Be Earned, Not Paid For

From my experience, being given something and having to earn it was always a different feeling. As a child, I was given food. It wasn't until college where I had to earn an income to buy my own food that it became of more substance to me.

To my ladies, I LOVE you more than you'll ever know and I ask you to consider this:

A young man in college needed a car. He decided to get a part-time job despite his grueling class schedule. He would put away 100% of his paychecks in a jar for 6 months. After that time, he counted his money and had enough for an old, orange, beat up Pinto. It was running and it got him everywhere he needed to go. He loved it. He had worked hard and was proud.

He later graduated as a computer engineer and landed his first job. He was so excited. Within 3 years, he'd advanced to a higher paying position. He was doing so well, the company gave him a car.

One night, he decided to have some co-workers over. They were in the room chatting and someone asked to see it. "Let us see your most prized possession." "Yeah, let us see your paid for company car!"

He took them to his garage and everyone looked at one another wondering why they were staring at an old dusty car cover. He removed the cover to put on display the old, beat up Pinto. It was still just as it always was... he said to his co-workers, "My friends, THIS is my most prized possession."

Remember:

Be earned, not paid for.