Why not both? Can't speak for hairdressing for lack of personal experience. But I do know a few multi-millionaire supercut owners.

How about something similar, I worked my way up from lowest kitchen help, working part-time during high school. By the time I finish school, I was a line cook. I was offered apprenticeship and can probably run the kitchen in a few years if I choose to. But college was more important and waiting table offers better hourly rate.

The first engineering job out of college is frustrating. The hourly rate after tax wasn't that much better than waiting tables. But I never lost that work ethic. Guess what, working hard and smart open doors anywhere. Notice I never mentioned blind loyalty. Part of working smart is not to let work define you. If hairdressing is a dead end, jump ship. Get a degree, education is the best investment you can make on yourself. But chose wisely and be practical.

I think it's a mistake to follow what worked for the last generation and copy as is. For example, for the boomers, work hard, be loyal to your company, get a pension and your life is set. That worked great for our parents, but not so much for gen-x.

For the gen-x, work hard, job hop in the 20-30s, climb the corporate ladder in the 40s, and even worker bees can build wealth. You probably have heard of the 20/80 rule. 20% of the work force does 80% of the work. Be that 20%.

For the millennials, it is a more treacherous landscape. It may take something else to improve the income. I'm sorry to say corporate greed has outsourced many jobs to improve profit. Can't really blame them because they have "fiduciary duty" to maximize profit. It's partly us the investor and consumers that caused work force globalization. I experienced the transition first hand. I now work with colleagues around the world who make a fraction of what I make doing the same work. For the young folks, working smart is probably even more important than working hard.

I have no illusion that it's as much luck as skill that I'm financially at a good place. I focus on what I can control - my own work quality and output. But I'm always on the lookout to improve my chance of success. There were set backs, like buying franchise from those supercut folks (unrelated business to hairdressing), but that's another story. I hope you'll find your path to success.