This post was a response to watching the Patriots/Chief's pregame show, and how they always show the cliche "defying the odds". No, it isn't impossible, and people do defy the odds.
It isn't saying one should not dream, or chase their dreams. But I really do get a lip twitch when that kind of marketing never talks about the odds of getting to the top of anything, be it business, or music, or comedy, or acting, or sports. Nobody should begrudge someone who makes it. I have seen lots of historical people who move up whom I am happy for.
But the truth is the math is not there for everyone to end up on top. There will always be more who end up in the lower two classes, and if lucky manage to pay their bills and save for retirement.
I think far too much of humanity gets sold the idea that if you don't end up on top, you have failed. I have long since hated that marketing knowing that for every person on top, there are countless more people, the person who ended on top had help getting there.
The world has enough rich and famous people. What the world needs now more than ever is stability for those who won't defy the odds. And again, it isn't begrudging success, but merely saying that every job matters and while trying is fine, and dreaming is fine, it still has to be done in a pragmatic way so that those who don't reach the top, don't feel like they are worth less.
Most humans will not become Bill Gates. Most humans will not become Angelina Jolie. Most humans will not become Joe Montana. Most people will not become JFK or MLK. But everyone of them, had countless others who educated them, and supported them whom without, they would not be the the people we remember.
Try yes, please do. Who knows? But too much of marketing ignores the math.
It isn't saying one should not dream, or chase their dreams. But I really do get a lip twitch when that kind of marketing never talks about the odds of getting to the top of anything, be it business, or music, or comedy, or acting, or sports. Nobody should begrudge someone who makes it. I have seen lots of historical people who move up whom I am happy for.
But the truth is the math is not there for everyone to end up on top. There will always be more who end up in the lower two classes, and if lucky manage to pay their bills and save for retirement.
I think far too much of humanity gets sold the idea that if you don't end up on top, you have failed. I have long since hated that marketing knowing that for every person on top, there are countless more people, the person who ended on top had help getting there.
The world has enough rich and famous people. What the world needs now more than ever is stability for those who won't defy the odds. And again, it isn't begrudging success, but merely saying that every job matters and while trying is fine, and dreaming is fine, it still has to be done in a pragmatic way so that those who don't reach the top, don't feel like they are worth less.
Most humans will not become Bill Gates. Most humans will not become Angelina Jolie. Most humans will not become Joe Montana. Most people will not become JFK or MLK. But everyone of them, had countless others who educated them, and supported them whom without, they would not be the the people we remember.
Try yes, please do. Who knows? But too much of marketing ignores the math.
