[fintstone]

There was a big recession when was a young man. I tried to find employment in all areas outside of working in the fields/agriculture. I grew up very poor and had low expectations. I tried to get jobs in retail, construction, sales, delivery, and even washing dishes. Anything that paid minimum wage or more. I probably would still be selling shoes at KMart if they would have hired me. All rejected me for older, more experienced men. I finally found a job flipping burgers for less than minimum wage. I was quite good at it and advanced quickly...but, it was just bad enough that I summoned the courage to leave town and try other places/things. I guess that was the secret for me as I have been pretty happy with my careers. Careers I had because I was not good enough/failed at lesser ones. Some of my friends had an "in"...like a relative that worked at a grocery store that got them a job as a bagger or stocker. Most worked there their entire life. Thank God no one helped me...as, like them, I would have been just comfortable enough to not try anything else.

I briefly went to college after high school (small scholarship) but was bored and really did not see the point...as everyone I knew that had gone away to college came home and worked in the grocery store. Their degrees had no real value in the workplace. One would do better just to go to work and earn money for 4 years more than they did. Later on, after I knew what I needed to do to further my career, I went back to college and took classes/got a degree in an area that advanced my career...and largely got it paid for.

No, I am not Bill Gates successful...but I am happy enough (and had a lot more humble beginnings). I guess there were a few points where I could have made a decision that would have made me seriously wealthy, but like most folks...I was a bit too conservative and did not want to take a risk of losing what I had (wife and kids to support, etc.). Sometimes (like when I started out), having nothing to lose really is freedom to make choices.