Fuck the Karate Kid (and anything else with a montage)

http://www.cracked.com/article_18544_how-the-karate-kid-ruined-modern-world.html

In the western world, we have the tendency to think that we know how hard it is to accomplish our goals. I realized that my perception of the effort needed to do just about anything worthwhile was 100% wrong. And just like what's mentioned in the article, I'm going through effort shock. Years of getting by in high school are finally catching up to me. The author of the article puts it this way:

"It applies to everything. America is full of frustrated, broken, baffled people because so many of us think, "If I work this hard, this many hours a week, I should have (a great job, a nice house, a nice car, etc). I don't have that thing, therefore something has corrupted the system and kept me from getting what I deserve, and that something must be (the government, illegal immigrants, my wife, my boss, my bad luck, etc)."

We're bombarded by stories of people seemingly making it big overnight, and movies where short montages show that short burst of effort is enough to become exceptional at something (Karate Kid, any sports movie). Losing weight? How hard can it be? Becoming famous? Justin Bieber posted videos on youtube like a million other kids and made it big. Finishing a degree? Just a little bit of homework and organization should do. Then we realize that it's very hard to get in great shape, Justin Bieber's been singing hours a day his entire life and has probably put in more work into his shitty music than anything we've ever accomplished, and that degree we scraped by to get doesn't mean jobs are out there waiting for us. It really is depressing, and this recent credit crisis shows that we live in a society where most believe good things should come easy.

Focus: What goals have you had where you had no idea how hard they would be to accomplish?

Alt focus: Talk about effort shock in general. Have you been able to overcome it?

 

Before the thread starts, let me say for posterity: Fuck the new Karate Kid movie.

I realise it's a remake, so therefore locked into the name and general story line. But Jackie Chan is Chinese. From the advertisements I've seen, they're in China. Karate is not fucking Chinese, even if it is derived in part from elements of it and bears strong resemblance to certain kung fu styles.

I further realise not many people will understand this, and less will give a shit.

So yes, fuck the Karate Kid... just for a different reason.

 

That's right , at least call it The Kung Fu Kid.

Then they can make a remake of the Karate Kid followed by a sequel where the Karate Kid and the Kung Fu kid beat each others asses up using their respective martial arts.

 

Furthermore , making movies or tv shows about losers that keep on losing wouldn't make money.

Or maybe Schadenfreude could sell.

 

Effort shock is pretty accurately covered in the article the OP shared. The older I get, the more I am faced by the next phase of Effort Shock - Motivation Shock.

Once you realize you've been working your ass off since... ever... and can no longer tell if you are setting unrealistic expectations, or are just frustrated from a few missed opportunities here or there, or sacrifices made for friends or family, the inevitable pull of "aw fuck it, I should just be happy with what I have coming at the rate I've succeeded so far" starts to kick in.

5 years in a cush office job, middle management seems to be more likely than G4s and never ending expense accounts. Except for your friends who actually are flying around in G4s that make you feel like shit. Give up or keep trying? <sigh>

Oh, and my apologies to those of you who actually work for a living. I get paid to think all day- that much I am grateful for always.

 

What I find amusing is how Gen Y and beyond seem to have been brought up being told that they can achieve and "make it" and all be "successfull" and so on and most of these poor souls will get into the workforce to eventually find out that those big shiny impressive Companies that they will work for will grease them up and fuck them sideways for as long as the money etc. is good enough to keep them there.

 

on the subject of people's work habits:

I think people work, but they are just shitty at it.

Its unfocused work, with tonnes of distractions (twitter facebook iphone whatever). How many times have you been on AIM in college talking to friends, while typing a paper? and gotten a B on it and been happy with that. Some of you might have gotten As, but you still didn't focus.

In order to be truly great at something, even your daily shit-scooper job, one have a few applicable genetic gifts, then focus and apply themselves with no reservations. Remember that phrase that got laughed at in school? "perfect practice makes perfect"


being shocked at effort:
I partially blame the system too. all our lives we've been hammered with: get HS diploma, Bachelors, Masters, Job, etc, and you will achieve your dreams. These are all checkboxes. very few of us are realize what those boxes actually mean: learning, and applying. Not cram the night before, then forget.

I think its often enough to get proverbial-success-checkboxes to have mediocrity, but people don't understand those checkboxes they half-assed in school, do not mean they are guaranteed anything great.

 

My dad and I sat down before my freshman year of college to set up my goals and aspirations and figured out a 1 year, 5 year and 10 year plan for me to work towards and keep in mind as I'm going through school. Things like a 3.0 GPA, retention of scholarship all 4 years, first year plan out of college and five year plan out of college are great to have but by no means guarantee me anything in the real world. They are checkmarks in boxes as far as I'm concerned and while they give me some tools and guidance to be successful, the rest is up to me.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not what you know but rather who you know and how you apply what you know. Being a disciplined, hard worker is great but flexibility, creativity, timing and a little luck are what make or break people in the real world (coming from dad, an executive at a big name insurance company, I have no reason to doubt that hard work alone isn't enough).

 

I second this. I've come across a lot of lifers in the restaurant industry, guys and gals who've been at the same job for 20+ years, doing the same thing day in and day out. They are among the hardest working individuals I've ever met, but because they lack any flexibility or creativity, they will continue to be wage slaves for the rest of their lives. And while they might be okay with it, they could've gone further if not for those shortcomings.

That being said, there's still a place for them. An important place too, in my opinion.

 

I think John Fogerty, though in a different context, said it best, "Someday never comes."

Most of the more successful people I know aren't the most gifted or specialists in any area. It's like Viking33 says, it's not what you know but who you know. Learn how to make contacts, network, keep an ear out for an opportunity. It most certainly will not fall into your lap. I was a fan of sports before becoming a bookie, but not a freak about sports. Through drinks with a friend of a friend, and being able to prove simple social abilities, I started as a wagering clerk and moved my way up. I wouldn't say I'm living the dream, but my effort, focused through the right channels, has helped me come to a place where I am happy with what I do.

 

Village Idiot ... I'm with you on this one.

The Western Capitalist system IS flawed.

In Australia we have (or at least had) the Australian dream , go through school , get a job , (get married , kids) , buy a house and live happily in the Land Down Under with the Lifestyle of your choice.

That Australian dream is fast approaching nothing but a dream for many many people.

Alot of people here are tyring to persue this dream which in many respects means "Keeping up with the Joneses" , but , as an astute friend of mine observed.

The Joneses are already wealthy and have no debts.

What also annoys me is that hard working people that do important , usefull work like teachers , nurses , child care workers (very poorly paid) and even police are paid relatively poorly for their work and efforts.

My feeling is that the more inequality you have in a society in general , the more that problems that society begins to experience and its a fallacy to think that these problems can be solved with simple easy solutions.

 

Becoming a carpenter hasn't been easy at all. I'm horrible at math and still think I can get geometry fixed up with a shot of penicillin. I knew it was going to be hard when I started, I didn't really think about the hazing or abuse that you take when you're an apprentice. It sucked donkey balls. I plan on working for myself next year doing contractor work and I know it's going to be long hours and hard work. How long and hard? (Insert penis joke.)
I have to find out for myself if it's going to be worth it.

 

I think most of you are missing a key point: Some people just can't cut it. They're not bright or good athletes or have any special talents, they're just average. That's perfectly fine, but no amount of hard work will get them to their dreams. We're not entitled to our dreams. That's just the way life is.

 

If at first you fail , try , try again ... then quit , there is no point being a fool about it.

 

Does anyone else suffer from the opposite of this? I psych myself out more often than anything else and then things usually seem easier than I imagined them to be.

 

I'm glad people like the Wright Bros. didn't share your philosophy. Failure should be looked upon as a learning opportunity. I've learned more from my failures/mistakes/shortcomings than I ever did from any of my successes.

 

I don't see people failing as particularly being a massive problem. Everybody fails sometime, it's an important learning tool. What I see as a major problem is when people don't realise, or refuse to realise, that they've failed. Especially when it's brought to their attention.

Incompetently blundering along as if you've aced something when everyone else can see you've screwed just makes things worse. And this is only compounded by the people who should, and don't, bring it to their attention.

If you fail; realise it, learn from it and don't do it again.

 

I love it when someone feels the need to tell me I've failed and should realize it.

I left my job to start my own company and every single one of those fuckers doubted me. They laughed when I planned on starting the business out of my home. They told me others have tried and I'll fail like everyone else.

That was 4 years ago, now with a multi-million dollar company with 4 employees and expanding rapidly, I'm the one laughing.

So yes, listen to all the haters so you'll never take a risk, join the flock, and enjoy a life of mediocrity.

 

But this isn't the same thing. People were telling you that what you were about to do has failed in the past by others, not that you have failed. It's more "That'll never work" as opposed to "I told you so, now do you see?"

You failed to understand Disgustipated's post and you should realize that.