There is this quote I found on the web, it had no reference or author. I found it to be enlightening and embodies my very own work ethics. Humans started off with this mentality and as society grew only about 1-5% of the human population still maintain this discipline. 5% is being generous.
“The only place success comes before work is in the Dictionary”
Truer words have never been spoken. Some how the majority of the Human race developed this mentality that they deserve everything and need not work for anything. I get up everyday, I drive 60 miles to work and 60 mile back home. I go to work on time and I stay until the jobs (goals) for the day are completed. If I have to stay late, I do. If I have to leave and work later that night from home, I DO. I do not get paid over time, I only demand that others around me work as hard as I do, or at least half as hard as I do (I can’t expect too much).
I pay my taxes, I pay my insurances, I pay my mortgage and everything else you need to pay to live within society. I come up a little short some months and others, I come out on top. I live on the edge of my means, no more, no less. Things could be better, but things could be a hell-of-a-lot worse.
The one thing I do not do is… Blame the person next to me, expect the person next to me to pay for my expenses, my life style, my means. I know if I do not get out of bed every day and go to work, learn something new, advance my skill set, network within my industry or studies, I will not succeed. I will not sulk at the fact that Bill Gates makes more in 1 month then I will see in my entire life. I will not hate the person driving next to me in a Bently or the owner of a house down the street with more bedrooms and garages than me. They worked their asses off for it and deserve to spend their hard earned money any way they seem fit to do so. So do I.
It is not up to anyone else to decide how I should spend my success. If I choose to donate to charities, then that is my right. It is not up to the government, my community, my fellow man to tell me how to spread my wealth, my success. Yes we are obligated to help our fellow man, HOWEVER, as my father so eloquently puts it…
“I will not help you hurt yourself”
Giving my “success” to a mother of 4 going on 6 currently receiving tax dollar funded welfare, unmarried and unemployed by choice, is not “helping” her. Teaching her a trade/skill, donating to a nursery school or school with before and after care programs, giving her a box of condoms even, is helping her. My money will only hurt her, her children and this society more (insert Him if you take offense to me using a woman as a reference). Equip these people to contribute to society and pretty soon you will have an epidemic of growth and success. Like… I know!!!! my God, what would we do if that were to happen??? I don’t know, maybe colonize mars, the moon, discover a new source of energy, etc., etc.
Now you may ask me, Is success just money to you? how do you weigh “Success”? NO it is not just material, success is a goal or objective that you set to achieve for yourself. Whether it is quitting smoking, earning 100 dollars a day or donating some spare time to teach our youth. No matter what it is, when you set a goal you must work to achieve it and then and only then shall you succeed. Start with “Baby steps” set a daily goal, then set a weekly, monthly, yearly, etc. and work every day to succeed. You will gain confidence, strength, and happiness that could Inadvertently effect and change the world for the better. One success at a time.
I’m not kidding. Take these words to heart, for they are the hard truths of human-ish societies and will be the downfall of our species.