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by cvlasdkv 2186 days ago
Demonstrably false considering massive wealth inequality and poverty. It's incredibly harmful and uneducated to hold such a callous opinion. It also goes against the plentiful studies showing that socieconomic status (SES) is more significant predictor of success than almost any other attribute.

Simple scenarios:

- immigrants/refugees moving to a different country

- getting visas in what is largely a lottery system

- injury luck with respect to athleticism

- access to equipment and instruments with respect to musical talent

- slavery and generational poverty

The idea that _capability_ is anywhere close to as important as luck fails so many simple tests (let alone empirical studies) that your statement offends me a little bit.

1 comments

Back when I applied for an H1B visa, the chances that I'd be outright rejected was 30%. The next few years I believe it climbed to 60%. Just the fact that I found a company willing to apply to my visa involved a lot of luck. Even me being on the US before the H1B involved a lot of luck. Then luck to get the visa. So much of my career was based on luck. Sure, I seized some opportunities when they flew by, but it's not like I was steering super hard to make them happen. Some people will make success happen because they're super smart and relentless, but for a lot of people like me, I believe there's an incredible amount of luck involved.

It kind of grinds my gears when some people give lessons on how to be successful and don't acknowledge that luck was a part of it.