posted March 27, 2014 11:26 PM            

http://www.linda-goodman.com/ubb/Forum25/HTML/004547.html

posted March 27, 2014 11:58 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by aquaguy91:
I think what you are saying is mostly false... Most people who are materially successful were born into that lifestlye.. Its easy to succeed when you had the best of everything growing up .. By the same token it is very hard to succeed when everything is stacked against you.

---

My father, who was an auto body shop owner. (a big one that did all of the local police vehicles along with county sheriff vehicles)
Grew up in a home without running water. They used an outhouse and a well out in the yard. They shared a bath as a family, one at a time of course.

Not at all born into it.

How about Allen Iverson who played street ball and grew up "in the hood", ending up a very successful NBA player.
Or John Starks who worked at a grocery store to help himself though college, repeatedly trying for the NBA and eventually squeaking in.
Eventually facing Michael Jordan in one of the most famous NBA finals showdown in NBA history.

posted March 28, 2014 12:00 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by aquaguy91:
I was actually a gopher for a mechanic for a few weeks when I was 18. He taught me a lot in the short time I worked with him but he ended up getting arrested and hasnt been seen or heard from since.

---

That sucks. Just keep doing what you're doing. I know what it's like to live in a small town and not be able to receive financial aid even for community college.

When I was in high school I was rebellious and skipped a lot of school, but I got all A grades in the classes I actually attended. I probably could have gotten good grades in all of my classes, but I simply wasn't interested. Consequently, I was not eligible for scholarships (even for trade schools or community college) straight out of high school.

Like I said, I had to wait until I was 23 years old to receive financial aid. So I moved into a cheap house with a bunch of random people, went to work at 5 a.m. every morning, and went to school in the evenings.

I know you can do this, AG. Just keep going.

But for the record, I didn't start taking school seriously until I was about 25 years old. I dropped out for a while, and started up again when I was 30.
I struggled from about the age of 20 until I was 30, and by that time I had my s**t together.

posted March 28, 2014 12:13 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by DeepFreeze:
My father, who was an auto body shop owner. (a big one that did all of the local police vehicles along with county sheriff vehicles)
Grew up in a home without running water. They used an outhouse and a well out in the yard. They shared a bath as a family, one at a time of course.

Not at all born into it.

How about Allen Iverson who played street ball and grew up "in the hood", ending up a very successful NBA player.
Or John Starks who worked at a grocery store to help himself though college, repeatedly trying for the NBA and eventually squeaking in.
Eventually facing Michael Jordan in one of the most famous NBA finals showdown in NBA history.

Among many others... Not just in sports. Do you want me to name some others?
Come on man... You need to expand your mind outside of your box. LOL

---

posted March 28, 2014 12:15 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by aquaguy91:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by DeepFreeze:
[b] My father, who was an auto body shop owner. (a big one that did all of the local police vehicles along with county sheriff vehicles)
Grew up in a home without running water. They used an outhouse and a well out in the yard. They shared a bath as a family, one at a time of course.

Not at all born into it.

How about Allen Iverson who played street ball and grew up "in the hood", ending up a very successful NBA player.
Or John Starks who worked at a grocery store to help himself though college, repeatedly trying for the NBA and eventually squeaking in.
Eventually facing Michael Jordan in one of the most famous NBA finals showdown in NBA history.

Among many others... Not just in sports. Do you want me to name some others?
Come on man... You need to expand your mind outside of your box. LOL

---

posted March 28, 2014 01:06 AM            

There is the "luck" factor, not everyone has chances or good opportunities. But like he said, hard work and persistence weigh more. Lots of people have chances and flunk anyway.

posted March 28, 2014 10:27 AM            

But what are you looking for?

Sympathy? A hand out? A Nobel Prize? A hero's welcome?

You always have sympathy. We hear you loud and clear.

But the only person that can get you out of your rut is you. Talk is cheap. Action speaks.

posted March 28, 2014 04:13 PM            

For others, the climb for a seat at the top of hierarchy is appealing, while for others money isn't always the bottom line. Of course, many enjoy balancing between passion and financial sufficiency in their career.

As with the tolerance issue, usually you will attract people who are similar like you - good or bad, your intolerance of others may be a projection of how harshly you may have critically judge yourself too. Though, I guess one's status may boost one's ego and give rise to a superiority complex for some manifested as intolerance towards those 'less than' them. This superiority/inferiority complex is the same root which causes discrimination in terms of nationality, religion, ethnicity, gender equality, sexual orientation, socio economic status and other existing power-based hierarchical structures.

Quite frankly, you never really know what your life plan is. I have heard some people coming from troubled/harsh backgrounds managed to have their life turned around by a 'sheer luck' of just meeting the right people or being at the right place and time. Most persevered through numerous difficulties and failures for a long time. And there will also be others at the top falling down their grace when their luck ran out.

posted March 28, 2014 04:29 PM            

Especially this:

quote:

---

I guess it all depends on your definition of success - whether it is status based or some other philosophical beliefs that you hold.

---

posted March 28, 2014 04:40 PM            

My parents are middle class immigrants however they helped push me to succeed.

My portfolio and grades got me into one of the top art schools in the country.. full ride and well a couple bank loans here and there..

My Peers are paid interns for Facebook and Apple and Microsoft.
I was an intern for a major corporation too
People can make excuses but I worked hard and made all the right decisions to get where I am..

The best thing is my soulmate is born into wealth so I don't even have to work if I was a gold digger LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

posted March 28, 2014 05:54 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by 23:
..it's the like benevolent medieval feudal overlord thinking of having to provide for others.

---

No, it isn't. It's like someone who has accomplished something on their own doesn't have to waste their time stewing, directing their frustrated energies on what other people are doing, what they're getting by with, society's currently loose morals, etc.

In most cases, anyway.

posted March 29, 2014 02:18 PM            

And apart from tuition, has never supported his children since they left home. His daughter earns about $40k last i heard.

What having wealthy parents gives you is more about connections (tho his daughter can't use his financial biz connections much) and attitude. Many wealthy families lose that status thru not cultivating the right attitude in their offspring. Many do not.

Richard Branson is tolerant and mentors many people...Donald Trump, well...not so tolerant and tho he mentors he tends to use humiliation as a primary tool...however Trump, who started out rich, could have folded when he lost his original principal (about $400 million) but he pulled himself back up and beyond.