Where have you been lately Upwards of Twenty? Well that is great question, I have not forgotten about my Blog, on the contrary I have been thinking a great deal about upcoming posts, ideas and other money making schemes. The truth is my work, family and recent illness has pulled me away from Upwards of Twenty. The good news is I am back and hitting you with weekly posts for the next 6 weeks. So let’s get back to our journey:
Recently I received an email from a friend discussing how an average John took $20 and turned it into $1,400,000 gambling at an online casino named Slots of Vegas. I would love to include the link to the story but it shows in my email that it is a website that is Phishing (attempting to acquire sensitive information). So the basic gist is that if you sign up for this website they give you a $20 credit and this “John” turned that in 1.4 million by playing slots and hitting a jackpot. Wow what an amazing story, in fact all of the comments on this website are positive comments from other users who make tens of thousands as well. Seems legit to me so I figured………..better save my $43.44 and not have my credit ruined on an internet scam. It did get me thinking about a major issue we have in our society; everyone feels entitled to their piece of the American dream. The problem is that most do not understand what the American Dream really is and why our country was founded on these principles:
- “All men are created equal”
- “Endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights”
- “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”
James Truslow Adams coined the phrase “American Dream” in his 1931 book The Epic of America which he wrote, “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.” Basically we can be whatever we want to be within our own personal restraints. What an amazing concept that through hard work, education and personal growth we can actually become something amazing. All of these things require individual accountability and personal drive. The current American Dream is that I will be able to retire in my mansion with all the toys I can dream of without actually having to work for it. With the litigious society we live in its amazing that anybody is able to obtain any wealth except for the lawyers.
So this new concept has given me the idea to use my skills to see what I can make on my next venture by providing an honest day’s work. I will go around to my immediate neighbors and see if they have any jobs that I could do for them to make extra money. I will also ask family members, friends and coworkers. I do not plan on taking on a 2nd job with any of these projects but will see what is available if you are willing to work and ask. Being prideful I will find it hard to ask the people close to me but at least it will give me another way to promote the blog as well.
Wish me luck I will bring my oldest daughter with me when I do some of the jobs, as long as they are safe, so that she will see that if you want something bad enough there are ways to achieve it without having to gamble, beg, steal, or wait for a handout. Luckily I was raised in a family that valued hard work and I hope to instill these values in my children as well. Till next time – JB
Upwards of Twenty 