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Great thread.
The American middle class has always valued certain personal traits that result in personal success and positive development. These may not make you rich [net worth over $1,000,000] but they are definitely not going to make you poor. I am not sure if public schools officially teach these values. Maybe they are translated nowadays through role models [mostly parents].
Bottomline, regardless of how you make money [pushing porn or selling liquor or helping people with health problems or suing people], these values still apply in whether you become successful both on a personal and financial level.
These values, as told to me [and more importantly, as demonstrated] by my grandfather, are:
-- Always live within your means
-- Always save money for a rainy day
-- Avoid habits that are unhealthy
-- Be punctual
-- Always keep your word
-- Be humble. Don't judge others too harshly.
-- Remember what you are working for.
-- Measure twice but cut once. Before you act, think clearly about your plans and put a lot of effort in finding out the rewards and the costs of your plans.
-- Hard work is fine but hard efficient and focused work is better. Just because someone spends 16 hours working does not make them a better worker. It is output and results per hour that count.
-- Take responsibility for your actions. Don't blame others for your failings.
-- Things don't always work at first try. Analyze where you failed and try and try again.
-- Obey the law
-- Always put yourself in the other guy's shoes. Don't do things to him/her that you wouldn't want others to do to you.
-- Value education. Never be too proud to learn something new.
-- Never look down on others. There is a difference between being judgmental and being observant. Learn that difference.
-- Everything you do will come back to you. There IS such a thing as karma.
-- The real measure of success is your ability to improve yourself by setting out goals and accomplishing them.
-- Your life is the Greatest personal investment asset you have. Don't be afraid to switch markets. Find out which areas in life will give you the reward you want and make the switch.
-- Sacrifice and compromise are part of life. Deal with it.
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