I've been contemplating for the past several weeks about how often we talk about the unfortunate, the poor, the financially downtrodden, the "99%" so to speak. I've also thought about how often we point the finger at the 1%, the rich, wealthy, the elite and leaders of this world. This is considering that I, myself, am of the lower-middle class.
While the rich are blamed, along with corporations, conglomerates, executives, bankers, stock brokers, insurance companies and even the Federal Reserve, have we ever sat down and thought about what's jogging in the minds of the very men and women we abhor?
Ever since I've begun my journey in the world of insurance, being certified in Accidental, Health and Life, I began to see things from the other side. Some of the people, in this same journey, are people like you and me, striving to make ends me, pursuing a more comfortable life to live -- be it to finally have some independence in living and finances. Some have come from the bottom of the barrel despite great mental capacity and others have busted their chops honing their skills in this field. I can't help but wonder if the very people we despise are no different than you and me.
I'll head an area of personal taste -- music. Take a look at some of the big names we knew growing up -- Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, Rush, U2, Queen, Iron Maiden, Johnny Cash, to name a few. These are all groups that focused on their craft, honed it to their own personal mastery, dedicating themselves to their profession which would encapsulate their very identities.
Hendrix had his share of connections, like James Brown to name an example. He wasn't just some guitar players that simply messed around with a bunch of pedals, tripping on acid and smoking weed all day. This man pushed himself into becoming the influential legend we know him to be. Every ounce of his fame is due to him busting his chops and stepping it up to be what he desired, knocked on and kicked through every door he can get his feet through to make it where he did.
Sabbath? These cats weren't exactly a bunch of rich elites fiddling around with sound. These guys all, at some point, found a mutual passion in music, allied themselves as a unit to do what they all loved, doing everything they can and paying every due out there.
Queen? Mercury was sharp with being a musician and got a degree in Art and Graphic Design. Brian May has a doctorate in Astronomy. The axe/singer duo that defined a unique brand in music were educated men, in and out of their field and made good use of it in their music -- whether it be Brian May's special use of tape delay, Mercury's way of how he wanted his stage props, costume design and even artwork in album covers.
The Beatles, while at a glance may have been viewed as the ones to ignite the concept of the classic rock band lineup, let alone the concept of a boy band in their respective ways, these guys weren't exactly a bunch of talentless hacks messing around with drugs, women and claiming to be bigger than Jesus. These four iconic men were dedicated musicians. Heck, one time I sat down with my friend Larry's dad Manny (known to many in Nicaragua as Santana Jr.) taught me And I Love Her by The Beatles. It wasn't exactly your run of the mill "C/G/Am/F" chord progression. Sure, they had their formulaic moments but these men studied music and put themselves out there.
U2? These Irishmen weren't exactly well-endowed stockholders, much less Bono at the time. They found their way into being where they are and put their hearts into it. Love or hate Bono, the man is successful and everything he has is because he busted his chops and put that brain of his into good use.
Let's not forget the legendary Michael Jackson. The man loved to dance. He loved music. Purposely dieted to have the dancing body he possessed. He was even an avid fan of classical music. Forget that he was the star of the Jackson 5. He was beyond that. He is to Pop as Hulk Hogan is to wrestling as Michael Jordan is to basketball as John Madden is to sports commentary for the NFL. He set the bar in music entertainment to a level that many imitate but cannot duplicate.
Let me go somewhere different. Bill Gates -- a college dropout yet is one of the world's wealthiest men alive. He had an idea, rolled with it, surrounded himself with the right people, knocked on every door that furthered his idea into what we know today as Microsoft and Windows. An educated man who had no fear in doing whatever it took to succeed.
Steve Jobs even -- Apple is all there is to say -- the juggernaut that gave us the Pandora's Box of mobile and telephonic technology.
Vince McMahon. Graduate of military school. Entrepreneur. Visionary on an epic level. WWF.
My point in all of this is the following -- instead of us all wallowing and whining about being lower middle class and how disadvantaged we are, let's step our personal game up. Every dream and every passion we have? Execute it and accept no less. My success? I'm halfway through my Bachelor's in English at Brooklyn College, have Insurance certifications and the author of two poetry books -- all of which are things I never imagined to be able to do or even dared to do but once I set my eyes on it, I accomplished every last thing. Forget the upper middle class. Forget the fight with the rich and fight your personal sense of mediocrity instead. The only person you'd lose against here isn't this "Man" we've created or the "rich powers that be". The only one you will lose to...is yourself.