The world doesn’t owe you anything

As I get older and wiser, I think there is a real problem going on in the world today.

I feel like so many people walk around with a general sense of entitlement and it’s so damaging.

This truth might hurt, but the world doesn’t owe you anything.

That might sound harsh, but accepting that truth is essential in maximising your personal development and your financial situation.

The sooner you take responsibility for yourself and stop relying on others — like the government or your employer to take care of you — the sooner you can take control of your own financial future.

Depending on your background and perspective, this concept might sound scary.

I will tell you it’s not nearly as scary as hoping that your employer will show you loyalty when the market changes, or that you’ll be paid what you're worth when things go well.

That’s a mirage and not at all secure

One of the most powerful things that will happen when you accept that no one is going to take care of you financially, is that you become more motivated to do something.

You begin to look closer at your financial situation, you start to notice your budget — how much you earn, how much you spend, and how much you pay in taxes, what your expenses are.

You take responsibility.

I know this was the case in my life and I hope you start to think the same way too.

Why this sense of entitlement?

I think this new sense of entitlement is partly because of the cushy ways in which children have been raised for the past few decades. 

When you consider that we live in what has been regularly ranked as the wealthiest country in the world it was surprising to find that half of our nation receives a government benefit of some sort.

Now I’m all for helping those with genuine needs by giving them a hand up.

I  have always supported a range of charities for the needy.

But it seems that today there are more people not doing their share, waiting for those that do their share to provide for them.

In essence, they feel the world owes them something.

In fact, many people operate on the assumption that the world owes them a hot meal, a bed to sleep in, shoes, smartphones, and anything else they want simply because we exist.

Today some people do not want to work.

And if they do work, they don’t want to work too hard.

Nor do they want to work in jobs that are beneath them, or aside from their personal interests.

Call me old-fashioned but…

I see children getting trophies just for showing up, lest we hurt someone’s feelings by admitting that one child is better than another.

Children are not allowed to fail.

We can no longer separate the intelligent from the less intelligent and are forced to make sure that every person fits into the same mould of life.

The world has a bullying problem that can no longer be solved by playground brawls.

In many ways, many people today are living their life as victims.

They are giving up their rights to choose, succeed, and create their own destiny by sitting back and waiting for the scrappy handouts that are left behind.

And then, with audacity — these same people feel they have the right to complain about what they were given.

The problem of entitlement is not one that will go away anytime soon

The truth is that people need to realise that it is we, who owe the world.

We owe the world our talents and our skill.

We owe the world our ability to take care of our planet, and we owe the world our efforts to make the planet a happier, safer place.

Until each and every person can get together and realise that within each of us, big and small, black or white, male or female, rich or poor — lies a responsibility to the world, things will only get worse.

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About Michael Yardney Michael is a director of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He's once again been voted Australia's leading property investment adviser and one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.