OMFG This Hurt

[MJ DeMarco]

It hurts "us" because we do not identify with this.

However, if he is happy with his life, why should we care? I would give him congratulations. His version of freedom is not ours. His pursuit of happiness is obviously not ours.

 

[jon.a]

An old shipmate that used to work for me just posted this on FB...

"So, you know the old adage, "Good things come to those who wait"? Well, to that my Mother would tack on two words, "and PRAY".

So, we waited and prayed and today I found out that I got the promotion I worked so hard for.

I am officially an Electronics Mechanic.

Thank you to everyone that supported me and helped me along the way and prayed."

I almost cried.

 

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[Andy Black]

It's the wait and pray part I find sad.

 

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[Vigilante]

I don't cheer for a McDonald's worker when they get a $.25 raise, even though that makes them "happy."

Very few people in life find fulfillment in their scripted existence. Life becomes something they endure.

Let's assume this guy that served with @jon.a is in his mid-50s. His entire existence and hope was that his happiness was tied to a promotion in a job so he can perform for somebody else like a monkey that claps his hands for peanuts.

Jon can congratulate him publicly but privately mourn the loss of a friend to a lifetime of living with in the script.

Being happy that there are workers at Subway making your sandwich is an entirely self focused paradigm. You mortgage somebody else's freedom so that you can have the right amount of olives on your sub sandwich. To then thank them for their career choice is not a positive affirmation of who they are. That just makes them pawns... serfs in the capitalist world where you would prefer them to be content in servitude. Thanking them for them unknowingly selecting to be in chains so that my sub sandwich can be excellent is a feel good gesture that masks and perpetuates their servitude. The compassionate position is to help them escape it, not reinforce their slavery out of a position of self interest.

I'm 100 with @jon.a on this one and his position is a position of compassion.

While the world needs ditchdiggers, we don't have to be happy that they haven't found freedom.

I had a few workers at my place a week or so ago. I gave them two monetary tips... One normal generous tip for their labor for that day, and the other one for them to keep and tape to their bathroom mirror as a reminder. They agreed to only cash the second tip the day they quit their shitty manual labor job and struck out towards their dreams. They were young enough to realize they didn't want to end up where they started.

I don't celebrate or affirm life slipping past people for whom I could've played a big role in helping them find their freedom. If I truly care about the subway worker, I don't thank them for being there… I help them get out of there. Unless... my concern is the ratio of salami to cheese on my submarine sandwich and then I thank them for doing such a great job.

 

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[jon.a]

I guess he's not in his mid twenties getting up the first few rungs of the ladder?

He was when he first worked for me almost 30 years ago.

 

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[biophase]

I used to volunteer at the zoo once a week. I was that guy you see in the enclosure shoveling tiger shit into a bucket.

I often wondered what some of the onlookers thought as they watched me from outside the fence. Were they thinking the same things as you guys?

Wonder what they thought when at the end of the day I got in my SL500 and drove home. Probably reinforced it in their minds even more.

He's probably leveraged to the max.
Working to afford that car.
$30k millionaire.

Btw, the employees at the zoo got raises in the range of $0.10-$0.25 per hour per year. And $0.25 was considered a good raise!

 

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[biophase]

Maybe I am projecting. But the point is not me being right. It's not about me.

He obviously would. He's damn well scripted. And he would probably never understand what I mean. Too bad.

I've found that I do that sometimes, so it is easy to spot. For example, if you walk into a Walmart and a 80 year old greeter says "Hi, Welcome to Walmart". You can think a variety of things, like, "Damn, that's so sad that at 80, she needs to still go to work.", When in reality, she is a retired multi-millionaire that is bored sitting at home all day so she has this job so she can talk to people.

So basically I was thinking, there's no way I want to be working at Walmart at 80. So seeing someone else working at Walmart at 80 is bad. But it really just meant that it would be bad for me.

 

[Vigilante]

I used to volunteer at the zoo once a week. I was that guy you see in the enclosure shoveling tiger shit into a bucket.

I often wondered what some of the onlookers thought as they watched me from outside the fence. Were they thinking the same things as you guys?

Wonder what they thought when at the end of the day I got in my SL500 and drove home. Probably reinforced it in their minds even more.

He's probably leveraged to the max.
Working to afford that car.
$30k millionaire.

Btw, the employees at the zoo got raises in the range of $0.10-$0.25 per hour per year. And $0.25 was considered a good raise!

You are the exception to the norm. For every one of you, there are 100,000 people where perception equals reality.

Most people spend a lifetime shoveling shit.

 

[amp0193]

It's the wait and pray part I find sad.

Yeah, me too.

I identify as christian, and have a starkly different view of prayer than just about everyone else I know.

One of those views being: If the answer to my prayer, is someone else's prayer getting shut down (i.e. getting a job), then it's probably something I don't need to be praying about.

A better prayer would be for inner peace and acceptance at whatever the outcome of the job application was.

It also doesn't make sense to me to pray for a job as an electronics mechanic, when people across the world are praying for something to eat today, or to not have their house bombed.

I'm not on board with the prosperity gospel. If you want something in life, then go make it happen. Too many passive christians are sitting on their laurels, waiting for God to deliver abundance to their lives on a silver platter. And if He doesn't, then I guess it's because they're meant to suffer in this life, and they'll start living for real when they die.

Relying on "prayer" is a cop out, and takes the responsibility off of who is really responsible for your life, YOU.




(Sorry, I know this post was about religion... but I think it's relevant and would be appreciated by many here. Delete if you want, mods).

 

[Andy Black]

An old shipmate that used to work for me just posted this on FB...

"So, you know the old adage, "Good things come to those who wait"? Well, to that my Mother would tack on two words, "and PRAY".

So, we waited and prayed and today I found out that I got the promotion I worked so hard for.

I am officially an Electronics Mechanic.

Thank you to everyone that supported me and helped me along the way and prayed."

I almost cried.

I guess he's not in his mid twenties getting up the first few rungs of the ladder?

 

[ddzc]

An old shipmate that used to work for me just posted this on FB...

"So, you know the old adage, "Good things come to those who wait"? Well, to that my Mother would tack on two words, "and PRAY".

So, we waited and prayed and today I found out that I got the promotion I worked so hard for.

I am officially an Electronics Mechanic.

Thank you to everyone that supported me and helped me along the way and prayed."

I almost cried.

This coincides with a post I saw on linkedin the other day (I log on once a year or so). It was from an old coworker at a Canadian telecommunications company (Rogers). "Wow 10 yrs with Rogers. I am so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with such a diverse enviornment. My Rogers family is second to none. Cheers to 30 more! #ibleedred"

Those were the exact works. The hashtag represents the logo/brand color of Rogers which is red. I cringed when I read it and still cringe while re-reading it again today. This is SAD!

 

[jon.a]

I didn't shit on him to him, I let him be proud. I just quoted him here.

I respectfully disagree.

You're projecting your own perceptions of happiness and success onto people you don't know or haven't even met.

He's gonna regret it based on what evidence? Based on the fact that if you were in his position you'd regret it?

Everyone views the world in different ways.

Imagine someone coming up to you and saying being an entrepreneur is stupid, you need to grow up and get a job, you're gonna regret it ten years from now, etc. How would you feel?

Let other people live man lol

 

[Vigilante]

That's all relative though my man.

I've had Co-workers in retail jobs who were millionaires but simply worked there because they liked talking to people.

I've spoken to Corporate Executives who love what they do because it gives them a sense of pride, accomplishment, and importance.

I've talked to people who work in the most mundane corporate jobs, like an HR job for example, that like what they do because it gives em a sense of comfort and security.

That janitor we see might've come from a 3rd World Country where he would break his back for a couple dollars a day, so this current situation for him might be a huge blessing.

Maybe that mechanic simply likes working on electronics, its his passion, and he doesn't care how much he's making and the fact that he has a boss. It's possible, I've spoken to Car mechanics who just simply love working on cars, maybe the same applies to him.

Like an early poster said, there is no objective reality, we're all looking at the same shit but perceiving it in different ways lol

Our internal beliefs and thought processes dictate what we see externally, and for the most part, we're only looking out for shit that reaffirms those beliefs and thought processes rather than for shit that challenges those beliefs and thought processes.

But at the end of the day, all I know is that I don't know shit

Feel good stuff. What you are talking about is the outliers, the exception to the norm, not the norm.

The norm is the guy that wants more but is chained to a desk, eating or shoveling shit, because he has a wife, kids, and a mortgage.

There's a reason why surveys consistently show that over 70% of workers are unhappy in their jobs. 7 out of 10 people --- trapped.

There's nothing wrong with wanting them to have what we have discovered.

They won't all do it. Some will be content to be where they are. Excellent for them. THEY ARE NOT the norm. Statistics show that you are talking about the outliers that are content within the script.

I hope MJ's book catches fire.

If everyone was happy with their lot in life, there would be no need for https://www.amazon.com/dp/UNSCRIPTED/?tag=tff-amazonparser-20

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I find it hypocritical to affirm the principles of the Fast Lane Millionaire ---and not be sad about people who buy the bullshit script of the masses. I want them to have what I have.

The larger question is, is someone "appears" happy in the Matrix, is it our duty to tell them of its existence?

Frankly, I'm not trying to convince the Cyphers of the world who want to remained plugged into the system.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

when my boss said: Money won't buy you happiness. You remember that."

And slaving for your boss Monday thru Friday for 50 years, will that buy happiness?

 

[Vigilante]

I just deleted a well thought out but overtly religious post. Whether I agreed with the post (I did) or not, the forum and this thread is not going to stray from the principles that keep this place different than all the other forums on the internet.

FORUM RULES
Please obey the forum rules. Violators are quickly expunged.

• No MLM links and/or discussion.
• No affiliate links and/or promotion.
• If you're new, no self-promotion.
• No sigs until 100 posts. (INSIDERS exempt).
• No trolling or disruptive behavior.
• No solicitation for investors/partners.
• Respect: Leave foul language at home.
• No religion/politics.

 

[Chazmania]

However, if he is happy with his life, why should we care? I would give him congratulations.

So what? He's happy isn't he?

Everyone views the world in different ways.

This is something I've been thinking about lately. If they are truly happy, then yes, who are we to judge, as our values are obviously different than theirs.

I think you are wrong here. How do we or you know that he is going to regret it? There are people who look at us and cringe or get scared because we live this risky, unstable, up and down life. They don't envy us. They like their job. They like to go home at 5 and not think about work until 9 the next day.

Yeah I do totally agree that the story is kind of sad in a way. Especially to members of an entrepreneur forum like this.

Reminds me:

I worked as an appliance repair tech with Sears years ago and my first day on the job at the morning meeting they were recognizing someone for 35 years of employment there. They gave him a f------g Sears coupon booklet and a sweatshirt with the company logo on it.

35 years!

What's crazy is that he didn't seem to mind at all while I felt insulted for him. I know because he was one of my trainers. In fact it didn't even register with him that there may be a better life out there!

Maybe ignorance really is bliss?

But it's true that many people don't want to deal with the financial risks, delayed gratification, employee BS, tenant BS, customer BS, chinese manufacturers..........yadda yadda yadda.

After giving this topic lots of thought over time I've decided that if someone is truly happy, then I guess I'm happy for them and that's it.

 

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[Vigilante]

I thought of this thread today when my boss said: "Money won't buy you happiness. You remember that."
I get the same feeling when my dad says: "You need to get an education so you can get some skills so you can get a good job. If you had gone to school you would have been graduating X years earlier. That's X years of good income you've wasted."
I know what I would like to say when I hear these statements but refuting the script can get old sometimes. Especially with severely scripted individuals who are incapable of thinking any differently.

Money buys me happiness.

 

[Christopher777]

However, if he is happy with his life...

He probably was that day. But as they say when monday approaches, "back to reality".

 

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[biophase]

He's gonna regret it based on the evidence that he would react to this thread the same way you did. An emotionally influenced reaction. When something hits home, people get angry.

It's a fact by first-hand, second-hand and third-hand experience that you won't live a FREE life working the 9-5. Even if it was just for the freedom of action and not the money, we would still choose the entrepreneurial path.

It's a GLARING FACT that you are trading YOUR TIME, YOUR LIFE for money that does not equal your true capability.

It's a fact that people don't want to do it and are forced to via subtle systemic manipulation.

It's a fact that most people RATIONALIZE their suffering instead of facing the truth.

Dude, we live for less than a hundred years.

This is a COLD FACT that many of us seem to forget.

I don't know about you. But I choose FACTS over Rationalizations.

I think you are wrong here. How do we or you know that he is going to regret it? There are people who look at us and cringe or get scared because we live this risky, unstable, up and down life. They don't envy us. They like their job. They like to go home at 5 and not think about work until 9 the next day.

I don't think you are saying the same thing as others on this thread at all. You are projecting your desires and emotions into his life. We don't know what he thinks or what his dreams are.

 

[Digamma]

This thread devolved in people saying all the same thing: "I would blow my brains out, but, ehm, if he's happy we should not judge".
It's cognitive dissonance. You view the world in a way, but you are constantly subjected to a completely different POV (you know, slowlaners). And solving that dissonance requires hamstering a little around things to accept that both things are OK, all the while being horrified at the same time at the idea of that kind of life.

Do yourselves a favor and stop. You don't need to account for every possible view of life. There is no objective reality - we are all living a fantasy, walking around with projectors in our eyes. And in our reality, that kind of life is just horrible. That's fine. He wouldn't agree. That's fine too.

That said - we all know on Monday morning at 3:00 he's going to curse the job, the life, and everything else.
A promotion is an event, and that's cool. Monday to Friday is a slog of pain anyway - slowlaners are hardly consistently happy.
What matters is not events, but the consistency of happiness around the clock.

 

[jon.a]

He even has to get up at 3 to be to work by 5.

 

[bettereveryday]

So what? He's happy isn't he?

You ever waited and prayed for something so long, went through all sorts of BS, trials, and tribulations, and then felt the joy and momentary ecstasy of having that thing finally arrive into your life?

I mean shit, I understand its the Fastlane forum but not everyone has the same goals, visions, and conceptions of happiness.

And by the way, society needs janitors, grocery store workers, mechanics, etc.

They have every bit of an important role in this world as we do.

God bless you all and may all your wishes and dreams be fulfilled.

 

[Christopher777]

He's gonna regret it based on what evidence?

He's gonna regret it based on the evidence that he would react to this thread the same way you did. An emotionally influenced reaction. When something hits home, people get angry.

It's a fact by first-hand, second-hand and third-hand experience that you won't live a FREE life working the 9-5. People are not happy when they are not free. You won't be happy if I say you're not allowed to post anymore because you don't agree with me. You'd be mad. These people are mad. Angry. But they are not gonna do anything about it until they can't take it anymore.

Even if it was just for the freedom of action and not the money, we would still choose the entrepreneurial path.

It's a GLARING FACT that you are trading YOUR TIME, YOUR LIFE for money that does not equal your true capability.

It's a fact that people don't want to do it and are forced to via subtle systemic manipulation.

It's a fact that most people RATIONALIZE their suffering instead of facing the truth.

Dude, we live for less than a hundred years.

This is a COLD FACT that many of us seem to forget.

I don't know about you. But I choose FACTS over Rationalizations.

 

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[Vigilante]

I agree with everything you've said here, and what you aspire to is a noble cause that we should all partake in.

The only problem is that in a Capitalistic society a serf and peasant class has to exist, the brutal and ugly aspects of Capitalism is what allows successful and wealthy people to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Without poor people, there are no rich people. Without workers, there are no business owners and entrepreneurs. Without consumers, there are no producers. You get where I'm going here.

It sounds kinda fu*ked up, but some people are perfectly comfortable and content with being peasants and serfs.

Or maybe they're just lying to themselves. I don't know man, all I know is that life's already hard as it is, so if something positive happens in someone's life and it makes em happy, no matter what it is, I'll be happy too.

Agreed. But rather than celebrate that, people like MJ spend a portion of their life trying to bring people to freedom. They can't all find it. They can't all be saved.

We can only do what we can do. I just don't allow myself the intellectual dishonesty of believing there is much difference between me and them other than non-acdemic education.

Academia is scripted. The FastLaneForum is an oasis. It's a place where freedom can be found within it's pages.

However, Jon's reflection was shared amongst people that have found the Fountain of Youth, commenting with sadness on people that haven't.

This thread is FILLED with platitudes that make people sleep better at night. There have been a lot of surprising people (including friends of mine in this thread) that surprised me by disagreeing with the OP.

I find it hypocritical to affirm the principles of the Fast Lane Millionaire ---and not be sad about people who buy the bullshit script of the masses. I want them to have what I have.

 

[PedroG]

I'll summarize what I've been saying with this:

"If you knew you could not fail, what would you be doing with your life?"

I think if a janitor can honestly answer that he would still be a janitor, then it may make sense to feel happy for that person. But I think most people would be doing something different. And that's why we feel bad for people even when they think they are happy.

Because we want to at least show them what's possible, so they can truly decide for themselves to do what they are doing because they truly want to, and not because they have a fear of failing or because they believe they can't do anything else.

 

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[ddzc]

I don't know many people (including many entrepreneurs) who are so excited about what they do day-in and day-out that they wish for the opportunity to do it for 30 more years.

Perhaps you're just jealous?

So jealous! lol. I actually remember the day where I got a huge cake and celebratory party for my 5 years of service at the company. The only people excited were the 40 who attended, I was in the most depressed state of my life that day. I earned 1 extra day of vacation per year, a free pin, and a $100 gift card also which can only be used at the companies stores (I threw it out). I quit 2 months later and started my consulting company. It was around the same time I read this book and frequented the forums a lot more and it was a huge game changer for me. #ibleedfastlane

 

[Roli]

An old shipmate that used to work for me just posted this on FB...

"So, you know the old adage, "Good things come to those who wait"? Well, to that my Mother would tack on two words, "and PRAY".

So, we waited and prayed and today I found out that I got the promotion I worked so hard for.

I am officially an Electronics Mechanic.

Thank you to everyone that supported me and helped me along the way and prayed."

I almost cried.

One day I want to employ someone like this, many times over.

 

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[Vigilante]

I'll match your clip with an offsetting clip of someone who thought they were happy, but it was only when they learned they were in the script and broke out did they realize there was much more out there.

We have an obligation to help them find the door. Whether or not they walk through it is on them. You didn't write Unscripted because you wanted to hide it under a bushel.

And if you want to get really deep, the last few seconds of this clip with the two guys eating pizza probably represents the majority.

 

[jsk29]

It hurts "us" because we do not identify with this.

However, if he is happy with his life, why should we care? I would give him congratulations. His version of freedom is not ours. His pursuit of happiness is obviously not ours.

This is one of the things I respect the most about respect MJ.

He doesn't hard sell his philosophy. He shares his views as authentically and honestly as he can and lets "the chips fall where they may".

That's why I gravitated to this forum and bought his second book.

His approach reminds me of the quote: "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear."

He mentions in his interviews that he doesn't believe entrepreneurship is for everyone. I agree.

The problem I see in @jon.a 's story is if his shipmate's pursuit was predicated on the assumption that being promoted was the only way to increase income.

Why is that a problem? Like MJ has stated, planning your financial strategy around HOPE and TIME is very dangerous.

If the shipmate wished to become an Electronics Engineer for non-financial reasons such as a sense of purpose, mastery of his craft, status in the hierarchy, etc. I don't see any reason to pity him - he deserves congratulations.