For the eye of the beholder...

Opportunity Knocks.

Just had a talk with a maintenance man for some of the buildings on my block, one which happens to be next door. He was explaining to me that he’s very disappointed in the young men he sees everywhere that seem to have no desire to do better, no ambition.

He shared with me how he came from the Islands, an island near Barbados 17 years ago, has not stopped working. As he shared with me how he came to the United States with experience in working with heavy equipment, things like a backhoe, front end loader and such but was only able to get a job that paid just $60 a day doing construction in Manhattan. He said he worked hard and in 3 months he was a foreman, although he was not being paid a foreman’s pay he continued to do his best.

But because $60 a day was not enough for what he wanted to do he worked more than one job until someone took notice of his disciplined work style and offered him a job as a building maintenance worker with a guarantee of 3 years of work. I believe he stated that offer came 11 years ago, and he’s still working for the same individual, making 100k a year, has a 401k and owns 2 properties.

Still saddened by the sight of so many young men that want to get a job where they start from the top making 200k a year and not willing to suffer the ups and downs of establishing themselves in the opportunities that present themselves no matter how small.

I was reminded of how people complain that foreigners come to the united states and become successfully employed, start businesses that make money and seem to do better than those born here. There’s one reason for that and I shared my thought with my new friend from the island near Barbados…

Those that come to America look, see and find opportunity while some born here only see problems without solutions. Most are not taught to do for self in school, only being expected to pass to the next grade and so they do only what they have to. There are those that see so much that is wrong in our country and yet as the ‘foreigner’ shared with me, there’s so much that is right.

I found this interesting enough to share...

https://www.dhirubhai.net/hp/update/6251146593240641536