Easy?

I love to hear people talk about their journeys.  I love to hear how they from point A to point B.  I am generally about to listen to these stories without judgement.  I just love to learn from other people's perspective. 

I was listening to a podcast last week and the guest talked about going to a prestigious university and getting a job in television news.  She said it was easy.  As if she didn't have to work for it.  And it made me mad. 

Granted, this was one sentence in an hour long interview.  I really enjoyed the rest of the interview.  But that sentence stuck with me. 

I know that life involves a certain bit of luck.  You need to be at the right place at the right time.  I love Malcom Gladwell's work on this in Outliers.  In Outliers he talks about successful people being in the right place at the right time.  It's one of my favorite books.  I check out the audiobook from the library on the regular. 

Also, I don't want everyone to have to suffer for their dreams.  I haven't suffered for my dreams.  But I've had to work.  I want my boys to work.  I want my students to work.

I want them to know if you work hard, you can achieve their dreams.

Could we have more of these stories?  Let's hear them.  Let's celebrate them!

What's your favorite "hard work got me here" story?