The comments on this earlier post were nothing short of spectacular. So much so, that several deserve repeating. While portions of them were specifically directed at women who feel entitled, most everything could equally apply to men of the same ilk.
I’m a stay at home dad, my wife holds a senior position of responsibility at a large company, she’s senior management. She says herself that most of the women at her company are unwilling to do the extra things that are necessary to get ahead, be promoted. That doesn’t stop them from feeling entitled to a promotion based on their years of service. When one of the girls does show determination and initiative she is often ostracized from the others. Excuses are made as to why ‘SHE’ gets ahead without ever once acknowledging effort OR competency!
I think the biggest hinderance to getting ahead is that we’ve taught our youth that there’s no need to win or lose, everyone is equal, no need to stand out from the crowd. You get a trophy for participation, not for achieving. The problem is that the real world keeps score and rewards only success. The self-esteem movement’s chickens have come home to roost and many simply can’t deal with it. They don’t even know how to achieve their goals, they have little to no perspective of life’s real challenges and no effective way of overcoming these issues.
It’s sad and difficult having to come to grips with disappointment for the first time when you’re in your 20’s rather than when it should have been learned, as a child and youth. Until we stop insulating, mollycoddling and achieving FOR our kids this won’t change.
Now go tell your kid to Occupy a Library.
Red Jeff
