The Jetsons
Meet George Jetson.
His Boy Elroy.
Daughter Judy.
Jane his wife.
Did you start hearing the theme song in your head?
If not take a moment and revisit the incredible Jetson’s. A show about the future conceived and cancelled in one season.
Yes, one season from a launch in prime time on September 23, 1962, to a final episode on March 17, 1963.
Now before I launch into my point of the Jetsons being alive and well in 2016. Trivia points for answering the question of who were the other four characters in the sitcom. Post your answers on my Facebook Page and be honest! No using Google or any of the other search engines. Prizes for the quickest and wittiest!
In case you missed the Jetson’s you can use YouTube and watch the episodes. The theme song will stick with you for a while.
The Jetson’s show was cancelled due to technology. They were ahead of the current technology and were unable to overcome the flaw.
Their flaw? The show was in color and had some great animation for 1962-63. In 1963 only 3% of the households in the USA had color and even some of the ABC stations could not broadcast in color.
The Jetson’s were rather dull in black and white versus the futuristic color. Technology made them dispensable.
Fast forward to the 21st Century and jump right in to 2016. Walking Buddy on Sunday around the neighborhood, I encountered three 37 inch Sony Trinitron’s sitting on the curb.
Did they work? Of course, but they had been bypassed by technology. They were free to anyone that wants them. Two of them even had the remotes taped to the top. Alas, they were still there on Tuesday morning and fell victim to the City of Richardson’s Bulk Pickup. (City brag – we have weekly bulk pickup versus the big city Dallas pickup that is ONCE per month)
Today our consumer led Jetson economy has to have the greatest, latest, biggest and most colorful technology regardless the cost.
What is the Jetson Economy?
“Daily life is leisurely, assisted by numerous labor-saving devices, which occasionally break down with humorous results. Despite this, everyone complains of exhausting hard labor and difficulties living with the remaining inconveniences.”
My question to you is at what cost? Financial? Personal? Relationships?
How much technology is too much?
Recently I had lunch with a friend. (Married with teenagers – three daughters and a son) For the six of them, they have 11 TV’s and that doesn’t count the Iphone’s, Ipads and other technology that can stream TV shows and movies.
My question was simple WHY?
The answer was “I don’t know; we just do”.
Now before you jump to the conclusion that I am passing judgement or my opinion, stop for a moment and just think of the 4th item in The Financial Olympian™ Creed.
- Live Below Your Means – You cannot spend every dollar you make and become financially independent. Now is the time to learn to live on less. You have a choice with this part of the Financial Olympian™ Creed. You can either choose to learn by making good choices or life (aka Karma) will demonstrate to you how your choices were poor.
If you are taking care of the first three steps in The Financial Olympian™ Creed, then you certainly can make any choice you want, just don’t stop at step 4. Yet your choices can impact your ability to move on to Step 5, “Give Regularly”.
My challenge to you in your quest to become Financially Independent and a Financial Olympian™ is to answer the question.
What does the latest greatest technology do for you and your family?
Have a great weekend, I will be watching the USA GO for GOLD on my three-year-old 60-inch flat screen TV bought on sale at Costco.
Michael
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Michael Tannery CPA CDFA® AIF® ● CEO
Registered Principal
Be A Financial Olympian
