Faking it till you make it.

I once had this boyfriend S who was a WEASEL, the man would LIE WHEN THE TRUTH WOULD DO, a CHEAT, and a con artist to some extent. Did I also mention he came from an old family with money and history, had a job his daddy got him but that he excelled at, and owned his first half million dollar house before the age of 30?
Now..growing up in the bible belt I was always taught there is a special kind of hell for the likes of S. That people like S never came to any good. That all their efforts were thwarted by the LORD until they GOT RIGHT WITH GOD.
Actually. He has an amazing life. IS REALLY HAPPY. And nothing bad has ever happened to him in his forty years of existence.
Me? I was always trying to do the right thing and coming out of it like Calamity Jane.
Observing that man CHANGED MY LIFE.
Now, it's not in my DNA to lie cheat and steal but I could take a note about some of his other behaviour.
The thing that S did 9 times out of 10 was that he would look at a situation and say to himself..HOW could I possible eek a little more out of this.
He ALWAYS asks for the first class upgrade at the airport. Bastard had zero frequent flier miles he was just asking.
Several times THEY GAVE IT TO HIM.
There is me ....just marching to my seat between the perv and the screaming baby for a 4 hour flight while he is waving a glass of free champagne at me 6 rows in front.
If I have to return something to a store..I hem and haw and feel all guilty.
He never gives explanations. If they push him for one he says "It's not YOUR money your giving me back haus..is your last name TARGET? Cough it up" And they do!
Several times I made up my mind to just do the most audacious thing in a situation where I would benefit greatly and then I decided I would NOT feel guilty at all for it.
For instance. I always wanted to be in outside sales. At the time I was working in a cube and barely making rent. I had exactly FIVE outfits for work.
So I just started applying for jobs in sales and asking for nearly six figures.
Some laughed. Some asked to see my W2. But guess what? The fortune five hundred companies? Didn't blink. Hired me and overnight made me REAL FREAKING CASH.
Did I mention I had NO previous experience or the education that the jobs asked for?
S told me.."Spend the whole interview being mesmerized by the guy interviewing you and your in" I thought he was crazy. But since that tactic worked to cover my inexperience/education..what choice did I have? WORKED EVERY TIME!!!
And once in the job..I worked my ass off to deserve it and made a name for myself.
I stayed with him long enough to learn how to get vacations paid for, better jobs, a nicer place to live.
You should see my house. I told my Realtor the price range I wanted to look at. He and my husband looked at me like I had LOST MY DAMNED MIND. It took 5 realtors to find one who would do it. And then that one showed me houses for over a year. My motto..."Someone..somewhere is going to give me what I want and I'm going to be there to accept it". And THEY DID. It's not a mansion but when your facing a life with three people in a small condo and your heart says "No way..I need three bedrooms and three baths.." Score!
Amazing.
So yes...the ex was a weasel. He embarrased me many times in our time together. But what is life if you can't learn a lesson FROM EVERYTHING. And then use those lessons to carve out what a brutal world would deprive you of. Worked for S!