We have come to expect that ghetto babies will grow up and die as ghetto adults. We seldom see any stories in the media about people who never raise above their ghetto existence. A large number of people born in a ghetto grow up and live decent lives. Many make it to a middle-class life style. However, these people are just as un-news worthy as those that never leave the ghetto. The rages to riches stories are presented by the media as proof of the possibilities for American citizens. They perpetuate the ideal that anyone living in America can become anything he/she wants to be. How often have we seen the headlines: From The Ghetto To Millionaire. The media perpetuates the ideal that anyone in America can become anything he/she wants to because it not only makes us feel good about our Country; it makes America look good to the rest of the World. The ideal says to the World that America is the land of opportunity. See!
Most of the ghetto to riches stories involves entertainers and athletes. Even though poor people realize that everyone can not become entertainers or athletes, they exalt these people and exhaust their energies fantasizing about living such a life style. When they need to be developing their minds, they waste their efforts in trying to acquire what they think are the symbols of a successful life style. Those that can get the $100 dollar tennis, the gold jewelry, and maybe even a used BMW. Unfortunately, the symbols do nothing to change their actual state of being. This is way I feel that stories displaying the life style of entertainers and athletes do more harm than good.
Every so often we will see stories about a person who came from the ghetto and made it to the point at which they could create their own business and became rich. Such stories could actually be helpful if they were not presented as rages to riches stories. A key ingredient is being left out when such stories are presented this way. For the stories to be helpful they need to be presented as from ignorance to knowledge stories. Before anyone gets offended, let me make clear that I am not using the term ignorance in a negative sense. Here, ignorance simply means to be unaware or to have a lack of knowledge. Remember, to change anything we must first admit that we are there.
When the media tells the ghetto to riches stories they should de-emphasize the life style aspect and emphasize the ignorance to knowledge aspect of the story. I know that this would change the whole intent (to perpetuate the land of opportunity myth) of the story. But, it could actually be helpful to less successful people to know that the main difference between them and the ghetto to riches people is a lack of knowledge.
Some people are born into rich families. Some people are born into poor families. The people born into rich families do not have to strive very hard to be considered a success. The people born into a poor family must work extremely hard to go from ghetto to riches. It can be done, but they must understand that the hard work begins with a pursuit of knowledge. Deciding what you want to become is not as important as understanding that to become good at anything you must acquire the necessary tools to perform on a higher level.
Knowledge begins with gaining knowledge of the self. I am not suggesting that one has to go to a place of worship or adhere to any particular religion. What I am suggesting is that we must form a relationship with a power that is bigger than ourselves. You can call it God, the Universe, or the Divine Force. What is important is that we develop the connection and the
understanding that this higher power not only put us here, but it put us here for a purpose. It is this understanding that can truly put us on the path from ghetto to riches. Being in America certainly increases our chances of becoming successful. But, we must understand that just being here is not enough to move us forward. If that was the case there would not be such a large number of poor people living here. You can become a success in America. You will succeed with determination, steadfastness, and action. Most importantly, you will succeed with self-knowledge and the knowledge that your higher power not only wants you to have abundance, but will also guide your journey to achieve the life you want to live.
Recently retired from AT&T as a technician. Began trying to make a go on the internet only a few months ago. Like most newbies, I had no idea what I was getting into. Now that the shock is over, I feel confident that I made the correct choice for an after-retirement profession.
Herman Wheeler
http://www.usfreeads.com/823078-cls.html
Tags: building wealth, creating wealth, key success, principle success, secret success, success, wealth
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