I got in a discussion with some friends of mine this week over the topic of money. I commented about the people who write me and others in the “money” business about how we have become way too focused on money. Many write me to say that my books and some of the other books that are also very popular are more about greed than anything else. Can you believe what people will say? I actually do get these kinds of letters. It seems that when you tell people to be as successful as they can be and to earn as much money as they can earn then you are considered greedy and money hungry. Tell people to live up to their potential and then get put down for doing it. Amazing, huh? These folks tell me they are offended by my constant focus on success.
I recently got a letter from a woman who told me it was more important for her to spend time with her kids than to be out “becoming more successful and rich.” Holy CRAP! I will bet you this woman who “talks” about how important her kids are spends the bulk of her time sitting on her fat ass watching TV (maybe with them) and doesn’t have a dime saved for their college education. Unfair? Maybe. She might be a wonderful mommy who really does spend time with her kids and if she is, I applaud her and apologize for my generalization.
But never shake your finger in my face telling me how altruistic you are and talk about how success is NOT about money. Success is about money. The Peace Corp – Habitat For Humanity – The Red Cross – The Salvation Army – the Susan G. Komen Foundation – and my personal charity of choice, Feed The Children. All of those charities are about money. Money drives every charity. Money builds hospitals and homeless shelters and habitat houses. Money fights cancer. Money feeds those children.
(Warning: these next few paragraphs will possibly offend some of my more sensitive readers! HA!)
Money also builds churches. It even builds the churches for those pious, small-minded people who belittle the rest of the world for focusing too much on money. Ouch! Yep, I slammed the church folks! I did a radio show last week where I was being interviewed about debt. A guy called in and told me that while my ideas were good I had left out Jesus. I said, “What???” He said, “As long as you keep your hand in the hand of Jesus, you will be fine.” I asked him if he was in debt. “Yes.” I asked him if he was in trouble financially. “Yes.” I asked him if he spent more money than he earned. “Yes.” I asked him if he was behind on his credit card payments. “Yes.” I said, “When you reached for your credit card last time you were at the mall, I guess you had to let go of Jesus’s hand to do it, didn’t you? Let’s not involve Jesus in your stupidity! Jesus didn’t make you spend more money than you earn. Jesus doesn’t get the blame for that one. You did that all on your own!” Let one of these good folks get in trouble financially because they spent more than they should or bought too much house or can’t make their payments and they want Jesus to bail ’em out. Drop to your knees and beg God to help you out of your financial problems! Oh yeah, that makes sense. I consider that a huge insult to God. I know that God will forgive you for your stupidity and your insult. I won’t, but God will, and that’s the difference between God and me. I think begging God to bail you out of your stupidity when you KNEW you were being stupid is a slap in the face to God! While I have no idea what God would say or even if She would say anything, I would speculate (and hope) that God might say, “You got yourself in this mess and you can get yourself out of this mess.”
So for all the pious who call me and the others who consider it our OBLIGATION to earn as much money as we possibly can, I want to ask you: What paid for that building you call your church? What pays for the missionaries your denomination sends to “save the souls” of the people in foreign countries? What paid for that church pew your big butt sits on? What paid for the Bibles and hymnals and ………okay, I’m tired of this. MONEY paid for all of it. MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!!!! Whew! I feel better!
Back to my original question. Why do you work? I know why I work. I work for the money. Period. I recently gave a speech where the president of the company approached me when I was finished and said how lucky I was to be able to experience my passion like that. I asked him what he was talking about. He said, “Your speech. That is your passion, it’s obvious.” I said, “Thanks but that speech is NOT my passion. That speech is my JOB. I am really good at my job and I’m glad you enjoyed me doing my job, but what you just witnessed is anything BUT my passion. I enjoy it but I’m not passionate about giving speeches.” He was incredulous. I told him my passion was my wife, my boys, my bulldogs and my free time. I told him I was passionate about sitting on my back patio with a glass of fine scotch in my left hand, a great cigar in my right hand, my bulldog Ralph on my lap, my wife by my side, watching the sun go down over the mountain while Willie Nelson plays in the background. That is something I can get passionate about. The rest is work. I do what I do for the money. I do what I do to pay for the life I love. I do what I do to finance as many nights sitting on my patio as I can get. That is why I work.
Why do you work? If it isn’t for the money – you are a liar. Yes, you may find what you do extremely satisfying. Yes, you may love it. But if the money wasn’t there, you couldn’t survive on satisfaction and love – you would need to go do something less satisfying that you didn’t love so you could get paid. While I love what I do, if I didn’t get paid well for doing it, I could fall in love with something else that did pay well.
I am tired of people pretending that money doesn’t matter when it comes to work. It is the ONLY thing that matters when it comes to work. And the way to make more money from your work is to be better at what you do. The better you serve others, the better others serve you . . . with their money. It all ties together: Service is tied to money. Charity is tied to money. Excellence is tied to money. Why does bringing money into the equation make it dirty for some people?
Money is the result of serving people well. Serving people is an honorable thing. Money is the result of hard work. Hard work is honorable. Having money is a wonderful thing in your life. It pays for college for your kids. It pays for healthcare when you and the people you love get sick. It takes care of your mom and dad when they get old and need help. It feeds the homeless and helps those who are less fortunate. It pays your taxes to build roads and provide fire and police protection. It is to be appreciated, saved, invested, and ENJOYED.
Yes, it is okay to earn money and then enjoy it! Live up to your means – not beyond your means – but up to them. I read a posting this week on Amazon where a guy who hates me, hates my books and was kicked off my blog here for hating all of you, made fun of me for having so many pairs of cowboy boots and for selling bobbleheads. He said I was sitting a poor example for spending money on things I didn’t need and for selling things that other people don’t need. What a frigging idiot this guy is! I can’t wait for the People Are Idiots book to come out to see what he says about that one. I should have dedicated it to this moron. There is no shame in working hard for your money, investing it, saving it, paying your obligations and then ENJOYING the rest in any way you see fit. You are HELPING the economy by doing so. Besides, it is WHY you WORK HARD! Enjoying your money is your reward. As for selling bobbleheads – I really wanted my own bobblehead. I only wanted one but I had to order a thousand in order for me to get ONE. I got my one, then sent my Mom one and didn’t have room to store the rest so I decided to see if anyone else wanted the rest of them. They did. They are all now sold. If people choose to enjoy their money by having a bobblehead of me on their desk, then it isn’t my fault. And yeah, I made a buck of two doing it! Good for me.
Bottom line. Money is important. If you don’t think it is important, try going without it for a while. You won’t last long. Want more of it? Work harder to serve others! Money is your reward for doing that. (Go buy You’re Broke Because You Want To Be for more ideas!)
Okay, that’s my rant and I’m sticking to it!
My work objective is to make money. If I had my choice between being CEO of a large company or shoveling sh*t, I would pick up the shovel if it paid more.
I own a company and have many real estate properties. It is not about greed. For me, it is about having the means to take care of me and mine during my retirement without living off of the taxpayers. I have a responsibility to help my employees do the same.
You really got me going on this one, Larry. I am a Christian. God wants us to be prosperous. He does not want us into debt. “Owe no man anything.” He says this because we cannot be mindful of His love or teachings while dodging the bill collectors.
I am fine with stay-at-home moms and I don’t believe they sit around eating all day. Since I have been there, and done that, I know that there is little time to watch tv. Having said that, many mothers quit their jobs without adjusting their lifestyle and find themselves in a mountain of debt. Financial stress viciously attacks loved ones and especially children.
Larry, you need to put your rantings on this in a new book. Many people really don’t get what money is to be used for. And, I cannot wait for your next book whatever it is about.
Thanks Chris – great response. The new book has a bit of this in it. As does my new PBS special and the bonus DVD, Larry: Unplugged, Unleashed and Out of Control. Glad you get that I am not blasting Christians or stay at home mothers but attacking a lack of responsibility! Again, I appreciate your comments!
Larry
Larry, I couldn’t have said it better myself (though I often do the same rant–think I’ll print out yours and hand it out so I can save my breath).
I work for money, too. I want even MORE money than I already have. No, it’s not because I’m greedy. Money buys freedom, period. Freedom allows me to support my family–without the taxpayers help (right on, Chris!), it allows me to support the charities that need my help, and it affords me the luxury of actually having a “retirement”.
I am sick to death of all these whiners that live beyond their means and expect the government to bail them out. Why don’t they ask their churches to bail them out?? Yeah, right.
But you already knew all that, Larry, because you actually get it. Keep up the great “work”.
I work for money. I’m a recently returned-to-work SAHM, and your bit about the mom sitting around watching TV made me laugh! I did sit around and watch TV, or blog, or read, or anything I could do to help pass the time. It was a lonely life. Now my daughter is 3 and I’m so thrilled to be back at work bringing home extra $! Our budget was so tight a car repair would about kill us–but we sacrificed to keep our daughter out of daycare. Those were our priorities, and we made it work. I imagine the mom with the nasty letter has made her “career” raising kids and feels like she’s not contributing to society. She lashed out at you to make herself feel better about not working for the past decade. SAHM’s of teenagers are kind of touchy. 🙂
My husband and I absolutely love your book “It’s Called Work for a Reason”. He loans it to his co-workers and our copy is all beat up. I’d like to recommend it to my boss, but I don’t think that would be very tactful.
Why do I work?! Why do I work?! I work because sleeping on a park bench at night isn’t very comfortable. I work because the thought of putting my kids to bed at night with empty stomachs is terrifying. I work because in the shape I’m in I can’t run around naked. I too have kids, but being able to stay home with them all day is a luxury we cannot afford. They don’t seem to mind. Larry, of all the books you’ve read (over 4,000 – really?) would you mind sharing a few that influenced you the most. Other than the Sears Roebuck catalog of course.
Look, I’m as much a Biblical scholar as Larry is a dainty diplomat. But don’t be blaming God, Jesus, Buddha, or any of those guys over people doing stupid things and counting on a Deity to bail their asses out.
Jesus did NOT say to run up your credit cards, do the minimum work to get by and blame other people for whatever bad happens. He preached activity. He praised work, the guys who put the “talents” toward making MONEY. When he talked about the “lilies of the field,” I’m thinking that was about the same thing as Larry’s scotch, cigar, dog and lady on the veranda. Jesus had the courage of his convictions that you & I only dream of. He preached loving your neighbor. When they are genuinely down on their luck, they need a hand up, and handed tools to work with. When they have made their own bad luck, loving them means kicking their ass. Jesus was no wimp – Loving all the people meant chasing the moneylenders out of his Father’s temple, because they were turning it into a “den of theives.” He told the Romans to screw off (politely) – even the entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was an in-the-face challenge to the Romans. He paid a price for that without complaining. Can we imagine doing the same?
So when somebody prays “Lord Jesus, I need $10,000 tax free by Tuesday,” or “God, make the judge change his mind about jail and put me on probation,” don’t go blaming God. Those prayers generally don’t result in an affirmative response anyway in the sense that those folks get what they pray for. Hopefully, they may receive an inspiration of what they NEED, to cut the dramatics, own up to their failings, and take some affirmative ACTION. (Oh, sorry guys, prayers for regrowth of hair don’t seem to work, either.) When their prayer is a lament, “Lord Jesus, why did you send this hurricane,” the answer is liable to be “You’re the ones who built a city below sea level and ‘protected’ it with levees that weren’t designed to contain the maximum predicted storm.” The Bible is all about responsibility.
Now, I’m nowhere near smart enough to tell other people how to pray, but I do think that prayer is effective if it’s used correctly. Often when I pray, it’s something like “Jesus, I’ve really screwed the pooch this time, help me see what I did wrong, fix it, and work my ass off to do things right in the future.” Or sometimes it’s “This is going to be a rough one, give me your strength to help me see it through.” And when all else fails and I’m totally clueless, the all-purpose divine request, for me, is “God, I’m clueless, give me a little quiet to figure this out.” Those prayers, I think I’ve heard answers to every time. (Sometimes, the answers do start, “Yeah, Roger, you sure as Hell HAVE screwed the pooch this time . . .”)
Pippa passes.
R
great responses folks. Lora – I recommended a few of my favorite books on an earlier blog posting – look back. Also, all of my books recommend other books so check there too. And yes, I really have read over 4,000 books, listened to at least 5,000 of instructional audio and that much more video.
thanks to all – keep posting!!!
Larry
Hello Larry, I just watched your PBS broadcast and the very next morning started a google search looking for your site. The one thing that stuck in my mind is your statement about “being uncomfortable” you hit the nail on the head with that one. I am a single mother of 3, two are still at home. I earn $60,000 per year however, my credit is ok but have a $25,000 tax debt which prevents me from purchasing a home. I’m paying $1,200 on a rental and have only 1 credit card which is good!
I recently set some goals for myself and that is to (1) pay off my tax debt (2) go back to school and (3) buy a house. What’s the problem????
I’ll tell you, I am too comfortable! Ok, so I’ll pay $700 month for ever towards my tax debt, and I’ll pay someone else’s mortgage becaue I have a great house to come home to. I already have an Associates degree and is able to work from home 90% of the time, so why change it??
The problem is I am unhappy and have been for a while. I do not want to pay someone else’s mortgage anymore, I’m tired of my current job and as for the $700 payment—it’ll take me a life time to pay off $25,000 with interest and penalties. After watching your show, I knew what I had to do~ stop wishing, wondering, complaining and do something about it!!!
I have started the process to enroll in school, I have decided not to renew my least the first of the year. I’m going to move into a 1 bedroom which which will save me close to $900 per month. I told my adult son he has to move out on his own which will leave myself and my 7 year old daughter to care for. By the time I finish school I will have paid off my debt, and will have the money do purchase my own home.
Can you imagine living in a 1 bedroom with a 7 year old (girl) for the next 3 years? Going from 2100 sq ft to 600sq ft of living space? Working full-time and going to school full-time? This alone makes me “uncomfortable” but it’s just what I need to get the job done! Thank you!!!
Pat – I am proud of you. This is what I love to hear: a person who knows what they have to do and does it even though they know it will be hard. You are doing what most people never do. Be proud of yourself and stay focused on your goal. All the best to you! With this kind of determination, you will get it done!
Larry
Larry,
Can I have an AMEN for brother Larry. Nothing wrong with money. As they say about guns. Money doesn’t make people greedy, greed makes people greedy.
For all of you out there that think about heaven, and eyes of needles and camels think about loaves and fishes. With money you can feed the family, the church, the community and the world. Short of prayer and faith there isn’t anything in this world as powerful and liberating then freedom that having money brings.
This rant is a thing of sheer beauty. Every word I can’t help but agree with.
Right now, I’m working on a tabletop role-playing game based on my favorite fantasy book series. I can’t get enough of the books, and playing tabletop RPGs is my favorite past-time, so I decided to combine them, and I have every intention of selling it (the books are in public domain, which is a plus).
The thing is, if I had no intention of making money putting out this game, I’d just throw out some quick rules, put it on the internet and think nothing more of it. This is not the case. I am putting together a full-out product, with great layout and art, playtested rules, and lots of extras. Pull no punches. But if there’s no money to me made, hell with it.
And I think God wants me to be successful. What parent wouldn’t want the best for their creations?
This is the most honest comment I have heard about work.
I’ve approached work like this for a while, and boy, do I get flack for it.
But if my employer couldn’t afford to keep my team or unit, would they keep paying me just because I had passion?
As for jesus…I read the Market Wizards book…one of the most succesful traders said that if he was praying for a stock to recover, he knew he had to dump it, and he was an evangelical christian.
I went from $65k to $75k in a year from working harder and smarter. And I’m going to do more in the next 2 years. I owe this to Larry, some others I have read, my family, and myself.
Thanks Larry
HOOAH!!!!!!!!!!!! CASH IS KING!! Larry I have read your books and agree 100% Work hard/play hard. Love your books,web site and listing to you,keep it coming. I just got laid off from my job, your books keep me motivated to look for a better job and make MORE money to support my family and enjoy life.
Thank You-Kelly Logan
Good rant! Nothing I hate more than people who sit idle and do absolutely nothing but complain. That’s a loser attitude! I don’t make ALOT of money, but I love what I do and did it to help other people. Now don’t get me wrong here………I wouldn’t do it if it was volunteer work- I’m not that nice. I think everyone should be a productive member of society and work to support themselves and their families. I just don’t understand why so many people have lots of children and can’t even support themselves the way they wish. In the end they become miserable complainers. That’s why we don’t have children, and probably won’t. We work, enjoy our work, have fun on our free time buy what we want and do what we want. Selfish, maybe, but adding children at this point would be a financial drain. Plus neither of us wants to shell out $600-$800 a week for day-care to have someone else take care of OUR kid. That’s not being responsible nor is it enjoyable. Shouldn’t raising a child be an enjoyable experience? Sorry, I probably offended alot of people with that comment but that is how I feel. Also, about the God factor and money – One of the oldest “businesses” in the world is the Church. Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, whatever. All the faiths definitely do good work helping communities and others by bringing them together with their teachings, but take a look at how everything is run. It is run like a business. People join, they pay or donate money, supporters pay/donate money, new parishes pop up, more people join. They have bake sales, suppers, church tag sales, donations. All these things to raise money. Soon they have a large following of people and they pay and pray together. God probably likes this, he’s kind of the CEO! It’s a nice thing but it’s still a business!!!! Am I going to hell now?
Who ever said that money is the root of all evil was definitely one broke-ass son of a bitch! It’s the people who make money their lord and master – they’re the ones who miserable and never happy.
As you said Larry, serve others well and the money will follow. It is a form of energy and a byproduct of your work efforts. It is the reward for what we have given out.
DVD you didn’t need…$20
Dinner you couldn’t afford…$75
Movie Tickets you shouldn’t have charged: $25
Blaming Jesus for getting you in credit card debt… PRICELESS!
A very sweet rant today my brother.
– Tommy Z.
I took voluntary redundancy from an office job and went back to teaching but teaching teenagers not children like I had before. It takes a lot of hard work but its very satisfying. But when I couldn’t get a proper contract – only hourly paid with no security or holiday pay. its not satisfying enough when you can see your nest egg going down and the cost of living is going up.
I started to apply for other jobs but I didn’t see anything that looked as personally rewarding as teaching but most had less home preparation and regular, more secure money.
After a couple of interviews I thought… I am actually a pretty good teacher – pass inspections well etc – get on well with the kids – keep ’em working and getting qualified – I will push and push until I get a proper contract and a decent salary (so I can budget and save a bit).
It worked – they took a year to do it but eventually they created a new post for me! I now have the hours I want, a decent wage (with paid holidays) and I manage my own course my own way and the management team seen pretty content to have me around.
What do I expect.. a pat on the back? Yeah … I deserve one I kept butting that dam and fought to get what I deserved. But more importantly, my input finally outweighs my output… which makes me on the path to wealth! I think they call that the Macawber principle?
Jane
Larry, I know you are not a TV fan but I have a quote which comes from the sage J D Clampet. Before they got their millions from oil they were getting close to being hungry. Granny tells Jed there is a pound of hog lard left and they need soap but this is all they have to eat.
Granny ask, “Jed do I make soap or render this down and make gravy”?
Jed repplies, “Granny, the good lord will always provide folks something to eat if they jest go out and get it, but we gotta do our own washin”.
I think about this when I hear the churched, as opposed to religous, people talk about how God will help them through their bad times. Is he gonna bail your dumb a$$ out of debit, jail, bad relationships, etc?
Ya gotta do your own washin.
Larry, I work to put food on the table and a roof over my head, for me and my family. I do not take offense at what you say. I’ve learned to listen even when it hurts and I have a lot of respect for your work. You are fresh air in a sea of bullshit and I love it. No punches pulled I don’t have to figure out what you are trying to say … it gets said … simply! Self-responsibility doesn’t just happen. It’s been a hard lesson to learn. I’m still dealing with credit card debt and an equity line that I never should have tapped. Just when I thought I was smart, I got stupid! I hate being stupid and I’ve been there. Now I’m trying to teach my kids to work hard, save, and live a good life within financial means. I have great kids, a loving husband, a home I can pay for and food in the fridge. When I pray, I don’t ask God to make me win the lottery … that’s not his department. I ask him to help me find the wisdom to be smart and the strength to work hard. I have os many stories to tell, but I wanted to really say “thanks” for what you do and forget the knuckleheads who disagree! They just don’t get it!!!
right on as usual
The folks who consider success a bad thing must be thinking that failure is good, honorable, and acceptable – or in their case not even trying. Sounds like laziness to me. Where does this kind of thinking come from?
Pat:
When I was 15, my Mom and I lived for several months in a small guesthouse. I don’t know how much square footage there was, but it had a good-sized room that served as a livingroom and Mom’s bedroom; a galley kitchen with an eat-at bar (sorry, I don’t know what that’s called); tiny, but well-laid-out bathroom; and dressing room with a good-sized closet and a floor-to-ceiling storage unit with drawers and shelves and such. I slept on a pallet on the floor in the dressing room. I could have shared the bed with my Mom, but I was perfectly comfortable on my pallet. It was easy in the morning, too, I just folded it up and piled it in a corner of the closet.
I’m sure that with twin beds, you and your daughter will be perfectly comfortable in a one bedroom. You will have to stay super-organized and might have to pare down on things like clothing (most Americans have too much, though) and books and cds and such, but it’s definitely doable.
Meanwhile, good luck in school.
Elizabeth
Larry,
Loved your blog…and just so you know, Jesus, (By the way, He’s a He, He even said so Himself) agrees with SOOOOO much of what you said. He probably would leave out most of the swear words, although he was known to get pretty hot at the ‘religious folks’ just like you. So don’t let a few of us ‘well intentioned’ church folks in debt up to our ears get under your collar. It isn’t until we fail sometimes, ‘like me for example’, that we get a real whiff of what Jesus was trying to get across. It is about money, not loving it but knowing how to make it work and respecting it’s place. My husband and I started a business, with excellent credit, bought commercial real estate as an investment, bought residential real estate, hired a whole bunch of folks, started building a house, had some kids, WENT BROKE. Why? We tried to do too much at one time, thought we knew more than we did and found out the learning curve and exposure was too great to overcome. So we hit rock bottom big time in High Def in front of friends and family. Our kids had to deal with our ignorance and irresponsibility. Our employees were impacted. As a result of losing everything and I mean everything, we went back to square one. By the way…Jesus calls that doing your first works again or “remember, how you got in your good place in first place, knucklehead.” Do that again and keep doing it…It’s called hard work in an endless cycle. Anyway, after a year of peanut butter and jelly, beans and rice and the cheapest meat we could fine and a $14.50 per hour job for steady income, our business is on the rise again. This time WITHOUT ANY DEBT and with the knowledge that was gained through our failure and the examples and the words of JESUS (who we begged to help us). Our business is operating with a huge profit margin…we are even starting to hire people again. Of course we have a LONG way to go to fix what we have messed up, but like you, we want to sit on a patio of our own again one day. We probably won’t be drinking scotch, but I think a good glass of water will do the trick.
The bottom line…I think you rock….not because you are so original, but because you get the words of Jesus more than you know. When we respect money, hard work and just plain basic good sense, we’ll find that our talent, gifting, missionary objective or whatever will start making room for us and will bring us a return. After all…Jesus’ whole point of coming was to get a return on HIS original investment. He sure isn’t living off of peanut butter and jelly.
Leslie, thanks for your posting. I know how much I get the words of Jesus – I know the “book” better than those who try to beat me up with the “book” know it. The difference between me and those who love to quote it is that I’ve actually read it.
by the way, I didn’t call Jesus a she. I said God and made the reference as a She. Why? Why not? As I said in my book, Shut Up Stop Whining & Get A Life, it doesn’t matter what you call God, it matters that you understand that God is the presence and action of Love in the world. That isn’t male or female – it is an action.
But back to my point, Universal principles of the world require and reward hard work. That work is rewarding with money. That money is then used to care for your family and your world.
Again, thanks to all of you for your support. Want more of the hardcore truth, then check out the members only section. It’s CHEAP and you don’t get that stuff anyplace else!
Larry
Larry,
I really like your approach. I’m 52 and I lost a job marketing for an independent real estate agent about 9 months ago. Since then I’ve been searching everyday for work. Meanwhile I am freelancing as a marketer and working at a local college as a computer lab assistant for minimum wage. Your book has helped me to feel that whatever I can do is useful and honest work and that it’s not supposed to be easy. I have cut down my expenses but still need to earn more income. Thanks for your approach.
I’m hoping you can help me with a question. I keep seeing all these advertisements about making thousands of dollars working at home 10 hours a week making fabulous money with an online business. Of course it always comes down to having to invest some money. I don’t choose to invest money into anything until I’m earning more than enough to pay my bills but I’m just wondering what your opinion is about this.
Diane…..
Thanks for your email and I wish you the best with your job search. Let me ask YOU a question. Does this “work at home” approach to getting rich seem just too good to be true? Yes? Then it is. There are no fast, quick and easy ways to get rich. This stuff is a scam.
all the best.
Larry
Larry,
Boy, did your critics hit a nerve with me. I am retired now but for almost thirty-five yers I had three and sometimes four jobs. I heard it all from family (not my wife or kids) that I was self-centered and greedy and that I needed to spend more time with my family. While these “critics” were busy spending more than they earned, I was creating “sinking funds” for my sons’ education and retirement for my wife and sons. I have three sons, a pharmacist, an internal medicine physician, and a hospital administrator who graduated from their programs debt free. I would also add they are all Eagle Scouts.
I have asked my sons on numerous occassions if they felt slighted by my hard work. To a man they stated that I was always there for them! Scout camps, fishing trips, vacations, graduations, father-son days, etc.; they were never there by themselves! When they were asked what they learned from me about work, they stated that without work there would be no security in their lives! They never had to worry if their “old-man” got laid off because there was always the other two or three jobs that my family could count on.
This is not meant as a brag but an important lesson that life taught me–the security of my family was very important.
God bless Larry,
Tom
Hi Larry
I am what others might call “pious” love God and my church. Can’t fault your message though. I have read your books and watched your u tube videos and have to say “good advice” but I think the problem is your critics have grown up with no one to teach them your method. Bad habits are hard to break and society is so PC that hard facts, not sugar coated, offend them. How many times do advertisements use the word EASY. So when dealing with a mess that is going to mean doing it hard for a while – many people will look for an easy way out and as you know, there isn’t one. I have gained a great deal from your messages and books. Thank You.