My “Living Wage” Rant
Living wages are what you get after you educate yourself to be more productive in society.
Working at McDonald’s is not supposed to be a lifetime job with a “living wage.” It is an entry level position with entry level wages for people to advance up the ladder to become more productive citizens of society — thereby enabling themselves to make much more than just a “living wage”.
I worked my butt off working 2 sometimes 3 jobs and studying and taking classes whenever I wasn’t working. I used to call my vacations “working vacations,” because during vacations each year I would attend a seminar or workshop somewhere — Seattle, Denver, San Diego, etc, to learn a professional skill.
At 31 I was a manager at T. Rowe Price, at 32 I created the first IT department at State Mutual (now Hanover Insurance), at 33, I was head of accounting at 1–800-Flowers. And still doing all the preceding work. I moved to Phoenix at age 37 and my first job was a consumer software salesman (entry-level, commission-only).
At 38 I was a team leader for the US Census. At 39 I was a manager for an art gallery, (while still working for the census). At 40 I started working for a Family Office (wealthy family) & doubled their money every year. At 41 I became a tax accountant for KPMG where I was part of the team that managed portfolios of between $300,000,000 to $400,000,000. At 42, yes, I burned out and decided to slow down, but that was also when my daughter was born.
I also wrote, directed and starred in a movie in 1991, (age 31), began writing for an entertainment magazine in 1993, (age 33) and became a band manager for a band in Worcester, Massachusetts. In 1994 (age 34) I partnered with the owner of the entertainment magazine to manage bands in the Worcester area and I began writing and selling songs to bands in Boston.
From 1991 to 1992 I was in the Army Reserves and was nominated for USA Soldier of the Year in 1991. From late 80’s to/or 1991 or so to about 1994 (? years) or so, my friends and I were making enough money to rent limos every 3 or 4 months to go clubbing, out to eat or see a movie.
If you’re working for entry level pay and that’s all you expect and you think the government should be making the company pay you a living wage you are weak, lazy and trash. Get off your a$$, get an education in something you like, and build the world that suits your lifestyle.
From 1985 to 1996 I visited 38 US states and almost every major US city. You don’t need to work so hard that you burn out (but even that was fun — yes, the burning out because I switched career paths & learned so many more new things) but you do need to find a way to make your dreams come true, that’s what America is for, by working, getting the education you need to do it and sticking to your guns while not expecting or desiring the government will give you a handout.
You can do and be anything you want in the USA — I’ve proved it for you. Now it’s up to you. Build the life you want. Build the dreams you desire. Make the money, relationships & family you long for.
Everything is possible in the USA, but you have to do it for yourself.
Stop whimpering, stop complaining and start building. Don’t be afraid to fail, that’s how you learn best and fastest. I was willing to fail and look stupid for months at a time in order to prove I wasn’t.
Don’t be afraid to reach for the stars, I did and I got myself a handful. You can do it. I’m no one special, if I can do it, so can you. Build the world and the life you dream of. Because no one will do it for you.
