Confess When You’re Not Doing Yourself
The entire book , TV and media industry continues to foster reverence for entrepreneurs and rock star executives, creating a myth of American success that it has made its own. But the travel stories of these heroes often overlook the fact that many of these corporate leaders did not get where they are without help. Some elected CEOs are honest about the slim chances of making big plans to succeed in business. For the most part, however, a culture of veneration still extols the accomplishments of these industry titans and pollutes the wider public perception of success solely as a human choice, not, at least in part, as a result of a successful gambling outcome.
In fact, some of the most famous names in the business would not have reached nearly such heights without the help of their parents, or if they hadn’t been caught by the capricious eyes of loving investors willing to risk their insane ambitions. In turn, these myths have inspired many successful people, who no one calls household names, to create their own selective stories – but it’s time for us to start recognizing that we can admit we received help before striking a gold mine. It paints a more accurate picture of what it means to be successful and makes successful people seem much more honest.
Normalize perception of failure
Nobody wants to fail. But at least on some level, failure is inevitable. This is especially true of business: Despite rave praise for unicorn startups and their leaders, 70 to 90 percent of startups fail . There is nothing wrong; it is a natural by-product of adventure into the unknown, charting a course of your own, driven by your ambition.
But the idea of personal triumph tends to whitewash the reality of the many setbacks that mark any journey. It is enough to look at the newly minted richest man in the world, Elon Musk, to see how much losers persecute even the most exalted leaders.
Think of it this way: If you were having a hard time starting your own business until a wealthy relative wrote you a check to support him, why not tell him about it? Being honest about where to start can help others to shake off the idea that they too have to go it alone.
It will help others to set more realistic expectations.
Since most of our beliefs about entrepreneurs are shaped by the media, self-made narratives mean that we often don’t understand which roundabout ways people are going to get where they want to be. Being honest about the help you received can be of great benefit to those who follow you. When it comes to careers , people tend to be overly impatient , prioritizing climbing the ladder quickly above realizing the true value of the job (if it’s a good job).
A more informed approach can make your work more complete. A recent Gallup poll found that college graduates who weren’t told they could set the world on fire by entering the job market were able to find jobs that were more satisfying.
Of the more than 2,000 college graduates, those who had realistic expectations of job prospects were far more likely to have achieved purposeful work – work that allows people to use their strengths, is deeply interesting to them, and contributes to their meaning in life.
In a corporate environment where platitudes about changing the world and influencing meaningful social change are commonplace, it is understandable that ordinary worker bees have high expectations. But if extremely successful people were more open about the help they receive, the younger generation would understand that they too are likely to face setbacks.
Honesty is sympathetic
Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos founded his empire after his parents donated $ 250,000 . The fact that this investment was never part of Amazon’s origin story doesn’t really endear Bezos to anyone who knows it. Being honest about the help we receive allows people to see that even the most successful of us can be compassionate and vulnerable. Celebrating your own success while ignoring the tremendous help you’ve received from a friend or family member will ultimately hurt your reputation.
Another key difference: “Help” – broadly speaking – can mean several different things. Do you have a spouse who has supported your efforts by supporting the housekeeping while you worked late? This is just as important as the cash investment. Aid does not have to come from a venture capital firm’s bank account to qualify as such.
When we praise business gurus and corporate leaders, we often overlook the support systems that have helped them rise to these high heights. It’s time to acknowledge that recognizing help is not a hindrance, but an asset.