What Have We Done?????

[FlickerOfLight]

I know what you mean. I grew up side by side to some very successful individuals. Hell, even "power couples" from school who went on to be very high achievers. Some are even millionaire's. I grew up with a dude that runs one of the most infamous jui jitsu dojos in Hawaii. 

Like you, I'm embarrassed when I think of comparison, and think, 'weren't you the dude that always ate your crayons? No you're a billionaire, you say?'

And vastly different types of successes.

No lie,  even our damn druggie friends, some of them are doing things that are mind blowing; with honest businesses. A guy I use to get weed for runs one of the biggest fishing equipment companies in the world. 
I won't name names either.
But we can build, create, survive. Gen X$

I grew up understanding that you got nothing for free. I learned that success started with desire, but ended with doing.

I have 5 brothers. When they were kids they would cut every lawn in a 10 mile radius.

They showed up on Fridays requesting payment. Of course everyone balked at paying for a service they did not request. But paid, with the understanding that it would never happen again. Except it did. Every two weeks my brothers would show up requesting payment for services rendered.

Some of the folk would complain to my parents, and they would tell them, "Just don't pay them." They were neighbors, and my brothers were really good kids all in all. So as pissed as they claimed to be, they paid them, and my brothers continued to cut their lawns.This was country, so we are not taking about postage stamp lots. 

In other words. They learned at an early age, how to work the system.

I was all brains, so I found the academic way out. Unfortunately, it was also the least lucrative way out of the system.

I was, and am, a bit different. I learned differently than most people. It took a certain (patient) teacher to teach me. Certain things took a little longer with me. And I asked about lot of questions. Some teachers didn't like that. The ones who were patient and understanding of me I did very well for them and learned a lot. The few "less patient" teachers who gave me a hard time, I gave them a hard time back, and gave them no effort, and pretty much made their lives a living hell. The ones who understood and answered my unique questions and treated me like a human being I was an angel for them, and excelled.

I learned to manipulate a system that was designed to manipulate me. I learned very early on that if you're up to no good, and trying to manipulate me in any way shape or form, I may not be able to prove what their up to, but I sure can rattle their cage enough to where they just don't want to deal with me, so I get "excused" a lot. 

I did learn to earn my money, my keep, and my respect, and how to live life on my own terms, as well as being as free from needing the guberments help or interference. I leaned to rely on myself.