[ui]ICEMAN;23199704 said:Let me take the time to answer a few of the questions here then.
You are correct, my Father has done very well for himself but is certainly not in the league of purchasing private jets etc. I didn't grow up wealthy, we lived well but not like myself or my parents do now, that only really came when I was in my late teens and while I lived well, I certainly didn't get handed everything - if you recall, I started with a Peugeot 306!
I made a lot of money in professional gaming back when I was 16/17 as well as from my mountain biking. I worked for OcUK for a little bit while at the same time I was a director for Bit-Tech before following some other business ventures and investments that ended up being rather lucrative.
I became a commercial pilot after selling out of those businesses and got really into aerobatic flying. I flew private jets for a few different people but found the whole career to be rather lacking in fulfillment (personally) so decided to pursue something I'd considered back when I was 18- medicine. I can be quite honest and tell you at 18-22 I wasn't interested in spending that much time in school any more but I've matured now and realize where my true calling lies. I'm currently still in school but I still maintain a salary from my consulting companies and automobile paint protection films.
I'm married to a wonderful woman who understands what it means to be successful and driven, as she herself is at the pinnacle of her field. I prioritize what I want out of life and work as hard as I possibly can - and yes, I can't for a moment discredit that if it weren't for my parents' support and financial assistance, that things may not have progressed as quickly as they have.
For what it's worth, a doctor in the US, particularly in the field I'm going into (Interventional Radiology) will earn significantly more than in the UK, it's just the way the industry works out here. Starting salary for some specialties is around $450-500k with others reaching easily up to the $900k+ range.
Surround yourself with the right people, work every day as if you needed the money to eat that night and just don't take no for an answer. My Father always said that there's no such thing as luck, he said you make your own luck and it's something I've kept in mind every day - if you do things right, good things will happen.
I in no way meant to diminish your professional accomplishments, I just think some people are extremely naive and when asking "oh what does he do for a living" and then on being told you are a Pilot or Dr think that that is what equals the wealth, when in reality it is a lot more complicated than that, as you have explained. Most people are not in the fortunate position of having the financial backing and support of wealthy parents to be able to attempt, and go on to achieve, the things that you have done, and it paints an unrealistic picture when other people ask "how do you afford that" and someone simply replies for you "oh he is a pilot I think".
I can understand people asking, but I would rather talk about the cars, how ever if people are going to inquire, I don't want them to go on and think that the world is all sun shine and rainbows and that if you work hard, it can be achieved, even if you are born unto a heroine addict single mother with 8 siblings all from different fathers in a 3 bed council house.