133rd Edition
Entitled to what?
In a You Tube video, Coach Saban walks to the podium and says, “I want to talk about the importance of nothing. You get up every day… You’re entitled to… nothing.” He then goes on to stress the importance of discipline, staying focused, and always doing your best. Here is a link to the full video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKzsO4qdwcM
With all the wealth we have in this country, with AI eliminating entry-level jobs, shouldn’t young people be entitled to something? There are those who think universal income is a possible solution. They think it would be acceptable to pay people for doing, well, nothing. Why? Because we can, and it’s not fair, especially to young people who are prevented from entering the job market because of technological advancements like AI.
All this made me think about the importance of one’s first job. I don’t mean the first job after college or graduate school. I mean the very first job you had that you got paid to do. Maybe it was doing chores around the house. Payment might have been food on the table and clothes to wear. Maybe it was mowing lawns or babysitting. In my case, for at least seven months of the year, it included raking leaves or shoveling snow. God help us if these kind of first jobs are eliminated by AI, or worse yet, we raise a generation that never has this experience. Instead, they are given things they haven’t earned. They are entitled to all kinds of activities, including travel teams, piano lessons, trips and life experiences, as they await their first universal income check. Is that the direction our country is headed?
What did you learn from your very first job? I learned to show up on time, put in the effort to get the job done and to exceed the expectations of my boss. As a young teenager, I had summer jobs that were challenging. Many were downright awful, like the job I had at a local factory that made bookcases. I worked outside stacking lumber and cleaning out the kiln after another batch of lumber had been baked dry. I was hot, sweaty, and dirty all day. Minimum wage, no tips. It taught me that it was a job I didn’t want to do for the rest of my life. How much was that worth? In an AI-dominated world with everyone receiving universal income, will kids still learn that invaluable life lesson?
In this context, the challenge our country faces is to harness technology in a way that doesn’t destroy the necessary life lessons that teach essential core values. Can we reinvest our wealth and utilize developments like AI, to make us more productive, more successful as a nation, while preserving old-school values? Or will a pervasive sense of entitlement replace our long-standing sense of responsibility?
I’m reminded of the famous speech Coach Herb Brooks delivered to the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team before the game against the Russians –
“Great moments are born from great opportunity.
And that’s what you have here tonight, boys.
That’s what you’ve earned here, tonight. One game.
If we played ’em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight.
Tonight, we skate with ’em.
Tonight, we stay with ’em, and we shut them down because we can!
Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world.
You were born to be hockey players — every one of ya.
And you were meant to be here tonight.
This is your time.
Their time — is done. It’s over.
I’m sick and tired of hearin’ about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw ’em!
This is your time!!
Now go out there and take it!”
It was inspirational and effective because of all the hard work the team put into getting ready for that historic game. Not an ounce of entitlement in the process.
If there needs to be something universal, might we consider things other than income. Like universal integrity, kindness, thankfulness, and grace. Just a thought…
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Michael Kayes
*These views are my personal opinions and are not the viewpoints of any company or organization.