Does Having an Easier Life as a Kid Make Your Life Easier in the Long Run?
Intro
Whether you've been spoiled as a kid or not, you may wonder if having an easier life early on helps you become a successful adult.
But before diving into the details, we should distinguish between an "easier life" and a straight-up silver spoon.
For example, I was born in Rome in the 80s to two employees and was fortunate to have a relatively comfortable but simple life.
If you want to know my whole story, click here; otherwise, let's go!
Let's start with answering a few questions and setting up the stage.
What is an "easier life"?
The spoiled brat
If you subscribe to the idea that work is hard and that working for what you want is a hassle, then an "easier life" means that you have access to your needs and wants without having to work for them.
Did you just fall in love with that new sweater you saw at Lululemon? No Problem! There's always room on your parents' credit cards.
Are your friends going to Ibiza for a week? Awesome! "Dad! Can I fly first class? I hate sharing my armrest with strangers..."
The down-to-earth kid
On the other hand, if your goal is not to be spoonfed forever, to have an "easier life," you may just need a loving family that supports you and a place you can call home.
If you had a bad day at school or work, you could come home to someone that cheers you up.
If you get stranded on the side of the road at night, your brother will gladly get out of bed and get you.
If you're struggling to find a job in your field, your loved ones keep their eyes peeled and are ready to alert you if they find something that may be a good fit for you.
Real life is hard for anyone
As you can tell, there are different levels of support, and while most young people would prefer the first option because it does make their life easier in the short run, the truth is that spoiled kids make up for very inefficient adults.
It doesn't matter if you want to be an employee or an entrepreneur. Life is not easy either way.
Take job applications, for example. First, you have to fill out pages upon pages of documents and questionnaires.
Then you have to wait and hope they call you for an interview.
And if you do get to the interview stage, you have to dress up, show up, and be on time at least a couple of times.
You must be sharp as a tack, have a smile on your face, and you cannot let any bit of stress or frustration transpire.
Oh, and I forgot. You probably won't get the job because another 250 applicants are trying to get the same position.
But what if our spoiled friend (let's call him Jeff) decided to become an entrepreneur instead?
In that case, Jeff will need to spend a few days navigating the nuances of setting up a new business license.
Then he'll have to start reaching out to thousands of people to get them to buy his products. He could be spending years without seeing a single sale, no matter how hard he works.
In a nutshell, the only spoiled kids that turn out to be "successful" are those who keep being spoonfed even after becoming adults.
Their minds are not wired for problem-solving and usually lack grit and perseverance.
They haven't had the chance to develop resilience as young kids, so even the smaller failures hit them hard.
I am totally aware that I am generalizing, but people are not born with the traits I mentioned above.
To become resilient, you must endure some level of pain.
To learn how to problem solve, you must feel the pressure of the situation on your own shoulders.
To have grit, you must fail and recognize that you are the only one in control of your destiny.
Finally, to be patient, you must learn how to work hard and still wait for the results.
The Universal game of life
Life is not a zero-sum game in the short turn. Putting 100% of your efforts into a task today won't guarantee 100% of the results tomorrow.
Quite the contrary, actually. Most of your wins will come with a long delay, sometime in the future when you least expect it.
Life is like a garden. There's a season for sowing and a season for reaping.
You don't plant a tomato seed today and come back tomorrow for the harvest.
And expecting early results in any other area of your life is just as immature.
Temptation holds you back
Another factor that plays against spoiled individuals is temptation.
When I decided to go all in on my business, I had no choice. I had just gotten laid off from my corporate job, and my business was my lifeline.
I had no time -or money- to think about trips, fancy dinners, nights out, new clothes, or even a warm meal at my family’s house (I lived away from them.)
And I am not alone. Most successful people have to go through periods of total focus to build anything of real value.
But keeping focus is extra difficult when there are many opportunities for instant gratification.
Think about a time that you wanted to eat healthier.
You probably got rid of all the unhealthy options in your cupboards and fridge and replaced them with more nutritious foods.
A spoiled person trying to build a successful life on their own is like someone living in a candy store trying to lose weight.
It's not impossible, but it's definitely not practical.
Conclusion
Whether you were spoiled or not, having a support system at home is always a good thing.
But when it comes to being an efficient adult,
If you had to work for what you wanted growing up, you might have already developed many intangible skills that will allow you to thrive in this highly competitive world.
But if you were the spoiled kid, there's nothing to be ashamed of.
First off, it's not your fault.
And second of all, the fact that you're reading this post and that you are wondering about the consequences already sets you up for success.
If you want to know more about how to build a recession-proof mindset and become unshakable, check out this other post!