HATE YOUR JOB? The Oprah Show & Marcus Buckingham can help!

pt. 2: ... climbed the corporate ladder, and by age 24 I was already making six figures. Do I think those folks from the ghetto are beneath me... HELL YES! Because unlike them, I chose to do something about my unhappiness. Am I a sell out... HELL YES, and I'm damn proud of it too, lol. That's why I look up to Oprah. So I don't feel this way simply to be the devil's advocate. But then again, to each his own :-)

and while you're right in that some people don't make smart choices and continue to make stupid ones, i'm not really sure it's all their fault, all the time, and for everyone. i know because my life was changed by a mentor, and i could have been on the wrong path as well, i was just given an opportunity, and some never get that. i also don't think you sold out just because you wanted a better life, unless you admit to rising the 'easy' or dishonorable way.

finally, some things to consider: are lawyers more valuable than construction workers? it's the old blue collar white collar debate. isn't holding down a steady job to provide for your family while being ordinary still honorable? especially despite hating it? or is glamour what's in these days? what is the measure of success? does family and kindness and humanity suffer at its expense? and is career and money now america's first prioity? but anyway... good, no, great for you.

I totally see your point now... I have nothing for respect & admiration for folks to work hard to provide for their families. But often times I get so frustrated with people who are "down on their luck"... I just want to grab them, shake them, and yell "not happy? get off your ass and do something about it!" I see it so much, especially at work. But good point. And, for the record, I rose up the honorable way, thru intellect & hard work (I'm not pretty or bitchy enough to be unethical, lol)

and i totally see your point, and i have no defense for people who sit on their butts and complain while doing nothing, they're on their own (most of the time - depending on background, ability, & circumstance.) though sometimes i'm not sure there's enough social structure out there to help these people... it's hard either way, but that's another discussion. as i said before, i'm talking about average, normal folk, reality, career prospects, & tangible 'dreams'. ;) (and again, good for you. :))

I guess I have a hard time feeling sorry for others misfortunes because I myself rose up "the ghetto" to become a successful business woman. Get this... both my parents came to the US illegally in the 80s, I lived in Compton, CA until I was 14, and 99% of my classmates were thugs or drug dealers (all thru high school). But no matter how many times those ghetto kids made fun of me or threatened me for studying, I didn't give in. I earned a scholarship & degree from the Univ of So Cal...

that's an amazing story, and nothing i've said belittles it, and i congratulate and admire you for your hard work, overcoming obstacles and success.

Why thank you :-) Having lived in the ghetto for the first 21 years of my life taught me now to feel sorry for any inner city citizen because most people are in the situations they're in because they didn't think logically and made terrible choices. It's tragic, really. OK, I'm off my soap box now :-)

lol, i completely understand, i really do - some of my friends became prostitutes and may be dead now, and i understand not having sympathy for people who don't think, take care of, or are responsible for themselves. and there are people who are beyond help and are evil, but i think most people want to be given a chance they never get, or get a bad go, and it makes them hard and jaded.

even so, i'm not talking about those people, just... someone has to shovel crap for a living, and i don't think they're worth less - maybe even more. ;) and to be honest, i haven't found my dream job, and i really doubt i ever will. i hope so, but i've had so many crappy job experiences and deceitful bosses, it's left me highly cynical about the work world, what's out there, and what's realistically possible. i used to be an optimist, but now i'm a realist. i can still hope, but we'll see.