Do you believe anyone can be successful in America?

Question

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

That's a LOADED question. Because, YES, but NO.

See I consider myself relatively successful. I have a high 6 figure net worth. But my sister passed away broke after going bankrupt, not once but twice. We had essentially the same upbringing so why were our outcomes so different? Well most glaringly she had a lot of medical bills. But beyond that, (understandably) she had more of a live for today attitude (because tomorrow wasn't promised with her). While I have always invested 15% of my income since I was young.

I'll be the FIRST one to say that I've been very fortunate. Luck has played a big role in my success. There were a lot of fateful moments in my life where the coin toss fell my way. But my sister never had a chance. Any wealth she could've accumulated would have been gobbled up by her Healthcare.

So YES, Anyone can be successful. But a lot of people won't by sheer luck of the draw. I will say this, there are very few over night successes. Most people who are successful are so because they keep doing things that put them in a situation to BE successful.

Bricealan · Accepted Answer

Not everyone has the skill, intellect, or both to be what MOST people would term a 'success'.

I loved working in Aerospace, and manufacturing, but unfortunately, I only had a fair amount of success in those fields, due mostly to my failing to get the necessary start in Mathematics, and science in High School, and later in college. My grasp of advanced math and science, did leave a 'hole' in my career goals, as that is what I needed most to be what I called a success in the field of Aerospace and engineering.

Simslover92 · Accepted Answer

That's really hard to say yes to because if you weren't born in this country, it makes it really hard to say you can. If you were born in this country but were born extremely poor and homeless, it also makes it hard to say yes. It's hard to come out of poverty. I know because I'm a kid who came out of it sort of. While I would say that I am lucky enough to have a job and a roof over my head and therefore a success, I am knee high in debt and need a lot of help to get out of it. So it's a no answer really because some can but many can't.

emeraldsaphire · Accepted Answer

Can everyone be successful? Sure. Will everyone be successful? sadly no. Compared to other countries the US isn't too bad, but we still have to many hurdles to get ahead. Mostly regulations, but social problems too. Transphobia is at all time high, we are dealing with a massive mental health crisis, and dangerous ideologies are running rampant.

MrOracle · Answer

Everyone has a certain percentage chance, yes. But some people have a MUCH higher percentage than others - there's no getting around that.

Let's look at a guy who, let's say, has a strong body, but not an especially sharp mind. He might have a lot of trouble, or he might find a job where his physical strength pays him well, and he might be quite successful. Luck and hard work both play a part in how things turn out.

Now let's look at kind of the opposite: a guy who has a physical disability of some kind, but a sharp mind. Again, he might get caught up in his disability and talk himself out of success, or he might accept his disability and use his mind as his superpower and find ways to succeed without much physical exertion. Attitude is going to play a big role here.

Statistically, if you look at the people who are wealthy, they are smarter than average, yes, but they are rarely genius-level smart. The geniuses *tend* to specialize in a single field of interest and thus not prioritize earnings - think about Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory. He was super-smart in many academic ways, but he was in a field (theoretical physics) that doesn't tend to be very high-earning.

Your Bill Gates', Larry Ellisons, Jeff Bezos', etc. are all above average in brains but none are genius level. They all used their smarts in very grounded and pragmatic ways to specifically succeed in business and make as much money as possible. They weren't personally creating breakthrough technology - they were HIRING the people who did, or buying out the companies who did.

There are lots of ways to become successful - some are even absurd. In the late 70s, some guy came up with a great idea: he would sell "pet rocks." He bought river rocks (polished smooth and round by being in a river for hundreds of years) and he put one rock in a little box with a bed of straw and a funny booklet about how to interact with your Pet Rock, and he made something like $10M in the late 70s, which would be more like $150M today. He wasn't a genius either, but was probably above average in brains, and he certainly got lucky - but several things had to align for him to have success.

Most people aren't willing to try - to take a chance and risk failure, or do the hard work it takes to get something going - and so they'll never have great success. That doesn't mean they are incapable, just unwilling to do what's necessary to have a real chance. Anyone who has had real success has also had plenty of failures. It's just that they didn't let their failures stop them.

UpaRupa · Answer

Anyone maybe not 95% of people yeah but a lot aren't willing to put in the work. your not going to go that far if you think 40 hours and work life balance will take you somewhere. you might be able to get by on that with a decent skill set or living frugally. really need to go all in on work to have success.

DrPepper12 · Answer

Lol no. ANYWHERE. Gotta have drive & a plan. Oh and be white. And a man. Hetero would be advisable too. Oh! And come from generational wealth. And attend the right schools. And a $400 million dollar windfall from dads tax avoidance scheme helps too!!

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

No. Even many smart folk are poor due to an array of circumstances beyond their control.(That's before you get to racism, misogyny, ableism, homophobia, xenophobia and other bigotry which curtail even the most industrious people's success chances.)

midnightmoon05 · Answer

In American? Yes anyone with a healthy brain.  many are not so healthy, so they go broke.  not healthy meaning they don’t make good life decisions and is often negative.

AviatorTom · Answer

I've been successful in America, and I know several people who have been successful. I also know several people who struggle.

So, is it possible to be successful in America? Yes, but it's not a given for everyone.

McLlovin · Answer

The only people who can't be successful is lazy people. America isn’t perfect, what country is, but you are provided all the tools that you need to be successful but no one is going spoon feed you. You got to get up and go get it.

LazerBean · Answer

No, some people are too entitled, lazy, and/or irresponsible to be successful.

Sunrising · Answer

If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere, it's up to you and New York.

Awesomesauce2005 · Answer

Im make 2k in prifit after expenses every moth that i put towards buying property to live on in TN. People I've seen around me complain about how its impossible to afford to buy a house so they just rent is ridiculous

foxsquirrell · Answer

Obviously not. People endowed with more intelligence will always understand the system better than people who are not so intelligent regardless of what the system may be. And they will always come up on top.

OneViewpoint · Answer

No, your address will not stop you from being a lazy moron if that's what you really are.

BCRanger10 · Answer

It depends on how you're defining "successful", but yes, I believe so.

AMS700CX4u2 · Answer

I think that it is becoming harder to achieve honorably

mysteriousNicholas · Answer

Yes as Americans are workaholics says the stereotype ☺️☺️☺️ except some Californians 🤣🍭🤪

Agape93 · Answer

Nope. Not everyone can be successful and most won't be more than content or comfortable.

exitseven · Answer

No, you need some marketable skills. Gender Studies majors need not apply/

es20490446e · Answer

The American definition of success is well beyond true success.

Staximus · Answer

If they get off their ass and do something about it

Pterodon · Answer

Absolute there are opportunities but it’s up to you to pursue it

Twalli · Answer

Can be, most won't, but the possibility is there for a person. You never know when it is though, so you may have missed the chance

qwerty2469 · Answer

I said yes bit I lied. Outside of crime and sports blacks cannot succeed. Too dumb. IQ top out at 69. Lol. Virtually retarded.

seeyounexttuesday · Answer

Considering there’s no one definition of success, of course.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't think so, it's just a country, like any other.

Sal_Monella · Answer

Yes, but some are too challenged.

noohair · Answer

Anyone has that chance.

loveyouoak · Answer

Yes I do

pragatimonga · Answer

I dont think so

occulus · Answer

Yes, of course

Do you believe anyone can be successful in America?

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How easy do you think it is to be successful in America? Successful means living comfortably, having a good job, etc and this is in general?

Do you believe anyone can be successful in America?

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How easy do you think it is to be successful in America? Successful means living comfortably, having a good job, etc and this is in general?

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