Many people say that hard work accounts for one's success while others contend that luck is the single most important contributing factor.
It reminds me of a famous question posed by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the 3rd President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence:
"Why is it that the harder I try, the more luck I seem to have?"
In other words, another school of thought is that hard work leads to luck, which in turn creates fortuitous circumstances that make success easier to attain.
I am of the opinion that success depends on hard work and luck.
From what I understand, before Justin Bieber became a megastar -- when he was just a regular kid no one knew of -- he would post videos of himself singing on YouTube. The videos garnered heaps of praise, but that still didn't translate into dollar signs.
All it took was for Usher, who is a world-renowned singer in his own right, to take notice of the videos in order for Bieber's life to chance in an instant. Had Usher never come across the videos, Bieber might still be an average Joe like the rest of us.
You have to work hard and be great at what you do, but the right person has to notice. That's why they say that it isn't always about what you know, but who you know. Many people in corporations might feel stifled working under their current supervisor, but remain hopeful that if given the chance to present their work to a higher-up elsewhere in the company, it could be their ticket to a more rewarding job.
That's why being great at what you do, plus having the right contacts in place and making your work visible to them can pay huge dividends.
In a way, I see Jefferson's point, too. For example, the harder I studied for exams in college, the better the grades I got on them -- even if there were questions on the test I stumbled upon and for which I had to venture a guess. It seems the more effort you put in, the more favorable the end result.
What's your take on this? Is success predicated on hard work alone, or does it hinge on luck? Do you think both play a role?
It reminds me of a famous question posed by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the 3rd President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence:
"Why is it that the harder I try, the more luck I seem to have?"
In other words, another school of thought is that hard work leads to luck, which in turn creates fortuitous circumstances that make success easier to attain.
I am of the opinion that success depends on hard work and luck.
From what I understand, before Justin Bieber became a megastar -- when he was just a regular kid no one knew of -- he would post videos of himself singing on YouTube. The videos garnered heaps of praise, but that still didn't translate into dollar signs.
All it took was for Usher, who is a world-renowned singer in his own right, to take notice of the videos in order for Bieber's life to chance in an instant. Had Usher never come across the videos, Bieber might still be an average Joe like the rest of us.
You have to work hard and be great at what you do, but the right person has to notice. That's why they say that it isn't always about what you know, but who you know. Many people in corporations might feel stifled working under their current supervisor, but remain hopeful that if given the chance to present their work to a higher-up elsewhere in the company, it could be their ticket to a more rewarding job.
That's why being great at what you do, plus having the right contacts in place and making your work visible to them can pay huge dividends.
In a way, I see Jefferson's point, too. For example, the harder I studied for exams in college, the better the grades I got on them -- even if there were questions on the test I stumbled upon and for which I had to venture a guess. It seems the more effort you put in, the more favorable the end result.
What's your take on this? Is success predicated on hard work alone, or does it hinge on luck? Do you think both play a role?
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