| |
| |
|
Motivation Information |
|
|
|
Are Millionaires and PhDs Really Smarter? The Answer May Surprise You!
I've had a vast array of job experiences. While in high school, I worked as maid for a local motel. While attending college, I worked as an office worker in the Sociology Department and Museum of Fine Arts. After college, I was a social worker for six years. Following a career change, I spent the next several years working as an editor and technical writer in various publishing and software companies, including Microsoft. And?whenever I had any spare time, I worked on my true passions: creative writing and art. I've worked with maids, nurses aides, office workers, people with PhDs, and millionaires. I've worked with people subsisting on welfare and those living?and dying?in nursing homes. I've worked with software engineers, project managers, and vice presidents, as well as publishers, artists, and writers. And?in that vast array of different jobs, locations, and peoples, what have I observed? I've observed maids and nurses aides who are as sharp, witty, and insightful as famous guests on television talk shows. I've observed employees who had made millions in stock options, standing in the espresso line at Microsoft, bragging about how many coupons they had for free lattes. I've observed post-graduate students getting their PhDs, cramming hard to write their dissertations in time, sweating over passing. And, I watched in amusement, as a coworker who had recently received his PhD spent 30 minutes hanging a sign over his cubicle that read, "The Doctor Is In." Otherwise, he'd just be a plain technical writer, like the rest of us. Based on my observations from working with many types of people, millionaires and PhDs are not smarter or better than the rest of humanity. But there is one major difference: Confidence! Because of their situation, they feel much more secure about the future. So, if millionaires aren't smarter, why do they have a lot more money than most of us? A few reasons come to mind:
And, if people with advanced college degrees aren't really smarter, they must have something (besides confidence). So, what is it?
Life circumstances, including those that evolve from the choices we make, can make a big difference. For example, when people get married or have children at a young age, it limits their opportunities for going to school. Sometimes people must take care of disabled family members or younger siblings. There are many life events, some unforeseen, that can make it nearly impossible for someone to complete a college, or even a high-school, education. But most of these have nothing to do with intelligence. So! If you have been feeling "less than" because you don't have a degree, an advanced degree, or a million dollars in the bank, please stop beating yourself up. Most likely, you are just as smart as the next person. You are just on a different path. And, contrary to popular belief, having a college degree doesn't automatically mean you'll earn more money. I've known service workers who work for themselves--for example, guys who mow lawns, paint houses, and wash windows-who earn more than many software engineers! I've also worked with people from all over this country, and people from countries all over the world - including Asia, Vietnam, Canada, Ireland, England, France, Indonesia, India, and Russia. I have found most of these people to be intelligent, charming, and sincere. Yes, our customs (and our senses of humor) may be different, but most of our needs are very similar. Yet stereotypes abound. Some people feel a need to judge others, or themselves, by superficial differences. But when all is said and done, no group of individuals is smarter, better, or less than another. We each have our own talents and strengths. As well as our own weaknesses. We each live life the best way we know how, learning lessons along the way. And, hopefully, learning tolerance and compassion as well. About The Author O'Vivian is a versatile author and artist who believes that art has the ability to help heal, and inspire, the Soul. O'Vivian holds degrees in psychology and sociology, and has long been fascinated by spiritual psychology, the human condition, and the seemingly universal quest for a more meaningful existence. These elements invariably find their way into most of her work. To view O'Vivian's work, go to http://www.ovivian.com. To contact O'Vivian, send email to ovivian@ovivian.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Motivation - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Darkness of Winter Encourages Insights The darkness of Winter has descended.For many the long stormy nights of Winter and the proverbial dark night of the soul are uncomfortable. 3 Clever Ways To Stop Procrastinating Stopping procrastination can be challenging, especially since you can't put it off until tomorrow! Most people who procrastinate did not do so overnight. Like any other bad habit, procrastination starts small and builds itself up. What is Success? Everyone wants success. People talk about setting goals and positive thinking and getting to the top. What's in Your Blind Spot? We frantically search for our "lost" keys that are lying in plain sight on the kitchen counter. We don't we see the keys. Why Idle Hands Create Stagnation in Our Lives You've probably heard the phrase, "Idle hands are the devil's tools" -- meaning if you don't have something to keep you busy, you're likely to get into trouble. That can be argued of course, since the intent to cause trouble probably has to be present also. Perseverance As A Virtue "Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure." - Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881) - British Statesman, Prime MinisterLet's face it: life is tough. Visualization Visualisation plays a very important role with the mind and body relationship. Visualisation and Imagination are quite similiar. A Surfing Lesson I've never surfed in my life. Sometimes people tell me I look like a surfer, but never once have I been on a board out in the water. Trust the "System" - It Works! The "System" - the overall structure and organization of this great creation that we're a part of? including our ability to personally interact with (and benefit from) the spiritual aspects of this creation (universal consciousness, God, whatever you'd like to call it).Here's the story behind our recent move. 7 Reasons To Stop Procrastinating Today Procrastination is a delay tactic that has the ability to choke your dreams and abort the plans and purposes you have for your life.It has to be nipped in the bud. Journaling - A Tool for Healing and Growth The word "journal" comes from the French. It dates back to the 14th century and means daily. Top 10 Tips For The Best Year of Your Life! We typically think of New Year's as the time to make annual resolutions and start fresh. Unfortunately, we all know that most resolutions are quickly forgotten. When Life Gives You Waves, Learn to S.U.R.F. Would you like to learn a skill set and technique so powerful that you could learn to recycle every failure, disappointment, setback and discouraging situation into a steppingstone for your success? Would you like to go into every situation with confidence knowing you will have the skills to convert it into an experience with a positive benefit?Imagine skilled and highly trained fighters going into a difficult and scary situation. They don't go looking for it, but when it comes, they are ready and prepared. Stop Procrastination--Just Do It! In this article I'll talk about the reason that stops most of Internet entrepreneurs from succeeding online.Have you ever wondered why only about 5% of us are actually making money online? Have you ever think about the main reason that stops the other 95% of them?If you are like me, I'm sure that it happens to you to read ebook after ebook, report after report and newsletter after newsletter searching for the missing key that will open the gates to your richness. How to Use the Power of Words to Your Benefit Someone I know maintains that "motivational words are great coming from philosophers, but that's because they're not in the real world." The power of words can be an incredible aid to helping us remain motivated and focused. Extreme Makeover - Compliments of Me There is a fascination these days with reality shows that completely make over people, rooms, homes, businesses and now towns, in a short amount of time. I have to admit, I love them too. Wake Up to the Life You Love While speaking at a San Diego university recently, I was fortunate that I was not asked to leave the stage. You see, I chose to share with the students in my audience some frightening statistics. Life Is About Taking "Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new. Two Ways to Feel Fear In a memorable Depression-era radio speech on the radio, President Franklin Roosevelt declared, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." He was dead right. Taking Action NOW: 9 Key Strategies...Part I Awareness, understanding what impacts you!Awareness makes it possible for you to begin to understand what is happening in your life, what is missing in your life, or even what you did or didn't do to be happier than you are now.Without awareness your understanding can be incomplete.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
