Excellent thread. Let me say first that money is just a means to an end, and that I can remember the exact happiest moment of my life, and at the time I didn't have a pot to pee in. I quit school in the 10th grade and got married. We soon had a child and I worked any job I could get to make ends meet. That marriage ended after 10 years. I sold everything I owned, and bought a 23 foot travel trailer to live in. I raised my 10 year old daughter on my own living in that trailer. I got my GED and went to college full time. I took 21 hours a semester and put 3 years of college into 2 years. My total yearly income while I was in college was 4,000.00 a year. I made straight A's and got a free ride after the first year. I then went to medical school (4 years), and residency (4 years). It was 10 years before I started seeing any real money, and I had 120,000.00 in school loans to repay. I'm not advocating this route for anyone. But, It does go to show that you can do anything if you want it bad enough. I'm the first one in my family to ever even go to college. Having come from being dirt poor, I don't take kindly when someone assumes that just because I have a few toys that I didn't work for them. The best financial advise I ever recieved came form a book called "The Richest Man in Babalon." If you read that book and follow it's principals, you WILL have some extra money down the line. You can read the entire book in a weekend. Compound interest is a wonderful thing, especially if it is tax deferred. Doc.
Alright I think I'm gonna chime in on this one. I too am 34, I work as a ploice officer. As it turns out, I did want to be a cop from when I was about 13. I had a goal and dream and kept at it until I made it. I came from a middle class suburban home, and my folks always told me "If you want something you have to earn it". So I began working at 15, to get money for a mountain bike. I was fortunate and learned early that hard work and dedication payed off. You have to start at the bottom and work your way up. You don't HAVE to own your own biz. But if you do, the same principal applies. I always wanted a "Hot-rod" or a "Custom" car, but never had the dough. Now that I got the dough, I don't have the time or skills. Well I finally got my car and have the ability to do small jobs on my own, but I have to pay someone else to do the "Custom" work that it requires. I don't haggle with this person because I know he possesses the skill to complete my car the way I want it. So I work overtime to accomplish this feat. I run into kids who want it all and want it know. They think because they went to college someone owes them a job/career. They go into debt and drive expensive flashy cars and tell me when I ask them why they feel the need to have an "Escalade" while still living at home with mom in sometimes a shitty part of town, They reply "You can't take your house to a party" It's all image to them. Most don't understand Working hard to accomplish what you want, and maybe it's because of what I represent, but they don't want to hear it from me.
Great post Larry! I have always worked jobs I love. Spent 12 years managing Bicycle shops in my 20s and early 30s. Took some time to remodel homes with a Buddy. Now I have spent 4 years working in a rod and custom shop on the business/billing end. I took the pay cut to go to work at the shop for the extra experience in billing, logistics,scheduling and traffic. Carla and I bought our house while I was in my late 20s, bought low, built equity. Now we have two large acreages outside of town that we are building a house/shop on. I spent 2 solid years hammering on my Touring, doing all the work myself. The new house is the same way, I just came in from a 10 hour day working on it. I made huge sacrifices with my time to build that car, same with the house. But, when i am done I will have lots of sweat equity built up. Not saying any of this to brag, Carla and I earn very little combined. But, we try to be smart with our money and our investments. It is paying off. We will keep hammering away, our goal is to be debt free with no house/land payments by the time I am 40 (I turn 36 next week) By the time I am 45, I will only work when I feel like it, that is the goal. With nothing to worry about but food, insurance and property taxes, a persons life is much more simple. A local at the shop has a wise statement regarding income. "Once you have the basics covered (food, shelter etc) the rest is just gravy"
Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose, Nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free. ... But I'd trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday, ... Forest Gump was a hoax. You can only make it to the top if the people already there want to let you in the club. (tomorrow never comes, so it's actually a good trade.)
Sittin' here nodding, I feel like a bobblehead reading all these opinions. Everybody's statements have validity. I'm humbled to know/be around a bunch of you guys. Much wisdom here. Age fifty is looming on my horizon and I'll be proud to know when I get there, half of it has been while I was self-employed. It's NOT a prerequisite to success, but controlling your destiny IS. Nobody gets ahead by making money for someone else(well, not 100% true, but you know what I mean) and 8 hours a day /five days a week is not a formula for a young person's success. Don't be afraid to work. One thing that seems to ring true(by my observations anyway) is this---lots of young guys(have-nots) know little, have big ideas/little motivation, ask dumb questions, and won't listen to good advice.(castigate me, but I was one of those guys in my youth) I asked dumb questions and sometimes got good answers only to go ahead and do whateverthefuck "I" thought was right. Now the haves(old guys..a.group to which I now belong), who have age/wisdom/experience on their side, tend to either make fun of or disregard the have-nots......I think it's something about not having patience....... Is generation gap the term I'm looking for here? I am THANKFUL for the HAMB. I learn stuff every day from some of the YOUNG guys that have nothing more than a few tools and ambition that completely blows me away....... I don't KNOW a hell of a lot, but these days I am more patient and willing to HELP the have-nots with what thimble full of knowledge I posess. I challenge you OLD guys to think twice before being a smartass to the YOUNG guys who want, but don't know how.......and you YOUNG guys...dammit, pay attention! DO what the geezers tell ya and don't be so quick to dismiss them as "gold-chainers" cause they have nice cars. whew, I need a drink.........
"All good things come to those who wait", was a phrase I was told years ago. Yeah, we all want that 32 Roadster with lakes history, but you've got to be realistic. Don't say you'll never have it because if you do you never will. One day I'll have a 1929 101 Indian Scout, but it'll be a long time as I've got kids and a big mortgage. There's two ways of looking at getting what you want, in my own mind anyway 1. buy bits and pieces as you go - collecting what you want as and when you have the money for the car you've always wanted. Great if you can wait for a long time and if you have the ability to do 90% of the work yourself. 2. Buy your 2nd or 3rd best car that you'd like, do it up slowly and sell it to buy your 2nd best and work your way until you get what you want. I waited 5 years for a 23-25 T Roadster body. I couldn't afford one so I bought one (an open tourer body off Spooky off the HAMB - cheers) which I'll cut down into a roadster. Keep an eye out there are still bargains out there to be had. Join a club and join like minded individuals, and trade "work" with other members. Learn to weld - they'll always be someone who needs a job doing somewhere. Talk to members you'll always hear about cars and parts from other members long before they hit the classifieds. Hopefully they'll do you a deal, if you're a good bloke. I gave away loads of Model T fenders, engine, and other parts I was never going to use to a local guy. In return he gave me 3 flathead motors, and access to a lathe and milling machine pretty much whenever I need to use them. Don't get jealous of the older guys with the fantastic cars and all the dough, be friendly, get to know them. they've got a wealth of knowledge, and some great stories to tell. Look after your friends and they'll look after you. You'll get there in the end cheers Bob
This is a good post as far as I am concerned!!! Here's my thoughts for whatever they're worth....... I grew up being the poor kid on the block. Not that we were hungry or anything like that, but the other kids had NEW toys, new clothes, went out to eat, went on vacations....... the other kids had "allowances" - a concept totally foreign to us. Other kids got cars given to them when they turned 16 - and I sorta did too....my dad blew up his Rambler when I was 15 - he said "if you can fix it - you can have it" - let me tell you I was GREATFUL for that car and still drive it today. Nothing like appreciating something. I've NEVER bought a NEW car and never had the NEW CAR PAYMENT to go along with it. Even still I still I hear it from guys at work...."must be nice to have all those hot rods...blah blah blah..." and I say, "YES IT IS, but just so you know the LAST new car you bought cost you MORE than ALL mine put together!" THAT usually shuts them up pretty quick. Here's my thought on Hot Rods in general - when times are tough they don't have to cost you squat!!! BUT!! that new car payment comes EVERY Month! Today's kids are taught to get what they want NOW - we were taught to EARN and LEARN and it would come .....eventually - and holy crap they were right!!! I have fair sized garage (small by some accounts - big by others) and I am damn sure not gonna apologize for it - nor the cars and tools and machines inside. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs - I pretty much paid for all my TOOLS and MACHINES with the money I didn't blow on cigarettes and beer. I paid for my cars by driving HEAPS - I still drive heaps - no apologies there! So am I a HAVE - geez I NEVER thought so, but I guess to some I am. If THAT upsets them then they aren't worth talking to as I remember talkign to the HAVES when I was a HAVE NOT - and they didn't piss me off - I wanted to learn from them. I bought my house cheap - fixed it up. I drive heaps. I NEVER paid a cent for something I could do for myself. I recently heard an old reference "he comes from the school that you don't need nothin' you can't build with your own two hands" - I personally TRY to LIVE by those words!!! Do I think everyone should be this way? No certainly not, but don't fault those who are. Be patient - talk with those who you deem sucessful - determine what sucess really is!!!! My only goals in life were to try to become what I admired - apply that to any facet of your life. Money!?!?!? Well THAT's probably my biggest fault as I have NO RESPECT for it - not to say that I don't need some - shit my bills come EVERY month like clockwork!!!! but I sure as hell ain't gonna spend every living moment chasing after it!!!! Think what your gonna say on your death bed - is it gonna be "I wish I made more money!!!!" Don't get me wrong - I sorta wish I had more dough, I just don't respect it enough to really persue that goal - I'd rather be in the garage working on a Hot Rod (or two). Money ain't gonna bring you happiness - neither will cars - nope - YOU gotta figure that all out on your own!!! Convoluted I know.......point is - you can't reach your goals if you don't have any. SO for me - let's say I had a wheel barrow full of dough - then what??? Would I pay to have someone work on my rides?? Nope!!! I'd still have to work on them!!! Haves???? Have nots ????? All's you gotta have is some Heart and some Common Sense sprinkled with some Patience - the rest will all fall into place. That's my story and I am sticking to it!!!
We started pretty meager when we were first married. That would be 1990. I was 20 and we bought 5 acres and a trailer house. Total investment, $25,500. Lived in it for 3 years, built a shop out of free lumber, planted trees, sold it for $39,000 Bought a house for $ 41,500 gutted it, added a shop, converted the garage to a living room, lived in it for approx. 4 years, sold it for $69,900. Bought a house for $ 89,900, did improvements, built a shop, poured a seperate driveway to the shop, repainted, lived in the house for 6 years sold it for $142,500. You see the pattern? Last year we built our own house and the dream shop. It took over 15 years to get here. It wasn't easy and it sure isn't fast but I keep hoping that when I am able to retire all of these investments were made wisely. I am still always broke but I have a 10 year plan that should land me debt free by 45 so I still am kinda in the have nots as far as having car money. I put my family first and the cars second. I also sock away a lot into my Thrift Savings plan at work. I could have more car money, but I wanna retire rich not poor. End of rambling.
This is for you old guys, remember when we were kids and that old guy down the street had a kick ass 40 ford he drove everyday that sat right , roared away from his house every day and we couldn't wait for him to come home and go out in the garage to work on his next hot rod so we could go down and bug the hell out of him? and then we would brag to our buddies that we knew him and he even let us help sweep up and shit. I remember my old guy was pro stock racer don grotheer in okc. I painted his house walked the dogs etc and on my 16th b-day he put a 426 wedge in my old henry j I had drug home for 25.00 , I have never forgotten how he taught me hot rods and cool...... Look around guys each of you in your own area have become that old guy. be kind to the kids for they no not what they are doing, but with our help they too will have a hot rod to be proud of and they might have some cool as well.
Young folks. Never pass up the opportunity to listen to your elders. Wisdom is the application of knowledge and life's experience to get you where you want to be. So get yourself a good education, plan ahead and work hard and smart at something you like to do. Make wise choices so you can stay ahead of the cost of living curve. And if you want to be a "have" hang around with "haves" and "listen to the voice within." It's said that in the future there is gonna be more "have nots" than "haves" and the middle class is shrinking. Wonder if it's true?
I was born a poor black boy.......... ERRR UH, No-That was Steve Martin in "the Jerk" wasn't it?-SORRY! I will try to keep this strictly truthful from this point on. I was born one of 8 kids in a small Missouri town of 75 total Population..... Me and li'l Brother Scarliner were the kids the other parents told their kids to stay away from...... we grew up having to scrounge anything we could to fix and drive....And fix and drive we did! We never had any money to speak of -but we always had a car and did some type work to have gas and a little money-We hauled hay for farmers and mowed grass and scooped snow and packed groceries for the widdow women -sold the Grit newspaper for a 5 cent markup- traded eggs we had for bread we needed-what ever it took! We hardly ever recieved any money from "the family" cause it was enough to just be there costing them money! It was the 50's and 60's and we saw some things that inspired us- it was a good time to be dropped upon this earth for sure. We played in bands and had our own "job' as a result from early teens to early married life...I dropped out of high school as a result of those band/partying years-not a good thing but its part of the equation. I got married at 20 and am still married to the same girl at 54. We had and raised two good kids who are on their own now-[2 grandkids] . I and my wife always worked factory jobs and the like- she was a convenience store clerk and we never had a lot of money either... Now she has a decent job at the local bank /I quit the TV dinner factory job and started a shop in '76-and I am now into my 30th year of my shop,building cars and chopping tops is my game. I still do not make a lot of money but I have learned a few tricks/skills- that make the money stretch a little further thru the years. I now own several peices or property in town here- and buildings and own my shop-my home and all my dozen or so cars and projects[Ive trimmed down to that].....ha! The point of this sad rambling statement of affairs, is to prove that -YOU- can be somewhat prosperous and make a "go of it" almost any place or situation you find yourself "stuck" in! I think hard work is a given no matter what other equation is involved-and liking what you are trying to achieve is of the utmost importance also. Prop yourself up and make it happen -no one else gives a shit what you become or not become...... I believe that if I have any real advice for the younger readers of this -it is this: 1-Don't let others dictate what you can or can't achieve- 2-don't guage your success ,or lack of it by comparing your lot in life to others "place on the ladder". 3-learn to be happy with where you're at-what you can [and do] have,and can achieve!. dont lust after the un obtainable.....
As others have mentioned earlier, a lot of today's youth think they are owed a good job, drive a nice new car and life is about the "bling. I call them the "Entitlement Generation." Each generation that gets farther away from the Great Depression and War years seems to want more for less. Experts tell us that the latest generations will be the first (as a whole) to make less money over their lives than their parents. Credit addiction and ensuing bankruptcy is a problem for many youths. The formula for success is pretty simple, hard work and passion. You need to have a plan and be smart about spending your money, but without honest work, you can't get there unless daddy leaves you a huge inheritence. I'll be honest and say one of the things I like about the HAMB, I see lots of kids here demonstrating both hard work and passion. That gives me hope for the future!
agreed w/ both of you. I joined the Navy at 17 as a boy...did a term of 8 years and came out as a man. It sounds funny but I guess you have to experience it to really know what I am talking about. I look back and I would never regret my time spent. The comroderie, the teamwork and the lessons learned were life changing. I still apply those principles today...where possible.
Excellent thread...and hopefuly an 'eye opener' for others. Here is my take on it. I mentioned earlier that I joined the service out of High School. When I finished my active/reserve time, I really had to search out what I wanted to do. For the first 2 years out I delivered pizza's to make ends meet until I found the carreer of choice...Telecomunications. My whole family was involved in the trade...so why not right? During the 2 years (and more) I attended Jr. College on the GI bill...but later quit to hopefully return to finish for my degree. I dont consider myself smart or an Einstien...but logicly sound in the mind I would say. Im fortunate to have my dad to have raised me w/ alot of traditional values, morals and the key to responsibilities; and the consequence to those responsibilites not met. He was hard on me...especially when I worked for him. Then, I though it was hell, but when I look back...it really wasnt that bad. Long story short...I told him that I could never regret those times and 'Thank'ed' him for it. It made me the person I am today. (Thanks Dad!) I never returned back to school but worked hard from an apprentice level to a Project manager in the short time of 5 years in the industry....I just gave up on that career after 13 years, to persue a position as a Department Head of a sign company. I was burned out at my old job and knew my life was at a stand-still. My point it...I dedicated myself to that trade and pushed forward w/ goals that others seemed impossible. I climed that ladder w/out the education this world says you have to have, the "Old School Way." Since being a supervisor/manager for more than a few years; its unfortunate to say, most of the generation comming into the work force doesn't seem to have those same values or desires for themselves. Its like they are there for the check...w/ little to no work. Its terrible to see, and hard for those in my position. Nobody likes to get rid of or fire thier peers but sometimes it has to be done. I have been burned by many so called 'friends' and when they left, they never looked back...leaving your ass still on fire from thier actions. As for the hobby...I never thought I would have some of the things I have today. Im fortunate to have the tools and machinery. I hate credit cards so I paid for it all w/ cash. I busted my ass for that stuff and found ways to make an extra dime. Working on the side/weekends and nights. I have a rule of thumb...I dont use my "career" paycheck to buy the toys and tools. I make myself work a "2nd" job or do whatever it takes to get the cash to buy what I need. My 2nd job of course is cars and hot rods. Im not a shop but a willing particiapant to help out another for a fair and descent price. My joy is to help the "other" guy get back on the road or add a touch of custom flair to his for a 'better' look or maybe a dream come true or maybe teach him in the process so he can drive off knowing how to do it the same.. In return I get whats fair in my pocket. Hard work is just that. I never had a life w/ a 'silver spoon' in my mouth. I dont have the money to pay someone to build my cars so I improvise. My way is to build it myself. I save a few bucks on the build (labor) and I learn in the process so I can teach later down the road to a newbie in the hobbie. This came to mind one day but I base everything I do to it...work and pleasure (Hot rod building): "If I dont know it; I will learn it. After I learn it; I will perfect it. After I perfect it; I will teach it" To me those are good words to live by..and sucess will be right there in your grasp. To every HAMB'er I meet face to face...I always invite them to my place. If you need a hand, weld, wrench or a place to learn, come by for a good time.
You have to work for what you want and need, its that simple. If you dont work, youll go without things you want/need. If you want or need something extra, you have to work harder. This is comming from a 18 year old kid.
i didn't have to read but about the first 3 or 4 lines of most of the longer posts to know that there were little nuggets of gold all over the place. i'm 32, just celebrated 1 year married to a wonderful woman, i have what most people i talk to consider a dream job even though i make pretty meager money by los angeles standards, i'm paying back a 4 year degree, i have lots of bills and i have never been happier! i rent a house for well below market and the garage and driveway are filled with the things i lusted for my entire youth. funny thing though, now that i have all this stuff, i'm finding out that it really aint nearly as important as spending time with my wife, watching my nieces experience the world or any other of lifes little blessings. okay so what have i learned from the last 32 years?? 1: education is important. not necessarily 'formal' 4 year education, but for crying out loud, learn something. not just how to 'do something', but learn what it is that makes successful people successful....learn something from every experience. dont just take life as a series of random happenings. figure how every move affects the next and look back at how past moves affected where you are. pay attention. 2: do what you love and the rest will come, even if you're no good at it. there are hundreds of 'success stories' of people who are marginally talented but acted like they were stars and people bought it. if you're actually good, even better. you cant fake talent. 3: learn how to sell yourself. attitude is everything. how you carry yourself reveals how you feel about yourself and your place and relatoionship to the world 4: learn to hustle. this could go on for a page and a half, so i'll keep it succinct. everything in life is 10% smarts, 10% motivation, 80% sweat. if you want something you have to be willing to go to the lenghts to make it happen. i know alot of pretty big dumbasses that just know how to get things done. not because they are brilliant, but because they are willing to grunt and groan. learn how to 'create money'. learn how to shop and swap. i've done a ton of hustling over the last few years and as a result, my projects have almost paid for themselves, and i'm WAAAAYYY ahead on everything. its been almost a second job, but my bank account and wife are very happy. you never know when what you've learned hustling will come in handy. 5: money is overrated. okay, not really. i'd like to have lots more of my money. but it IS just a tool not a goal. a huge pile of money is a useful as a pile of cow poop if all you want to do is look at it and tell people you have it. i've done more on less money because i know HOW TO USE IT. debt sucks and is counter productive. if you cant pay cash, you cant afford it. new things are nice, but then again.... if you spend all your time pursuing money you'll wake up one day and wonder where you time and family went... 6: GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT!!! i come from a drag racing family. been around racers and rodders and bikers my whole life so i dont know many guys who dont have a divorce in the file. i've seen more guys go without new shoes, skip mortgage payments, watch thier wives and kids pack up and split because they got waaaaayyyy to caught up in thier HOBBY. i'll leave that at that. if you're single great, but remember that single mentality in a family envireonment leads to grief. family and work come first. period. booze and dope is a HUGE waste of time and money. if had the last 15 years back, i'd most likely be in a different place, but wouldnt have the experience and wisdom to tell a younger man to think about life a little harder. 7: HAVE A PLAN!!!! my old man always said "Have a plan, any plan, just have a plan. then be ready to change your plan." failure to plan is a plan to fail. know what you want and map it out. schedule time and budget money. maintain a high level of dedication to your endeavor. learn when its ok to let it slide. anything that keeps you from getting where you want to be is extra weight and should be avoided. 8: finally....dont be a pridefull dumbass. ask questions. learn from other peoples mistakes. dont repeat past failings. i have because i go without. i dont need it.
I'll chime in. Civil engineer. Worked for 5 or 6 companies in 30 years. Changed jobs for the challenge rather than money, but it always caught up within a year. Ran my own co. for 7 years. Money really not more than working for others and spare time definitely less. In fact, if you threw out a poll of whether money, time or organization is delaying the project, most people would say the latter two. I get guilty of the last. I can't go work on my project for an hour in the evening as I would spend more time than that cleaning a trail to the car. So it gets a few weeks a year. Next is time. Between commute and work I'm gone more than 13 hours a day. A lot of these problems used to be handled by car clubs. Guys would band together and do for each other and trade parts because it's fun. I think the me mentality has killed off the clubs other than meet for doughnuts in a finished car and drive to a show. But perhaps the best route to getting started is to find someone else building. When someone comes over to help, it's harder to say it's too cold, hot, Oprah's on, etc.
I don't know how to guage success...I feel that if you are happy and content you are successful...but I am 39yrs. old and plan on retiring at 45 ..I have 4 kids,live in a crazy high price town in California and have a slightly high maintenance wife...and I'm happy. I got here through hard work...I work a night job. When the kids were little I would come home from work and watch my kids until the wife got home from work at night...then if I wasn't taking my oldest boy to karate or baseball.....I would sleep. Sometimes sleep was over 40 hours from nap tp nap...but I was young so no big deal...and I was always home for my kids. I have never made over 50 grand a year at my job....and never lived within my means either...If I had I could retire now! But life would not have been as much fun either.....remember..you still gotta be happy! Anyway...buy real estate...it will pay you back in the long run. People say rentals are a pain in the ass or they can't afford to buy or have no money for a down payment...Believe me ...anyone can buy a house...creatively...and get cash flow...get enough and you can retire young!
My two cents;This is a test.Thats all.Doesn't matter what you start with or how you get it.It's what you do with it and what you've learned from what you've done.I think everyone should experience poverty at least at some level,so you can appreciate what you earn or get some drive to do something "anything".As far as old people getting their feelers hurt over what some young punk says,get over it,FUCK EM.Who cares what they think,you didn't build your car for them did you?
I'm not going to bore you with what i've acomplished in my 58 years, but in trying to answer Larry's quest, in trying to guide younger people, with advise, i would only say, STAY AWAY FROM DRUGS !!!!!!!!!!! Drugs are the moral decay of this country, and young and old alike, have to do anything possible to stop this problem. Sooner or later, anyone using drugs will LOOSE, jUST SAY NO !!!!!!!!! That said, DON'T set long term goals, they get sidetracked too easy. Set good short term goals, where you can see the rewards of accomplishment. It will build confidence and let you grow at your own pace. Try to be honest in the way you conduct yourself through life, that alone makes you feel good and gives you a positive feeling, which builds character. It'll never be a perfect world, but if each person would try their best, set good honest goals, then at least you can feel good about yourself, that alone will guide you to make positive decisions, whether it's building a car, a house, or a relationship with people. AND QUIT BITCHING ABOUT THOSE GOLDCHAINERS, WHO HAVE MORE THAN YOU, IT WILL GET YOU NOWHERE. BE YOUR OWN PERSON AND TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF. IT TAKES AWHILE, SO SET SHORT GOALS AND JUST DO IT !!!!!!!!!!
Lionheart, I agree wholeheartedly, but would expand a bit... drugs can things like cigarettes, drinking, gambling, and credit cards. I'm not going to tell you not to drink, I've got a few brews in the fridge, and some wine in the basement (my older brother is a winemaker, so I'm allowed to have wine and not be snobby ). I go to the casino once every few years, and I buy a lotto ticket once or twice a year. Not a smoker, but Michelle is, and she's trying to quit... I've already told my credit card story. The problem is any of these things in excess. An excessive amount of drinking becomes a drinking problem... excessive credit card use becomes money problems. etc. I guess what I'm trying to say has already been said a bunch of times here by people much smarter (and with more experience) than I... Basically, you get what you give. If you spend your money on your "drug" of choice, rather than what you want, then you're going to end up with an addiction. Hopefully, the drug you choose will be a house, family, education, skills, school, etc. not the things listed above. Get addicted to hard work, and loving your significant other and kids, not to drinking! --end of rant Ben
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAVEN'T HEARD OF TOO MANY TURF WARS, WHERE PEOPLE DIE, OVER CIGARETTS, BEER OR WINE, AS I HAVE OVER METH, COCAINE, CRACK AND HEROIN. IT'S NO WANDER KIDS CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT, WHEN ADULTS DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE, OR HOW TO GUIDE THEM.
I think the question should be more like "How do you get to be a 'Have'? A lot of people sacrifice the burning desire to get the hot rod of their dreams during their youth and spend that energy setting up their future...be it business, or career... Then when they have earned their way into the 'Have' ranks, they go get what they previously dreamed about. Most of the time the sacrifice they have made is in the talent and ability to build their own. It wasn't crafted into their schooling. But they can buy it now. That explains the lack of taste of style, or even common sense you see a lot. Now..... Having said that.... If 'helping' a young'un get's the kid the toy of his dreams...Cool. But if helping a kid today takes him off the bigger picture of additional schooling, specialized training, or advanced education... I don't know if that is doing the kid a service in the long run. Instilling a good work ethic and teaching him a craft is a good thing. Using a kid as cheap labor because he is enthusiastic is another. Not a rant here, bt just trying to look at a bigger picture and seeing how the paths we choose at a young age can affect us later on in life. Jeff
When I was a teenager my dad had a caravan, a ski boat and we raced a stock car as a family. I used to love it when people would say to him. "Gee, you're lucky George, having all that stuff". He had a standard reply, "Yep, and the harder I work, the luckier I get" Sounds about right Pete
Well, My wife and I are the odd ones out for our generation. We are 32 and 33,have two kids, we drive old cars(62 fairlane, 78 C10 ) that we own, have plenty of projects under way,we are paying off an old home full of old furniture and don't have any credit card debt. I feel good when a guy from work who earns exactly the same money thinks I'm lucky because of the cars I own. He is the guy who blows his money on drugs and alcohol every weekend and is out of cash by the next week. Then there is the older "wiser " guy from work who has a mortgage much less than mine but isn't in a hurry to pay it off, he can add to it with a big screen telly, new lounge suit ect.He has a new car loan for a car that's losing value every day while the insurance premiums rise for it every year. I don't earn alot, and either does my wife but we are not trying to keep up with the guy next door. Our children have everything and we are happy with our house and the cars we drive. We do plan to invest in more property in the years to come , will no doubt buy more cars, and will take more trips to the U.S.A. I guess in my shoes,I'm a haves. I have a happy loving family who love my hobby as much as I do and I feel pretty lucky to have gotten this far with this much in this time. I suppose it comes down to what you aim for. Some people can have all the success of a great business and money to burn, but do they have everything they want?
Alot of what has been written in this thread has opened my eyes as a teacher. The positive things mentioned are what I need to convey to my elementary students, things like commitment and learning how to do something you love. The staying off drug (smokes,booze,credit) message only holds up when the kid can weigh their needs against their wants. Need a new part for the hotrod? Then I cant afford that case of beer I want. As a kid, my number one goal was to be cool. Knowing the difference between what was cool and what was not has taken the better part of 5 decades to learn. Could it be that the Hokey Pokey is all wrong? Is being cool what it is all about? still searching for answers, himmelberg
The Jalopy Journal
