Stop Whining & Start Making Some Money
June 25, 2008
Are you an economic whiner? I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve had my share of negative things to say about gas prices, taxes, & government red tape. However, what I witnessed last week has inspired me to whine less and work harder.
If they can do it, so can I…
Who are they? The hard working entrepreneurs in under developed countries who give their all to make a better life for themselves. As we drove slowly through pot-hole filled roads in the Dominican Republic last week I saw example after example of people who are maximizing their limited resources to try and make ends meet.
They work hard for their money
As we headed for the airport I felt a huge wave of guilt as I saw people manning fruit stands and souvenir booths that couldn’t have been earning them more than a few bucks a day. Here I am complaining about paying $4 a gallon for gas and these people don’t even have a car or moped to put gas into. (Mopeds seemed to be the vehicle of choice in the DR)
Incredible opportunity
I imagine some of these workers would love the opportunity to come to the US to start their own business. When I look at the resources & opportunity available to me, I realize there is no excuse for not being successful, or at least working towards that goal. There is no room for whining, I need to shut up and start making some money.
Bootstrapping Others
I’m also going to help out potential entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic. Thanks to Kiva, I can lend money to aspiring entrepreneurs in the Dominican. Kiva will work with local partners Fundación San Miguel Arcángel, Inc. and Esperanza International to lend the money to people wanting to start or grow businesses in Clothing Sales, Jewelry, Services, & Personal Products Sales.
Understandably, not everyone can get the visual that I saw while I was there. It was my first trip to that country and may have been my last. You’ll have to trust me when I say that if you’re living in the US reading this, chances are you have far more resources available to you than those people with fruit stands and sunglasses shops ever will. I urge you to make good use of those resources to help meet your potential, and to help out some of the people that aren’t as fortunate as us.
All posts by Ben Edwards
I feel like I hit the lottery by being born in the U.S. Thanks for reminding of that.
This is why I think travel, especially internationally, is so important for everyone to experience on occasion. We get so accustomed to our own little world listening to the drone of the media telling us how things are, become apathetic with our job and surroundings that it is simply easier to bitch and moan and blame the president, government, economy, or any number of things than to see the tremendous opportunities that are available.
But experiencing the world outside of your comfort zone firsthand really changes the way you view your own life. It doesn’t mean you have to visit third world countries or experience people in poverty, because even visiting developed nations with other cultures and ways of doing things can really put your personal life into perspective.
Sure, things might not be perfect here, but whining about how bad everything is not going to solve anything other than convincing yourself that it is all someone else’s fault.
You are right, a lot of people have it less fortunate than we do. I’m always surprised when my friends complain about life, all i want to do is smack them and say, you know what ‘your life is prety amazing’ wake up and have some fun!