Get Rich or Die Trying: The trilogy

No doubt you've seen the posters for the new 50 cent movie plastered everywhere. To me, the expression means striving for everything that you can, and if you don't get it, at least you gave it your all. Well maybe not exactly. Fiddy was a drug dealer/thug, and he was determined to make it rich and was shot 5 times in the mouth and almost ended up dying. Here's my version of the real life movie.

Get High UAI or die trying

Lil brother done did it - finished the HSC. Want to know what he got for his UAI? He got approximately the same mark as the year the Bulls won their 4th championship. For those non-basketball fans, tough! Go ask someone.

It always interesting asking him or anyone for that matter what they are going to do at uni. I remember I was stuck in a dilemna - which course, which uni? My brother is in the same position now. He actually had two scholarship interviews at UNSW for IT courses. Problem was, he didn't know much about the course, let alone have a suit or tie to wear.

Like any career obsessed older brother, you know that I prepped him hardcore. I made him do research on the course, and did a mock interview, prepare responses for questions, made sure he dressed right, did the "hard" handshake. With my other brother, we made him sit down and do a 1 hour interview. We did a bit of roleplaying as there were meant to be two interviewers. I was the industry rep and my other brother was the academic.

Let's just say, I grilled him hardcore like any loving brother would, asking him "where do you see yourself in 3 years time?", "Why should we give you the money?", "why do you want to work in IT?", "What are the current industry trends in IT?". I mean you can't expect a 17 year old to answer all this stuff, but I wanted him to give it his best shot.

Get Filthy Rich or Die Trying: RIP Messers Packer

Sadly Kerry Packer, the richest man in Australia passed away two days ago. Dude was worth a mint - $7billion fortune to his name. He definently was larger than life. This guy had his fingers in every pie - Media, Sports (Da*m, he owned the cricket), Casinos, IT, Real Estate, Managed Funds. True mogul, Rockafeller style. But at the end of the day, his poor health took him to the grave. It shows, money ain't everything. So Get Rich or Die Trying, young one!

Money ain't a thang

I think to be successful in life you don't need to be rich like Kerry. You don't need to own half the world. Money is only one measure of success and a poor one at that. Too often in life, I've made decisions or treated people or viewed certain individuals with a certain disdain, based on what? Money.

Take my parents for example. I think they've been relatively successful - they've come from overseas, educated themselves here, raised a family in Australia, we've got a nice house, two cars, own an investment property. Two of their sons are highly anal to argue with because they've both got law degrees and the third one just got a ripper of a HSC mark! In their eyes and mine, they've made it. Compared to most families, we are very well off. Most important to them though, is the fact that they raised three good sons.

That my friend, is true success.

I leave you with one of favourite bible verses to reflect on: "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" - Mark 8:36

Peace Out.

DJ Ho.