Do you believe more in luck or hard work more, professionally (to get ahead)?

[terry78]

^You're that high up on the totem pole that you got VPs, huh?

 

[Ultimatehero]

Think he said he COULD BE a VP. And I think anyone if given the chance can be whatever they want to be.

Or if it was to the first post, yep a VP.

To another post, unsure how to not feel guilty and glad I'm not the only one who feels like life is a
movie by all the random leapfrogging. Think it helps too. Made me empathetic and wanting to help everyone (charities and getting ahead) as well as doing my best due to being given a chance. I do see how it can definitely sound like bragging though when it's not intended to be, still working on that. As Gordon Gecko said, "you had what it takes to get into my office, now let's see if you have what it takes to stay there."

 

[hopefuldreamer]

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I would agree with your ideas on this subject, for the most part. Definitely, it's a combination of hard work and who you know. Hard work will only take a person so far, then if he or she knows powerful and well connected people within the industry, it stands to reason that this person will have the fast ticket to advancement (perhaps even over competitors who have just as much or more experience, skill and knowledge). I've observed it at companies I have worked for in my history. Now when it comes to luck, I don't know if I really believe in luck. I suppose it's possible, if luck exists at all, a person is lucky or blessed to know powerful, connected people. This obviously goes for individuals born into privileged families. I've worked hard all my life and because I am shy and somewhat reserved, I don't have the connections to powerful people in my surroundings. Not feeling sorry for myself here, because I do have a lot of good and wonderful things and people in my life, all I am doing is trying to illustrate my point with my own example.

Well the luck thing comes from being in the right place at the right time. My friend was working on accounts where his supervisors would leave for another job, leaving him in the perfect position to fill that role. Or being put on accounts that were highly specialized in a growing branch of the company. I'd never discount that he worked really hard to be given the promotions, but luck playing a part as well, since I saw other people in the company, just as hardworking, just as connected, not moving up because the opportunties never opened up in their part of the company.

 

[Ultimatehero]

Amazing, interesting, just thought I'd add that's kinda how Stan "the man" Lee got his big break too. Go in at the right time so they put a 17 year old in charge of the entire company practically. Just your story somewhat reminded me a lot of that.

 

[PyroChamber]

Amazing, interesting, just thought I'd add that's kinda how Stan "the man" Lee got his big break too. Go in at the right time so they put a 17 year old in charge of the entire company practically. Just your story somewhat reminded me a lot of that.

Yeah, but his success didn't truly come until he was in his 40s and about to quit the industry.

 

[Ultimatehero]

Didn't he develop some of the marvel staples in his 20s? Might be wrong though. Just know two guys quit soon after he got there and he got promoted VERY fast because of that. Just always found that story interesting and awesome.

 

[Poeman]

^You're that high up on the totem pole that you got VPs, huh?

Well, my direct manager is a VP. I know what his day-to-day is like and the only thing he has on me is years and probably some connections.

 

[Poeman]

Stan Lee is the Hugh Hefner of comics...No one can go against him and he wins all the time.

 

[Matt Mortem]

The cynic in me says luck. For awhile there the harder I tried, the harder I worked, the worse my life got. Once I threw in the towel, things got a bit better. Still sucks, but better. Life feels like an extreme amount of luck. I have no luck. Absolutely none.

 

[Spuzz]

Depends on the industry. Unfortunately the one I plan on going into will probably involve a bit of both but mostly luck :/

 

[TheFuture]

I think luck can get you out of the odd predicament, but hard work in the long run will limit the need for luck considerably.

When I was working I tried to live by a philosophy of leaving no stone unturned and covering all bases. As the old saying goes, assumption is the mother of all **** ups.