I can assure that your experience isn't representative; probably not in "big" enough spaces. It's deeply ironic, but the bigger you go, the more you can easily see luck as a factor (e.g. daddy's money)
The hard work I'm referring to is all the effort to get to place where you have even be "lucky" or serendipitous.
For example, professional networking is a tremendous amount of work. But in meeting, bonding and potentially working with those people opens so many possibilities for serendipity / luck what have you. Sure there are those with Daddy's money, but more importantly the relationships, networks and resources that Daddy has are more important than just the cash.
Nepotism, sure, but that's how the society has pretty much always worked.
For example, professional networking is a tremendous amount of work. But in meeting, bonding and potentially working with those people opens so many possibilities for serendipity / luck what have you. Sure there are those with Daddy's money, but more importantly the relationships, networks and resources that Daddy has are more important than just the cash.
Nepotism, sure, but that's how the society has pretty much always worked.