So are the borders opening now? I thought cases were exploding?

[EL_TIGRE_de_Tigre]

You really fly the flag for meritocracy and I think it should be pointed out that there are many schools of thought (which I very much subscribe to) that say meritocracy is a myth. Not to lessen your achievements but just to balance this brag fest out, no offence

Truthfully,

No offense taken. I welcome all anticipation from all members of the board.

People can be in agreement, disagreement, they can be friendly or hostile. It makes no difference to me.

The post was mostly for Greg, because we seem to have common ground with respect to the idea we were dancing around with our comments.

 

[Wade K.]

Greg,

I am a wildly successful person.

I apologize to no one for having so much.

I have worked very hard and risked a lot for my prosperity and success in this life. Nobody gave me a break or a freebie along the way.

When other people were sleeping. I stayed away and I worked.

When other people enjoyed their weekends. I did not. I worked.

When other people were taking vacations, I did not take one. I worked.

(I have worked 80 and 90 hour weeks for months on end. Thankfully, I don't do that anymore, but it was a difference maker in my life.)

There is a pattern here ... right? Darn right there is! Instead of relaxing, I was shaking and moving. Getting ahead in life.

I didn't play it safe working for someone else, making them rich. I didn't waste my time, selling it by the hour to the man.

I worked for me since I dropped out of college. I sold my first business in my early 30's. Then I started my next.

I used everything I learned in business # 1 ... to create business # 2.

Business # 1 was pretty good, but business # 2 is a GEM. I can't tell you how incredible it is.

I discovered the financial markets in my teens and have I have been thriving in them since my mid twenties.

I am blessed to be so successful, so young in life.

I pray to God he lets me live a long time, because now that I am on top of the mountain, I just want to enjoy the view.

Anytime I become aware of a complainer who wants financial equality, or is upset by another's success ... I simply laugh to myself.

Financial equality isn't given to you because you ask, or demand it. YOU EARN IT.

FYI >>> I am a very ordinary person. I have no super level of intelligence or skill sets. I simply rolled up my sleeves and put in the time on a couple of my business ideas that turned to gold because of my stick to it!

You did well for yourself and that's what is supposed to happen for those who strive to achieve. As long as it's earned there's no shame in that and all that striving creates jobs for others. The way it's supposed to work. The flip side of that is for most businesses to work they need people willing to do the everyday, mundane tasks for less. Wal-Mart isn't crowded at the top with highly paid executives. Most employees receive little for their efforts and Wal-Mart can't exist without their willingness to do so. I busted it for 29 years as a FedEx courier. Stayed for the pension that was cut short by executives who wanted more profits to raise the stock price so that they could cash in with their stock options. It is what it is, and nothing I see out there is a viable alternative because all the generous economic systems eventually fall apart under their own weight. However the wealthy who want to continue to get wealthier with a system that no longer rewards hard work for they employees with a decent pension system and pay that offers some options are breeding resentment that can and, considering the push for socialism in the States, probably will lead to open rebellion and revolution. Not everyone who has made a lot early or managed to eek out a small pension before that got shut down is willing to move to a cheaper country for many reasons. And I'm counting on a system to stay intact while I'm alive the next 20-25 years to keep that monthly check arriving, whether it's my pension, Social Security, or the banks or mutual funds that many have their money parked in. It's a crapshoot considering half the population of the U.S. are essentially wage slaves and the resentment is palpable. Congrats on your work ethic and success, you earned it. But let's hope with many years of good health ahead of you the forces that are building don't take it all away due to greed on one side and envy on the other.

 

[Dougie]

Greg,

I am a wildly successful person.

I apologize to no one for having so much.

I have worked very hard and risked a lot for my prosperity and success in this life. Nobody gave me a break or a freebie along the way.

When other people were sleeping. I stayed away and I worked.

When other people enjoyed their weekends. I did not. I worked.

When other people were taking vacations, I did not take one. I worked.

(I have worked 80 and 90 hour weeks for months on end. Thankfully, I don't do that anymore, but it was a difference maker in my life.)

There is a pattern here ... right? Darn right there is! Instead of relaxing, I was shaking and moving. Getting ahead in life.

I didn't play it safe working for someone else, making them rich. I didn't waste my time, selling it by the hour to the man.

I worked for me since I dropped out of college. I sold my first business in my early 30's. Then I started my next.

I used everything I learned in business # 1 ... to create business # 2.

Business # 1 was pretty good, but business # 2 is a GEM. I can't tell you how incredible it is.

I discovered the financial markets in my teens and have I have been thriving in them since my mid twenties.

I am blessed to be so successful, so young in life.

I pray to God he lets me live a long time, because now that I am on top of the mountain, I just want to enjoy the view.

Anytime I become aware of a complainer who wants financial equality, or is upset by another's success ... I simply laugh to myself.

Financial equality isn't given to you because you ask, or demand it. YOU EARN IT.

FYI >>> I am a very ordinary person. I have no super level of intelligence or skill sets. I simply rolled up my sleeves and put in the time on a couple of my business ideas that turned to gold because of my stick to it!

Which type of business did you make money in? Any other advice besides hard work?

 

[EL_TIGRE_de_Tigre]

You did well for yourself and that's what is supposed to happen for those who strive to achieve. As long as it's earned there's no shame in that and all that striving creates jobs for others. The way it's supposed to work. The flip side of that is for most businesses to work they need people willing to do the everyday, mundane tasks for less. Wal-Mart isn't crowded at the top with highly paid executives. Most employees receive little for their efforts and Wal-Mart can't exist without their willingness to do so. I busted it for 29 years as a FedEx courier. Stayed for the pension that was cut short by executives who wanted more profits to raise the stock price so that they could cash in with their stock options. It is what it is, and nothing I see out there is a viable alternative because all the generous economic systems eventually fall apart under their own weight. However the wealthy who want to continue to get wealthy with a system that no longer rewards hard work for they employees with a decent pension system and pay that offers some options are breeding resentment that can and, considering the push for socialism in the States, probably will lead to open rebellion and revolution. Not everyone who has made a lot early or managed to eek out a small pension before that got shut down is willing to move to a cheaper country for many reasons. And I'm counting on a system to stay intact while I'm alive the next 20-25 years to keep that monthly check arriving, whether it's my pension, Social Security, or the banks or mutual funds that many have their money parked in. It's a crapshoot considering half the population of the U.S. are essentially wage slaves and the resentment is palpable. Congrats on your work ethic and success, you earned it. But let's hope with many years of good health ahead of you the forces that are building don't take it all away due to greed on one side and envy on the other.

Wade,

You make a good point using WalMart as the example.

We have the mentality of paying AS MUCH AS WE CAN, not as little as we can.

You did well for yourself and that's what is supposed to happen for those who strive to achieve. As long as it's earned there's no shame in that and all that striving creates jobs for others. The way it's supposed to work. The flip side of that is for most businesses to work they need people willing to do the everyday, mundane tasks for less. Wal-Mart isn't crowded at the top with highly paid executives. Most employees receive little for their efforts and Wal-Mart can't exist without their willingness to do so. I busted it for 29 years as a FedEx courier. Stayed for the pension that was cut short by executives who wanted more profits to raise the stock price so that they could cash in with their stock options. It is what it is, and nothing I see out there is a viable alternative because all the generous economic systems eventually fall apart under their own weight. However the wealthy who want to continue to get wealthier with a system that no longer rewards hard work for they employees with a decent pension system and pay that offers some options are breeding resentment that can and, considering the push for socialism in the States, probably will lead to open rebellion and revolution. Not everyone who has made a lot early or managed to eek out a small pension before that got shut down is willing to move to a cheaper country for many reasons. And I'm counting on a system to stay intact while I'm alive the next 20-25 years to keep that monthly check arriving, whether it's my pension, Social Security, or the banks or mutual funds that many have their money parked in. It's a crapshoot considering half the population of the U.S. are essentially wage slaves and the resentment is palpable. Congrats on your work ethic and success, you earned it. But let's hope with many years of good health ahead of you the forces that are building don't take it all away due to greed on one side and envy on the other.

Wade,

I have a ton of respect for you and what you have done over the course of your working years.

I don't think you have too much to worry about. FedEx is a well run company and their programs should be around for a long time to come.

I liked your WalMart example. Our philosophy is quite different. (You can do whatever you like when you are privately held instead of publicly traded.)

Our philosophy is to pay as much as we can, not as little as we can. We are at the top of what we do, in terms of benefits and compensation.

There is no corporate greed around here. Quite the opposite, we share at every level of the company. Everyone deserves and needs to do well for everything to be a success. Our turnover is exceedingly low and our morale is sky high. It's a win, win situation for everyone.

 

[EL_TIGRE_de_Tigre]

Which type of business did you make money in? Any other advice besides hard work?

Hi Dougie,

I am sorry, I am not going to cross a line and answer the first part of your question. I want my privacy.

Second part of your question I will answer:

Hard work / long hours are one ingredient in a recipe for success. But it's more than that:

Obviously, you need good ideas. You need a clear vision to execute and more so if you need exterior capital.

But the biggest thing may be this:

Your own two hands can only carry you so far. You need high quality talent to operate and grow.

Anyone who is high quality, deserves rich compensation, but it goes beyond that, they need to be RESPECTED and allowed to lead.

Money is simply not enough to get a person to perform well.

Employees are to be valued, not thought of as servants. And if you have good ones, assuming they understand the mission of the company well, they need to be allowed the space to think, decide and do their job.

People will make errors from time to time, we are all human. When an error occurs, you identify it, you fix it, then you move on.

If you can't allow others to fill positions and produce you may have the wrong talent in place. Or worse, you may not be allowing the talent to fly.

 

[Wade K.]

Wade,

You make a good point using WalMart as the example.

We have the mentality of paying AS MUCH AS WE CAN, not as little as we can.

Wade,

I have a ton of respect for you and what you have done over the course of your working years.

I don't think you have too much to worry about. FedEx is a well run company and their programs should be around for a long time to come.

I liked your WalMart example. Our philosophy is quite different. (You can do whatever you like when you are privately held instead of publicly traded.)

Our philosophy is to pay as much as we can, not as little as we can. We are at the top of what we do, in terms of benefits and compensation.

There is no corporate greed around here. Quite the opposite, we share at every level of the company. Everyone deserves and needs to do well for everything to be a success. Our turnover is exceedingly low and our morale is sky high. It's a win, win situation for everyone.

Actually I took my early out pension at 55. Almost 59 now. FedEx spent almost two decades giving 2% raises if a raise at all while building up FedEx Ground, which is contractor based. We were prohibited from unionizing locally by the Railroad Labor Act so unlike UPS we weren't unionized. They have excellent pay and benefits while we saw what were once good pay and benefits stripped down to little left over the years. FedEx isn't unique, a lot of companies did similar as the economy became service based. Too many towns could no longer offer good jobs down at the local factory. I suspect a lot of the reasoning behind allowing pot to become legal in many states is to keep the younger adults compliant and relaxed. I was speaking generically, not speaking specifically about your company. Wished I had worked for someone with your mindset. Making a living has always been difficult for many throughout history. But in a country who's promise had always been if you work hard you can succeed that's not the case anymore for half the population. Some will of course, but the system in place depends on tens of millions being willing to accept less, and it looks like even that won't last with coming automation and artificial intelligence. I fully expect more war over all of this, and a country that's way out of the way looks attractive.

 

[on the brink]

Hello Wade, thanks for your very interesting posts. Honest and well-reasoned. Keep them coming!

 

[camel]

I am sorry, I am not going to cross a line and answer the first part of your question. I want my privacy.

...

Hard work / long hours are one ingredient in a recipe for success. But it's more than that:

What a coçk tease... jeez, I was looking forward to hearing the real story, details and all. If you're gonna talk about how you're successful, at least be willing to tell the story. I love hearing peoples' stories about how they succeeded. Besides just "working long hours", which, although usually necessary, is definitely not sufficient.

Edit: Would you be willing to share the story in person sometime, at a coffee chat or something?

 

[Alby]

And why the shyness anyway? I think this is all fairly private. We all have pseudonyms and strange memes that hide almost everything about us except our stories and opinions. I mean, if El Tigre del Tigre wants to protect his or her privacy, he or she could just change his or her name to something unusual, like, I dunno, say a wild animal, for example.

 

[semigoodlookin]

And why the shyness anyway? I think this is all fairly private. We all have pseudonyms and strange memes that hide almost everything about us except our stories and opinions. I mean, if El Tigre del Tigre wants to protect his or her privacy, he or she could just change his or her name to something unusual, like, I dunno, say a wild animal, for example.

This is not private, this is the internet and a fairly open forum. I don’t begrudge someone not wanting to get personal. That said, it’s clear The Tiger is an international drug dealer. Or maybe it’s arms, I cannot decide which. Unfortunately, he said he is leaving the forum so we will never know.