Читать книгу Money Mammoth - Ted Klontz - Страница 23

When was the last time you visited someone's home and saw busts and portraits of their ancestors lining their walls? Interestingly, some of the most generationally successful families do have pictures of their ancestors displayed prominently, but for most of us, this is just not the case. It makes sense though, because, for rare exceptions, many of our ancestors never achieved significant fortune or status and few could afford an artist to paint a portrait. Many Americans are the descendants of immigrants. Aside from the occasionally wealthy adventurer, no one in their right mind would choose to leave a life of wealth and privilege to get on a boat and travel across the world to start over in a country where they knew no one and often didn't even speak the language.

If there were busts of your ancestors, with the possible exception of your parents or grandparents who may have been able to capitalize on the opportunities for socioeconomic advancement, the busts would likely not be of those who accomplished great things as measured in our culture or by ancient Roman standards. Instead you would see pictures and artifacts of refugees, indentured workers, slaves, and immigrants.

For most Americans, you would be looking at the historical legacy of poverty. Many of our ancestors came to America in an attempt to escape the depredations of political upheavals, poverty, calamity, disease, and natural disaster, or were forced to come here against their will. For many of us, our more recent ancestors would be represented by the tools and artifacts of farmers, auto workers, government employees, cooks, or laborers.

So, if you closed your eyes and imagined the hall of fame for your ancestors, what would you see? What financial legacy did they pass down to you? What beliefs about money did they pass on to you? What beliefs about what is possible did you inherit?