Yes, the real world can be distasteful at times. I spent years refusing to play the game; preferring to stay strictly idealistic about ability and hard work paving the way. It got me nowhere fast as an entrepreneur. The minute I stopped fighting against how things actually work, success came calling.
I still don't like the notion that your connections can get you the right opportunities radically faster than your ability, but that will always be how the world works. Marc Andreessen would not be what he is today without Jim Clark (the gatekeeper).
People are social beings, and that's the root of the issue. The networks you form, give you radical advantages. Half of success, in my opinion, is your ability, work ethic and willingness to seize opportunity; the other half is who you know.
Most meaningful jackpots in life are guarded by gate keepers. If you want to succeed, far more often than not you're going to need help, and you're going to have to give someone else a cut of the action. Others are inclined to help you once you make them personally invested, that's obvious. People are also more inclined to trust and work with people in their networks - trust by established association. Works the same way with that little piece of paper, a degree, that gets you the stellar job.
Silicon Valley is supposedly a meritocracy. Try getting a meeting with, a contact with, a phone call with, or an email response from - Ron Conway (for example). I don't care how badass of an engineer you are. You can't get anywhere near him without a referral from someone else (the who you know part playing its role).
I still don't like the notion that your connections can get you the right opportunities radically faster than your ability, but that will always be how the world works. Marc Andreessen would not be what he is today without Jim Clark (the gatekeeper).
People are social beings, and that's the root of the issue. The networks you form, give you radical advantages. Half of success, in my opinion, is your ability, work ethic and willingness to seize opportunity; the other half is who you know.
Most meaningful jackpots in life are guarded by gate keepers. If you want to succeed, far more often than not you're going to need help, and you're going to have to give someone else a cut of the action. Others are inclined to help you once you make them personally invested, that's obvious. People are also more inclined to trust and work with people in their networks - trust by established association. Works the same way with that little piece of paper, a degree, that gets you the stellar job.
Silicon Valley is supposedly a meritocracy. Try getting a meeting with, a contact with, a phone call with, or an email response from - Ron Conway (for example). I don't care how badass of an engineer you are. You can't get anywhere near him without a referral from someone else (the who you know part playing its role).