6 ms·

And this really is the answer... Luck is created. You'll never win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket, you'll never create Facebook if you don't create a b

by Mikeb85 12y ago

And this really is the answer... Luck is created. You'll never win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket, you'll never create Facebook if you don't create a business, and you'll never meet to girl of your dreams if you don't ask girls out...

taeric 12y ago
On the flip side, nobody should expect to win the lottery just because they bought a ticket. Same goes for all of the other scenarios. Statistically you could expect that no matter how hard you work, you won't "make it."
- Mikeb85 12y ago
  The fact that you may not make it to the 99th percentile doesn't mean you won't see any success. Not everyone who starts a business will make billions, buy many make enough to live on. Especially more traditional businesses. Most people will get married. And most won't win the lottery, but that's not really putting in work anyway.
  - taeric 12y ago
    Right, the point is more to make sure your definition of "making it" is not essentially "win the lottery."
    - Mikeb85 12y ago
      No, of course not. But those that put in enough work, are observant, etc... can make it to say, the 80th percentile. Then of those, the most talented might make it to the 95th. And those who have connections, or funding, or the right idea, might make it to the 99th. But either way, achieving success and being 'lucky' means putting yourself in the position to achieve success and be lucky... Chasing girls is a great example. The guy I've known who has been with the most girls has also been turned down more than anyone I know...
      - taeric 12y ago
        Do you have numbers to prove it? Because... to many of us, it seems that by far the largest indicator on whether you will make it to the 80th percentile, is if you started there.
        Mikeb85 12y ago
        Numbers to prove success is possible? There are numbers that show inherited wealth peaks and then declines, there are numbers show that most who have multiple billions of dollars earned their money (as opposed to inheriting it), but I don't think it necessarily matters. Most individuals aren't entrepreneurs, most are content to work for someone else on a hamster wheel and blame their lot in life for their lack of success. So I have no doubt people who grew up wealthy or at least well-off are more successful, since their parents taught and showed them that success is possible. If you grew up in a household where your parents ran the rat race and told you that success is to get a degree and run the rat race, odds are that's what you've done...
        taeric 12y ago
        I'm curious to know of the actual numbers you are referring to. I am not convinced you are wrong. However, I am also far from convinced you are right. There is a lot of faith in "work hard and you can become rich." Especially if you are trying to imply this can get you "multiple billions of dollars." Now, I personally think "rich" begins well before "multiple billions." I also don't think the world is split between entrepreneurs and people content to work for someone else on a hamster wheel. Truth is, as in many things, it is much more complicated. So, yeah, do you have any good links to the numbers you are referring to?
        Mikeb85 12y ago
        I don't have any particularly large sampling with which to draw statistics from, but here's an article which uses Forbes lists to draw some stats: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/capideas/magazine/summer-2013/billionaires-self-made http://www.chicagobooth.edu/capideas/magazine/summer-2013/bi... http://www.forbes.com/sites/erincarlyle/2013/09/18/how-self-made-forbes-400-billionaires-earned-their-money/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/erincarlyle/2013/09/18/how-self-... I'd guess it's harder to poll millionaires since most don't own enough of a public company for it to be reported. Regardless, stats do a poor job of presenting possibility, and my guess would be most poor stay poor, if for no other reason than a defeatist attitude they inherited...

by Mikeb85 12y ago

taeric 12y ago

On the flip side, nobody should expect to win the lottery just because they bought a ticket. Same goes for all of the other scenarios. Statistically you could expect that no matter how hard you work, you won't "make it."

Mikeb85 12y ago
The fact that you may not make it to the 99th percentile doesn't mean you won't see any success. Not everyone who starts a business will make billions, buy many make enough to live on. Especially more traditional businesses. Most people will get married. And most won't win the lottery, but that's not really putting in work anyway.
- taeric 12y ago
  Right, the point is more to make sure your definition of "making it" is not essentially "win the lottery."
  - Mikeb85 12y ago
    No, of course not. But those that put in enough work, are observant, etc... can make it to say, the 80th percentile. Then of those, the most talented might make it to the 95th. And those who have connections, or funding, or the right idea, might make it to the 99th. But either way, achieving success and being 'lucky' means putting yourself in the position to achieve success and be lucky... Chasing girls is a great example. The guy I've known who has been with the most girls has also been turned down more than anyone I know...
    - taeric 12y ago
      Do you have numbers to prove it? Because... to many of us, it seems that by far the largest indicator on whether you will make it to the 80th percentile, is if you started there.
      - Mikeb85 12y ago
        Numbers to prove success is possible? There are numbers that show inherited wealth peaks and then declines, there are numbers show that most who have multiple billions of dollars earned their money (as opposed to inheriting it), but I don't think it necessarily matters. Most individuals aren't entrepreneurs, most are content to work for someone else on a hamster wheel and blame their lot in life for their lack of success. So I have no doubt people who grew up wealthy or at least well-off are more successful, since their parents taught and showed them that success is possible. If you grew up in a household where your parents ran the rat race and told you that success is to get a degree and run the rat race, odds are that's what you've done...
        taeric 12y ago
        I'm curious to know of the actual numbers you are referring to. I am not convinced you are wrong. However, I am also far from convinced you are right. There is a lot of faith in "work hard and you can become rich." Especially if you are trying to imply this can get you "multiple billions of dollars." Now, I personally think "rich" begins well before "multiple billions." I also don't think the world is split between entrepreneurs and people content to work for someone else on a hamster wheel. Truth is, as in many things, it is much more complicated. So, yeah, do you have any good links to the numbers you are referring to?
        Mikeb85 12y ago
        I don't have any particularly large sampling with which to draw statistics from, but here's an article which uses Forbes lists to draw some stats: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/capideas/magazine/summer-2013/billionaires-self-made http://www.chicagobooth.edu/capideas/magazine/summer-2013/bi... http://www.forbes.com/sites/erincarlyle/2013/09/18/how-self-made-forbes-400-billionaires-earned-their-money/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/erincarlyle/2013/09/18/how-self-... I'd guess it's harder to poll millionaires since most don't own enough of a public company for it to be reported. Regardless, stats do a poor job of presenting possibility, and my guess would be most poor stay poor, if for no other reason than a defeatist attitude they inherited...