Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by alexfisher 3948 days ago
Step 1: Spend less than you make. Step 2: Take risks when you have enough of a safety net. Step 3: Fail/retry or succeed.

You don't need to be from a rich family to do these things.

6 comments

> Step 2: Take risks when you have enough of a safety net.

Someone from a rich family has more of a safety net, straight out of the gate, than someone from a poor family.

You don't need to be from a rich family to do these things.

Of course not. Who said so? The point is that coming from wealth increases the odds that you'll end up being the type of person who will follow that program. It's not simply about having the capital; it's what coming from a place where security is guaranteed does to your psyche.

> You don't need to be from a rich family to do these things.

P(became_successful_entrepreneur|was_poor) > 0.0000000000

A technically-true statement, but not a useful one.

"Step 1: Spend less than you make...You don't need to be from a rich family to do these things."

Uh, in the USA 2015, you do. Or you need to be a very lucky lottery winner. Living-wage jobs are not available to all, and you need a modicum of education to secure one.

That education is no longer free.

Well, it should be noted that "rich" is something of a relative term. For many people, being able to take a risk and forgo income for a time is, indeed, to be rich.
Having a moderately wealthy family increases the speed at which #2 will come, if it comes at all. Someone who's working two jobs to make ends meet is likely never going to be able to get to #2.