Nice people thread part 5 - nicely does it

vivatifosi

Money's a funny thing. I firmly believe that life is what you make of it and that other than things that we can't change (health for example) we are masters and mistresses of our own destiny. DH for example is a maths genius and could easily have worked for a big finance house and has been approached to do as much. Instead he does what he does because he enjoys it. I could earn more doing what I do through my business, but I don't get the stimulus of meeting other people so I like to work at the library even though the pay's terrible.

There's more to life than money. If your quality of life sucks because you spend all your time on planes and trains and never see your loved ones, who gives a flying fig if you earn over £100k. I haven't always felt this way. Having a huge wake up call a few years back has a lot to do with it.

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

Money's a funny thing. I firmly believe that life is what you make of it and that other than things that we can't change (health for example) we are masters and mistresses of our own destiny. DH for example is a maths genius and could easily have worked for a big finance house and has been approached to do as much. Instead he does what he does because he enjoys it. I could earn more doing what I do through my business, but I don't get the stimulus of meeting other people so I like to work at the library even though the pay's terrible.

There's more to life than money. If your quality of life sucks because you spend all your time on planes and trains and never see your loved ones, who gives a flying fig if you earn over £100k. I haven't always felt this way. Having a huge wake up call a few years back has a lot to do with it.

This. But also, considering some people have to do those jobs, its sort of understandable they are well imbursed.

E.g. That whole 'going to brussels today' thing they sprng on dh last year, and the impact not just in his life but mine.

If i were not reasonably independant of mind and flexible in my stuff it would make for a hellish life. I can see why so many relationships break up. Thank fully, right now it works for us.

There are good sides too though. I know dh likes the sort of work he does, including the internantional aspects. I think its been particularly good for me, after being ill, to have independance through the week. And the pay.....

sss555s

vivatifosi wrote: »

Money's a funny thing. I firmly believe that life is what you make of it and that other than things that we can't change (health for example) we are masters and mistresses of our own destiny. DH for example is a maths genius and could easily have worked for a big finance house and has been approached to do as much. Instead he does what he does because he enjoys it. I could earn more doing what I do through my business, but I don't get the stimulus of meeting other people so I like to work at the library even though the pay's terrible.

There's more to life than money. If your quality of life sucks because you spend all your time on planes and trains and never see your loved ones, who gives a flying fig if you earn over £100k. I haven't always felt this way. Having a huge wake up call a few years back has a lot to do with it.

Wise words viva, couldn't have put it better myself.

LydiaJ

vivatifosi wrote: »

Money's a funny thing. I firmly believe that life is what you make of it and that other than things that we can't change (health for example) we are masters and mistresses of our own destiny. DH for example is a maths genius and could easily have worked for a big finance house and has been approached to do as much. Instead he does what he does because he enjoys it. I could earn more doing what I do through my business, but I don't get the stimulus of meeting other people so I like to work at the library even though the pay's terrible.

There's more to life than money. If your quality of life sucks because you spend all your time on planes and trains and never see your loved ones, who gives a flying fig if you earn over £100k. I haven't always felt this way. Having a huge wake up call a few years back has a lot to do with it.

I agree with all that. I know I could have earned stacks more if I'd chosen to take my physics PhD and use it to get into finance. But I didn't want to. I'm more than happy with my life and my choices and my income as they are.

But... the things you can't change are a big big part of the equation. Some people do get dealt a much better hand to play with than others. I think I've been dealt a better hand than most people, even in this country - my parents were a hugely positive influence in countless ways, I had the advantages of a great education, and I've had financial help from my parents too. None of that is remotely related to anything that I've earned or deserved. And I'm always aware that just being born in this country gives us monumental advantages over most of the world's population.

Edit: I agree with lir too. If those "get sent to Brussels for months at a moment's notice" jobs have got to be done by someone, then they ought to get paid shedloads for it. Not so sure it follows all the time, though. It annoys me that in so many types of organisation, the people who administer the money get paid so much more than the people who fulfil the function of the organisation - design things or discover things or teach people or make ill people better or whatever it is.

sss555s

You can't get much richer than having the support of family and nice people :beer:

vivatifosi

LydiaJ wrote: »

But... the things you can't change are a big big part of the equation. Some people do get dealt a much better hand to play with than others. I think I've been dealt a better hand than most people, even in this country - my parents were a hugely positive influence in countless ways, I had the advantages of a great education, and I've had financial help from my parents too. None of that is remotely related to anything that I've earned or deserved. And I'm always aware that just being born in this country gives us monumental advantages over most of the world's population.

For sure we have a huge advantage being born in this country. But I grew up on a council estate. You've got to take the hand you've been dealt and roll with it. All of my friends had huge drive to get on in life and they have. Our parents may have been blue-collar but we've all worked hard to achieve things that they wouldn't have been able to. That's something that leaves me so frustrated when I meet teenagers today who have already given up. Life's not easy, but you've got to get out and hustle. I think on reflection I have a bit of a street fighter/hustler streak. This may not be entirely attractive:o.

LydiaJ wrote: »

Edit: I agree with lir too. If those "get sent to Brussels for months at a moment's notice" jobs have got to be done by someone, then they ought to get paid shedloads for it. Not so sure it follows all the time, though. It annoys me that in so many types of organisation, the people who administer the money get paid so much more than the people who fulfil the function of the organisation - design things or discover things or teach people or make ill people better or whatever it is.

I agree with that too! If I was jetting all over the world I'd want to be paid a lot to do it as well. My comment wasn't that people shouldn't get paid lots of money, it was more that there are riches in life that aren't financial. But lots of money is very rewarding as well.

CKhalvashi

lostinrates wrote: »

This. But also, considering some people have to do those jobs, its sort of understandable they are well imbursed.

E.g. That whole 'going to brussels today' thing they sprng on dh last year, and the impact not just in his life but mine.

If i were not reasonably independant of mind and flexible in my stuff it would make for a hellish life. I can see why so many relationships break up. Thank fully, right now it works for us.

There are good sides too though. I know dh likes the sort of work he does, including the internantional aspects. I think its been particularly good for me, after being ill, to have independance through the week. And the pay.....

We’re 50/50 directors of a holdings firm that owns 3 VERY different companies.

I couldn’t see OH wanting anything to do with taxis, nor do I want anything to do with owning a bar, we do it because we enjoy it. Also, with my main occupation, a live music venue is a blessing in disguise!

At the same time, the media front is a company that we’ve both scrimped and scraped for, something that we’ve always wanted, we’ve now got and we’re happy with. For me, it’s more than a job, it’s about young artists’ futures, hence the fact that we’re taking 40% of what our artists are earning, instead of 97% that one of the majors take. It’s the consultancy side for large music events that brings the bulk of my income to what it is, and that’s the bit that I don’t particularly enjoy, but it gets us there. I haven’t always had the income that I have, until 2003, when I was 20, we were struggling with a young child, 2nd on the way. It did pay off in the end, though, and makes everything else worthwhile, and it was one contract we’ve had from the beginning of the event that gave us our break!

LydiaJ

vivatifosi wrote: »

For sure we have a huge advantage being born in this country. But I grew up on a council estate. You've got to take the hand you've been dealt and roll with it. All of my friends had huge drive to get on in life and they have. Our parents may have been blue-collar but we've all worked hard to achieve things that they wouldn't have been able to. That's something that leaves me so frustrated when I meet teenagers today who have already given up. Life's not easy, but you've got to get out and hustle.

We agree more than I may have given the impression of. My concern was not to excuse lack of initiative in those dealt a poor hand - I would never want to do that - but to warn against unwarranted smugness amongst those who've been dealt lots of aces and kings.

CKhalvashi

sss555s wrote: »

You can't get much richer than having the support of family and nice people :beer:

Well, this is the NP thread :beer::eek:

michaels

No amount of money would be worth not being there for my family, I wouldn't work at all if I didn't have to to provide for them.

Still Sue, PN and I can look in through the windows at the bright lights of the rest of your lives.

Talking of which, I need to have a wall light above my new desk unit (new to me, from freecycle). There is currently a wall light fitting above the desk at about 6 feet - I guess the desk is normal height about 3 feet.

Edit: Nearly forgot your Q Viva - ~Kelis is da bombe!