Talented but entitled

Johnny met his old friend Patrick and told him he needed P200,000.

He begged Patrick to loan it to him, but Patrick refused.

“I have to remind you, then,” said Johnny, “of what happened 25 years ago when we were in Vietnam together. You were lying wounded in the jungle. I crawled out to you, dodging bullets, threw you over my shoulder, and dragged you back.

For this, I got the Medal of Honor. But the most important thing was that I saved your life. Now, will you let me borrow the P200,000?”

“No,” said Patrick, unimpressed.

“Let’s go back to 15 years ago,” said Johnny. “I’d like to remind you who introduced you to your wife. Who set you up with her when you were afraid to ask her out? Who gave the money for your honeymoon, Patrick? Me! Now will you let me have the P200,000?”

The response was again, “No.”

Still determined, Johnny continued.

“How about 10 years ago,” said Johnny, “when your daughter was struck by that rare disease and your doctor was desperately trying to find the right blood to give her a transfusion? Whose was it that finally matched? Your pal Johnny. I gave her seven blood transfusions, and it pulled her through. You’ll let me have the money, won’t you, Patrick?”

“No, I won’t,” said Patrick.

“Think back to five years ago,” urged Johnny. “Remember when your back was against the wall and you had to have P150,000 or the bank would foreclose on your company. Who signed the note that guaranteed your loan? Good old Johnny! I saved your business for you then, didn’t I, Patrick? Now you will find it in your heart to loan me the P200,000!”

Patrick still had no problem refusing.

“What kind of friend are you, anyway?” yelled Johnny, exasperated. “Twenty-five years ago, I saved your life. Fifteen years ago, I introduced you to your wife. Ten years ago, I saved your daughter’s life. Five years ago, I saved your business. In light of that, I can’t imagine why in the world you won’t loan me the P200,000!”

And then Patrick responded, saying, “But what have you done for me lately?”1

Have you had a similar experience?

Somebody you helped in the past – and when it’s time for you to ask for help, they ignore you. These are people who do not understand the concept of gratitude.

Let me ask you another question. Have you ever helped someone in the past, and in doing so, the guy thinks you owe it to him to keep helping him?

No matter how high civilization has evolved and no matter how deep education has advanced, there will still be disappointments like these walking on the surface of this planet.

And why is that so? Because it’s got very little to do with civilization, it’s got little to do with education, but it’s got everything to do with character.

Every office has one.

The employee who once did something extraordinary – hit a target, stayed overtime, trained a batch – and has since lived in permanent nostalgia.

They act as though the company owes them lifetime gratitude and exemption from accountability.

They’ll say, “Remember how I saved that client in 2018?”

Yes, we remember. But it’s 2025, and the client has since retired. What have you done lately?1

These are the workplace “Johnnys.”

He may be talented but entitled.

They walk around with a mental ledger of their past contributions and use it to justify poor performance, bad attitude, or worse, mediocrity.

Some people mistakenly equate tenure with ownership, experience with excellence, and seniority with superiority.

Entitlement whispers, “I’ve been here long enough. The company owes me.”

No, it doesn’t.

The truth is that the workplace doesn’t owe anyone a living.

The paycheck isn’t a reward for existence – it’s a result of contribution.

When contribution stops, compensation becomes charity.

The most refreshing people to work with are those who stay teachable, thankful, and forward-looking.

They don’t rest on old glories; they build new ones.

Gratitude keeps them humble; entitlement makes them sour.

Entitled employees drain morale; grateful ones inspire excellence.

One sees the company as a burden; the other sees it as a blessing.

Patrick may have been cold, but he had a point:

Success in life and work isn’t about what you once did – it’s about what you’re still doing now.

Yesterday’s achievements don’t pay today’s bills.

So, if you ever catch yourself thinking, “After all I’ve done, they should be thankful,” pause and ask, “What am I still doing that adds value?”

Because in the real world, as in the workplace, the world doesn’t owe you a living. You owe it to yourself.

Walter Schwimmer, Stories for Preachers and Teachers

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