[Rantenki]

"If Oliver Emberton came from a different socio-economic background, he would be more aware of how much of a myth meritocracy is."

Exactly, although we wouldn't be having this discussion because he wouldn't have had the platform to transmit his thoughts on the matter.

[Menge]

Except, he doesn't actually say life is fair or a meritocracy. Rather, he claims that you are competing in an unfair and demand driven world.

My own experience is that people who focus on successes and failures in terms of themselves and how they will deal with the environment next time, do well. Those who focus on how the environment limits them, will not do well relative to how others with less advantages will do.