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I could teach her to make a six-figure income within 1-3 years. Many others here could too.

Eh, how about you start a thread here on that subject?

Don't get me wrong, I've always understood that not having a crummy life depends very much on attitude and making good choices. I've done the best of my siblings, and I think one can look at our choices and attitudes to explain much of that.

And yet...

I had a good upbringing, very good education, have a good work ethic (the hardest working "m-f'er" I've ever met, someone once said about me), ambition (started my own company), pretty good financial sense (good about saving, consider risks carefully, not prone to large "impulse" purchases, etc.) And etc. :-) My biggest vices are a few hours of fishing every week or 2 (not in the winter!), or coming here (FR). I truly love my work. Everyone says I'm an unusually energetic, upbeat person. Yet, sometimes things can go awry (the US presence of the industry I am expert in, evaporated, and I do not wish to move to China.) Dedication to helping take care of my elderly parents both ties me down and wears me down. For now we (my immediate family) are "ok", with a very average income, and a very modest retirement account, but I haven't a clue how we can afford college for our daughter, unless she qualifies for financial aid. Agghh.

I can honestly say that in almost 60 years of life I have not had a boring day since maybe my teens. But all the work, dedication, energy, loyalty, etc., seems to have brought me to a rather average place, in terms of taking care of my family, and I finally begin to feel weary and inadequate. Seeing where my country is going and what likely lies in the future does not help. I wish I had the energy to do more / do better, but something like a 40 year old quarterback who realizes his own limitations, I don't know that it's there...