Once upon a time, I met an actor in Paris. He was a buddy of Leonardo DiCaprio and had landed some small parts in big movies because of it. But he let his pride get the best of him and decided to chase after bigger roles. Sadly, I haven’t seen him in a movie since, and that was 10 years ago.
This story reminds me of the tough balancing act that working parents face every day. They’re constantly juggling their jobs and their kids, and it can feel like they’re never giving enough time to either. It’s even harder for single parents who are living paycheck to paycheck. They’re under so much pressure to provide for their families, and I have nothing but respect for them.
In situations like these, it’s important to put our pride aside and do whatever it takes to take care of our loved ones. It might not be glamorous, but even small roles can keep food on the table. And if you keep at it, better opportunities will come your way.
I remember feeling embarrassed about working at McDonald’s when I was in high school. I was trying to earn some money for a date, but I felt so ashamed when some of the cool kids came in and saw me in my McDonald’s uniform. I ended up hiding in the back and assembling apple pies.
Looking back, I can’t believe I felt that way. There’s nothing shameful about working hard to earn money. In fact, I’d be proud of my kids if they decided to work a minimum-wage job in high school. And if they had to work a minimum-wage job after college, I’d still be proud of them. It’s better to take action and become financially independent than to let pride get in the way.
A few years ago, I decided to drive for Uber to make some extra money. My wife and I were planning to start a family, and I wanted to be a good provider. I ended up giving over 500 rides, and I wrote about my experiences to help others who were thinking about doing the same.
But there were a couple of rides that really stood out to me. Not because of the passengers, but because they made me feel embarrassed and ashamed. I had to pick up a client I had consulted for and an old client from the finance sector. Both times, I felt a sense of shame because my career had taken such a different path.
I’ve learned that the desire for status can make us feel less than. I stopped playing the status game when I left the workforce in 2012, but I found myself comparing myself to others when I started driving for Uber and interacting with other parents. I realized that I needed to overcome my feelings of embarrassment and shame.
So I started practicing exposure therapy. I would put myself in situations that I was afraid of because of what others might think. I would take on low-paying jobs or junior roles in consulting. It was a way for me to confront my fears and learn to manage them.
I also realized that driving for Uber and coaching high school tennis were forms of mental training for fatherhood. Waking up early to give rides and communicating with teenagers helped me prepare for taking care of a baby and handling household chores.
At the end of the day, it’s important to do whatever it takes to provide for your family. It’s important to show our kids the value of hard work and saving money. And it’s important to remember that there’s nothing embarrassing about doing a job that might be considered "low status". In fact, it’s something to be proud of.
So, have you ever felt embarrassed or ashamed of doing a "low status" job? How did you overcome your pride? And why do some people look down on others who work low-wage jobs? Shouldn’t we be cheering them on instead of complaining about life not being fair?
