It is a common sight in Chinatown (both San Francisco and New York City) and it has always disturbed me.  It is the sight of old, Chinese ladies hauling big bags of plastic bottles and sifting through trash cans to acquire more.  These ladies are immigrants to the United States and probably came over late in their adulthood along with their families.  It’s a huge investment to cross an ocean and set up a new life in America.  So, why do these ladies work so hard and sacrifice so much to get to the states only to repeat the same low value work they  did in their home country?

I’m sure if I asked these women this very question (and if they answer instead of slap my rude mouth) I would get an earful of excuses: I’m too old, I’m not educated, I don’t speak English, or Gui-los don’t hire Chinese.  The best retort they may give is that these plastic bottles aren’t valued, when one can actually get X amount of cents back for cans and bottles at a recycling center.  But still, why stop there?  Why not apply that same savviness  to create a recycling collection company?  Why not figure out how to maximize time and cents coming in through thought and application?  Perhaps 5% of these women would listen to the tough questions and build something amazing, but 95% will insist on doing what their friends do.  Collect bottle by bottle, day by day, and brag about all the “investment” opportunities they found just lying around.  Most will refuse to grow their personal and financial investment in America into a truly outstanding reward.

Now–turn the mirror toward yourself (I’ll turn it on myself too!).  Have you saved up money to get yourself to the big city?  Or, perhaps you worked your sales skills to finally land a big client?  Maybe you finally “got in” to that university or job you always wanted to get into?  All that work and all that investment and you’ve finally arrived at someplace new.  Do you innovate and be a Linchpin, or do you get right to doing what you’ve always done?  Do you look for the same crappy job once you get to the big city,  treat that special client like a faceless client, or put your head down and work like you always have?

The Bottle Collecting Syndrome doesn’t just apply to old ladies in a new world.  It is a human malady.  When you make a life investment, make sure you use your mind and your time to make it an amazing opportunity. Don’t give yourself any excuses, go out there, and push beyond what you think your best may be.

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