She’s in the $$
A pal who just got her M.B.A. is being courted for six-figure-salary jobs. Good for her, but she has no sensitivity about it where her poor friends are concerned. How can I make her get some perspective?
Answer:
If she’ll be making all that dough, she can afford to be insensitive. Hell, if she alienates all her friends, she can probably afford to buy a few new ones. They might not really care about her, but they’ll fill the lonely five minutes between working and working (most big-money jobs require you to trade your life for the paycheck). Forget jealousy— you should feel sorry for her. You might not have two pennies to rub together, but you do have leisure time to worry about it.
That takes care of your perspective. As for hers: She might be digging herself into a hole with a golden shovel, but that doesn’t mean she should brag. Tell her that you share her happiness about her good fortune, but you’re so broke, you can’t pay close attention. Say, “You know how some people get uncomfortable talking about money? I’m one of them, mainly because I don’t have much to speak of. Let’s discuss something more interesting, like sex. Or food. Or paper clips.” She probably means no harm, but all her big-bucks talk isn’t cheap. You have to make sure she knows that it could cost her your friendship.
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