Here Is Why Your Life Still Sucks
Here Is Why Your Life Still Sucks
Your past doesn't dictate your future; your mindset does.
It all starts with you.
Don’t be a victim. Don’t make excuses. People don’t care about your problems.
A three-time millionaire who came up from nothing, dropped out of college with average IQ, said:
“The real inequality is the level of personal drive and intelligence.”
I framed the quote and have it on my desk to remind myself everyday.
You are poor. You are an immigrant. You live in a small town. You didn’t have rich parents. You are Asian. You are Black. You are a woman. You are homeless. You don’t have a college degree.
So did these billionaires:
Amazon's Jeff Bezos was born to a teenage mother and his adoptive father was a Cuban immigrant. He worked at McDonald's as a short-order line cook during high school and founded Amazon in his garage in 1994. — Net worth: 114 billion USD (2023)
Starbucks' Howard Schultz grew up in a housing complex for the poor. — Net worth: 3.3 billion USD (2023)
John Paul DeJoria, the man behind a hair-care empire and Patron Tequila, once lived in a foster home and his car. — Net worth: 2.7 billion USD (2023)
Born into poverty, Oprah Winfrey became the first African American TV correspondent in Nashville. — Net worth: 2.5 billion USD (2023)
Luxury goods mogul Francois Pinault quit high school in 1974 after being bullied for being poor. — Net worth: 40.4 billion USD (2023)
At one time, businessman Shahid Khan washed dishes for $1.20 an hour. — Net worth: 12.1 billion USD (2023)
Forever 21 founder Do Won Chang worked as a janitor, gas station attendant, and in a coffee shop when he first moved to America. — Net worth: 1.7 billion USD (2023)
Ralph Lauren was once a clerk at Brooks Brothers dreaming of men's ties. — Net worth: 6.9 billion USD (2023)
Leonardo Del Vecchio, founder of Luxottica, grew up in an orphanage and later worked in a factory where he lost part of his finger. — Net worth: 25.1 billion USD (2023)
Legendary trader George Soros survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary. He arrived in London as an impoverished college student. — Net worth: 6.7 billion USD (2023)
After his father died, business magnate Li Ka-shing had to quit school to help support his family. — Net worth: 26.9 billion USD (2023)
Oracle's Larry Ellison dropped out of college after his adoptive mother died and held odd jobs for eight years. — Net worth: 107 billion USD (2023)
Source: Forbes
Life is hard. It doesn’t matter who you are, there are always things you cannot control. You can accept it and let it stop you from getting what you want. Or you can stop making an excuse for why you can’t fulfill your potential.
We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers — but never blame yourself. It’s never your fault. But it’s always your fault, because if you wanted to change you’re the one who has got to change.
Katharine Hepburn
Unsuccessful people focus on what they cannot control and blame their failures on others.
Successful people focus on what they can control and blame their failures on themselves.
If you let things you cannot control define your success, you will lose before you even start.
The only person who can stop you is you.
Be a fighter, never take “NO” for an answer.
Because you are also the one person who can start.
More to Unlearn
The Lazy Person’s Guide to Outsmarting Overachievers
I Love a Girl Who Swears, Backed by Science
Why I Lie, Cheat, Steal And Kill, And You Should Too
The Triple City Trap: Are You Stuck in the Wrong City of Life?
Victim mode is the easiest mode one can be in. Breaking free and changing things is hard, and possibly why many shy away from it.