It's so easy to stand out!

My son uttered that phrase during his first year in graduate school. "Dad", he said, "I am surprised at how easy it is to stand out." Well, easy or not, he did stand out and is, today, doing extremely well as a tenured professor at a major university.

Good for him. Sad for society. If it is easy to stand out, what does that say for the population?

Some 50-plus years ago, I stumbled across a book titled "How To Retire At 35." Since that time, there have been numerous writings on the subject, pro and con, and there is even a coming TV series by that name, scheduled to appear on TVLand cable channel.

The gist of that 1950s book was, indeed, the fact that it is easy to stand out. The author suggested that one decide the field of work in which he believes he will be happy. Then, get a job in that field. Start on the bottom rung of the ladder. That's okay. Then, be the very best employee the company ever hired. That's the "Stand out" part. If, within a reasonable period of time, your efforts are not recognized, look to another company in that field. Eventually, hard work, loyalty, honesty and devotion to your duties will be recognized and you will move up. The one constant then, must be, to be the best employee ever.

That is such a simple and effective plan. Yet, in some of the offerings since the 1950s, people have demonized the idea. A Google search of "How To Retire At 35" found some 72 million results. Some despaired over the idea of early retirement leading to a life of boredom with dire results. What a crock.

In recent years, liberal politicians have been wringing their hands over "the poor", as though large segments of the population are doomed to be stuck in a life of want. Yet, the renowned economist, Dr. Thomas Sowell has offered proof that many among "the poor" are only temporarily struggling economically. Large numbers of yesterday's poor are today's middle class and will be tomorrow's wealthy. It happens, because it is so easy to stand out.

Benjamin Franklin is reported to have said "Never make poverty comfortable." Perhaps if today's policy makers would heed that advice, hunger pangs would make more "poor" wake up to the fact that it is easy to stand out and will stand out themselves, rather than sit at home and beg for government help.