Why hard work isn’t enough to reach the top
The “self-made” myth: Why hard work isn’t enough to reach the top Achieving immense success requires hard work, dedication, perseverance, and — perhaps most importantly — lots of luck. But oftentimes, luck doesn’t get as much credit as it deserves. A toxic myth pervades the business world: Hard work and perseverance are the only things required to achieve immense success and reach the top of your field. It’s a mantra championed by everyone from Wall Street titans to our sitting US President (“I built what I built myself,” Trump told Charlie Rose in 1992. “I did it by working long hours, working hard and working smart!”). This idea is staunchly rooted in the very foundations of America — a nation built on the cornerstones of rugged individualism, picking oneself up by the bootstraps, and accruing riches through sheer determination. Those who do make it big often fancy themselves to be “self-made.” But these stories overlook a crucial ingredient of success: Luck. I