The people I really respect are the ones who contributes something to society. Nurses, binmen, teachers, engineers, supermarket shelf stackers, etc, all do vital, useful work (assuming they do their job well, of course). A skilled craftsman who builds, say, air-conditioning units, or water purifiers, Iphones, and then exports them, is contributing to the economy. I especially admire those who take pride in their work and produce something beautiful. Someone who makes really elegant suits for Saville Row, for example, or beautiful handmade shoes. Academics are often impressive people. They have a passion for their subject and a vast knowledge. I often listen to Melvyn Bragg’s In Our Time on Radio 4, and it’s amazing to hear these academics talking on everything from solar eclipses to Greek philosophy. In particular, I admire those who conduct scientific research. The people who work in the labs and study cancer or nuclear fusion or carbon emissions or whatever it may be are pushing the boundaries of knowledge and advancing our civilisation. So yeah, people who do useful work, who build and produce beautiful things, or who extend the limits of human knowledge - those are the people I most respect.
I have far less respect for estate agents and solicitors. I suppose they are necessary, but they are overpaid in comparison to a farm labourer or a lorry driver. And I often wonder just how necessary they really are. I also have a very low opinion of many self-made businessmen. I know a guy who made his money selling bathroom fittings. He made a profit because the stuff he sold was cheap and nasty and fell apart after six months or so (by which time he’d folded up the business). I know another man who made money selling hearing aids. Again, cheap, nasty rubbish. Both made a small fortune. Both have very high opinions of themselves, and consider themselves ‘winners’. To me they are grubby little cheats who’ve contributed nothing to society.