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some of them, yes, lucky once, no proven success after that. but not all. jobs, ellison, gates and as it's currently looking to be, zuckerberg. sustained succe

some of them, yes, lucky once, no proven success after that. but not all. jobs, ellison, gates and as it's currently looking to be, zuckerberg. sustained success, even after massive setbacks. you don't build billion dollar companies (as in revenue, not fantasy valuations) on pure luck. you build them on being a mean motherfucker. practically all of history is evidence against PG here. edison. ford. rockefeller. etc etc etc.

ovi256 12y ago
I'm afraid everyone giving robber barons and their ilk as counter-examples is misreading the essay. PG states that he works on the premise that a new non-zero-sum game of wealth creation is afoot, as exemplified by tech startups. In this specific context, being non-mean significantly improves success odds. Everyone focuses on the last statement but misses the premise, which is a recurring theme in Graham's essays.
- davidgerard 12y ago
  You mean, "never mind all those real-world examples, just look at this lovely theory!"
- pinaceae 12y ago
  oh, that is clear. but that, let's say, "new economy" talk has been around for a long time and simply does not vibe with history, capitalism, human nature. human beings that strive for greatness are ruthless, that necessary focus and willpower come with a price. it can be seen everywhere - politics, the military, arts, sports,...
warcher 12y ago
You're missing my point. Put plainly: You're not a billionaire. Acting like one is a poor strategy. We plebians are well served by being nice if we want to move up the bracket. By all means, when you are rich and powerful, act like kind of a prick. You might need to act like a prick. I honestly couldn't say, but you could make a very plausible case for not being sunshine and rainbows all day, saying 'no' a lot, and pushing people pretty hard. (Lying, cheating, and stealing is another matter-- these are principally the actions of desperate people. Being a tough businessperson doesn't make you a jerk, though.) But do yourself (and the rest of us) a favor and don't go there until you have to.

ovi256 12y ago

I'm afraid everyone giving robber barons and their ilk as counter-examples is misreading the essay. PG states that he works on the premise that a new non-zero-sum game of wealth creation is afoot, as exemplified by tech startups. In this specific context, being non-mean significantly improves success odds. Everyone focuses on the last statement but misses the premise, which is a recurring theme in Graham's essays.

davidgerard 12y ago
You mean, "never mind all those real-world examples, just look at this lovely theory!"
pinaceae 12y ago
oh, that is clear. but that, let's say, "new economy" talk has been around for a long time and simply does not vibe with history, capitalism, human nature. human beings that strive for greatness are ruthless, that necessary focus and willpower come with a price. it can be seen everywhere - politics, the military, arts, sports,...

warcher 12y ago

You're missing my point. Put plainly: You're not a billionaire. Acting like one is a poor strategy. We plebians are well served by being nice if we want to move up the bracket. By all means, when you are rich and powerful, act like kind of a prick. You might need to act like a prick. I honestly couldn't say, but you could make a very plausible case for not being sunshine and rainbows all day, saying 'no' a lot, and pushing people pretty hard. (Lying, cheating, and stealing is another matter-- these are principally the actions of desperate people. Being a tough businessperson doesn't make you a jerk, though.) But do yourself (and the rest of us) a favor and don't go there until you have to.