Re:What I Worked On
by pdimitar on Tuesday February 16, 2021 @04:01PM
(#26158768)
Yep. People have gotten the gray comment treatment in the past here on HN for expressing views like yours.
I can't help but think that PG's life story draws to it a clique of people who are convinced there's a clear-cut recipe to success and that reading PG's articles will give them that recipe.
Now let's be clear: there is such a thing as "have enough brains to utilize opportunity when it lands on your shoulder". There absolutely is! And people have been failing at life for missing them. So I am not disputing THAT part of PG's skill-set. He obviously made a very good use of his luck.
Some people have pointed at Eminem's success story as a better example. But I still disagree; Eminem was (likely still is) a genius at what he does but his success also came from influential people being present at a very niche and unknown event in a shady part of the town.
So, again, luck. His iconic song "Lose Yourself" is IMO a good illustration of the concept.
I think motivational stories about success will be much better if the successful people:
1. Make it crystal clear what background they came from;
2. Analyze how they made use of the plentiful opportunity that was thrown their way;
3. Coach people on how to maximally utilize an opportunity when it comes to you.
Especially #3 is something that I think our hustle culture could use much more material on.
I can't help but think that PG's life story draws to it a clique of people who are convinced there's a clear-cut recipe to success and that reading PG's articles will give them that recipe.
Now let's be clear: there is such a thing as "have enough brains to utilize opportunity when it lands on your shoulder". There absolutely is! And people have been failing at life for missing them. So I am not disputing THAT part of PG's skill-set. He obviously made a very good use of his luck.
Some people have pointed at Eminem's success story as a better example. But I still disagree; Eminem was (likely still is) a genius at what he does but his success also came from influential people being present at a very niche and unknown event in a shady part of the town.
So, again, luck. His iconic song "Lose Yourself" is IMO a good illustration of the concept.
I think motivational stories about success will be much better if the successful people:
1. Make it crystal clear what background they came from;
2. Analyze how they made use of the plentiful opportunity that was thrown their way;
3. Coach people on how to maximally utilize an opportunity when it comes to you.
Especially #3 is something that I think our hustle culture could use much more material on.