modular reactors to be operational. We covered last week why it is beneficial for the four members of my intended audience to work together so they can live life more richly. Here is a way I present to you to do just that.

How about a web site that enables skilled workers, service workers, and homemakers to connect directly with financial investors? That sounds like a pretty good idea to me to stop being sick and tired of being sick and tired of not being able to live your life in a way that you define as more richly.

Let's look at the small modular reactor from the perspective of the skilled and service workers, setting aside the knowledge worker that is also necessary for a moment. The homemaker is a constant in the lives of the skilled, service, and knowledge workers.

So, going back to the supply house story of a few moments ago, where I interacted with other service workers.

Imagine a web site where skilled workers, service workers, and homemakers can establish a personal profile. The personal profile lists all of the clothing and tools used by each person who establishes a personal profile on the web site. Clothing, I mean everything from hats, coats, jackets, gloves, shirts, trousers, socks, undergarments, footwear, safety equipment, everything that is worn by either a skilled or service worker to do the work of their job. Tools, everything that a skilled worker or a service worker uses to do the work of their job that is defined as their equipment, their gear, their stuff. You enter as much data as you want about yourself in your personal profile. Simple enough.

Now, it is not necessary for either the skilled worker or service worker to enter this data personally. It could be a homemaker doing it for them, a family member or beloved doing it for them, or a friend doing it for them. What is necessary is getting enough data in the personal profile of the web site to help you.

Now, let's take it further. You enter the manufacturer and model number of each item you wear and each tool you use.

Now, let's take it further. You enter things like when you wear the clothing, you work either indoors or outdoors, you work by day of the week, or even your work hours. Imagine that work activity is then combined by the web site automatically with the historical weather data of the zip code where you are working. The idea is that the more data you provide about yourself, the better understanding people have about what you do. You enter as much data as you want about yourself in your personal profile. Simple enough.

Then, all of this data is searchable by users of the web site. You can research clothing and tools that people use, and even their recommendations for clothing and tools.

Now, here is where the financial investor comes into the picture to connect with you personally. They want access to this data to sell the data, to get you deals on clothing and tools, and even do a deal with each person who has posted their personal profile on the web site. Things like getting you coupons to purchase more clothing and tools, or getting you free shipping on the purchase of clothing and tools. Do you see how this online interaction is now saving you time and effort and helping your money stay in your pocket by helping you purchase what you need and want more effectively?

Now, let's really go deep into this idea. Imagine you graduate from one of the degree programs I presented earlier. You need money to buy clothing and tools to start your new job. What if the financial investor were to loan you the money with a deal that was good for you? They see from your degree that you earned proves that you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do the work. You are a good risk for the loan. Imagine if the loan were even tax-deductible based on some form of legislation that is in the works today that becomes the law of the land.

Now, let's go even deeper into this idea. Say time goes on, and you want to start your own company. You have access to people who are educated, like-minded, and funding sources to start your company. The financial investor who has been working with you through this web site idea sees you as a good risk and loans you the money to start your business. All of this from getting your degree, setting up a profile on a web site, and doing the best you can in your work. Does life get much better?

The technology necessary to establish this proposed web site is not too complicated based on the technology available today. The money necessary to establish this proposed web site is not too much considering the cost of starting a web site today. What is needed here is the assembly of the financial investors to set it up and get it going. I am confident the skilled workers, the service workers, and the homemakers would be more than willing to establish a free personal profile to get access to relevant information, for free, that will help them with their work, and that will help them get coupons and free shipping on the clothing and tools they need to do the work of their job.

Let's go one step further. Deals are all over the Internet for the same item, regardless of the item. Imagine if this proposed web site could also be a source to purchase the clothing and tools you need to do your work.

This web site is a huge source of direct user feedback for all of the manufacturers of all of the clothing and tools we are talking about here that are used by skilled and service workers. The homemakers know all about these items, as they clean them regularly. This is win-win for everyone involved. The example of the small modular reactor as a way to work is an example that can be applied to countless other types of work and job sites.

So, here is my four-part suggestion to you.

First, think about what you have now for access to clothing and tool information. Think about how much easier your life would be if you could gain the benefits of learning about what others use for clothing and tools, and receive coupons and free shipping on the clothing and tools you need for your work.

Second, wonder for a moment why no one has come up with this idea before now. I have, and I concluded it does not matter. What matters is having the idea now.

Third, talk to your friends about this idea and get a feel for how they view the idea. Better yet, ask them to listen to this show episode and get all of the material firsthand from me, so you do not have to go through it all with each of them.

Finally, decide how you view this idea.

If you see this idea is a good idea, then email me at SERVICE AT SH DAWSON DOT COM to discuss what we can do to get the idea into reality.

Well, that's it for today.

RICHLY IS GOODLY!

Please consider all you have heard from me today.

I hope you are excited about how you can apply the material I present to you on the show to your life, so you can live your life more richly than you have ever known!

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The Richly or Poorly Show!

I have enjoyed presenting to you today.

Until the next episode, I hope you will be safe and join me next week.

Until then.