Dubious Shift in High Hopes: A Curiosity


by Shannon Gunderson - Date: 2007-01-06 - Word Count: 432 Share This!

I don't get it. What happened to those hopes and dreams? When they used to wax poetic about their kid becoming a pioneer in whatever, in writing a prize-winning article, or composing soul-stirring music. A demanding, full-time, mentally draining job can derail those possibilities. Obviously, the bills have to be paid in the meantime. Even successful entrepreneurs have their hungry years, and practicality has to be considered. I'm not claiming jobs are useless and that there should be rampant unemployment. Every decision carries risk.

What I'm talking about is the huge sigh of relief that is emitted at the news that you took a job. Never mind that you're developing a business (or two, or three) that interests you tremendously, or buying real estate creatively either for nice profits or actually living in the house. I don't understand the relief. As long as you're not expecting the folks to support you financially, why the big sigh of relief? Why is it inherently good to have a job? Not only is it not the path to financial freedom most of the time, it can also create a financial drain! Do people ever take out their calculators and actually measure what they're putting in their pockets, after commuting, grooming, coffee, eating out, supplies, medical bills for injuries not covered by worker's comp, and other expenses, for all their trouble? I've never heard a parent express wishes that their child will grow up to earn $.60/day being a cog in the machine. They want their children to have authority, respect, freedom. To BE the machine. Have choices.

A sad reality is, that in the years when I was a young kid, newly minted adults COULD buy real estate just by having a job; not necessarily a "great" one either. Houses were available in various price ranges all over the San Francisco Bay Area; when you upgraded your salary, you could get a bigger house. Now even the most lucrative (and I balk at that word being used to describe a job) job might barely get you into a cramped condo at a price that doesn't leave you much left over….as for moving up to a better house, well, that's a whole different predicament too. When typical starter homes are three quarters of a million dollars and need work, there are very few jobs available to very few people who can swing it the conventional way. I know there are exceptions, and even some parents out there who are very proud of their business-owning, creative real estate-buying, self-employed kids.

If that's you, bless you. Your children are very lucky!


Related Tags: property, money, wealth, finance, real estate, children, investing, passive income, dreams, investors, hopes

I'm Shannon Gunderson and I'm a professional real estate investor, artist, writer, and more. In over two years of being "unemployed", my partner Jonathan van Clute and I have invested in residential real estate in 8 states and have bought more houses than we ever dreamed of. We are creating the life we have always wanted and will never again be at the mercy of a paycheck. We love to help teach what we do, which is why among other things I write on our blog. I love to get feedback, and would be happy to hear from you!

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