Healthy vs unhealthy work ethic.

Posted by richrobinson 9 years, 4 months ago to The Gulch: General
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I have been working since I was a kid. My parents instilled in me a belief that if I worked hard and saved that everything would work out. While my wife and I enjoy a nice lifestyle I have already worked more years than most government employees need to retire. Due to downturns in the economy over the years and some bad investments on my part I am no where near retirement. In my neighborhood I see people who make a lot more than I do and work a lot less. I am wondering if my work ethic is misguided or unhealthy. As a retailer I am working 7 days a week during the Christmas season at an average of about 65 hours a week. Dagny and Hank worked long, hard hours and benefited financially from their labors. Eddie Willers worked long, hard hours but probably made a fraction of what Dagny did. Eddie continued to work even after Dagny knew all was lost. Did he have an unhealthy work ethic? Do I?

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  • Posted by richrobinson 9 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Great points. If Eddie was doing what he wanted then it isn't altruism. I guess it would be more "unhealthy" if he forced himself to do something he didn't want to do.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 3 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Was she shrugging or chasing someone at that point. In reading through she expected her trusted friend to take care of the situation on the train while she went for help and neither of them new is was fruitless. In an emergency crew doesn't abandon the job or people or things entrusted to them.
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  • Posted by lmarrott 9 years, 3 months ago
    Late to the party here but I say No.

    Nobody forced Eddie to work, he chose to continue to work. Maybe part of it was because he loved Dagny. But he was not a moocher and he wanted to do the best he could do.

    I've had a job pretty much since I was 14. This doesn't count a few paper routes. I started washing dishes at a mentally handicapped home where my sister in law was a cook.

    I worked all through High School, joined the Navy, and have worked since soon after I got out.

    I rarely take vacations but if I need days I know I can take them. I get annoyed when people at work complain about some arbitrary day of the week. (Oh, Mondays! Hey it's Hump day, we are halfway there! and, TFIG!) I like my job and I like what I do.

    If I couldn't handle it I would continue to work while I looked for something else to do. If I found something I thought I would enjoy more and I could get by financially, I would seriously consider it.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    There comes a point in time when every one of runs into a solid wall of reality. It's when you look to the future and suddenly realize all that you valued thus far won't put so much as one slice of bread on the table. nor will it buy you one extra day.

    All those wasted days suddenly come to mind and hang their accusingly. Balanced by the days not wasted on pipe dreams nor dreams from pipe nor piper.

    There is no answer except reality. Even preparing for it doesn't lessen the shock of realizing you could be on your last calendar and there is nothing that can be done about it except live each day as if it is your last day. To full measure.

    Wishful thinking and lottery dreams and worrying and all the witch doctors in the world will not buy you one second extra. I mark that day along with other milestones. The day I realized I didn't have to do as I was told by hypocrites and took charge of my own life. The day I learned to 'retire' and didn't have to work 16 hours a day anymore. The day started I was in the range of the probable number of years left were less than the fingers of my hands but possibly triple. Which was the same day I continued to not fear death nor hide behind 'what if' and 'if only.'

    Enjoying the reality of each day with full senses intact is each and every day the best day of my life.

    It helps to be 39 and holding. But that's the reality of attitude
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  • Posted by $ sjatkins 9 years, 4 months ago
    I am not sure "hard work" is to be raised up. Instead I think creating as much value, creating as much that you yourself value as possible, is the measure of a life well lived. How many hours you put in is not the point. How much value you create and enjoy creating and having in your life is.

    Nor is how much money you have the point. How much you value your life and bring value into being is.
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  • Posted by richrobinson 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    He went off to keep the Comet running if I remember right. It broke down and a group riding by on horses told him about the Taggert Bridge collapse. All was lost but he kept going. Committed or foolish???
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Didn't he stay behind to cover her retreat or was he just more stubborn? And in the end showed the futility of that? I have to read that part again?
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  • Posted by richrobinson 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Government getting out of the way is the key to a strong ecenomy. I have a lot of respect for the character of Eddie Willers. I'm am a little concerned that I will do the same thing he did and continue working when all is lost. Wonder why he didn't follow Dagny when she Shrugged? Why didn't Dagnt insist he come with her?
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 4 months ago
    I'm still pondering a correct answer to the starting post. Eddie was competent within his own abilities. Dagny had the ability however to look at a Taggart Tunnel collapse and within minutes arrive at a solution and implement corrections. She needed many Eddies. But all of them needed only one Dagny.

    I'm reminded of the freeway overpass in LA area after the big earthquake. The contractor had a new one up and running in 90 days. The key was the government assigned the mission and got out of the way
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    "Good luck in 2016 CG."
    Good luck to you too. I agree that lowlives are everywhere, esp in gov't. Smart, hard-working people are everywhere too. I believe it's best for me to try not to focus on the moochers, go to some fundraisers that support what I believe, and maybe I'll meet some other hard-working people with good ideas.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Like any good solider sometimes you do what you have to do and what needs doing no matter how odious barring violating the SOFA, the ROE and the UCMJ and the Constitution above all else.

    Then you vomit.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    If I read Mother Jones it would involve a trip to the hospital for a stomach pump. Spending two months wading in Yoda Lukoff's cesspool was enough. It took three showers to clean it off each time. I've now got it calmed down (With transfusions and antivenoms) to oh well another bunch of enemies domestic to deal with. Business as usual.
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  • Posted by $ jdg 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The well-meaning laws I was referring to are things like minimum wages and minimum standards for housing, the main effect is to price some people out of the markets.

    And it is just looters and enablers. But the Democratic voting based really do believe those laws aren't causing the problem. Just read the comments section at Mother Jones until you can't stand it any more.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    You are full of chuckles today.
    That's good, I need it since steam has been coming out of my ears of late.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Use it without following the directions just read and wonder why your new stove just blew up. An example is Oregon has or had speed limit signs that said Basic Speed 55. To the world Basic meant the start point. To the Government of Oregon it meant 'inexpensive speed trap.'
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  • Posted by edweaver 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I come up with some of my best ideas while sleeping so for me, dreaming about work is not all bad. As I've gotten older, remembering what the dream was is a bigger problem. If it is really good, I have to get up and write it down or it may be gone.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Me too but I have the advantage of all those things. I work at the first Hospice in America as a building engineer...meaning I fix stuff when broken, keeping things running. I also observe people entering and leaving and help them, talk to them and engage in some interesting conversations. We celebrate each of the holidays as if we were at home for the benefit of patients and family members alike.There are visiting musicians, art shows, singers etc... we even get to see fireworks in the harbor the property is on. It's really a win/win. And best of all, I have time to research and write, something that is difficult to do at home. In fact, I wrote my first book filling in on 3rd shift.

    So I know what you mean, without all that stuff, I'd be in your boat. Maybe there is some way you can incorporate those things into your business model is what I'm getting at.
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  • Posted by richrobinson 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    That is a definite sign. I hate when i dream about work. I figure I can dream about anything. Why dream about what I'm going to do when I wake up?
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  • Posted by richrobinson 9 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    We have adjusted as well. I guess since I have never done anything else I assume other people have it easier than I do. It is rewarding succeeding without any government help.
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