[saden1]

Originally Posted by jsarno

I'm always looking for something that will better me and my situation. Due to the fact that there is no opportunity here, I am actively seeking employment where there is opportunity. While I may have jumped here lately, I had 3 jobs in the past 10 years. I refuse to allow society to dictate what I should or should not do, and EVERYTHING I have, I have earned. I am not fortunate out of luck, I am fortunate out of hard work and dedication. Please do not confuse hardwork with luck. I am successful because of me. I will continue to be successful because of me. Does that sound arrogant...sure. I prefer to call it confidence cause I know everything I do has a consequence...sometimes it's positive and sometimes it's negative, but either way, I am the master of my own destiny.
My father never even graduated high school. Up until a year ago I was the only one in my family with a degree, and I am the only one with a Masters. Is it a coincidence that I make more money than anyone in my family? NOPE. I dedicated myself, and debted myself for that degree, my family was too shortsighted to see what would benefit them. I moved away from my family in Mass and came out to NM because I felt there was more opportunity here, and it's worked for me to this point. Why would I leave everything I know for a place I never stepped foot in? Because you can't keep your life on cruise control. You can do anything you want to do if you put your mind to it and don't become discouraged by obsticles...I'm living proof.
If you guys had any idea who my family is, you'd be shocked at how I turned out to be who I am. You can either follow the norm and bitch and moan about "misfortune", or you can take the bull by the horns and create your own life. Yes, it IS that easy. If you don't think so, you've already failed yourself.
Saden...there is more to life than just "working hard", you need to work smart too. Someone can bust their ass as a janitor for 30 years and retire making $12 an hour, did he work hard...absolutely...did he work smart...hell no. What's the difference between that guy and a successful guy? The successful guy knew there was something better out there for him and he worked hard to achieve it.
I love this quote:
"Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right."
Plain and simple...I can!

I don't mean fortune as in luck but rather circumstance, opportunity, and environment. One of your assumptions is that everyone has a chance to succeed. I'm glad you got where you are by working hard but I bet you if you think for a moment you can name 3 crucial events or opportunities in your life you can attribute your success to. To say you're where you are today ALL because of your hard work would be disingenuous.

I mean, compare yourself to people from Sudan. How do you think your life stacks up against theirs? Are they poor because they didn't work hard or because they aren't smart? The world isn't black and white like you make it out to be. It's many shades of gray filled with spots and squiggly lines.