# What stands between you and untold success and riches? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153 "2005-08-01T16:06:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/21 "2005-08-01T22:04:56Z")
The short answer would be: me The long answer is that I have been successful. I’ve raised happy children in a happy family. (The joke is that I wanted to show my parents it could be done.) Now, it is time for a new goal and I start school afresh in 4 weeks. However, I am still an idle bastard-ess, too. Some things never change. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/22 "2005-08-01T22:27:26Z")
Tooldom makes me puke. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/23 "2005-08-01T23:55:32Z")
Only time. I’ll let you know next year. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/24 "2005-08-02T01:35:10Z")
Beer. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/25 "2005-08-02T01:39:47Z")
Other people. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/26 "2005-08-02T03:02:16Z")
Wow. There sure are alot of idle bastards and bastardettes around here. Funny, how we are all dopers. huh. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/27 "2005-08-02T12:28:39Z")
Complete and utter lack of self-confidence, self-esteem, self-image, self-worth and everything else “self.” As I put it: What am I? Fucking invisible? I simply don’t believe I can do anything and if I can do it, it’s something so totally insignificant that it’s not worth anything. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/28 "2005-08-02T12:33:28Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Complete and utter lack of self-confidence, self-esteem, self-image, self-worth and everything else “self.” As I put it: What am I? Fucking invisible? > > I simply don’t believe I can do anything and if I can do it, it’s something so totally insignificant that it’s not worth anything. You do know show tunes, that says something to me! ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/29 "2005-08-02T12:36:08Z")
I picked a job that’s meaningful over one that’s high paying. You’ll never see a rich nurse but I go home from every shift at the hospital feeling good. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/30 "2005-08-02T12:38:38Z")
> [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > I picked a job that’s meaningful over one that’s high paying. You’ll never see a rich nurse but I go home from every shift at the hospital feeling good. Sorry to double post but I feel uncomfortable about being potentially misleading – I’m a year away from being a nurse but I’m currently a nurses’ aide at a medium sized hospital and get just as much patient contact as anyone but a surgeon :). ---
**Author:** ![StaberindeMk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@StaberindeMk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StaberindeMk2)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/31 "2005-08-02T13:18:40Z")
The Man! Man! He’s keeping me down! OK its actually idle-bastardness here as well, I thought I was the only one. Personally I prefer to work bastardly hard for a short period of time to get the work done then goof off the rest but apparently thats not acceptable and unless you’re constantly working (at a slow pace) its not acceptable by the powers that be, even though the work output is actually the same… ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/32 "2005-08-02T13:35:58Z")
“If at first you don’t succeed…lower your standards.” -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/33 "2005-08-02T13:46:45Z")
The unknown, like all the professionals say. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/34 "2005-08-02T14:15:56Z")
\*\*What stands between you and untold success and riches? \*\* …my newfound addiction: SDMB. Just finished a long weekend wherein I had planned to finalize the design of a side project (and potential money-maker) I’ve been tooling with for some time. Didn’t even touch it as replying to **lekatt** was top priority. Seriously, **QuickSilver** I must be your evil twin (or _vice versa_) - you described my feelings of late to a tee. I guess low risk tolerence with having kids is a big factor, reduced energy with age (although I’m not _that_ old), or whatever. But “idle bastard” fits in a way that disturbs and embarasses me. About 5-6 years ago I thought I had broken the cycle. I had a new job, I had energy to spare, many simultaneous fulfilling projects (both at home and at work). Then about 3 years ago, crash (details elided) - and idle bastard mode returns, getting worse day by day. I’ve been flirting with the idea of drastic career change, but I’m too comfortable/complacent/idle. Unless I can shake how I feel right now, I know I’ll never get off my ass and make it happen. Life coach? Saw the [Penn & Teller: Bullshit!](http://www.tv.com/penn-&-teller-bullshit!/life-coaching/episode/415461/summary.html) episode, so I’ll not be throwing my money in that direction. In truth, each step forward in my life has been the result of a collapse of the _status quo_ - company I work reorganizes me out of a job, for goes bankrupt, or somesuch - so I’m forced to find another job - each time a better one. Maybe I’ll get lucky and get fired 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Aangelica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Aangelica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aangelica)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/35 "2005-08-02T14:34:21Z")
I do. I’ve deliberately chosen to live my life in a fashion not calculated to give me untold riches, power and influence. I deliberately chose a career that not only allows but _encourages_ my idle bastardy leanings. I find I’m happier that way. My life is less filled with stress. I sleep better. Also I’m less of a raging psycho hose beast. Que sera sera. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/36 "2005-08-02T14:57:35Z")
Points one and two. [ol] [li]??[/li][li]??[/li][li]Profit!![/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/37 "2005-08-02T14:58:07Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > Seriously, **QuickSilver** I must be your evil twin (or _vice versa_) - you described my feelings of late to a tee. > > Life coach? Saw the [Penn & Teller: Bullshit!](http://www.tv.com/penn-&-teller-bullshit!/life-coaching/episode/415461/summary.html) episode, so I’ll not be throwing my money in that direction. Welcome to the cluster. 🙂 By life coach meant more of a no bullshit lay it on the line type . Somebody who’s good at motivation at a very logical and realistic level, not the insense buring and crystal hugging, meditative crap. Somebody who’ll help me put a big picture schedule together and hold me accountable to it. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/38 "2005-08-02T15:33:32Z")
Inertia. I loathe my dead-end cubicle monkey job, and yet I still go there every day. (Well, not today, I am on VACATION.) I’m trying, I swear. Check back in five years. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/39 "2005-08-02T16:22:53Z")
\*\*What stands between you and untold success and riches? \*\* Apathy. No, I’m not kidding. Apathy. ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153/40 "2005-08-02T16:31:01Z")
leadership Skills (or total lack thereof) I try, I really do, but while I can back up anyone and come up with great ideas when Im following them or on my own, as soon as I have to deal with a group of people I freeze and let someone else take over. Dislike of working in a team also. Give me something to do on my own and Il finish it in no time. Give me the same thing with a group, and it takes forever and I slack off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-stands-between-you-and-untold-success-and-riches/315153.md?page=3)