There has been a lot of talk and media coverage in the United States over the last few weeks regarding the “plight” of minimum wage, service workers. The unions and other groups that support this workforce use the argument that no person should have to endure those wages long term. And guess what? I agree. However, we differ on the solution.

Here’s the deal: If you want more, YOU have to become more. You can’t simply demand more when you are not adding any additional value to the marketplace. It doesn’t work that way. It never has and never will (at least not successfully, long-term). Have I worked at a minimum wage, service job? Yep. Guess who else has? Jeff Bezos, Jay Leno, Pink, Carl Lewis, Macy Gray, Rachael McAdams, Andie McDowell, Andrew Card and thousands of other people who have gone on to lead very successful lives. They all made the choice to better themselves through education or refinement of a marketable skill set and used their minimum wage job as a stepping stone, not a comfort zone.

It’s easy to whine and complain about your situation, but you rarely get any meaningful and sustainable results that way. The marketplace is much more likely to reward you when you expend your effort and energy on improving yourself.

What’s your take?

Sources: McDonald’s Taught Bezos, Leno and 7 Others Big Lessons, Forbes

McDonald’s: Jeff Bezos and 5 Other Famous Folks Who Worked There, CBS News.