#wealth #opportunities #HardWork #inheritances
You may love your current life, but, deep down, wouldn’t you want to be wealthy?
You may rail against the fat cats who get all the breaks, but, secretly, you’d love to be among them.
Who gets wealthy, and who doesn’t?
One may inherit wealth. One may get wealthy through luck (think lottery winners).
But most people who get wealthy on their own have a certain mindset. Usually, they actively look for opportunities to get wealthy. And, usually, they never stop looking. It becomes a mission.
Once they find the opportunity, they do what they need to do to make it happen. Often, they will do things others will not do.
They have the determination to keep doing those things into perpetuity to maintain their wealth, since they know that if they stop, their wealth could go away.
Certainly, people who are not wealthy will work hard, and have the determination to keep working hard. The difference is the opportunity. For many, opportunities either never cross their paths or they don’t see the opportunity if it is presented. Some may actually fear opportunity.
Some, perhaps, would see the opportunity, but not want to do what it takes to take advantage of it.
Wealthy people, generally, do not prioritize security. An old financial services TV ad tells its viewers that it wants people looking for opportunities, not guarantees.
In the modern age, security in the workplace is hard to come by. So, some folks keep their “secure” jobs, while looking for and taking advantage of opportunities on the side. When the side opportunity starts to work out, they may quit their “secure” jobs.
Some people get wealthy off the backs, or at the expense, of others. It’s tough for most people to sleep at night if they’ve made a lot of money by screwing over other people.
Often, wealthy people are no different from those who are not wealthy – except for their passion to look for opportunities.
Also quite often, if a wealthy person somehow loses his or her fortune, their mindset will allow them to build it all over again, perhaps with a new opportunity.
Opportunities are different from circumstances. Those who are not wealthy, but are envious of those who are, tend to blame circumstances for their lack of wealth. The wealthy person tends to brush off circumstances and actively look for opportunities.
Even in the quest for wealth, luck can play a part. But those with the opportunity mindset do what they must to make their own luck.
In short, uninherited wealth is not given. It is made. Hard work alone will not make you wealthy. But the combination of hard work, determination to look for opportunities and making good decisions in life can put you on the path to wealth.
It doesn’t happen overnight, in most cases. As the saying goes, it could take you 40 years to be an overnight success.
To be wealthy, you have to be always looking. You have to want more than what others would settle for. You have to be more than content. You have to want to be happy. Money doesn’t buy happiness, the saying goes, but, as an acquaintance used to say, it can certainly help you work out your problems in style.
Peter
Monthly Archives: October 2025
WHEN IS ‘HIGH END’ WORTH IT?
#dining #FineDining #HighEndRestaurants #EatingOut #food
When you eat at a “high end” restaurant, do you come away wondering whether it was worth the price?
Some such restaurants are, indeed, worth the price. Others are just overpriced.
Most of us know the difference, especially when our meal is finished.
(Warning: If you know you can’t afford a high-end restaurant, don’t eat there).
Some restaurants like to up-charge because of their atmosphere. They may have white or black linen tablecloths and napkins, fancy dishes and silverware or even a dress code.
None of those things, by themselves, are worth paying extra for. In fact, having a dress code may be a reason NOT to eat somewhere.
Some restaurants may think their food is so good that they only need to give you little bites, or tapas. In such cases, one either walks out poorer and hungry, or orders too many separate things just to get satisfied.
Tapas restaurants have their place, but there is only so much one should be willing to pay to eat there.
A good rule of thumb here is if you are in the mood for a good steak, you do not have to go to a high-end steakhouse. Many moderately priced restaurants have just as good steaks for much less money.
But the restaurants that are clearly worth the high prices give you food you can’t find many other places. They give you plenty of it. In fact, they may give you enough to take home for a separate meal. Two meals for the price of one makes paying big bucks more palatable.
Some may have unique locations that you know they have to pay high rent for. Dining overlooking the water, or some other great view, has to be factored into the price.
Still, some high-end restaurants’ food is so good, and so plentiful, they can locate in a strip mall and still draw diners.
If you don’t know whether an expensive restaurant will be worth the price, ask people who have eaten there. Did they come out feeling good about splurging?
It may be a good time to give a shout-out to those restauranteurs who serve good food at a reasonable price.
Most diners will opt for that, but there are occasions when people want something out of the ordinary.
Sometimes, experiences are more valuable than things to give as gifts.
If you splurge, make sure your splurge is worth it.
Dining out is something most people like to do. Most people work hard for their money, so they want to spend it carefully.
Dining at high-end restaurants should not be a regular activity for those of modest income. But, sometimes, putting loose change into a jar can add up to a nice dinner out when the jar is full.
Just make sure, as best you can, that the experience will be worth the price.
Peter
When you eat at a “high end” restaurant, do you come away wondering whether it was worth the price?
Some such restaurants are, indeed, worth the price. Others are just overpriced.
Most of us know the difference, especially when our meal is finished.
(Warning: If you know you can’t afford a high-end restaurant, don’t eat there).
Some restaurants like to up-charge because of their atmosphere. They may have white or black linen tablecloths and napkins, fancy dishes and silverware or even a dress code.
None of those things, by themselves, are worth paying extra for. In fact, having a dress code may be a reason NOT to eat somewhere.
Some restaurants may think their food is so good that they only need to give you little bites, or tapas. In such cases, one either walks out poorer and hungry, or orders too many separate things just to get satisfied.
Tapas restaurants have their place, but there is only so much one should be willing to pay to eat there.
A good rule of thumb here is if you are in the mood for a good steak, you do not have to go to a high-end steakhouse. Many moderately priced restaurants have just as good steaks for much less money.
But the restaurants that are clearly worth the high prices give you food you can’t find many other places. They give you plenty of it. In fact, they may give you enough to take home for a separate meal. Two meals for the price of one makes paying big bucks more palatable.
Some may have unique locations that you know they have to pay high rent for. Dining overlooking the water, or some other great view, has to be factored into the price.
Still, some high-end restaurants’ food is so good, and so plentiful, they can locate in a strip mall and still draw diners.
If you don’t know whether an expensive restaurant will be worth the price, ask people who have eaten there. Did they come out feeling good about splurging?
It may be a good time to give a shout-out to those restauranteurs who serve good food at a reasonable price.
Most diners will opt for that, but there are occasions when people want something out of the ordinary.
Sometimes, experiences are more valuable than things to give as gifts.
If you splurge, make sure your splurge is worth it.
Dining out is something most people like to do. Most people work hard for their money, so they want to spend it carefully.
Dining at high-end restaurants should not be a regular activity for those of modest income. But, sometimes, putting loose change into a jar can add up to a nice dinner out when the jar is full.
Just make sure, as best you can, that the experience will be worth the price.
Peter
IS HOPE HIDING SOMEWHERE IN THIS MILIEU?
#optimism #BrokenAmerica #resist #fight #BetterAngels
It’s easy to feel hopeless today.
In fact, even the most optimistic among us are thinking that what is being undone from a normal world can never be redone.
Axios CEO Jim VandeHei outlines a strategy for college students to act and think more optimistically.
He outlined it in a Sept. 21, 2025, article in The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
He writes that we are being duped into “thinking America is more broken, more unfixable and more hostile than it actually is.”
Various media are competing for our attention, he writes, but most people are not actually paying attention.
He’s not saying, according to his column, that America doesn’t have legitimate problems. But, if we paid less attention to media, and more attention to our own lives and situations, we might become more hopeful.
That may be easier said than done, of course. But we are seeing that when people push back on the bad things that are happening, it can slow the downfall, if not stop it entirely.
It IS important for people to watch and read what is going on. An informed public has more power than an uninformed one.
You can be a voracious media consumer and not get sucked down rabbit holes. You can discern what is right and what is wrong, even from media that may want to push you in a certain direction.
Remember, those who want to take down the U.S. are looking for a citizenry that is demoralized, capitulating and weary. But, if the citizenry becomes determined, engaged and wary of things being done, it can win the battle.
There are many versions of the adage that says, “Don’t let the bad guys get you down.”
That, too, is easier said than done.
But, instead of throwing up one’s hands, one should keep his or her hands – and minds – engaged and, if necessary, enraged.
The decks may look stacked against the average person, but average people with the same idea can mobilize against the colossus.
The colossus may be trying to take your weapons, like your right to vote. They may do it by throwing roadblocks between you and the ballot box.
But, such obstacles can be overcome with determination to go around them.
So, as VandeHei writes, we have big problems, but optimism isn’t, or shouldn’t be, dead.
When those who disagree with you become disagreeable, find those that are not.
When debate turns to violence, look for better angels.
When corrupted power tries to corrupt you, resist, resist, resist.
It may be easier said than done, but it CAN be done.
Pete
It’s easy to feel hopeless today.
In fact, even the most optimistic among us are thinking that what is being undone from a normal world can never be redone.
Axios CEO Jim VandeHei outlines a strategy for college students to act and think more optimistically.
He outlined it in a Sept. 21, 2025, article in The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
He writes that we are being duped into “thinking America is more broken, more unfixable and more hostile than it actually is.”
Various media are competing for our attention, he writes, but most people are not actually paying attention.
He’s not saying, according to his column, that America doesn’t have legitimate problems. But, if we paid less attention to media, and more attention to our own lives and situations, we might become more hopeful.
That may be easier said than done, of course. But we are seeing that when people push back on the bad things that are happening, it can slow the downfall, if not stop it entirely.
It IS important for people to watch and read what is going on. An informed public has more power than an uninformed one.
You can be a voracious media consumer and not get sucked down rabbit holes. You can discern what is right and what is wrong, even from media that may want to push you in a certain direction.
Remember, those who want to take down the U.S. are looking for a citizenry that is demoralized, capitulating and weary. But, if the citizenry becomes determined, engaged and wary of things being done, it can win the battle.
There are many versions of the adage that says, “Don’t let the bad guys get you down.”
That, too, is easier said than done.
But, instead of throwing up one’s hands, one should keep his or her hands – and minds – engaged and, if necessary, enraged.
The decks may look stacked against the average person, but average people with the same idea can mobilize against the colossus.
The colossus may be trying to take your weapons, like your right to vote. They may do it by throwing roadblocks between you and the ballot box.
But, such obstacles can be overcome with determination to go around them.
So, as VandeHei writes, we have big problems, but optimism isn’t, or shouldn’t be, dead.
When those who disagree with you become disagreeable, find those that are not.
When debate turns to violence, look for better angels.
When corrupted power tries to corrupt you, resist, resist, resist.
It may be easier said than done, but it CAN be done.
Pete