My Friend Ruben

Drinking and partying all night was his gig. After all, working in the most popular restaurant in town allowed him to be generous with his money. Besides, even if he squandered it all in just one night, at least he had a good time and the very next day he would make new cash.

That’s why he liked being a waiter. It didn’t matter if he spent all his money. The next day he would earn new tips. The restaurant he worked at was busy, the customers liked him very much and he was the best at what he did. Why worry?

And so Ruben continued his pattern of financial abuse and physical neglect day in day out for many years. One day, while working, he felt a sudden pain in his chest. The sting was so severe; it dropped him to his knees.

Later on at the hospital the doctor informed him he had a massive heart attack. The only reason he survived was because he was just 29 years old. “Just a few more years” the doctor told him and he would not have made it.

Completely shook up by the incident Ruben decided to mend his ways. The restaurant business was all he knew. He had no other skill and no degree of any kind. He decided he would continue to work there but he would no longer participate in all nighters.

Instead, he would save his hard earned money, invest it somehow and look forward to retire at an early age.

Several weeks after the incident occurred Ruben returned to work. He was greeted by his coworkers who instantly reminded him how they had missed him at the nightly gatherings. They told him how glad they were he was back and how much they were looking forward to having a great time later on.

That night, at the end of the shift, with his buddies all geared up to party, Ruben informed his friends he would no longer engage in this lifestyle. His friends tried to convince him to tag along: “Come on, just one drink!” “Yeh man, it’s been so long!” “Come on let’s go!”

Ruben held steadfast in his decision and after much argument eventually went home alone.

From that night forward Ruben went home alone while his friends went partying. Over time, Ruben was able to amass a small fortune. Investing his savings in real estate, Ruben retired a multi-millionaire at age 41.

His “friends” are still about, most of them still working in a restaurant here and there. On the few occasions they see each other, his friend tell him how smart he was to do what he did and how they wished they would have done it too.

Looking back at that night when he told his friends no, Ruben recalls:
“That was the saddest night of my life. By not joining my friends for drinks and laughs I knew I was no longer part of the club. Having to leave my friends behind like that was hard on me and hurt me an awful lot for a long time. It was also the best night of my life because on that night I took the first step to improving my life. Seeing at how my life is now I know I did the right thing. Now I have all the money I ever need to party all night long. Not that I want to but it’s nice to know that I can. As for my friends, that’s the life they chose for themselves and I wish them all the best. I was fortunate to have a heart attack. It actually taught me to take control of my life. I am glad it happened. As for advice I can give someone else? I guess I have to say, don’t wait for life to happen to you, make life happen for you.”

In case you’re wondering, I was one of Ruben’s drinking buddies. At 41 he retired while I had a pile of debt. I was lucky to have a friend like him. He showed me how I too could still create the life I wanted to have as long as I was willing to do something about it.

I listened, I learned and I did turn my life around. You can too. Let me guide you, let me show you how. Follow my lead and don’t quit. Eventually you too will be successful.

Best Wishes;

Lode