Funny this came into my inbox today after I had just reviewed a string of employees and increased their wages. This article reminded me that what is important to me in order to compensate them fairly and justly, might just be life-changing to them. And that's a lesson for all of us - As your story suggests, non-routine moments in the lives of others often come from routine actions in our own lives. There are no throw-away lines. Everything counts.
Hi Marc, I enjoyed reading your post! Thank you for sharing with us! I want to share store about my mom. I want to say " thank you " mom for being my biggest inspiration . She was a doctor with 20 years of experience , her first job in US was in a bakery. My first job in US was $7 . I was aide and I was watching old , disable lady. I was cooking and cleaning , changing her, washing her and etc. My first night was so hard, she was very heavy and I cried all night . But I did not quit , I came home and my mom met me with a big smile. She told me not to give up on my " american dream" Be honest, be loyal, work hard, help people , be kind and you will achieve your goals ! " My mom passed in 2009 from cancer, but her memory will always be with me. She passed all her exams and became RN in US , she was working hard and never gave up and she never hurt anyone in her life. She was the most kind and beautiful light soul. Thank you mom for being my Hero and thank you for all your advises , you will have a special place in my heart and I promise you to pass it to my kids as well!
What a beautifully written and relevant post. I can totally relate to your post having lived a similar experience with my dad, growing up in Poughkeespie, NY.
We need to ensure that younger generations understand fundamental American values and live by them.
This was great up to the assumption and generalization of "As conservatives, we are often unfairly painted as uncaring by a short-sighted and ignorant press. Of course, it’s not true." It is true that the so-called left and right have positional-press telling stories in the direction the want. There are plenty of caring conservatives and liberals who were brought up by great parents and mentors. Most people are not on the fringe edges of the right and left. They are hard-working, caring and have slight differences in what it means to be conservative or liberal. In many cases the definition requires a context of fiscal or social. Most things that add to the national deficit are not conservative - tax cut or spending increase - you borrow money from future generations. Anything that provides for inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not liberal, it is looking after each other. It all has to be done in a reasonable moderation not with a goal of name calling and making the "other side" look bad. Like calling the press short-sighted and ignorant. Yup there are some of those. But there a more who are telling a story in a way you do not like, so you go 4th grade, generalize and name call.
It is literally everywhere. Here's an experiment, there's a heatwave in most of US, probably in your city too. Drive around, you'll see people working their asses off in that weather, in construction, on roads, gardens. White, and Black, and brown people. Especially those damned Mexicans.
I had COVID recently. The nursing and staff at the clinic were working hard, in the front lines, black and Latino.
If you have eyes: you can see hard workers everywhere.
This was a great article. In today's climate of high inflation though, a 6% pay raise like this would not event keep pace. We need at least 10% to just keep pace with rising costs of food and gas.
Thanks for this, Marc. I love your posts. I too worked some very "glamorous" jobs. In my case it was waitressing as a side jobs in my early twenties to pay off some student loans. Future generations will most likely not be able to tell stories like yours now that jobs like this have such a high minimum wage (higher than my early career jobs) that they're paid whether or not they're doing a good job. When the minimum wage is already overpaying for the job, there is no room for a merit raise, so where is the incentive?
$4.50 in today dollars is $11.50. No 16 year old was making that in a fastfood job.
Now they are, because employees suddenly are in a position that is forcing employers to not only do that, but also give $300 signing bonuses. That's market too.
Also, minimum wage in most of the US is still around $7.50. So no no one is making these cushy salaries that you speak of. But yes, keep living in your cave.
Jeff - your contrary, politely-worded comments are welcome here on American Ambition, but I prefer that commenters make 2 or 3 well-reasoned concise comments rather than a dozen one-liners. Please do keep participating, even (especially!) if you disagree, but make an effort towards a smaller number of substantive comments rather than a larger number of reactive comments. Thank you!
Marc... good article and lessons learned! My dad was part of the "Greatest Generation" and instilled that strong work ethic in his 8 kids. We were all successful in our chosen fields. I attribute it to my mom and dad, both WWII Army veterans. Thanks for a good read!
Keep writing, Marc. America needs to hear what you have to say
Thank you so much Joan!
Funny this came into my inbox today after I had just reviewed a string of employees and increased their wages. This article reminded me that what is important to me in order to compensate them fairly and justly, might just be life-changing to them. And that's a lesson for all of us - As your story suggests, non-routine moments in the lives of others often come from routine actions in our own lives. There are no throw-away lines. Everything counts.
Great comment PT.
Hi Marc, I enjoyed reading your post! Thank you for sharing with us! I want to share store about my mom. I want to say " thank you " mom for being my biggest inspiration . She was a doctor with 20 years of experience , her first job in US was in a bakery. My first job in US was $7 . I was aide and I was watching old , disable lady. I was cooking and cleaning , changing her, washing her and etc. My first night was so hard, she was very heavy and I cried all night . But I did not quit , I came home and my mom met me with a big smile. She told me not to give up on my " american dream" Be honest, be loyal, work hard, help people , be kind and you will achieve your goals ! " My mom passed in 2009 from cancer, but her memory will always be with me. She passed all her exams and became RN in US , she was working hard and never gave up and she never hurt anyone in her life. She was the most kind and beautiful light soul. Thank you mom for being my Hero and thank you for all your advises , you will have a special place in my heart and I promise you to pass it to my kids as well!
Marc-
What a beautifully written and relevant post. I can totally relate to your post having lived a similar experience with my dad, growing up in Poughkeespie, NY.
We need to ensure that younger generations understand fundamental American values and live by them.
- Ed
Quite true, Edward!
Same here but there was no conversation you just knew by watching him what you had to do. Good words Marc
Having been born and lived in multiple places outside the U.S., I very much understand and appreciate the essence of this article.
Such a great story and solid observations about the value of work!
This was great up to the assumption and generalization of "As conservatives, we are often unfairly painted as uncaring by a short-sighted and ignorant press. Of course, it’s not true." It is true that the so-called left and right have positional-press telling stories in the direction the want. There are plenty of caring conservatives and liberals who were brought up by great parents and mentors. Most people are not on the fringe edges of the right and left. They are hard-working, caring and have slight differences in what it means to be conservative or liberal. In many cases the definition requires a context of fiscal or social. Most things that add to the national deficit are not conservative - tax cut or spending increase - you borrow money from future generations. Anything that provides for inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not liberal, it is looking after each other. It all has to be done in a reasonable moderation not with a goal of name calling and making the "other side" look bad. Like calling the press short-sighted and ignorant. Yup there are some of those. But there a more who are telling a story in a way you do not like, so you go 4th grade, generalize and name call.
'as conservatives'? weird note at the end. just off putting.
If you don’t like truthful lessons from conservatives, I may not be the newsletter author for you, sir!
I don't believe that we need more pointless division. I've unsubscribed.
where has pride just to work gone?
It is literally everywhere. Here's an experiment, there's a heatwave in most of US, probably in your city too. Drive around, you'll see people working their asses off in that weather, in construction, on roads, gardens. White, and Black, and brown people. Especially those damned Mexicans.
I had COVID recently. The nursing and staff at the clinic were working hard, in the front lines, black and Latino.
If you have eyes: you can see hard workers everywhere.
Reminds me of my dad also. Thanks Marc!
This was a great article. In today's climate of high inflation though, a 6% pay raise like this would not event keep pace. We need at least 10% to just keep pace with rising costs of food and gas.
Good point Roger!
Love your message today, Marc. Thank you!
What a great story! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for this, Marc. I love your posts. I too worked some very "glamorous" jobs. In my case it was waitressing as a side jobs in my early twenties to pay off some student loans. Future generations will most likely not be able to tell stories like yours now that jobs like this have such a high minimum wage (higher than my early career jobs) that they're paid whether or not they're doing a good job. When the minimum wage is already overpaying for the job, there is no room for a merit raise, so where is the incentive?
$4.50 in today dollars is $11.50. No 16 year old was making that in a fastfood job.
Now they are, because employees suddenly are in a position that is forcing employers to not only do that, but also give $300 signing bonuses. That's market too.
Also, minimum wage in most of the US is still around $7.50. So no no one is making these cushy salaries that you speak of. But yes, keep living in your cave.
Jeff - your contrary, politely-worded comments are welcome here on American Ambition, but I prefer that commenters make 2 or 3 well-reasoned concise comments rather than a dozen one-liners. Please do keep participating, even (especially!) if you disagree, but make an effort towards a smaller number of substantive comments rather than a larger number of reactive comments. Thank you!
Marc... good article and lessons learned! My dad was part of the "Greatest Generation" and instilled that strong work ethic in his 8 kids. We were all successful in our chosen fields. I attribute it to my mom and dad, both WWII Army veterans. Thanks for a good read!