Are You Destined For a Life of Mediocrity?

by admin on July 30th, 2009

Judging from the perspectives shared among blog readers and writers I think it’s safe to assume that most people buzzing around the money blogosphere are “Middlesters” — that is to say that they, (like you and me), are a shade in the spectrum of middle class. Sure there are exceptions to this rule, but look at where the buzz is on blogs that talk about money: how to invest in your retirement fund, where the latest deals and promotions are, how to get out of debt, how to pay for college, how to find loopholes in credit card agreements to make an easy buck, and of course one of my favorite topics how to increase your credit score. These are all consumeristic middle-classs money topics at best, and while they have their place in creating a solid financial foundation they are not the keys to the rocket ship that are going to blast your life off into the stratosphere. No, no, they are the keys to the Lexus parked in valet.

Of course, in this backward ass-hat of a nation some people actually prefer luxury sedans over rocket ships. Can you believe it?

80% of Americans Are Destined For a Life of Mediocrity
So go ahead and get out of consumer debt, (you shouldn’t have been there to begin with, but eh, credit happens). Go to college and get professional credentials, (hell, put your whole family through college via the 529 College Savings Plan or Upromise). Work everyday for the next 40 or so years and live off a PHAT retirement check (and hope that you did all the right things while you were young and impressionable). Live, work, learn and play by the rules and tricks established by the money blogosphere and you MIGHT be one of the most deep-pocketed, well-respected, family-cherishing, environment-saving, middlesters on your posh, pear-treed, suburban, gated-community, block. You MIGHT even be worth an easy million with a fancy Lexus or Lincoln rubbing elbows with the waspiest of wasps!

Imagine with me if you will ….

Aaaahhh, Lexus …. (dream bubbles)

–And let me be clear, that’s a big “might” — as in “maybe”.

Lovely, but not likely…

Despite all the knowledge and wisdom of the googled world most people will not achieve even that type of middle-class success. Bills and taxes will still need to be paid, medical costs will increase with age, and a plethora of unforeseeables make achieving real middle-classness a moving target. Americans are completely blindsided by these issues and many more, not least of which is their own ignorance or incompetence.

Most people are “Middlesters“!

Think about it … Most people:

+ are driven mostly by their emotions.
+ aren’t smart or lucky enough to get big breaks.
+ are resigned to a “balanced” life of cycled consumerism:
( paycheck -> taxes -> save -> spend -> expend -> dividend -> paycheck)
+ can’t tell the difference between marketing and real information.
+ don’t know exactly what they want or where they want to be in life.
+ don’t know who or what they are.
+ follow whatever seems popular (to their peers).
+ define themselves in terms of other people.
+ prefer to fit in rather than to be different.
+ are judgmental and prejudice.
+ think that being right is about being “right” (or first).
+ are afraid of changes and challenges.

–This is a recipe for mediocrity.

Each of these issues is a potential stumbling stone to knock you off course. Without buckets of luck or opportunity pouring on your doorstep these stones become a real hindrance to progress.

In my continued quest to escape the ghetto, free myself of those Middlester “chains”, and become a Millionster I’ve been able to identify some of these issues in myself and address them accordingly — others I’m still working on.

What about you?

Commentary, middle class, middlester, millionster