In this article, the author relates the need for a complimentary relationship between the academic and real outside world. This is not to compare a college degree with outside work experience--the two are complementary. It is the world of business and industry that often cause changes. Students and practitioners of industrial automation are an integral part of this process. While it is not their intent, nor are they necessarily aware of it, they cause the world to change by eliminating low-skill jobs, working with international corporations, and understanding the common global language of technology. However, in education there is seldom a reward for anything other than more formal education. Almost all financial and career advancement for teachers is based on graduate credits and advanced degrees. In many ways, this is intellectually limiting and contributes to the disabling lack of understanding between the academic community and the outside world. The author contends that if we were to somehow capture the essence of all education into a single central goal, it might simply be to nurture and empower our students. This course is most effective when the knowledge that is imparted relates to all other aspects of life. When students begin to sense the remarkable interconnectedness of all they are learning, doors begin to open, lights begin to turn on, and educators become truly successful.