"Rich are getting richer, poor are getting poorer"??? - Page 3

Centurion

Quote:

Originally Posted by donau

Some very true and valid opinions here. This time too many to start putting the quotes on in this comment.

A few more thoughts about the level of income vs. effort put in. My parents in Finland whom both are long since retired put in about the same effort to get each other educated. But the choice of professions, and the careers they brought with them, allowed my father to have a much greater income, and on top of that, with a lot less work.
I myself have been in IT for about 25 years after first trying out another career path for a couple of years. During that time, being an employee of a regular company gives me an income, the level of which I would imagine most people can guess. Nothing great, but enough to be thankful for. There was a couple of years that I was lucky enough to be able to do some consulting work. During that time, with the same effort that I am putting in today, I was regularly earning double what I am earning today, and for one year, four times what I am earning today. But that year I cashed in on some stock options. The point here being again: LUCK has a lot to do with everything. In case someone wonders why I stopped that lucrative job: A nasty medical condition with my wife has gradually become so bad that she needs around the clock care, and my current employer is allowing me to work from home. And of course I am extremely grateful for that. Another example about money not always being the thing that counts.

I wouldn't say that luck is the largest factor that determines how much wealth one will generate. My moto in live is: Live is what you make. With that I mean that inorder to want become successful you need dedication and motivation. Some people look at at MTV cribs and similar Tv-shows and say "Ohhhh these guys are to damn lucky to live in such mansions and own 4 fours." but do people think about what athletes and singers have gone through to get where they are? No.
Many of these celebs have done allot of sacrifises in life such as dropping out of school and having their parents sell their houses so that they could afford paying for professional training. Offcource luck and is factor but most of the time it does take hard work to become successful. Eventhough people like Paris Hilton are lucky to be born in a wealthy family there is still someone in the past who has worked their ass off to build the Hilton empire.

donau

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luwalira

I wouldn't say that luck is the largest factor that determines how much wealth one will generate. My moto in live is: Live is what you make. With that I mean that inorder to want become successful you need dedication and motivation. Some people look at at MTV cribs and similar Tv-shows and say "Ohhhh these guys are to damn lucky to live in such mansions and own 4 fours." but do people think about what athletes and singers have gone through to get where they are? No.
Many of these celebs have done allot of sacrifises in life such as dropping out of school and having their parents sell their houses so that they could afford paying for professional training. Offcource luck and is factor but most of the time it does take hard work to become successful. Eventhough people like Paris Hilton are lucky to be born in a wealthy family there is still someone in the past who has worked their ass off to build the Hilton empire.

You are absolutely right. Very rarely does one achieve anything without hard work and the appropriate education in what one does.

I guess I just emphasized luck exclusively in my previous comment and that naturally leaves a lot to be desired.

The point I was trying to make was that with equal effort and achievements in education, and working from 5am to 2:30am the next morning, like I do sometimes, and also other people working with me, one does not necessarily ever get compensated as one would expect to, for slaving away for years and decades. Whereas someone else doing the same job in different circumstances will get compensated royally. My previous example of a regular job vs. consulting in IT work was an attempt to hilite that. Even the geographic location may have an impact. For example, my step-son is an OB-GYN. He had his first practice in PA and he had no trouble building a $300,000 house with cash (not to mention buying other properties as well). Now practicing in NC, in a remote village up in the mountains, the available cash now is approximately one tenth of what it was in PA. He is still doing the same job, that includes delivering babies all hours of the night. So nothing has really changed regarding the kind of work and the hours put in. But the income level is dramatically different.

Deutsch

I believe there is no such things as "luck", what's meant to happen happens, it's about capitalizing on an oppurtunity when it presents itself. Saying that things happen out of luck implies sarcasm from a half glass outlook on life. No offense.

SDNR · 01:27 PM

Well I'll concur with donau on this, there are occasionally instances in life where somebody just happens to be in the right place at the right time ...and it changes their life forever - sure, hard work and motivation are excellent qualities to have ....but sometimes what is needed is "a big break"....just to make things happen for you. Sometimes, when you least expect it, opportunities can present themselves, but also, sometimes when things all seem to be going well, all of a sudden, you can suffer a major setback.

Alx

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deutsch

I believe there is no such things as "luck", what's meant to happen happens, it's about capitalizing on an oppurtunity when it presents itself. Saying that things happen out of luck implies sarcasm from a half glass outlook on life. No offense.

It can play both ways.... My parents are far from rich, they visited Florida near Ft.Lauderdale area and really liked it, they decided to look into buying an apartment there for over 5 yrs. Finally they went for it, and picked up a 1 bedroom for $170K. Market took off (NO CONTROL BY THEM) and they profited about $70K in one year, realizing what happened they picked up another one as well but this time 2 bedroom, similar location for $220K. That one is also worth about $280K currently and they can get that price for it in two minutes flat...

They got lucky and on the first purchase and took a risk on the second. Not looking for investment. So i would say they were LUCKY. And they didnt get the second aprtment for investment either, they just decided to upgrade because the money they made on the first apt.

Alx

Another LUCKY situation....

One of the owners at my job, wanted a penthouse in Bal Harbour in FL. This goes back about 8 years. At the time they were rarely up for purchase and were pricing out in the low $300K and that was considered alot. He desperatley wanted one and approached a tenant and told him he wanted his apt. The man saud he wasnt selling, so my boss simply said name your price. The guy thought about it and said $450K. My boss paid him cash, all his friends said he was stupid and plenty of other names i cant mention. Anyway this penthouse is currently valued at $1.25 million. If you can even find one for that price!

donau

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberto

.....Can I just say though, while I'm feeling sentimental, I'm really happy that certain members of this forum are presently part of my life ......that might sound a bit corny, but I really like some of you guys very much.......I'm glad that out of all the forums on the net, I just happened to find myself to be a part of this one .....I feel that was my good luck.

I feel the same way. There are some people here that I am always looking forward to reading what they have to say on a given topic. There are times when a concept is described with imagination that avails it to be touchable by thought, or with technical knowledge that makes one feel like a student again. There is also a lot of warmth here that one doesn't find on other forums, whether it is due to friendships between people or just expressing sincere joy and exhilaration of one's new car and the others offering their support. There are other great forums out there as well, like Rennlist, but the warmth and friendships are nowhere near the same as at GCZ.

donau

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlxAmg

It can play both ways.... My parents are far from rich, they visited Florida near Ft.Lauderdale area and really liked it, they decided to look into buying an apartment there for over 5 yrs. Finally they went for it, and picked up a 1 bedroom for $170K. Market took off (NO CONTROL BY THEM) and they profited about $70K in one year, realizing what happened they picked up another one as well but this time 2 bedroom, similar location for $220K. That one is also worth about $280K currently and they can get that price for it in two minutes flat...

They got lucky and on the first purchase and took a risk on the second. Not looking for investment. So i would say they were LUCKY. And they didnt get the second aprtment for investment either, they just decided to upgrade because the money they made on the first apt.

Nice to hear about the luck your parents have had. It's good when something works, whether it be property or an IPO that happens to work out very well for you, or some other investment. Florida has certainly been one of the great places to be and profit from real estate in recent years.

Alx

Quote:

Originally Posted by donau

Nice to hear about the luck your parents have had. It's good when something works, whether it be property or an IPO that happens to work out very well for you, or some other investment. Florida has certainly been one of the great places to be and profit from real estate in recent years.

Thanks for the kind words, and it is true in FL's case. UNREAL money has been made there!!! Really amazing.

Centurion

As you guys have mentioned there one can find him/her-self in the right place at the right time and the outcome might change their lives for ever, but most of the time such luck doesn't hit that many people. Not to brag or anything like that I have had some luck in being able to become a model and make some money off that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberto

Can I just say though, while I'm feeling sentimental, I'm really happy that certain members of this forum are presently part of my life ......that might sound a bit corny, but I really like some of you guys very much.......I'm glad that out of all the forums on the net, I just happened to find myself to be a part of this one .....I feel that was my good luck.

Well, I'm glad you like this place becasue I like it too.