Austin Allred, this tracks with my experience. I too earn a high integer multiple of what I would have made had I not taken my self-education seriously.
My case may be different from others, because I am self taught at both business and programming. I have always treated professional literature as my "college education", except that unless most CS courses it has always applied directly to my own professional development.
As well as what you said, I give myself permission to study only what's relevant. If I learn just one useful thing from a $50 book there's a very high chance it will pay for the book many, many times over. I do not torture myself by treating every book as if I have some kind of obligation to read it cover to cover.
My case may be different from others, because I am self taught at both business and programming. I have always treated professional literature as my "college education", except that unless most CS courses it has always applied directly to my own professional development.
As well as what you said, I give myself permission to study only what's relevant. If I learn just one useful thing from a $50 book there's a very high chance it will pay for the book many, many times over. I do not torture myself by treating every book as if I have some kind of obligation to read it cover to cover.