If you're reading this, count yourself lucky.
Not lucky to be reading anything that I write, don't worry I'm not that narcissistic!
Rather, lucky for so many reasons that are easy to take for granted:
We live in an age where literacy is the norm, not reserved for the elites.
The fact that you can read means you can learn anything.
You have access to all the worlds knowledge for free.
This would have been restricted to royalty in past centuries.
You have freedom and time to read and reflect; you don't have to spend all day toiling just to survive.
This was the rule for most of human history. Leisure time was reserved for the wealthy!
The fact that you have a personal digital device to read these words on
already puts you in the top 50% of the world.
Believe it or not 40% of the World's population still doesn't have Internet Access in 2022.
To say that I've been "lucky" in life is a massive understatement.
I've had many opportunities that most other people don't get.
From going to a decent school [for free], getting into a world-class university [for free],
to getting a "good" job and working in a field that [historically] paid well.
At every one of these points I've tried to make the most of what I had.
I studied extra-hard in my final 3 months of high school to get the grades I needed for University,
the teachers at my High School were dumbfounded when they saw my grades;
more than enough to enter any elite/ivy-league school.
Worked hard at University, narrowly missing a "double-first" because
family issues meant I missed a deadline for a coursework-only class which meant I got a "U"
(yes, they were harsh! but it was my own fault for not speaking to the course director about the family-issues ...).
Though-out University I always had a full-time job, volunteered 20+h/week and read lots of books outside my classes.
Then in every job I've had since I graduated I've worked extra-hard putting in 80+ hours each week.
I've worked more hours and read more books in 20 years than 99% of people.
Most of the People Who Went to our High School Didn't Make the Most of their Luck
With a few exceptions [e.g: Daniela] 80% of the people I went to school with are less wealthy than their parents and could not afford to send their own children to the school we attended. Given all the advantage/privilege/head-start in life they squandered it on leisure and mediocrity.
At our recent 20 Year high school reunion dinner in July, I asked the open question:
Would You Send Your Kids to This School?
The two moderately "successful" [by conventional/financial standards] people at the gathering who could easily afford to send their children to the school said they wouldn't. The first because they didn't feel the staff were tolerant of same-gender parents. The second because they didn't think the education was the best they could get for their money.
The remainder of the people who were parents said they wouldn't send their child(ren) to the school because it was too expensive. i.e. unaffordable. This is 100% accurate. The school is totally unaffordable to 95% of society.
The takeaway here is the fact that people who attended the school and had every advantage in life cannot afford to send their own kids there - without assistance from grandparents. For me this was eye-opening. Of the 50+ people we graduated with, only 10 (20%) could afford to send their child(ren) to the school we all went to. One is a movie star, a an airline pilot, two doctors, two entrepreneurs and then @iteles and I who made money working in tech and invested it wisely.
This all to say that 80% of the people who had the same opportunities as I did, didn't make the most of it.
Sure, some of them are "happy" and do work they love, but this is the exception not the rule.
For example one works for the UN working on Women's rights in developing countries;
They say it's poorly paid but includes lots of perks like a free apartment in Paris and plenty of travel.
nelsonic
commented
1 year ago
If you're reading this, count yourself lucky. Not lucky to be reading anything that I write, don't worry I'm not that narcissistic! Rather, lucky for so many reasons that are easy to take for granted:
The fact that you have a personal digital device to read these words on already puts you in the top 50% of the world. Believe it or not 40% of the World's population still doesn't have Internet Access in 2022.
"What a time to be alive!"
To say that I've been "lucky" in life is a massive understatement. I've had many opportunities that most other people don't get. From going to a decent school [for free], getting into a world-class university [for free], to getting a "good" job and working in a field that [historically] paid well. At every one of these points I've tried to make the most of what I had.
I studied extra-hard in my final 3 months of high school to get the grades I needed for University, the teachers at my High School were dumbfounded when they saw my grades; more than enough to enter any elite/ivy-league school. Worked hard at University, narrowly missing a "double-first" because family issues meant I missed a deadline for a coursework-only class which meant I got a "U" (yes, they were harsh! but it was my own fault for not speaking to the course director about the family-issues ...). Though-out University I always had a full-time job, volunteered 20+h/week and read lots of books outside my classes. Then in every job I've had since I graduated I've worked extra-hard putting in 80+ hours each week. I've worked more hours and read more books in 20 years than 99% of people.
Most of the People Who Went to our High School Didn't Make the Most of their Luck
With a few exceptions [e.g: Daniela] 80% of the people I went to school with are less wealthy than their parents and could not afford to send their own children to the school we attended. Given all the advantage/privilege/head-start in life they squandered it on leisure and mediocrity.
At our recent 20 Year high school reunion dinner in July, I asked the open question:
Would You Send Your Kids to This School?
The two moderately "successful" [by conventional/financial standards] people at the gathering who could easily afford to send their children to the school said they wouldn't. The first because they didn't feel the staff were tolerant of same-gender parents. The second because they didn't think the education was the best they could get for their money.
The remainder of the people who were parents said they wouldn't send their child(ren) to the school because it was too expensive. i.e. unaffordable. This is 100% accurate. The school is totally unaffordable to 95% of society.
The takeaway here is the fact that people who attended the school and had every advantage in life cannot afford to send their own kids there - without assistance from grandparents. For me this was eye-opening. Of the 50+ people we graduated with, only 10 (20%) could afford to send their child(ren) to the school we all went to. One is a movie star, a an airline pilot, two doctors, two entrepreneurs and then @iteles and I who made money working in tech and invested it wisely.
This all to say that
80%of the people who had the same opportunities as I did, didn't make the most of it. Sure, some of them are "happy" and do work they love, but this is the exception not the rule. For example one works for the UN working on Women's rights in developing countries; They say it's poorly paid but includes lots of perks like a free apartment in Paris and plenty of travel.So ... to the topic of this post.
How To Make the Most of the Luck You Get?