Last Wednesday was “Career Day” at the local high school. I was invited to speak, just as I have for the past six years, on the opportunities in the world of finance.
The room was filled with starry-eyed students - their heads swimming with dreams of million-dollar opportunities working for Goldman Sachs, trading crude oil futures, or taking over Ken Lewis’ spot heading up Bank of America.
It took me less than 30 seconds to crush those dreams.
“Every year, I’m asked about how best to prepare for a career in finance,” I started my speech. “And for the past six years, I’ve suggested taking courses in statistics, human psychology, behavioral finance, and demographics. Today, however, I’m going to give you the same advice I’ve given my children, the same advice I’ve given my friends, the same advice for which people pay me thousands of dollars every year…”
I paused just long enough to notice the students were on the edge of their seats. The faculty, standing in the back of the room, stopped whispering to each other. The parents stopped texting on their Blackberries and sipping their lattes, anticipating the wisdom I was about to provide.
“If you want to be successful in life,” I said, “learn to grow a frickin tomato.”
I then explained to my audience how the government is devaluing the dollar, how the politicians are catering to the lowest common denominator of the population, how the “let’s get everything I can for myself right now” society is leading to the destruction of this once-great country, and how if you want to take care of yourself and your family in the future… you need to learn to grow a tomato.
“Take care of yourself,” I said…
Take responsibility for the welfare of your family and of your close friends. Don’t count on the government. The Constitution of the United States of America does not guarantee health care. It doesn’t guarantee home ownership. And it doesn’t guarantee cash for clunkers.
You are not entitled to a prosperous life. You are not guaranteed to live better than your parents. In fact, yours is the first generation ever in the history of this great republic that will not do so. You are, however, entitled to opportunity. But that opportunity diminishes when the government takes from the hardest working and most industrious citizens and gives to the folks who sleep in until 10:00 in the morning.
Your road to riches in life isn’t going to be traveling to Wall Street and constructing some new way to raise money for an unprofitable business. It isn’t going to be creating a new type of adjustable-rate mortgage. And it isn’t going to be negotiating stock option pricing for you and your cronies.
The path to riches for the next generation is going to be providing for your family. Forget about building a better mousetrap. The mice are more prosperous now than ever.
Instead, grow a better tomato. Take responsibility for yourself and your family. Take a step backward to ensure your kids can take two steps forward.
The high school students erupted in applause. I received the only standing ovation of the day.
My hope, and what I will be praying for when I say grace at the family dinner this Thanksgiving, is that the rest of our country realizes what a small group of 17-year-old students understood.
Nothing is free. There is a cost for every benefit the government provides. The future of our great country lies in the ability of the population to understand that wealth doesn’t come from borrowing money to buy a big-screen TV. Instead, it comes from the industrious and hardworking citizens who strive to grow a better tomato.
The youth of our country understand this concept. I only hope our elected officials do, too.
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