What's most important in succeeding in the USA? (1 Viewer)

[Dentist]

Could be considered who you know, but I'll go with family you're born into. If you have good parents that teach you good principles and place a high priority on education, you'll be in pretty good shape.

doesn't really matter as much, some of the most successful people in life had horrible parents and grew up in abject poverty

the rate of climbing out of poverty is miniscule relative to the percent that start high and maintain it.

I"m not sure what people you know, but I know very few people that grew up in abject poverty and had horrible parents and were still able to succeed.

 

[Dentist]

Luck.

this is a bigger factor than a lot of people care to admit or realize, there is no question about it. But it's way lower on the ladder than genetics, intelligence, discipline, persistence, personality, etc.

Your second sentence pretty much confirms your first.

I don't know what this means.

 

[johnnycakes]

Luck.

this is a bigger factor than a lot of people care to admit or realize, there is no question about it. But it's way lower on the ladder than genetics, intelligence, discipline, persistence, personality, etc.

Your second sentence pretty much confirms your first.

I don't know what this means.

I believe he is saying you are also underestimating the role of luck in being successful.

 

[Tiger Fan]

It's just about indisputable from the various reports and studies that I have read over the years, that the single largest influence is the environment into which you are born. Wealth + education + connections will help a slightly below average person a thousand times over as compared to poor + lack of access to education + no connections who has intelligence and drive.

Those born into poverty are basically screwed. Our system gives tremendous false hope about upward mobility, but you are most likely to remain generally where you started. That's the reality.

yeah, this x 1000. It's a damn shame.

 

[Dentist]

Luck.

this is a bigger factor than a lot of people care to admit or realize, there is no question about it. But it's way lower on the ladder than genetics, intelligence, discipline, persistence, personality, etc.

Your second sentence pretty much confirms your first.

I don't know what this means.

I believe he is saying you are also underestimating the role of luck in being successful.

if he's suggesting that genetics = luck ... basically because I happen to be a white man born into an upper middle class family who loved me and nurtured my success that that is luck... then yes, I would agree that Luck is the entire foundation for success.

because I agree that if I'm born to the black welfare bound single mother in Harlem that odds are my ceiling is WAY the F lower.

Or if I"m born with some type of physical or mental ailment that caps my success, I'm also screwed.. if that's luck.. .then yes... luck is the most important factor.

 

[Da Guru]

The ability for the rich to get richer in this country is astounding.

Man, the older I get the more and more I see this and realize that it's so true.

I don't have all that much comparatively, yet with every run up the financial ladder you climb, there are more and more people that want to give you more stuff for free.

Other than tax rates, everything else is better when you're wealthy.... better bank accounts, credit ratings, mortgage rates, better deals when you can afford to pay up front, you don't pay credit card interest or short term loans interest because you don't even need the loans... better car insurance rates, life insurance rates, etc.

I can only imagine the doors that open when you're a multimillionaire.

This is very true. A friend of mine is a VP for a large company and he probably pulls down close to a million a year. Although I only hang with him 5-6 times a year whenever I go anywhere with him it seems he never pays for anything. I see him at a concert that I paid 150.00 a ticket for my wife and I and he got free tickets in a suite from somebody. When I vacation I am paying for flights and rooms, he flies his whole family free because he travels for his job quite a bit and ends up getting houses or condos on the ocean from associates for free. Anytime I golf with him it is always set up in advance at some CC with someone else picking the tab up.

Although I have not done it much any event that I have called him for he can get in at the last minute. Saw him at a bar the day of the game when the Tigers were playing in the World Series..he was a little buzzed and I mentioned how great it would be to go to the game. Next thing you know he is on the phone and a minute later tells me there will be 2 tickets waiting in his name at will call. I asked what do I owe you..he says nothing.. just strong armed a supplier into giving them up.

 

[Zow]

Looks

 

[tommyboy]

Could be considered who you know, but I'll go with family you're born into. If you have good parents that teach you good principles and place a high priority on education, you'll be in pretty good shape.

doesn't really matter as much, some of the most successful people in life had horrible parents and grew up in abject poverty

the rate of climbing out of poverty is miniscule relative to the percent that start high and maintain it.

I"m not sure what people you know, but I know very few people that grew up in abject poverty and had horrible parents and were still able to succeed.

maybe so, but doesn't mean my statement is false. Also, there are many people that start out life with a silver spoon that end up broke and ruined. we have a fluid society, and I hope its always that way.

my dad, my father in law, my uncle, myself are all people the grew up with ####ty parents and/or abject poverty that have ended up being extremely successful. so there's 4 examples off the top of my head.

 

[kface]

Not surprised by the results.

My two cents. I come from a pretty low income family, masters degree in engineering and a masters degree in business administration. I do pretty well for myself but on the flip side it took a heck of a lot of student loans to get where I am. Even though I am in my 40s I still have student debt that keeps us living like borderline students that I am paying off.

I then look at my friend Russ who I got to know at my first consulting firm. His father owned the company...he's now vp. Pulling in high 6 figures. Laziest and stupidest engineer I have ever met. I see this time and time again. Yes I am pulled myself to a nice middle class existence but the trend is even driving down the salaries of professionals now. We farm all of our low level engineering out to India.

I always say if i was born earlier and was an P.Eng, MBA in the 60s and 70s the world would have been my oyster. Seems like this is now the minimum for getting by nowadays.

 

[johnnycakes]

Luck.

this is a bigger factor than a lot of people care to admit or realize, there is no question about it. But it's way lower on the ladder than genetics, intelligence, discipline, persistence, personality, etc.

Your second sentence pretty much confirms your first.

I don't know what this means.

I believe he is saying you are also underestimating the role of luck in being successful.

if he's suggesting that genetics = luck ... basically because I happen to be a white man born into an upper middle class family who loved me and nurtured my success that that is luck... then yes, I would agree that Luck is the entire foundation for success.

because I agree that if I'm born to the black welfare bound single mother in Harlem that odds are my ceiling is WAY the F lower.

Or if I"m born with some type of physical or mental ailment that caps my success, I'm also screwed.. if that's luck.. .then yes... luck is the most important factor.

Not having to establish your own dental practice because your dad already did that = luck.

 

[TheWalkmen]

It's just about indisputable from the various reports and studies that I have read over the years, that the single largest influence is the environment into which you are born. Wealth + education + connections will help a slightly below average person a thousand times over as compared to poor + lack of access to education + no connections who has intelligence and drive.

Those born into poverty are basically screwed. Our system gives tremendous false hope about upward mobility, but you are most likely to remain generally where you started. That's the reality.

yeah, this x 1000. It's a damn shame.

A shame, perhaps, but it's not like they're starving to death.

 

[tommyboy]

if you make over $34,000 per year, you are top 1% global income

 

[TheWalkmen]

if you make over $34,000 per year, you are top 1% global income

Yeah, in the US there's like no one that starves to death because they can't get any food and ~0.2% of the population is homeless. Then in Africa, you have 414 million people who live on less than $1.25 a day and 589 million that live without electricity.

 

[Dentist]

Not having to establish your own dental practice because your dad already did that = luck.

Luck, or smart on my part to join the business and accept the least path of resistance? It's not easy to work with family.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

If you really want to be successful, the first step is buy a fleet of high-end yachts.

 

[moleculo]

I know street-smart people who aren't what I consider "successful". Their definition of success might be different though. If you are street smart but not all that intelligent, you can succeed but it isn't a given.

I can't think of anyone who I consider intelligent who isn't "successful". There are smart folks out there that don't maximize their success, but if you are really, truly intelligent, you will find your niche eventually.

 

[Flying V]

Luck.

This.

You need the ability to recognize an opportunity that can take advantage of your specific skills and talent if and when it presents itself. Outside of that, you're pretty much just spinning your wheels.

 

[Koya]

I know street-smart people who aren't what I consider "successful". Their definition of success might be different though. If you are street smart but not all that intelligent, you can succeed but it isn't a given.

I can't think of anyone who I consider intelligent who isn't "successful". There are smart folks out there that don't maximize their success, but if you are really, truly intelligent, you will find your niche eventually.

I know a good number of intelligent people that have never been "successful" and often not especially happy, either. Get in a rut, unwilling to "settle" or "play the game" and the next thing you know its 35-40 years old and life has amounted to just about nothing. Add in potential issues with substance abuse and/or depression and it's all the more often that I've seen it.

 

[General Tso]

i attended a leadership seminar about 4 years ago and this question was posed. According to an expansive study that was done the #1 determinant for success was "verbal persuasiveness". And it's more than just the ability to sell. The research also pointed more to the tone of voice, inflections, etc. It surprised the hell out of me, but as I've observed since then it appears to be pretty accurate, at least in my company (large financial services company).

 

[MC Gas Money]

Just post on FBG fir 8 years til you are shamed in to working hard

 

[sports_fan]

Decisiveness. Making decisions quickly and taking action. People who just do #### without a lot of planning seem to be the most successful. They see something that needs to be done then just do it. They don't spend time thinking about it or worrying about what may or may not happen and instead take action immediately.

 

[johnnycakes]

I know street-smart people who aren't what I consider "successful". Their definition of success might be different though. If you are street smart but not all that intelligent, you can succeed but it isn't a given.

I can't think of anyone who I consider intelligent who isn't "successful". There are smart folks out there that don't maximize their success, but if you are really, truly intelligent, you will find your niche eventually.

I know a good number of intelligent people that have never been "successful" and often not especially happy, either. Get in a rut, unwilling to "settle" or "play the game" and the next thing you know its 35-40 years old and life has amounted to just about nothing. Add in potential issues with substance abuse and/or depression and it's all the more often that I've seen it.

That's my life right there.

 

[MCguidance]

Race.

 

[comfortably numb]

who you know gets you in and around success.

The other 2 determine how long and how high you can take your success.

If all the people you know are in the ghetto, how much do they really have to offer you to be successful?

Maybe 1-2 people in your lifetime can open a door to change your life to something sustainable?

If all the people you know are successful, even the least successful contact in your network can give you more than anyone ever can in the ghetto.

In the ghetto, you have 4 uncles.

2 are dead 1 is incarcerated and 1 works 2 jobs to make ends meat and might be able to get you a minimum wage night shift gig

In the wealthy world, you have 4 uncles

1 lives a modest life, the other 3 own their own companies and will get you a job making close to 6 figures just to start no matter how incompetent you are

 

[PIK95]

Inheritance.

 

[PIK95]

Inheritance.

 

[McGarnicle]

You want a big penis, but not too big.

 

[Riversco]

There's too many gullible people these days so let's go with "lack of morals". Just create a vegetable slicer, add flashing lights and a joybuzzer and make billions in those As Seen On TV Ads.

 

[johnnycakes]

Inheritance.

Youknow where it endsYo, it usually depends

On where you start

 

[BobbyLayne]

YMMV, but these have been the difference makers

1) determination - sheer force of will. Lots of people are willing to work hard. Very few start with the end game in mind & refuse to accept any outcome below their level of ecpectation.

2) bulletproof integrity - only scanned the thread but didn't see this mentioned. We're in an age of cynicism but this one thing has yielded tremendous benefit. Co-workers, suppliers & customers have all come to realize my word is everything to me. There are opportunities to compromise every day. It's never blatant; the erosion is subtle and can seem inconsequential. At the end of the day, everyone gets one shot at integrity.

3) intellectual horsepower - more like a prereq. I'll just say it's served me well.

4) knowledge & mastery acquired through experience - business acumen is underrated but it helps you stay the course.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Decisiveness. Making decisions quickly and taking action. People who just do #### without a lot of planning seem to be the most successful. They see something that needs to be done then just do it. They don't spend time thinking about it or worrying about what may or may not happen and instead take action immediately.

In fact, probably the best post in the thread.

Not sure I'd rank it #1 as the quality of decisions you make is important. HOWEVER, you hit upon a great point. Too often we don't do something because, before we even try, we make excuses why it won't be successful. Just taking action is a tremendous step. I'm s firm believer in '"success breeds success." The knowledge you acquire along the way will help you make even better decisions going forward and your confidence (& success rate) will increase. But it all starts with taking action & making decisions.

 

[AAABatteries]

I'm always fascinated that most people immediately go to financial success when someone brings up success. I know several people who have plenty of money and are miserable and hate their life. I know plenty of people who have little financial success but I admire and envy their success in life.

Don't chase the #####.

Don't chase the money.

 

[General Tso]

I'm always fascinated that most people immediately go to financial success when someone brings up success. I know several people who have plenty of money and are miserable and hate their life. I know plenty of people who have little financial success but I admire and envy their success in life.

Don't chase the #####.

Don't chase the money.

Great post.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Never trusting a big butt and a smile

 

[tommyboy]

I'm always fascinated that most people immediately go to financial success when someone brings up success. I know several people who have plenty of money and are miserable and hate their life. I know plenty of people who have little financial success but I admire and envy their success in life.

Don't chase the #####.

Don't chase the money.

Great post.

You can have both