<html><head><style type="text/css"></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:8pt"><DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">I'm reminded quite often that any classification of wealth from the lowest we commonly see to the highest - these are all relative.   All of us are tremendously wealthy when you think about it.   Remember there are people living on garbage dumps in some parts of the world, where children spend their day rummaging through filth for anything to help them survive.  Each person needs to be treated with the same respect regardless of their current possessions level.   I have not had one single instance yet in which a wealthy person treated me with anything less than respect.  It may happen, and when it does, I won't worry about it.  When they get my bill, I think they'll know that I respect myself and my work.   In the end,  I'm just there to do a job and there's no need to be bloated about it.  I just need a check on the way out the back (or servant's entrance) door.  If I don't want to go back - I won't.  </DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">Bob Hull<BR></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">----- Original Message ----<BR>From: "piannaman@aol.com" <piannaman@aol.com><BR>To: pianotech@ptg.org<BR>Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 8:19:50 PM<BR>Subject: rich people<BR><BR> <DIV><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Interesting thread.  Forgive me if this gets through twice.  It got bounced back to me the first and second times, so I'm trying again.<BR><BR>I often see cheap new grands with PianoDiscs in them in multi-million dollar homes.  I recently serviced one of these before a holiday party that was going to include much of the San Francisco Symphony.  I felt like leaving a note on the keyboard saying, "please don't blame the tuner..."  <BR><BR>The other side of that coin is I see very expensive grands in luxurious homes that only get played at the annual Christmas party or when I come to tune them.  <BR><BR>Rich people are under different stresses than those of us who work in a service industry.  They have similar problems, but on a grander scale.  And they have money to hire people to help them deal with many of the things that those less well-off have to deal with personally.<BR><BR>Like many of those who have posted, I find that being yourself eliminates much of the internal friction we feel when in a social situation that otherwise might be uncomfortable. I find it hard to put away the class-consciousness when one is treated as less than those he/she is working for.  </FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sometimes it's not the technician/gardener/housekeeper/ teacher that does the face-rubbing.  Part of what we do requires diplomacy.  If that diplomacy is not feigned, then you'll do well in a people-oriented business.  </FONT><BR><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><BR>I lived in a privileged situation once, though I married into it.  The money that created the lifestyle I was living was earned before I got there (in the immortal words of Homer Simpson, "it was like that when I got here!").  That alone carried much baggage, including innuendos of marrying for money. I didn't have to work, and I am eternally grateful for having the time to spend most of my son's first two years with him.  But it never felt right to me, probably because I never felt it wasn't mine to begin with.<BR><BR>Having lots of money CAN do funny things to people.   Some people can be themselves no matter what.  Some feel the need to put on airs.  I didn't like what it did to me.  That marriage didn't last for many reasons.  </FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The fact that I did NOT wear THE--or practically any, for that matter--pants in the family didn't help much.  </FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Difficulties adapting to what I considered an excessive lifestyle was but one small part.  Not getting along with my ex--in large part because a difference in how we perceived money and what was considered "enough"--was the biggest part.  <BR><BR>The truth is, I'm far happier doing what I do now than I ever was living in a gilded cage.  Being an autonomous human being/piano technician is something you should never take for granted.  If you've ever given it up, you'll know what I mean.<BR><BR>Sorry for the long post.  Thanks for reading.<BR><BR>Dave Stahl<BR><BR><BR></FONT></DIV>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: <A href="mailto:RptBob1@aol.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:RptBob1@aol.com">RptBob1@aol.com</A><BR>To: <FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A></FONT><BR>Sent: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 10:14 am<BR>Subject: Re: rich people<BR><BR><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV>In a message dated 11/9/2007 8:43:13 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, <A href="mailto:anrebe@sbcglobal.net" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:anrebe@sbcglobal.net">anrebe@sbcglobal.net</A> writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><BR>To do this you must be able to put away the silly class conscious <BR>attitudes you have picked up through life and relate to them as <BR>people (usually well-educated and professional) on a friendly but <BR>professional manner.  That means you have to portray professionalism <BR>visually (the way you dress) and in your manners.  Your first <BR>appointment will be the teaser and eventually you will develop the <BR>credibility that will result in your being able to help them get what <BR>they really want.  To generally quote Zig Zigler, the more people you <BR>help this way the more you will be able to get the things you really want.<BR><BR>Take another look,<BR>Andrew Anderson<BR><BR>At 01:11 AM 11/9/2007, you wrote:<BR>>Well, I can't believe Dave A. hasn't chimed in yet...;-]...Most of <BR>>my rich, have really nice pianos...David Ilvedson, RPTPacifica, CA 94044<BR>>Original messageFrom: "paul bruesch"  To: "Pianotech <BR>>List"  Received: 11/8/2007 8:03</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>Andrew:</DIV> <DIV>Bravo for these intelligent comments.  So many peoples' biases are based on jealousy more than any other factor.  It shows in the  comments preceding your comments.  People who are better off than you  have probably worked very hard to get where they are.  Their achievements came about thru schooling, sacrifice and perseverance.  Qualities not to be undervalued.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Bob Bergantino RPT</DIV> <DIV>Willoughby Hills, Ohio</DIV></FONT> <DIV class=AOLPromoFooter> <HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"> Email and AIM finally together. 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