We “intellectuals” feel that we are owed something by the world, we feel that we have “gone to school”, endured academic and professional torture. So therefore we need to be rewarded with comfort and prosperity, and when we don’t get it, we cry like babies. The critical thing we miss is that our education and the privilege we have to be at the level we are within the society, places a huge responsibility on us. We are the ones who are supposed to build and sustain the society, through our contributions.
It’s this mentality that drives us, and that’s why when we finally graduate, by hook or crook, all we want is a high paying job (our reward for all the torture). This default mindset ensures that no one comes out of school thinking what he/she can contribute to the society with the skills and knowledge acquired during those “tortuous” years.
Therefore, we are all selfish, plain and simple, because if we set out to contribute, to create value, the society and system will always reward you for your efforts. That’s how it works, that’s how civilizations were built. They weren’t built on the instant rewards; they were built by the footsteps of individuals who set out to make a difference.
And the saddest part is, after having this conversation; it’ll still be hard for us to change our ways, we’ll just ponder a little, shake our heads, and go back to nagging about our leaders and our lives of scrapping daily to secure a never-ending tomorrow.
WE ARE ALL LEADERS; YOU ARE EITHER AN INFORMAL LEADER OR A FORMAL LEADER.
