> "pride, character, and respect from colleagues are things that don't pay the bill"

I can name several dozen colleagues I've worked for over the years who will vouch for me and help me get a job if I should ever need it and that does pay the bills.

People who say things like the above quote, can't.

To be honest you don't need to work very hard to achieve this.

what if you met those colleagues at a relatively low-wage job, and neither you nor anyone else who will vouch for you has advanced very far beyond that low wage level?

sure, they can get you a job, but it will be a horizontal move for you if you are currently employed, and certainly no step up from your prior employment if you're suddenly unemployed.

consider that for many young people outside of the software and finance worlds, this is precisely the situation. all the good reputation in the world doesn't much matter if it doesn't get you any further than where you are.

Presuming you want or need to get ahead - and you should carefully examine the reasons why you do. There is usually a cost to getting up.

Horizontal moves are acceptable and sometimes even optimal.