Entitlement vs. Earning

My View

We often hear about the dangers of entitlement, the belief we are owed something we have not earned. A more subtle and often more damaging form of entitlement is the confusion between what is earned and what is owed.

That confusion can distort judgment. It can make capable, committed people feel wronged when outcomes do not match their effort. When we begin to believe we deserve a specific result, disappointment can quickly shift into resentment.

The truth is simple: We may earn something, but we are never owed it.