I grew up watching television families who worked hard, worried about paying the bills, dreamed of better opportunities, and occasionally made a complete mess of their finances. James Evans on Good Times struggled to provide for his family, George Jefferson worked his way into a successful business, and Mary Richards showed us what it was like to navigate office politics while trying to do a good job.
One thing those shows taught me was that having money and having character aren't necessarily the same thing. Neither are having an impressive job title and knowing how to treat people. I watched characters wrestle with pride, ambition, jealousy, dishonesty, and the temptation to take shortcuts. Sometimes doing the right thing meant turning down an opportunity or admitting a costly mistake. And sometimes the biggest lesson came from watching someone who thought a bigger paycheck made him a bigger person.
At CouchDegree.com, I revisit television stories about jobs, money, workplace relationships, ambition, financial hardship, and personal responsibility. We'll look at what these characters got right, where they went wrong, and what their experiences can teach us about earning a living, keeping our promises, treating coworkers fairly, and knowing that success isn't always measured by the size of your bank account.
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