Labor Day celebrates those who put their shoulders to the collective wheel to help make society a better place for all. That may be a bit archaic but I still see it that way. The idea that a man or woman can apply themselves to various tasks and get paid fairly for their efforts is hardly radical. It is almost a Universal principle in Democracies and has been associated with a sense of self worth and pride for centuries.
Labor is modernly divided into two camps, skilled and unskilled and these have many degrees. Some who either by circumstance or choice choose what might be undesirable work but nonetheless necessary and often underpaid areas of engagement. While others by circumstance or choice seek higher degrees of skill through education and enter the profession world. A skill needn't be high tech but more and more they are. This depends on a good educational system that is focused on development of the skills needed. Schools are a crucial element in any society in order to have a workforce capable of doing those things that are immediately and eventually required. I believe we are failing in that arena.
The young most recently educated are being misled that their lot in life is not in their hands and indeed in some ways that is hard to argue. However, the many who conquer disadvantaged conditions to become great successes belay this and point to personal responsibility as having a key position in the labor force. Those who take responsibility will see opportunity whereas those who don't will find only complaints. The whining child wants it done for him...are whining adults any different. I have personal experience with entrepreneurs as clients and these people know by and large that their success is in their own hands and they find great pleasure in that. Surely there are barriers to success, but those that succeed just do it as the Nike ads say.
Making it to the top of any field takes persistence and resilience. The ability to withstand doubters and naysayers is a must and can be acquired. The MMA fighter isn't necessarily born with the ability to withstand their pain. They train into it. They consider their wins proof of their ability and their losses as opportunities to learn more needed skills. A good coach will help by pointing out the pluses and minuses of their fights and use that experience to improve and advance. It's a mental game too. Toughness counts. There are many platitudes that describe good habits if one is to succeed in the labor force and making your own luck may be near the top. You must play to win, pick yourself up off the floor and persist. If done in a good direction, good things happen.
Of all the words that can be written about labor the focus all too often is on the light against management or those who have capital. I am sure there are faults in Capitalism, at least there are excesses. But given good decent people, those who create work for others are a blessing not a curse. Socialism regards them as THE problem and Communism too. State owned Capital is NOT a panacea but a prison where the individual entrepreneur is gone and the oligarch and czar exists. There is always someone in charge and I say it better to have the messy world of free entrepreneurs than the highly controlled world of Socialism. Who wants socialism? Those who do not take personal responsibility and seek their own way whining all the way.
On this Labor Day I congratulate and celebrate those who seen the wisdom in being responsible for their own lives. This group consists of those who beat the odds, reject government nanny states and help society in a myriad of ways by controlling their own sphere of influence. With enough people doing that, confusion wanes and an orderly productive society ensues.
Be Proud of your Labor.
Best,
Donn Marier
DM-Your Own CFO