Research demonstrates that in order to attain any level of success, relying entirely on oneself is nearly impossible. This realization can be traced back to a U.S. Senate hearing in the 1840s, where Henry Clay first introduced the term “self-made” to describe individuals who find success within themselves. Since then, the term has been used extensively, from a boastful Instagram bio claiming “I am SELF-MADE” to attention-grabbing headlines proclaiming someone as a “self-made” CEO. However, upon closer examination, the concept of being “self-made” becomes less logical. In their book “The Self-Made Myth,” authors Mike Lapham and Brian Miller define self-made as a false assertion that success in both personal and business endeavors is solely the result of individual hard work, creativity, and sacrifice, with little external assistance. But can anyone truly achieve success without collaboration or reliance on others? The answer is a resounding no. Every successful individual, without exception, requires numerous contributing factors, including privilege, community, and collaboration, to reach their goals.
One aspect of privilege is often overlooked when attributing success to individual effort. For example, in 2019, Forbes declared Kylie Jenner as the youngest self-made billionaire. However, it is clear to anyone familiar with the Kardashians that Jenner’s success cannot be attributed solely to her own endeavors. Coming from a wealthy family and having access to networks and connections that the average person her age does not possess, Jenner’s path to success has been significantly paved. Similarly, calling someone like Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, “self-made” disregards the fact that he also hails from a family of considerable wealth. In fact, Musk once mentioned in an interview with Business Insider that his family “couldn’t physically close a safe.” These examples highlight the flaw in the notion of being self-made. By continuously promoting this concept, we inadvertently imply that hard work alone guarantees success. However, this raises the question: why do hardworking individuals often remain at the bottom of the ladder? The reality is that not all of us start with equal opportunities or resources. Countless factors such as time, privilege, opportunity, and even luck can determine whether hard work leads to success. Acknowledging these influential factors helps dispel the false sense of hope instilled by the self-made myth.
Beyond generational wealth and privilege, even the most popular stories of “self-made” entrepreneurs require more context. Who supported them along their journey? Who continues to provide assistance? The myth of the self-made individual promotes rugged individualism while downplaying the importance of collaboration and cooperation. Although inspiring, these narratives often neglect to highlight the community of allies who played a crucial role in these success stories. In fact, deliberately excluding these contributions only highlights a desire for personal glory and demonstrates an inability to humbly acknowledge the help received.
The truth is, attaining any level of success always involves relying on someone other than oneself. Claiming all the credit and labeling oneself as “self-made” means dismissing the contributions of those who aided in the journey, regardless of the magnitude of their support. In reality, throughout our lives, we have always been part of a larger collective and have continuously learned from those outside ourselves. Our parents, teachers, friends, partners, and mentors all play a crucial role in our development and success. As someone who has worked extensively with small businesses and start-ups, I have witnessed the significance of community and allyship in achieving not only success but also growth and fulfillment.
True success, in its diverse forms, necessitates a balance between individual determination and recognizing one’s place in the collective. The concept of being “self-made” is merely an illusion. To truly prosper, it is essential to acknowledge the multitude of individuals within our communities who can help us reach heights we could never have attained alone.
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