DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS

Success Determinant: Privilege or Personal Responsibility

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DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS

Success Determinant: Privilege or Personal Responsibility

Ask some of the top achievers in life about their secrets of success and you will most
likely get answers like sheer hard work, personal responsibility, focus and total commitment. Not
very many people, if any, will talk about privilege or luck. Simply because these factors often
make less inspiring stories and besides, no one wants to be singled out as just fortunate in life
while lacking in any exceptional qualities. It is a common knowledge that, though, personal
character influences the greater parts of ones success possibilities, the little advantages that give
us head-starts, or bizarre accidents that make our path easier goes a long way in influencing our
careers.
According to Robert Meltons On Privilege and Luck, success breeds success, and in
most cases of success, advantages accumulate. Renowned scientists are likely to get more
recognition and better opportunities that less famous counterpart. In his opinion, this follows
what he refers to as, the Mathews Effects, following the Biblical verse: for unto every one that
hath more shall be given, and but from ye that hath not, even the little owned shall be taken
away. Therefore, the haves will have more and while the have-nots continue in lack (Yong,
2014). A talented footballer living in some remote place may not get the same opportunity to
develop his skills another born raised in a privileged suburb that encourages the identification
and development of talents (Yong, 2014). The result then becomes, the underprivileged talented
soccer players eventually despairs and finally fades away to other subsistence endeavors while
his less talented counterpart goes ahead to become a successful footballer,
In a similar study from UC Berkeley in India, most people were noted to believe still that
their destinies in life are tied to their life stations (Anwar, 2015). This study explicitly points out
to the attitudes in the Hindus caste system. The study determined that individuals who were

DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS

affected more by the caste system believed that skills, abilities, and successes were fixed in
stone. While new conventions and social mobility could be replacing old hierarchies, gut feeling
about the far we can go in transcending our circumstances of birth, and how we actually push our
limits to remain firmly entrenched (Anwar, 2015). In this particular study, children and adults
from various castes were asked if they were willing to mingle with to interact with the more
privileged than were their more advantaged counterparts. The study thus implied fewer success
opportunities for the underprivileged as a result of social stratification that leaves more
opportunities for the upper classes.
Further, in Robert Millers, The Meritocracy Myth, the award-winning author challenges
the validity of general American assertions that America is a land of limitless opportunities
where individual success only goes as far as their own merits (Yong, 2014). The author points
out to a list of non-merit factors which, neutralizes, negates or suppresses the impacts of merits
and creates barriers to individual mobility. The disparities in wealth distribution is quite apparent,
and the most active individuals do not come out as the most successful either (Yong, 2014).
Simply stating that hard work, a factor that no one appears to be doubting its role in influencing
success, is paramount; is an ambiguous phrase that holds less water. Whether a set of attitudes is
normally a cause or the effects of success is another subject of debate.
Some of the most cited rags to riches success stories also appear to be not-all-personality
inclined. For instance, Ben Carson through his Gifted Hands, recollects how he rose from a less
privileged life to become one of the best neurosurgeon of this generation (Carson, 2011).
According to the author, being poor in an affluent neighborhood, and going to a school where
one was highly discriminated on a terrible experience for a young boy his age. What the story
seems to be avoiding, is the fact Carson was greatly privileged. While such an environment can

DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS

act as a discouragement to a young boy his age, it was also an opportunity to challenge his
present preoccupation. Besides, Carson was so privileged to have had a motivating single mother
who encouraged him to push on at every turn of his success story, and a brother who also
coupled up as his role model (Carson, 2011).
This article does not, however, try to discredit the role of personal responsibility in
influencing personal success, but rather to recognize the role of the interplay between genetic
and environmental factors that determines success. While merits can open doors to equal
opportunities to individuals, it is the less recognized accidental factors that actually determines
how successful they become. Governments and individuals should, therefore, give an equal
emphasis to equitable distribution of opportunities and in challenging the less fortunate in the
society to take up more challenging responsibilities.

DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS

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References

Anwar, Y. (2015). Stereotypes about class and privilege on intellect and success. Berkeley News.
Retrieved from: http://news.berkeley.edu/2015/03/31/caste-stereotypes/
Carson, B. (2011). Gifted Hands 20th Anniversary Edition: The Ben Carson Story. Zondervan.
Yong, E. (2014). On Privilege and Luck, or Why Success Breeds Success. National Geographic.
Retrieved from: http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/04/28/on-privilege-andluck-or-why-success-breeds-success/