The myth of the self made man.

Seems its a real struggle for most to change there circumstance,maybe why so many give up and live on benefits.?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201006/the-myths-the-self-made-man-and-meritocracy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/24/mitt-romney-self-creation-myth

 

[internetspaceships]

So.

I started without a pot to piss in. No inheritances, no family money, no support or assistance. How does this apply to me then?

Or to most of the guys on here no less who have got off their asses and made something out of nothing?

Don't come back with "luck" or "genetics" because neither explain your OP in the context within which it was written.

 

So.

I started without a pot to piss in. No inheritances,

What do you mean no inheritance.?:|

You were born into one of the richest countries on earth,and I thought daddy was a GP not on minimum wages then.?

 

[internetspaceships]

What's my dad being a GP got to do with anything? He was brought up in a steel prefab with a dad who worked on a paper guillotine in a factory all his life.

Are you saying he had some kind of head start in life too?

I followed in his footsteps- I got off my arse and bettered my lot in life.

 

What's my dad being a GP got to do with anything? He was brought up in a steel prefab with a dad who worked on a paper guillotine in a factory all his life.

Are you saying he had some kind of head start in life too?

I followed in his footsteps- I got off my arse and bettered my lot in life.

So having a GP for a dad were you brought up in a steel prefab or a mud hut in Africa living on Tesco's cheapest.?

Don't you think you at least inherited some of your fathers brains.?

( er maybe not )

Everyones chances in life are down to pure chance.and thats a fact for 99% of the worlds population.

 

[internetspaceships]

Oh great so now you're implying I'm stupid too.

 

Oh great so now you're implying I'm stupid too.

Not at all but according to you ,you inherited nothing.

 

[internetspaceships]

What are you drivelling about? Actually no. Forget it. I'm not even going to get into it with you. You're a waste of time.

 

[CKG]

I agree with sirearl.

Success in life boils down to, as Warren Buffet puts it, 'winning the ovarian lottery'.

 

[DannyLewis]

I agree with sirearl.

Success in life boils down to, as Warren Buffet puts it, 'winning the ovarian lottery'.

Got to disagree with this, sorry. Life is what you make it. Sure, its gonna help a hell of a lot if your dads name is Richard Branson, but that is not to say you can't make something of your life and achieve success from very little, if you have the brains, willing and determination.

 

if you have the brains, willing and determination.

All of which are provided by pure chance.

 

[Podge]

I think parents contribute a huge amount in making us what we are. Why do you think we have generations of people on benefits.

 

[Cornish Steve]

A substantial majority of millionaires are self-made. Comparatively few of the rich inherited a fortune. Personally, I suggest we should celebrate success, not criticize it. It's what drives our economy.

 

A substantial majority of millionaires are self-made. Comparatively few of the rich inherited a fortune. Personally, I suggest we should celebrate success, not criticize it. It's what drives our economy.

Would you like to name any please.?

Afraid not our economy is based in assets.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Would you like to name any please.?

Afraid not our economy is based in assets.

86 percent of millionaires did not grow up wealthy. There are plenty of other sources for this data.

About 80 percent of new jobs are created by small business. Some sources claim 60-80%, while others quote as much as 90%.

Next question?

 

[Matt1959]

All of which are provided by pure chance.

brains are provided through pure chance but will and determination can be influenced by upbringing or can be developed from within...

 

A substantial majority of millionaires are self-made. Comparatively few of the rich inherited a fortune. Personally, I suggest we should celebrate success, not criticize it. It's what drives our economy.

Now which would I trust more.

A sire that has a vested interest in the idea that you can make it on your own.

Or an independant scientific study.:|

http://www.oecd.org/tax/publicfinanceandfiscalpolicy/45002641.pdf

 

brains are provided through pure chance but will and determination can be influenced by upbringing or can be developed from within...

Upbringing is that not pure chance as to what type of parents one has.?

 

[DannyLewis]

Would you like to name any please.?

Afraid not our economy is based in assets.

As far as I know, Alan Sugar started out selling sweets at market stalls.

I was put into foster care at the age of 4, lived with 9, maybe 10 different families until I was 12 when I settled into a home with the family I now consider to be my 'real' family. I have had behavioural difficulties my whole schooling life, came out of school with 4 B's, 2 C's, 1 D & 2 E's. I have never been handed things on a plate, I have always had to work for anything I have. Are you telling me that because of this and because of my 'genes' that it is impossible to make anything of myself or achieve success?

Anyone can achieve if they put their mind to it and work hard.

 

[Matt1959]

Upbringing is that not pure chance as to what type of parents one has.?

anything that has the potential to be influencing is nothing to do with chance..

presumably you concede that the qualities we've been talking about can be developed from within?

 

[RedEvo]

This thread seems to suggest we live in a meritocracy. I don't believe we do. That's not to say people can't start without the oft mentioned pot and become rich, neither do I think people can't do well in life despite any other disadvantages.

However, that said it seems to me there are many people who are where they are because of who they know. Mrs Red and I often play a game when watching tele and with the aid of Google it's enlightening to see who people's mother, father, brother, sister are.

You could almost see where David Ike is coming from

d