This is possible in every country. So is winning the lottery and sleeping with Jessica Biel and Jessica Alba in the same night. The biggest crock of shit ever uttered to Americans. My father has broken his back for over 50 years and has nothing to show for it. He is one of millions in this country that has been fed this line of bullshit yet refuses to deny it. It's because it would mean admitting he believed in something foolish for his entire life, which is why Americans won't own up to the fairy-tale. You think that 11 year old kid out in $90,000 worth of work? You think those guys who sold an app to Facebook for $19,000,000,000 put in $19,000,000,000 worth of work? Hell no. Luck and timing played a much bigger part in both stories...
Its not enough just to work hard. If that were true a lot more people would be rich. Working smart is what can make a person wealthy. Working smart means not only doing your own work. Working smart also means leveraging the work of other
It also means making hard decisions and taking some risks. My dad never finished high school, worked hard his entire life for low-level pay but took a risk and put his savings into land and managed to retire comfortably, debt-free and died at 87 with money left in the till. My mom left a comfortable but low-paid school-teacher job and took a risk by going after a PhD in mid-career. But she ended up in a corporate job making top dollar.
Careful, one of em has the herps. Nothing like a game of roulette with big jim and the twins. I wouldn't go that far. I know exactly what you mean because my dad is in the exact same situation, so was my mom. However my grandfather before them worked his ass off his entire life and actually did pretty well for himself. I think it is all about how you live and what you do with the fruits of your labor sort of thing. I'm not talking about becoming a freaking billionaire or even a millionaire, but if you work hard, make some smart decisions there is no reason at all you can't come out of it doing quite well. Of course it did. No one ever said a little of both of these doesn't hurt. Till the day I die Amigo
Chances were a lot better decades ago for the big payoff. Too many variables today. I remember hearing about my great grandmother who raised 7 children on low wages for the time period. That shit can't be done now.
You are shaped by your experiences. My folks were raised on 40-acre self-reliant, kerosene-lantern, mule-plow farms during the depression. It made them resourceful and frugal. They were always afraid that "hard times" might return and saved every surplus dime. I was raised in the post-war boom economy with electricity and TV, telephones, a fridge full of food, carefree summer days and cheap weed. It made me complacent. I was almost 40 before I wised up and got my shit together financially. I had always saved some, but I wasn't being smart about it and had no plan. So I made a plan to be smarter with my money and that was the aha moment that changed everything. That being said . . . raw luck also influences everything. I've never really had an serious health issue, a bankruptcy or other economic disaster befall me. Even a divorce or a problem child can wreck one's financial future. I never had to put kids through college. Never been sued. Never had a major theft, a house fire, or a flood. A couple of way-too-expensive girlfriends is about the worst financial luck I've had. You must work hard. You must be smart. You must be lucky. Two of these virtues are under your control. And fortune favors the audacious.
I dont buy into slaving for a company. I give them what they pay me for. Nothing more. I could really care less if I become an everyone's boss because all I really care about is spending time with my kids and family. That is tehe only reason I work smart. I have a comfortable life and am content. A Striking it rich would be cool, but 99% or Americans will never make it rich overnight. Usually it is a combination of smart working and wise investments. Working hard has zero to do with anything IMO. I think being smart and a hard worker are often confused. I found out ways to do less work and give the same results. Why would I do extra for a "Good job"??
My father raised a family on low wages as well. Trouble is, people are still making those same low wages today and expected to raise a family while costs of living have increased significantly.
