Yeah, it seems to me that luck can absolutely result in absolute success, and relative success seems very clearly the result of effort and strategy. I think of the pool of "all the people I know," and every driven, ambitious person I know has found some degree of "success." The unambitious people? A few have stumbled into success, but most are less successful by almost any objective societal measure (except maybe "personal satisfaction," which counts for a lot -- although I'd say they're probably slightly less "happy and satisfied with life" overall).
Our society's ongoing conversation about overall structural biases is a good, important one, but when it comes to individuals, I think it's a dangerous thing, telling people they're powerless in life. But hey, the ambitious people won't listen, and the unambitious ones will probably find some other reason to feel powerless.
Great to hear from you Brent! It's been too long since we connected. Vincent and I are having a lot of fun taking on iconic nonsense and the present-day madness of our political and social landscape in the continuing MAGA crisis. These starting pieces of ours on Substack are going to be relatively tame by comparison to our larger mission of changing the world through blasphemy, honesty and impassioned rage--but then you've known me for years so none of this would surprise you. Regarding this issue of luck, I've written a lot about it in our latest longer work "Cheaters Inc. Dumb Luck LTD" coming soon to a reading format near you.
It's been far too long! One day, perhaps. The husband and I travel full time now -- currently in Valencia, Spain. But our paths will cross one day soon, I hope. Good luck with the new project!
Yeah, it seems to me that luck can absolutely result in absolute success, and relative success seems very clearly the result of effort and strategy. I think of the pool of "all the people I know," and every driven, ambitious person I know has found some degree of "success." The unambitious people? A few have stumbled into success, but most are less successful by almost any objective societal measure (except maybe "personal satisfaction," which counts for a lot -- although I'd say they're probably slightly less "happy and satisfied with life" overall).
Our society's ongoing conversation about overall structural biases is a good, important one, but when it comes to individuals, I think it's a dangerous thing, telling people they're powerless in life. But hey, the ambitious people won't listen, and the unambitious ones will probably find some other reason to feel powerless.
Great to hear from you Brent! It's been too long since we connected. Vincent and I are having a lot of fun taking on iconic nonsense and the present-day madness of our political and social landscape in the continuing MAGA crisis. These starting pieces of ours on Substack are going to be relatively tame by comparison to our larger mission of changing the world through blasphemy, honesty and impassioned rage--but then you've known me for years so none of this would surprise you. Regarding this issue of luck, I've written a lot about it in our latest longer work "Cheaters Inc. Dumb Luck LTD" coming soon to a reading format near you.
It's been far too long! One day, perhaps. The husband and I travel full time now -- currently in Valencia, Spain. But our paths will cross one day soon, I hope. Good luck with the new project!