Tell a successful person that they got where they are today partly because of luck and they aren’t going to be happy. They’ll argue that it was through sheer hard work and dedication and anybody in the world, regardless of their background, could have done the same if they wanted it enough. But a lot of people will tell you that isn’t true and, while the hard work people put in counts for a lot, there is still an element of luck there. This debate is becoming more and more relevant as wealth inequality is increasing.
There are some people out there that have found success and are fully willing to admit that luck played a big role. Jos Opdeweegh, a CEO, compares the business world to the sports world. He says that some people want to see themselves as soccer players; anybody can get into the game because there are no financial barriers. But he says that, in reality, business is more like Formula 1. You do still need to be a good driver, but even the best won’t get anywhere if they don’t have the money that you need to buy expensive cars. In short, talent is a big part of it, but that doesn’t guarantee business success to everybody. So, is he right? Can you get to the top on talent alone or does your background and the opportunities that you’re given have a part to play as well?
Education
Education is something that is hugely affected by your background; the cost of a college degree is so huge and even though you can get loans, people from a poorer background are going to be apprehensive about getting themselves into that much debt. There’s no denying that getting a college degree would be a lot easier if you come from a wealthy family that can help you to cover some of those costs. This is becoming increasingly important as more people are getting college degrees than ever before. That puts people who don’t have one at a distinct disadvantage and those people are often from poorer backgrounds.
Contacts
Another good way to get ahead in business is to make use of contacts in your industry. If you come from a family that has found business success themselves, they are likely to know people that they can introduce you to, and you’re going to have some name recognition in the business world. An employer that is deciding between 2 equally qualified candidates and they know a parent or family member of one, they’re likely to choose them.
Office Politics
Even if you don’t have prior connections, your relationships with people at work can have a big impact on your chance of success. When you’re going up for promotion, your employers will make that decision based largely on experience and qualifications. But they’re inevitably going to be swayed by other factors. If you don’t have a particularly good relationship with one of the people making that decision, you might lose out.
Obviously, if you’re going to find success then you need the necessary skills and you’ll have to work hard. But that doesn’t mean that everybody is on a level playing field because your background does have a big impact.
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