Welcome to Not Pretty, Not Rich
"We're not pretty and we're not rich, we're gonna have to f**king work for it." - MLIW
Welcome to Not Pretty, Not Rich a newsletter by me, Sam Becker.
I’m a Senior Writer at CNBC on the Grow team, a special project between CNBC and Acorns. I have been writing about business, the economy, and personal finance for several years.
But before that, I did it all—I parked cars, hauled luggage, and scrubbed dishes. I worked the graveyard shift, the lunch (and dinner) shift. At one point, I was working four jobs at once.
On occasion, I slept on the floor, in my car, ate whatever I could get my hands on, and logged a few 18-hour days. It wasn’t always fun, but eventually, I found ways to get raises, promotions, and move on to better, more fulfilling work.
And that’s what this newsletter is all about: Breaking through—whatever that means to you—by outworking everyone else.
Some people are born with certain advantages, such as good looks, charm, or wealth. In some cases, it’s well-connected family or friends that can help you get into the right schools, or introduce you to the right people. We’ve all known someone who seems to have the keys to the kingdom handed to them, and it’s easy to be jealous or revel in the unfairness of it all.
The best thing you can do is accept it. Then, work on leveling the playing field.
That’s the essence of Not Pretty, Not Rich. Life isn’t fair, and you should accept it. There are things you can’t control, and there are things that you can. We’ll focus on the things we can control.
Every week, I’ll share what I can to help you get a step ahead, and hopefully, overtake your rivals.
You’re going to have to work for it. And at times, it’s going to feel like there’s no point or purpose. But if you keep pushing and maintain a disciplined approach, you’ll see results.
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In the meantime, tell your friends!