This iReport is part of an assignment:
Work and family: Making it work
Who wants to be IT?
This story is about success--me you any human
Success is the endeavor
USA under current conditions
My life time--say 20"s to present.
Let's see where does it all start--? The cave man went out and caught or slayed something so that the family could survive. The Cave woman cooked it and we are told was pretty much submissive to her male counterpart. So there is most likely something to the mantra that he female has been conditioned to be secondary, nurturing, a silent partner.
However there is this gnawing fact in history that certain races or ethnic groups---excel while others lag behind. So there is also something to the mantra that "we" whomever "we" are---are in charge of our own fate--ie success or failure. Excepting of course a percentage of us that are disadvantaged. Although Steven Hawking didn't let that stop him.
So what is at the core of success vs. failure?
I came from poor folks that were very smart but did not do very smart things--I still haven't figured out why. The were raised during the 1920's to the 1940's and worked from the 40's to the 80's---but they never got ahead---they never owned a home or the 2 they did ---they lost. I have gone back to their homes on Google Earth and they were then and still are today in the trashiest neighborhoods of the areas they lived---that I grew up in.
So why did they fail when we are told that the that the end of WW2 was a good economic time for America--with suburbs growing all over America---plenty of opportunity---how did my family get left out?---well I haven't answered that question yet.
I finished school at an adult facility---managed 2 years of City College and worked in construction for 45 years starting as an apprentice Carpenter and ending as a Construction Manager (our company built Transamerica and Bof A Building in SF Ca.). I have always been of the mind that any one of us could have gone on to do greater things. We could have risen higher in the company. We could have contributed more and been recognized for it. So why didn't we? Well I think that each of us gets off the ladders of ascension at a point that is comfortable to us--that is rewarding ---that is a labor of love. It isn't necessarily wrong to not have gone further.
In the case of "women" ascending higher I think is is a combination of factors--certainly genetics play a part---and maternal genetics for sure. It may be that there is just a smaller percentage of women that want to reach those dizzying heights and the ones that do worked hard to get there.
I think that blaming, in general is a complete waste of time and offering special pathways is generally a waste of time. It does help a few but is vastly imporportionate to the results---and expensive.
For me the chance of success is a result of family and nurturing---it does not take a village---it takes a family to nurture and care for but more importantly to develop self esteem and the belief that I can succeed.
There is just too much evidence in my life to show that the humans that get ahead do so because they want to and they believe that thru endeavor ---they can succeed.
So if we can do anything to improve success in our population it would be to encourage family to succeed and family to instill in our children the belief that they have worth and can do whatever it is that they want to.
David.
Success is the endeavor
USA under current conditions
My life time--say 20"s to present.
Let's see where does it all start--? The cave man went out and caught or slayed something so that the family could survive. The Cave woman cooked it and we are told was pretty much submissive to her male counterpart. So there is most likely something to the mantra that he female has been conditioned to be secondary, nurturing, a silent partner.
However there is this gnawing fact in history that certain races or ethnic groups---excel while others lag behind. So there is also something to the mantra that "we" whomever "we" are---are in charge of our own fate--ie success or failure. Excepting of course a percentage of us that are disadvantaged. Although Steven Hawking didn't let that stop him.
So what is at the core of success vs. failure?
I came from poor folks that were very smart but did not do very smart things--I still haven't figured out why. The were raised during the 1920's to the 1940's and worked from the 40's to the 80's---but they never got ahead---they never owned a home or the 2 they did ---they lost. I have gone back to their homes on Google Earth and they were then and still are today in the trashiest neighborhoods of the areas they lived---that I grew up in.
So why did they fail when we are told that the that the end of WW2 was a good economic time for America--with suburbs growing all over America---plenty of opportunity---how did my family get left out?---well I haven't answered that question yet.
I finished school at an adult facility---managed 2 years of City College and worked in construction for 45 years starting as an apprentice Carpenter and ending as a Construction Manager (our company built Transamerica and Bof A Building in SF Ca.). I have always been of the mind that any one of us could have gone on to do greater things. We could have risen higher in the company. We could have contributed more and been recognized for it. So why didn't we? Well I think that each of us gets off the ladders of ascension at a point that is comfortable to us--that is rewarding ---that is a labor of love. It isn't necessarily wrong to not have gone further.
In the case of "women" ascending higher I think is is a combination of factors--certainly genetics play a part---and maternal genetics for sure. It may be that there is just a smaller percentage of women that want to reach those dizzying heights and the ones that do worked hard to get there.
I think that blaming, in general is a complete waste of time and offering special pathways is generally a waste of time. It does help a few but is vastly imporportionate to the results---and expensive.
For me the chance of success is a result of family and nurturing---it does not take a village---it takes a family to nurture and care for but more importantly to develop self esteem and the belief that I can succeed.
There is just too much evidence in my life to show that the humans that get ahead do so because they want to and they believe that thru endeavor ---they can succeed.
So if we can do anything to improve success in our population it would be to encourage family to succeed and family to instill in our children the belief that they have worth and can do whatever it is that they want to.
David.
- TAGS:
- GROUPS:
What do you think of this story?
Select one of the options below. Your feedback will help tell CNN producers what to do with this iReport. If you'd like, you can explain your choice in the comments below.
Be and editor! Choose an option below:
More from this assignment - Work and family: Making it work
iReport welcomes a lively discussion, so comments on iReports are not pre-screened before they post. See the iReport community guidelines for details about content that is not welcome on iReport.
© 2013 Cable News Network. 
Comments