What happens when too many serve too few?

When I was a kid my four brothers and would flip on the RCA to kill the boredom of winter in Minnesota. There was a show that would come on sometimes called "Lifestyles of The Rich and Famous" hosted by Robin Leach. (Like our sorry, brown-corduroy hand me down wearring asses were supposed to know who that was.) We were all fascinated by the life of people with ungodly amounts of wealth. Sprawling mansions with pools and peacocks milling about the lawn. Sports cars with Corinthian leather. Lavish spreads of lobster and cavier. Yachts with helicopter pads. Somewhere the words "American Dream" spilled into the script. We thought "someday won't it be cool when we get our own peacocks and yachts?"

Fast forward to today. We still don't have our yachts. That said, I really do enjoy Yacht Rock on Spotify. So there's that. Not that I want a Yacht. That's not my American Dream. But it does get me thinking about the American Dream in general.

It occurs to me that there is a difference between the American Dream in the 70s and 80s and the American Dream we have today. Back then, it seemed reasonable that with enough hard work and focus, yeah, you could get your piece of the pie and maybe get a yacht. If not that, at least sample some $500/oz caviar. If not that, at least know someone who has some fancy peacocks. It doesn't feel that way anymore. There's a reason for that of course. Mostly because it's NOT that way anymore. Capitalism that rewards self determination at scale is long gone. Capitalism has been perverted. It serves too few at the hands of too many. The bed of empathy it's supposed to rest on (Ask Prof. Scott Galloway about that) is gone.

Capitalism has been perverted.

You, me and anyone else reading this lousy little article are about as far from getting a seat on Elon's spaceship or Bezos yacht as we can get. Those are special seats that like one-billionth of humanity gets to sit in. For most Americans, it turns out, our lot in life may be to live paycheck to paycheck until we die.

And if that's not depressing enough, here's another visual for you. You don't have to be a data scientist to understand that since the 1970s the rich get richer and the rest of us don't. The gap only continues to widen. Even during a global pandemic. Even during supply chain shortages. Even during a great resignation. Even during recession. Even during quiet quitting. Factors that should lessen the wealth gap simply don't.

Huh.

Not everyone is down with this, of course. I know I'm not. When too many people work too hard for someone else's wealth, shit happens. For you history fans ( Jason Voiovich !) you'll likely recall it can be really really big shit. The Russian Revolution comes to mind. Too many people working too hard for the benefit of too few. Historically, this is when the pitchforks come out. Times are different now though. We don't need pitchforks and rage. We can just opt out. We can just opt out and do our own thing. This is a foreign thought that lives outside the the parameters of the last 75 years of the US economy, but a welcome one that I think will paint success for the next 75 years.?

Times are different now though. We don't need pitchforks and rage. We can just opt out.

Historically you didn't have choice to just leave the system you were in. If you served at the pleasure of the king, that was the deal. You didn't have any other options. (Expect revolt, which is bloody, sad, uncomfortable and most people still lose.)

That capitalism has been perverted in favor of the 1/1000th of the 1%, there is little doubt. That you can exit stage left from that economy? That's new. Don't want to toil for someone else to get rich? Hang out your own Fractional shingle. Worried there's no room at the top for you? Hang out your Fractional shingle. Booted out after 25 years of dedication and loyalty? Hang out your Fractional shingle.

Booted out after 25 years of dedication and loyalty? Hang out your Fractional shingle.

There is a truth to be had here that few seem to talk about. We have 30 million small businesses in the United States. Every single one needs help to grow. Help from people like you. People with experience, failure, outside perspective and, here it comes, SELF DETERMINATION. Does the 30-million-strong small biz economy take up column inches Harvard Business Review and the WSJ? Meh, maybe enough to make us feel good. But it's still an outsider. Good. Let's keep it that way. It's the land of opportunity that no ones watching. I contend that by mixing self determination (Fractional pros) with the growth sector (Small Business economy) we will fuel prosperity at scale like we've never seen before.

With the great inequality we are living under now, one may think we are heading towards revolt. Socialism. Communism. Some social upheaval to correct the injustice. I don't think so. In fact, I think we are going to, in fact, double down on Capitalism to correct the imbalance. In the most gangster move of them all, I believe we are going to reach deeper into the nuclear core of Capitalism, self determination, to pursue opportunity for wealth and happiness like never before. Why? Because unlike any other time like this in history, we can.

The world is indeed changing.

As ever, join the Fractional revolution, bottle up your skills and win at Capitalism in the new normal at www.voyageuru.com.