A friend of mine once said about a mutual acquaintance of ours “she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth but she thinks she mined the silver.”
Silver spoons of privilege, of course, come in many shapes and sizes, including class, race and gender. But in his book “Outliers,” Malcolm Gladwell exposes some of the previously unconsidered forces of place and time that combine to create successful individuals like Bill Gates or John D. Rockefeller.
Rockefeller, he points out, is one of 14 Americans all born in a single decade who find themselves on the list of the 75 richest people in all of recorded history. It’s mind-blowing to think that 9 of the most wildly successful “self-made men”* in all of history just happened to be born in the same decade. Here’s what Gladwell says:
“What’s going on here? The answer is obvious, if you think about it. In the 1860′s and 1870′s, the American economy went through perhaps the greatest transformation in its history. This was when the railways were built, and when Wall Street emerged. It was when industrial manufacturing started in earnest. It was when all the rules by which the traditional economy functioned were broken and remade. What that list says is that it really matters how old you were when that transformation happened.
“If you were born in the late 1840′s, you missed it. You were too young to take advantage of that moment. If you were born in the 1820′s, you were too old: your mindset was shaped by the pre-Civil War paradigm. But there is a particular, narrow nine-year window that was just perfect for seeing the potential that the future held. All of the 14 men and women on that list had vision and talent. But they also were given an extraordinary opportunity. . .”
Gladwell uses the story of Bill Gates extensively in “Outliers,” effectively debunking the myth of the “self-made man” by showing how a confluence of events and factors outside of Bill’s control–e.g., the fact that his school PTA purchased one of the first computers with individual workstations instead of laborious punchcards and he had unfettered access to it; the fact that he was old enough to afford one and young enough not to have taken on a desk job and a mortgage when the first personal computers were available to the public–allowed him to become the world’s most successful software mogul.
In my experience working with first generation wealth creators and entrepreneurs, they are usually the first to understand and acknowledge that the whole “self-made” thing is ridiculous. They might not have been born with economic privilege but there were key events, key opportunities or connections or coincidences that opened the path to success before them. This is why I think entrepreneurs seem to favor education so heavily in their giving. And this is why they are so generous in giving back–thanking the people and institutions that provided them with opportunity and trying to make sure as many people coming up behind them have similar opportunities.
Tags: entrepreneurs, Malcolm Gladwell, philanthropy, privilege
March 28, 2010 at 8:51 am |
A little about myself: I am 28 yrs old with a medical condition (Ectodermal Displaysia)Had it ever since I was a baby. When I was 20 my daughter came along, the most beautiful girl and only blood I know of. The only problem was she had my condition too. I know how hard it was for me going on in life, not only being adopted and not knowing my real family or anything but the condition. I was made fun of all throughout school and even effects me now with jobs etc. It hurts so much knowing that my daughter has to go through all of it now and I have to watch and go through with it again with her. Some of my feelings are I wish I never had a child so they didn’t have to go through with the complications in life from this etc. and another feeling is I wanted a child so I had someone blood in my life and someone I could relate to and they could relate to me and we could talk and i could help her. After I found out she had this I made a promiss to myself that I will do anything in my power to support her the best i could. To help her with hairpiece, teeth, doctors, etc. Anything to make it easier on her, didn’t care what I had to do I would do it. Its my little girl ya know? Anyway, I didn’t want to do anything bad to get it for her though. After I made posts I got people offering me money to do things stupid, or sexual things, or things that would go against my charactor (Disgusting and heartless people, may I add) anyways, these things I normally wouldn’t do but at his phase of how my life has been going I have to tell ya that I thought of doing some of the stuff if It would help her and me to have a better life. Then not long ago my adopted mother (MOTHER) was diagnosed with cancer and that was a hard hit on me, its like didn’t God punish me enough? Then just recently I lost my job, its like COME ON! And to later find out I lost my job now cant afford to live and going to lose place to live on top of it. Really was contiplating suicide, but didn’t for my little girl Mandy. My life has ben turned upside down just worse now and don’t know what to do, Guess just desperate for a miracle, I guess its like you throw enough shit up against the wall sooner or later some sticks. Whatever happens from this moment forward I would love to keep in contact with you, and or meet or talk on phone etc. Whatever you feel most comfortable with so we can continue to get to know each other better and so I can inform you of how our lives are progressing etc. Since you were so kind and had such a big heart to reach out to a stranger you don’t even know. That takes a very good hearted person to do. I was like that willing to give the shirt off my back to help someone always was kind hearted and never got anything back and was fine with that. Just hurts when you need help and turn around and no one is there. God Bless and Thanks. Email me at Donationformom@aim.com I will do anything I can including sending pics to show you I am who I say I am. Please we are in “NEED” of help bad.
Pics available on request. Rather not humiliate myself all over the internet. Thanks.