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The Meritocracy Myth: Why “Success” Is More Complicated Than You Think
The following is an excerpt, Chapter 5, of my new book — Real Help: An Honest Guide to Self-Improvement
“If one puts an infinite number of monkeys in front of (strongly built) typewriters and lets them clap away, there is a certainty that one of them [will] come out with an exact version of the ‘Iliad.’” — Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Usually, around this point in the book, the author will tell you about their heroic journey to success. They’ll talk about how they always believed in themselves, never quit, and made it to the top through pure hard work without a shred of luck. “If I can do it, you can do it!”
Too bad that’s not true.
At least, it’s not all the way true. Of course, when you’re in the advice-giving business, you have to make suggestions. The people that do have odds of helping you become successful. But that’s the best you can give anyone. You can’t guarantee anything.
Yet, there are people who do. This ethos makes people feel jaded about self-help.
In your mind you think “How the hell can you guarantee my success? You don’t even know me. On top…
