End Entitlement!
End Entitlement
Nothing is more frustrating than people who think they are entitled… to anything and often everything. Thoughts and statements like, “I’m a citizen so the government OWES me.” “I’m their son/daughter so my parents OWE me.” “I work here so the company / organisation OWES me.” Fertilizer!
Nobody owes anyone anything unless there was a signed agreement to that effect. Without such an agreement, there is no obligation.
Unfortunately, there is a pervasive belief in society that governments and employers owe people a living, a certain standard of living or that parents owe a regular allowance, paycheck or support to adult children. Not true. People in their 20s can quit a job they ‘don’t like’ and are allowed by parents to go home and play video games, living there rent free. Who owes them such a living? No one! Parents provide for their children until they are old enough to make it on their own… then they should be ON THEIR OWN… to grow up and mature.
Workers who surf the Net or are constantly texting family and friends on company time believe they work hard so the company owes them that time. Untrue! Show me where any employment contract says you can take company assets (you) and squander them.
A religious leader caught in the act of adultery told his counsellor, “I did everything for God and my people. I just did this ONE THING for ME.” Another more famous example, Tiger Woods in his ‘admission’ said “I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled.” In both cases, there is no such entitlement!
Alternatives:
Responsibility. Standing up for what you have a legal right to and demand your rights be preserved. Beyond that, take personal responsibility for all your actions and consequences.
Parents: Demand your children over age 21 take responsibility for all their actions. Make them pay rent and earn a living if not in school. (you can always gift it back to them when they buy their own place.)
Students: Learn all you can and challenge every idea shared that does not sound or feel right. Do NOT let phones or games get in the way of your education or relationships. WORK while going to school and learn the responsibility which comes from earning your pocket money and school fees.
Employers: Make your policies clear on personal email, texting, phone calls and surfing and enforce them. In Singapore, Human Resource Magazine reported the average worker in Singapore skives 1 hour and 35 minutes a day with personal matters. That is 6 weeks of lost productivity… STOLEN, every year… PER employee.
Employees: Be responsible, work hard, get your work done by the agreed upon quitting time and GO HOME. Shut off work calls and be with your family. (unless of course you agreed to take calls 24/7)
Citizens: Demonstrate responsibility to the government by not just complaining, but getting involved at the grassroots level and help bring about change. Make suggestions and back your ideas with supported evidence.
I know some of this may sound ‘radical’ and ‘contra-culture’. No apology from me. Just because society led by social norms, television and permissiveness pervading our society says something is ‘okay’, does not mean it is right or even the best way to function. The current belief of entitlement is wrong and harmful for society. I believe we are better than that. I believe we must earn what we get in this world and give our fair due. No one owes anything they did not agree to nor should they expect what was not promised.
Smile maker: What do you think?
In our teens and 20s, we care so much about what others think about us.
When in our 30s, we stop caring what others think about us.
In our 40s we simply wonder what they were thinking about us
In our 50s, we finally discover, no one was thinking about us at all!
Got comments or questions? Just leave your comments here.
