Can you be more specific?
Sure. I worked. I figured out that by providing more value to someone, I got more compensation. The easiest thing I ever had to do was outwork my coworkers. To the point where the boss needed me most. If I'd ask for more money, they'd give it to me. Because I was worth it to them. I did this in several industries until I found one I wanted to stick around in. I showed up on time and tried to provide value until I left for the day. They kept promoting me into more important roles which meant more money. I made a good living in retail, a cement factory, a railroad, the electric industry. I never had a degree until they paid me to get one (worthless piece of paper, if you ask me - they'll give degrees to any moron who spends enough time.)
I'm actually skeptical of the old model of Working Your Way Up. I think Millenials are right to be suspicious of this idea. I think this is mostly based on an old model of rewarding Seniority with promotions and I'm not sure how much this is really done anymore.
This isn't an "old model". It's life. Provide more value and you will be rewarded. It's friggin' easy and you can make a ton of money. If anyone is suspicious of this idea, then it's their own fault where they end up. Period.
Some people do not have the ability when they are just trying to make ends meet and are holding multiple jobs to stay a float. They all to frequently lack the time due to work schedules, family obligations or health reasons (handling full time work/night school) to educate or seek an education to change their situation.
The other half of this is you are judging the poor based upon your intelligence level. For some people all the education in the world is not going to make much of a difference. The fact that you are posting here tells me you have a superior intellectual capacity to improve your situation which many of the average folk lack in the same situation.
Sorry, but what a crock. I was poor. The kind of poor people don't like to admit. I never said anything about schooling - I was talking about a proper education. There's a big difference. You can get an education cleaning toilets, mopping floors, unloading trucks, stacking tires, or reading meters. I did.
And yeah, I probably have a little higher intellect because I like to read, but I credit my success in life to seeing through the type of bullshit most people tell themselves. It's pretty friggin' simple... Give more value, receive more value. That's it.
Now, there are institutional things that screw with the prosperity of the lower class, but it's not hard to overcome. I wish the Fed didn't monkey with rates, I wish there were no subsidies for products
or labor, and I wish there were fewer regulations standing in the way.
I'm not judging the poor from some ivory tower. I was the poor. I know how easy it is to get caught in their trap. But I also know how easy it is to get out. The last thing we need is socialism!
