I have written about this in my motivational quotes that make you ponder, that money can't buy all the things especially intangible things but it is powerful.
Money can give you power, it gives you the ability to buy everything you want, everything you need as long as it is tangible. It also gives you the ability to attract people, some even bowed to other people just because they are wealthy. Some even are willing to lick wealthy people shoes just so they can ladder up to success.
Money can attract people but mostly fake ones
With the money you can elevate your life status, you have the best spot in society. People will look up to you, show care, wants to be friends with you and all the likes.
I'll tell you a story.. how people treat you when you have money and when you don't have one.
Real-life story
My mom and dad had me without plans, they are not financially stable yet because dad was just starting his career. Mom said when I came to their lives it was a blessing in disguise but a challenging one as well because they are not stable yet, they are not even married yet.
Dad encountered troubles related to his job, he is a seaman by profession. He has an uncle that is well established already, a captain of the ship to be exact. But this uncle had some attitude towards colleagues, he was very strict and only favours those subordinates that he likes.
When dad had his apprenticeship, he joined a ship that some of the officials are mad with his uncle, the chief mate to be exact. In the ship, the chief mate is next to the captain. This chief mate had some grudge towards his uncle because of his bad attitude when they joined the same ship before, it caused trouble for my dad. He was a cadet and he was treated unfairly because he was tied with his uncle when they know that his uncle was his backer.
Some of the officials favour dad because he works hard, they even give some recommendations to the office to promote him to the next rank as he was diligent with his works. But the promotion didn't happen because the chief mate who hates his uncle gave him a failing mark on his assessment.
This made my dad career falls. When he reported to the office to have a line up his current fleet denied him and told him to find another fleet because he got a bad record. He asked his uncle for help but this uncle never sided him, and think he was just shame of his name where he was the reason why my dad had problems. He never asked for my dad's side, why it happens and just listen to rumours. The rumours were my dad was not good at having PR (personal relationship) with his colleagues or what we call “pakikisama” because he doesn't drink too much. Some of his colleagues drink alcohol after work and he is not like that, he's not into drinking that made them think he doesn't know how to make friends and have fun. Sometimes he goes with them but not all the time.
Image from: Unsplash via Tom Pumford
After that it took 3 years that dad doesn't have a job, he's having a hard time getting a lineup because of his so-called bad record. His uncle didn't mind him anymore.
Mom said when dad had his apprenticeship, so many friends and relatives keeps commenting on his Facebook post, many of them sending greetings and regards as if he was a celebrity.
When dad lost his job, those fake friends and even relatives didn't bother to care or send regards to him anymore. Nobody helps him, nobody asked how he's doing, etc.
Mom and dad almost give up on dad's profession, dad tried applying for another job but he's failing to get one. Until one day someone helps him, it was his dad friends son, I mean my grandpa had a friend who has a son that is also a captain in the ship and even got promoted to have a better position in the shipping industry in Japan.
He helped my dad to onboard again and it did happen. Mom told me they never expect it and they almost give up on the thought that he can onboard the ship once again.
Image from: Unsplash via The New York Public Library
After that my dad had his job again, some friends and relatives started to care about him again just like before, sending regards, take care, etc on his Facebook. When he signed off he's like a celebrity that people are excited to see him as if they are one of the direct family.
Endnotes:
That's my dad story, and I can see that money is powerful as it attracts fake people towards you. They'll show care because they see your money, they see your status is good but when you don't have any money at all people will never bother to care about you, some relatives even disowned you.
With money, you will also see who are real and fake as you see who will stick to you when you are penniless and who will stick to you when you have a thick wallet.
With this, my mom told me to strive hard to be financially stable when I grow up because it will give me a better status in life.
Until next time, thank you for reading.
That's the problem with the maritime industry, it's dirty and is always about money. As if they aren't paid enough huh... Even when training in maritime schools it's always abt the money. Tsk. And then as you said if you don't have a backer you won't get a job. That's just sad. Good thing a "miracle" happened and your dad was finally able to work onboard again.