Taken from JRE #2014 w/Jim Gaffigan:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/427jwbmn8JDzFbFKRxfrWC?si=dbdfa3e925124a6d

Because I have a 19 year old daughter and she's amazing and she is not like if I brought up the idea of her pursuing a career based on financial security she would be offended.

And I say that with a little bit of a joke because I also remember, like the comedians, people that go into comedy are not like, well, you know, we didn't know it was gonna be this type of business.

We went into it because it was, you know, creatively fulfilling to get on stage and make strangers laugh.

And, but like, there is something, at least for me, having 5 kids, it's like, I really didn't care about money.

You know, in my thirties, I remember my parents died and people were picking, all my siblings came around and we were getting stuff and I was like, I'll take the immigration papers, you guys can have the rest.

And so I was the youngest, but the point I'm getting to, as you get older, once you get a taste for comfort, because I've tried to articulate to my children, money is about freedom.

It's like the freedom to afford to go on a date, you know, the freedom of independence.

Like I don't have to ask mom and dad for my help, for help.

And so, but there is, you know, the perspective that changes.

I'm not saying all people, but like when you're

all right, do I have enough money to get beer?

As opposed to like when you're 40, you're like, all right, I might need knee replacement surgery.

And like, there is some, you know, comforts.

And you don't wanna be scared as to where your next paychecks coming from

yeah, I mean I I fly you know commercial and I fly you know business class and it's amazing and I don't you know like If I have a gig and they're like, I would have to fly and coach, I'm like, I don't know if I want to do it.

Like, I'm kind of a, you know, it's like, is it worth being really uncomfortable for a bunch of hours?

Like, I have, like, I live in New York and I work at the Wynn has, Wynn's a great casino, right?

And they have this theater and it's a great thing.

And so there used to be all these direct flights from New York, I mean there's tons, But there were some live flat things and they were like live flat.

And so from New York, it's like a five-hour flight and so They essentially started getting rid of those things.

I'm I don't know if I want to perform in Vegas anymore I'm like LA.

Yeah I'm just trying to impress everyone with my My toughness my mental grit baby can't if A baby can't be uncomfortable for a couple hours.

But it's probably not good for kids to grow up that comfortable.

You know, it's like we all Everyone that I know that's interesting had a pretty shitty childhood and rough and difficult and a lot of problems and but None of those people want that for their children even though it made them the most interesting people that I know, because they got through some hard times and difficult childhoods and struggle, and they developed discipline and character and the ability to overcome adversity.

Because you know you're gonna suck at it, but it's like how much damage can you do?

Yeah, and how much damage does the world do?

Yeah, it's not just you it's like what are your children getting exposed to at school?

What are your children getting exposed to at school?

What are your children getting exposed to on the streets?

Yeah, because when they reach a certain age where like you can hear them actively not listening to you.

And you're like, oh, I hope your peer group is communicating some of this stuff because I've said it 6 times and you're obviously not hearing it.

It's really, and it's when you have young kids, you think, oh, because I think our society, we kind of portray, you know, babies, oh, I couldn't sleep last night, my baby was crying I had to change poopy diapers.

Yeah but like when it's Saturday night and they're out and you're like what?

Who knows what's happening at these parties.


Speaker 0: The Joe Rogan Experience

Speaker 1: Because I have a 19 year old daughter and she's amazing and she is not like if I brought up the idea of her pursuing a career based on financial security she would be offended. And I say that with a little bit of a joke because I also remember, like the comedians, people that go into comedy are not like, well, you know, we didn't know it was gonna be this type of business. We went into it because it was, you know, creatively fulfilling to get on stage and make strangers laugh. And, but like, there is something, at least for me, having 5 kids, it's like, I really didn't care about money. You know, in my thirties, I remember my parents died and people were picking, all my siblings came around and we were getting stuff and I was like, I'll take the immigration papers, you guys can have the rest.

And so I was the youngest, but the point I'm getting to, as you get older, once you get a taste for comfort, because I've tried to articulate to my children, money is about freedom. It's like the freedom to afford to go on a date, you know, the freedom of independence. Like I don't have to ask mom and dad for my help, for help. And so, but there is, you know, the perspective that changes. I'm not saying all people, but like when you're

Speaker 0: 20,

Speaker 1: all right, do I have enough money to get beer? You know what I mean? As opposed to like when you're 40, you're like, all right, I might need knee replacement surgery. Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah.

And like, there is some, you know, comforts. You like comforts, right? You don't wanna struggle. Right.

Speaker 0: And you don't wanna be scared as to where your next paychecks coming from

Speaker 1: yeah, I mean I I fly you know commercial and I fly you know business class and it's amazing and I don't you know like If I have a gig and they're like, I would have to fly and coach, I'm like, I don't know if I want to do it. Do you know what I mean? Like, I'm kind of a, you know, it's like, is it worth being really uncomfortable for a bunch of hours? Like, I have, like, I live in New York and I work at the Wynn has, Wynn's a great casino, right? And they have this theater and it's a great thing.

And so there used to be all these direct flights from New York, I mean there's tons, But there were some live flat things and they were like live flat. Yes. So like were you you know? It's like the seat turns into a bed

Speaker 0: Oh lie flat.

Speaker 1: And so from New York, it's like a five-hour flight and so They essentially started getting rid of those things. I'm I don't know if I want to perform in Vegas anymore I'm like LA. Yeah, no, there's life flat. I'll do that. Yeah I'm just trying to impress everyone with my My toughness my mental grit baby can't if A baby can't be uncomfortable for a couple hours.

Speaker 0: You can definitely get used to comfort. Yeah. Yeah. But it's probably not good for kids to grow up that comfortable. No.

It's interesting. You know, it's like we all Everyone that I know that's interesting had a pretty shitty childhood and rough and difficult and a lot of problems and but None of those people want that for their children even though it made them the most interesting people that I know, because they got through some hard times and difficult childhoods and struggle, and they developed discipline and character and the ability to overcome adversity.

Speaker 1: Parenting is terrifying.

Speaker 0: It is. It's terrifying. It's a complicated world. And

Speaker 1: it's just more complicated. Because you know you're gonna suck at it, but it's like how much damage can you do?

Speaker 0: Yeah, and how much damage does the world do? Yeah. Yeah, it's not just you it's like what are your children getting exposed to at school? What are your children getting exposed to at school? What are your children getting exposed to on the streets?

Speaker 1: Yeah, because when they reach a certain age where like you can hear them actively not listening to you. Mm-hmm. And you're like, oh, I hope your peer group is communicating some of this stuff because I've said it 6 times and you're obviously not hearing it. You know what I mean? Yeah.

It's really, and it's when you have young kids, you think, oh, because I think our society, we kind of portray, you know, babies, oh, I couldn't sleep last night, my baby was crying I had to change poopy diapers. And that's the easy part. That's the easy part.

Speaker 0: Yeah that's just lack of sleep.

Speaker 1: Yeah but like when it's Saturday night and they're out and you're like what? Where are they?

Speaker 0: Right. Going to parties.

Speaker 1: It's terrifying.

Speaker 0: Yeah. Who knows what's happening at these parties.

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The Shift in Perspective from Your 20's to Your 40's