Healthy vs unhealthy work ethic.
Posted by richrobinson 9 years, 4 months ago to The Gulch: General
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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I daydream about sleeping. That's a sign, huh? This morning the daydream took place in a bunch of blankets in front of the fireplace. Haha...
I get the time thing, Maybe, you can have your cake and eat it too. Involve the things your missing with the things you would miss. Maybe having family involved and do business as if this was your time off, your customers are just friends stopping by to say hi. Have others carry out the business transactions. Maybe? Just a thought.
Since 2009 I have worked every holiday, I have come to make that time at work, part of my holiday...I actually look forward to it. Like you, my work is about people and providing values. I just changed the way I celebrate and I think I like it better than the old ways.
Some vocations are more profitable than others regardless of how good someone is at doing them.
One might just resolve to say "That's just the way the cookie crumbles". However, knowing this, is there some way inwhich to take advantage of this and turn it into profit?
Worth thinking about. Don't feel bad...I've been thinking the same things. That's why I am transitioning into something, hopefully more satisfying And profitable.
I also work very hard, about 65-70 hours/week. I am not rich. But, I do OK. For me, a key is investing money before the wife blows it. All part of proper money management.
Dagny and Hank were both lucky and hard-working. I know some very wealthy people who were just lucky - most of those just born into money. I know one guy who lives in an incredible palace of a home overlooking the lake (most incredible home I've ever seen that's still lived in). I've known the guy for years but I have no idea what he does for a living...I'm starting to think he doesn't work at all.
For the rest of us mortals there are a few keys to pay attention to. Start investing and saving very early in life. Really sacrifice. Learn all you can about finance and business. Avoid debt you don't really need. Work hard.
As this year rolls to an end I am going to dedicate myself to working less, starting soon. I'm doing well because I have been working like a maniac. But, I'm killing myself with my workload, it's clear. I know of some very successful people who really look like crap and I've decided to make my health a higher priority than it has been.
Also, realize that the Reardens of the world have taken big risks to get there. Also, many of them have massive failures in their past. They just refused to give up.
Some of the time is far better than those who use it but don't apply it.
That was from eight full time and a dozen part time down to zero. With cell phones coming into play and later wifi that part of the world was flat.
The cost that killed the retail portion in the end was the disabled employees insurance which featured a huge up front lump sum payment. Monthly wasn't bad it was the buy in to the State requirement.
The second cost was renovation for example to get to my office up one flight they wanted access for disabled. Instead of a local store that had office supplies, copiers, computer supplies and a mail box etc. operation the area got a 30 to 50 mile drive. The part time staff originally was computers a T9 phone system and running test order call ins for TV and radio marketing.
That and a stint at insurance was after army retirement and before returning to the merchant marine with a few other adventures thrown in. I figured selling out not only gave me a 8 month sailing and scuba vacation on OPB's it cut my work week to zero hours a week. After that I worked exclusively for other people usually two jobs at a time as the 30 hour week or go elsewhere was becoming more popular. From there I went to sea commercially and worked for the most part eight months a year but from Rich's comment and my sisters reports from Florida I see the government has no intentions of expanding jobs....at least this government. Next thing will be an attack extending requirements for the 20 hour week. the you all can have three jobs or maybe four and both parents will have to work.. just to pay the taxes and buy groceries.
Thank God and Greyhound for Walmart and the Dollar Stores.
Just keep working...the end is nowhere in sight and it's just begun. Hell we're not even through this first 'Great Recession' part II is about to begin. I've got twenty years less of it to deal with than you. So there is a light at the end of one kind of tunnel. But yours is an extra two decades of no choice elections and more 'well meaning laws.' Spare me. There is nothing well meaning about any of it.
Just looters and enablers.
I'd say as long as you keep working for as long as you need to, and avoid traps such as taking charity, there is nothing wrong with your work ethic.
All this applies to me, too. I'm over 50 and not half as wealthy as I hoped I'd be now when I was 25, but as long as I can work I'm not done yet!
I think it's very good that an alarm is going off in your mind saying this current arrangement isn't working. The sense of something being wrong is not due to other people earning more money or working less by milking corporations or the gov't. Instead I suspect it's because you sense there's some better way to do it, but you haven't found it yet.
I'm approaching this by making some changes in 2016 and spending some money on new processes that may or may not work, but it won't be fatal if they don't work. Just trying something new gives me energy.
IMHO it's a very healthy work ethic that urges you to work long and hard but sounds an alarm if you're busting your bottom for something that earns decent money but doesn't build long-term value.
At a party tonight with liberals who are congratulatory on moving to Portland with the culture and politics. Jeez, now it begins. Thank all of you for the Gulch and the sanity it provides. I read it every day. It keeps me alive.
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