Many people are still struggling to make ends meet and the economy is still
not in great shape (and even if it was with recent gas and food prices, it
does not feel that way). It is an interesting phenomenon to interact with
people who have recently lost their job, are unemployed or are graduating
from school and entering the workforce. I choose the words “interesting
phenomenon” because a.) I find it engaging & b.) I am observing the
happening unfold in front of my very own eyes.

So you are asking what is it that is happening? Well, I am not sure if I
would call it apathy or lack of gratitude or righteousness or maybe a blend
of all three of these. I look at our modern generations and compare it to
our ancestors and things do not match up. You question me on this? Why
don’t I just lay out some facts and let you make your own choice as to what
it is . . .

My speaking grandparents came here and were excited to get jobs in a
factory sewing buttons and putting hubcaps on a car.

My great uncle came here as an uneducated musician and became one of the
world’s greats accordion players owning his own studio, producing albums
and touching many lives.

Many of my friends families have similar stories of their grandparents
generation and even their parents generation coming to America and taking
the only thing they had – hard work and honor to make something of
themselves from nothing. They owned businesses, restaurants, construction
companies and pizzerias.

Funny part is most of these people did not even have a high school
education. The funniest part is that most of them went on to make more
money that most of these currently unemployed, jobless and educated people
will ever hope to make.

So, what is the differentiating factor?

Is it hard work?

Is it opportunity?

No, it is attitude. The difference between people today and previous
generations is their perception of life and how they approach each day.
Today the people who are out of a job, unemployed or graduating from school
do not want to work, they want everything fresh, quick and easy, just like
their food. These people are not thankful for what they have, they only ask
for more and more and slowly the wells are running out. And lastly, we are
a population of people who take for granted that hot water and electricity
are a gift that most of the world does not enjoy. So when a job appears
telemarketing for a company, we turn our nose at it instead of getting
excited about the chance to be part of a company and grow within an
organization.

So, to each of those people who lost their job, are unemployed or are just
starting their career. Just remember, for the last 2 generations of this
country, opportunity was dressed up as hard work. Hard work that might not
be the “ideal” job or what you have experience in or what your degree is
in.

The next time an opportunity presents itself to you, think twice before
passing it up because you never know where the end of that path may take
you.