Obviously the real answer is that many or all of thse, plus others, all contribute into formulating your future success. WHat I am looking for here is the single reason people believe is the greatest determining factor for the greatest number of people. For the purposes of the discussion at had we will sidestep arguments about different systems, and confine our focus on Americans. Additioanally, we will ascribe a rather narrow and materialistic defninition of succes: the means for you and yours to live according to your basic needs and desires. I am trying to get an idea of the cross section of this BBS' philosophical and economic leanings. Please feel free to support your choice with reasoned argument.
Although I think race is whats going to keep me from going further than my white counter parts, I will never use it as a crouch.
I chose "Other". That other is Me! I decide my future. But being in the acting biz, I wouldn't discount luck or personal attractiveness.
While I appreciate the sentiment, I am really looking for elements independant of how we view our self-detrmination. Besides, were 'you' to have been born a different race, gender, economic class, with different work ethic, intelligence, attractiveness, luck, and education, do you really believe that your path would have been the same as it is now, due to the essence of you not defined by these qualities?
Sorry, second qualifier; I realized upon reflection that some may want to answer with a religious based response; I would ask you please to confine your responses to those temporal options available or others not mentioned. I acknowledge that to many God or it's equivalent is THE determining factor in their lives, but we're talking about material success here. Thanks, and hope I haven't offended anyone, as was not my intention.
Work ethic plays a very big role; however, some degree of intelligence (and not necessarily in terms of traditional book smarts) is very necessary, as well. Many of the other things can certainly help make the road easier.
My parents. Not their economic class, as they were teenagers in the Great Depression, and very poor due to those circumstances when they came together. They were married just before my father joined the Navy after Pearl Harbor. By the time of his death, after being the first college graduate of his family (that we know of), he had been a department chair at a major Houston university for 30 years, having become upper middle class, I suppose. But, growing up, I witnessed how hard he worked to get us to that level. They were/are very liberal compared to the majority of their contemporaries, in the JFK/Democratic mold. I benefited greatly from that. No one influenced me more than those two. Any other success I've had is due to my charm, wit, intelligence, good looks (when I was younger), and the luck I had to marry a woman so alike, and yet so different, than myself... who balanced things out. We had our children very late just because we were having so much fun together. It's still fun. Just slower, older and, with the kids, a hell of a lot more responsibility.
Personally, All the people I have seen, seem to rely mostly on Work Ethic, Luck and a little bit on their Intelligence... I mean Street smarts is what it takes to get anywhere in this world, but you have to have a great work ethic, and a little of luck
I'm not sure I can answer that for everyone. Success is subjective and how you achieve it varies widely with the person. I'm not sure there is a single definable characteristic.
I don't know. There are plenty of un-ambitious people who have found incredible success simply on talent or intellect or being in the right family. On the other hand, there are plenty of VERY ambitious people who ended up struggling. I just don't think it is a single factor that determines everyone's success. We all are too different and the variables are just too great.
Au Contraire, The secret to success is setting your goals low enough. Ambitious people never seem to be satified so how can they 'achieve' sucess? They may appear to others to be sucessful, but that's compared to their own goals. Basically, if you aren't hungry, find love and procreate, you are a success! I have also chosen to remove procreation from my goals also, but that's just me.
Well, I must not be doing too well then. I'm getting a little hungry right now (time for lunch) and man I haven't been laid in....er, uh... Man, what a game last night!!!! 3 Overtimes!!!
I couldnt disagree more. Really, I am shocked that so many have answered this way. I know many people that have broken through economic lines, myself included, but cant think of anyone who has achieved outside of thier work ethic.
MacBeth: I would argue that because "basic needs and desires" changes depending on upbringing, economic background would have both a positive and negative effect. Positive in that you have advantages due to more money, but negative in the fact that you have been spoiled by more money, therefore your "basic needs and desires" is higher. So I would go with work ethic, for obvious reasons.
