Billions of people would trade places with an American in a heartbeat. Hell, you could extend it to any western aligned country. Remember this and it will calm an anxious mind so you appreciate everything much more.
Our problems aren’t unimportant with this realization, but it does help to weed out fake mental ones and disrupt the pressure of those real ones
Exactly this. So many Americans have no idea how good they have it here and worse, they bitch about how awful and oppressive it is. Meanwhile, you have tens of thousands - to be conservative - of people literally risking their lives to sneak into this country and have a chance at a future...
Those that complain should be airdropped into whatever country they claim as their place of heritage and see if they could even last a month there...
It’s all relative to what your life experiences. If someone’s AC unit isn’t working in July, they’re going to complain. The first thought isn’t to think about how they’re lucky to have somewhere to stay. It’s like searching for your keys only under the street lamp.
I can’t point the finger at them and say “ignore this injustice to you, look at this worse one” for everything in their life and wash my hands. That’s not being a good friend, their problems are still real and I sympathize with them. But agreed that somehow we’ve fostered a culture of entitlement that I’m not sure the best way to break out of
Igor works the night shift as a truck driver for 7-Eleven. He came to America with $50 in his pocket. He's energetic, enthusiastic, positive, and super motivated.
Igor: "I'm living in American dream now. America is the best country in the world. You guys just do not really know how blessed you are."
Spot on—and I agree, gratitude is key, even if all you’ve got is a reliable Toyota Camry. We’re in the greatest nation on Earth, where hard work opens doors. And let’s be real: work never killed anybody. In fact, when you approach it smartly—keeping your nose to the grindstone, learning from inevitable mistakes, and making small course corrections—it becomes the foundation for something bigger. Done right, that steady effort sets you up to play just as hard, enjoying the rewards of your labor without breaking your back. It’s all about balance: grind, adjust, and then kick back.
Great article Jack. The best way to feel grateful for how life is in our 'first world' is to go travelling to a 'non-first world' country. It doesn't have to be a dirt poor country for us to see the difference, just a place where the people don't have the same access to opportunities. Take the local buses and trains, not private transport or tours. Eat in the locals' restaurants, not the tourist ones. And most importantly, talk to the locals. Ask them for their perspective.
I've been doing this for over 40 years and it's given me a great appreciation of how good we have it.
I love talking to Uber/cab drivers, especially in LA, NYC, and Madrid. The stories of how many of them got their start and the heroic efforts to stay afloat are grounding--and fascinating.
Bangladeshi/Pakistani/Indian guy who has done an MBA in his home country and will talk for hours about how much struggle he had to do to bring his family here and will talk proudly about his son/daughter studying in an Ivy League School
My wife and I are originally from Seattle, but now we travel full-time. Recently we spent three months in Australia. We took a cab from our Brisbane hotel to the train station, where we were scheduled to board a 10 hour train to Sydney. Our Russian driver was so garrulous, friendly and engaging that I completely forgot about my laptop bag in the backseat. We get out of the cab, walk inside to board the train and I’m immediately overwhelmed with panic: WHERE IS THE LAPTOP? Well our amazing driver could not have been kinder! I called the cab company and he agreed to let them give me his personal phone number. I called and luckily he had found the laptop. The gentleman also agreed to keep it in his personal possession rather than turn it into lost and found. What incredible honesty! So yeah I agree that Russian uber/cab drivers are the best 👍
Great article! I realize that the process of growing from small to large, from poor to rich brings the sense of happiness and contentment, rather than staying in a wealthy state all the time. Same rule applies to starting a business.
So here we have a little bit of dilemma: the more we do/prepare for kids, the less they feel happy and fulfilled.
Uber drivers really are one of the last places where our bubbles and their bubbles naturally coincide. Class goes away and it’s just two humans talking and sharing. Always cool when you get an unexpected perspective change. And thanks for helping to change my perspective through sharing the story👍🏼 loved it
One's perspective and locus of control plays a huge factor as well. If I look at my own family's trajectory, I'm doing great. If I were to look at Instagram, the tee-vee, or other windows of reality with no basis in reality? Perhaps I'm doing poorly.
Attitudes toward family have driven that perspective outward. People focus on the perceived path of some YouTube stranger instead of focusing on what their OWN ancestors faced and overcame (to get them where they are today).
Billions of people would trade places with an American in a heartbeat. Hell, you could extend it to any western aligned country. Remember this and it will calm an anxious mind so you appreciate everything much more.
Our problems aren’t unimportant with this realization, but it does help to weed out fake mental ones and disrupt the pressure of those real ones
Exactly this. So many Americans have no idea how good they have it here and worse, they bitch about how awful and oppressive it is. Meanwhile, you have tens of thousands - to be conservative - of people literally risking their lives to sneak into this country and have a chance at a future...
Those that complain should be airdropped into whatever country they claim as their place of heritage and see if they could even last a month there...
It’s all relative to what your life experiences. If someone’s AC unit isn’t working in July, they’re going to complain. The first thought isn’t to think about how they’re lucky to have somewhere to stay. It’s like searching for your keys only under the street lamp.
I can’t point the finger at them and say “ignore this injustice to you, look at this worse one” for everything in their life and wash my hands. That’s not being a good friend, their problems are still real and I sympathize with them. But agreed that somehow we’ve fostered a culture of entitlement that I’m not sure the best way to break out of
Azamat reminds me of Igor from Undercover Boss (7-Eleven): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FtV8xF11uY
Igor works the night shift as a truck driver for 7-Eleven. He came to America with $50 in his pocket. He's energetic, enthusiastic, positive, and super motivated.
Igor: "I'm living in American dream now. America is the best country in the world. You guys just do not really know how blessed you are."
Everyone needs an Igor in their life.
Spot on—and I agree, gratitude is key, even if all you’ve got is a reliable Toyota Camry. We’re in the greatest nation on Earth, where hard work opens doors. And let’s be real: work never killed anybody. In fact, when you approach it smartly—keeping your nose to the grindstone, learning from inevitable mistakes, and making small course corrections—it becomes the foundation for something bigger. Done right, that steady effort sets you up to play just as hard, enjoying the rewards of your labor without breaking your back. It’s all about balance: grind, adjust, and then kick back.
Thought this piece was great, looking forward to more like it
🫡
Great article Jack. The best way to feel grateful for how life is in our 'first world' is to go travelling to a 'non-first world' country. It doesn't have to be a dirt poor country for us to see the difference, just a place where the people don't have the same access to opportunities. Take the local buses and trains, not private transport or tours. Eat in the locals' restaurants, not the tourist ones. And most importantly, talk to the locals. Ask them for their perspective.
I've been doing this for over 40 years and it's given me a great appreciation of how good we have it.
This one hit hard towards the end for a millennial like me. Extremely relatable. Great write up Jack.
Thank you, Jack! Needed to hear that
this felt like the old jack
you're amazing
Trying to get back to my roots!
I love talking to Uber/cab drivers, especially in LA, NYC, and Madrid. The stories of how many of them got their start and the heroic efforts to stay afloat are grounding--and fascinating.
They're so much fun. I had another Russian Uber driver today, had so many wild stories about the fall of the USSR.
The audio is very low. You need a better speaker.
Add 6th stereotype guy:
Bangladeshi/Pakistani/Indian guy who has done an MBA in his home country and will talk for hours about how much struggle he had to do to bring his family here and will talk proudly about his son/daughter studying in an Ivy League School
Awesome article Jack, thanks for sharing!
My wife and I are originally from Seattle, but now we travel full-time. Recently we spent three months in Australia. We took a cab from our Brisbane hotel to the train station, where we were scheduled to board a 10 hour train to Sydney. Our Russian driver was so garrulous, friendly and engaging that I completely forgot about my laptop bag in the backseat. We get out of the cab, walk inside to board the train and I’m immediately overwhelmed with panic: WHERE IS THE LAPTOP? Well our amazing driver could not have been kinder! I called the cab company and he agreed to let them give me his personal phone number. I called and luckily he had found the laptop. The gentleman also agreed to keep it in his personal possession rather than turn it into lost and found. What incredible honesty! So yeah I agree that Russian uber/cab drivers are the best 👍
Great article! I realize that the process of growing from small to large, from poor to rich brings the sense of happiness and contentment, rather than staying in a wealthy state all the time. Same rule applies to starting a business.
So here we have a little bit of dilemma: the more we do/prepare for kids, the less they feel happy and fulfilled.
Uber drivers really are one of the last places where our bubbles and their bubbles naturally coincide. Class goes away and it’s just two humans talking and sharing. Always cool when you get an unexpected perspective change. And thanks for helping to change my perspective through sharing the story👍🏼 loved it
One's perspective and locus of control plays a huge factor as well. If I look at my own family's trajectory, I'm doing great. If I were to look at Instagram, the tee-vee, or other windows of reality with no basis in reality? Perhaps I'm doing poorly.
Attitudes toward family have driven that perspective outward. People focus on the perceived path of some YouTube stranger instead of focusing on what their OWN ancestors faced and overcame (to get them where they are today).
Getting into the Uber 5 drinks deep:
So, when’d you start driving for Uber?
Every single time.