Note : Cari makan is Malay for earning a living
I write this, not only because of the "fake dentist" issue, but also reminiscing on some life events.
On 2009, when I came back after working in Dubai for several years, ending up un-employed in Malaysia for few months, oh of course I could not forget what critical words was spoken to me by those people I thought dearest.
"Kau pergi Dubai masa kau belum matang lagi, tu la pasal" (You went there because you were still immature, that's why).
Years later, when I have worked few years in construction in Malaysia, there was this girl whom I liked, and somehow our family knew of each other.
So sometimes, that girl and I Whatsapp on personal matters, and sometimes I showed her my "working place", the construction areas and all.
Her father gave the best appreciative remark that made me realised this relation will not work well.
"Pakcik tengok kau ni pandai tapi bodoh, anak saudara pakcik pun kerja engineer kat kilang, ok je duduk dalam aircond buat kerja, kau ni macam Bangla kerja je pakcik tengok".
In summary, I just translate that her father thinks I works like those Bangladeshis when I can earn a good living working in air-conditioned office.
I find peace in all these critical genius comments, after a belief I found in three books.
Adam Smith - Wealth Of Nations.
Imam Ghazali - Ihya Ulumiddin
Thoreau - Walden.
Adam Smith says in the Chapter Ten : Of Wages and Profit in the Different Employments of Labour and Stock
"
Fourthly, The wages of labour vary according to the small or great trust which must be reposed in the workmen.
The wages of goldsmiths and jewellers are every-where superior to those of many other workmen, not only of equal, but of much superior ingenuity; on account of the precious materials with which they are intrusted.
We trust our health to the physician; our fortune and sometimes our life and reputation to the lawyer and attorney. Such confidence could not safely be reposed in people of a very mean or low condition. Their reward must be such, therefore, as may give them that rank in the society which so important a trust requires. The long time and the great expence which must be laid out in their education, when combined with this circumstance, necessarily enhance still further the price of their labour."
The wages of goldsmiths and jewellers are every-where superior to those of many other workmen, not only of equal, but of much superior ingenuity; on account of the precious materials with which they are intrusted.
We trust our health to the physician; our fortune and sometimes our life and reputation to the lawyer and attorney. Such confidence could not safely be reposed in people of a very mean or low condition. Their reward must be such, therefore, as may give them that rank in the society which so important a trust requires. The long time and the great expence which must be laid out in their education, when combined with this circumstance, necessarily enhance still further the price of their labour."
Imam Ghazali discusses occupation and economic in the Chapter of Ter-celanya Dunia, but if you read through, the concept is not discussed in Islamic religionistic way, but more logical approach, which he discussed the needs of man, why man need to socialise and to be govern, all in all this is done by the demands of economic necessity.
Imam Ghazali's approach in Ihya, for me it's quite the same theme as Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations logic and methodic approach. Only after discussing thoroughly this, that Imam Ghazali asks the students to know the reasons why, and hence not to be to absorbed with the worldly matters.
Thoreau in Walden, also resonates the same theme.
Go read it. Don't ask and debate if you didn't because it\ll be a waste of time.
In summary, I believe, free your mind from comparing with others about success.
Success is objective.
Man, as age and time flows by, is somehow limited, whether in strength, genius, time, effort, opportunity. etc.
So one does best by what he have rather than what he insist.