The Lies We Live
One of the biggest lies out there is the idea that we are in control of everything. That includes our careers.
Yes, we can improve the odds of success in life. But the fallacy that we have complete control over outcomes, simply based on how we think and what we do, is so very misleading. It’s as if these “7 Secrets to Happiness” and the “10 Habits of Millionaires” are actually a thing. Granted, applying certain principles and behaving in a certain way can improve the odds. But luck plays a far bigger role in how our lives turn out than we’d like to accept.
Even the great innovators and entrepreneurs benefit from large slices. Had Bill Gates not been born in an era when the personal computer was in its infancy, in a college environment in the US that was fostering innovation, would he have built Microsoft? Maybe, maybe not. Did he make the most of his advantages? Very probably.
But the fact is, we can’t assume that his achievements were all down to natural talent and vision. The same can be said for “bond king” Bill Gross. For one thing, the Pimco founder and industry legend was a huge beneficiary of the decades-long fixed-income bull market. Was he smart? Absolutely. But he was also in the right place at the right time. And when he tried to turn his hand to equity investing, he wasn’t so untouchable after all. In fact, he was pretty poor for someone that’s been so revered in the investment world. Failure is normal.
I’m not saying he was totally lucky as a bond investor. But it wasn’t all about skill. So however smart you think you are, success is never guaranteed. Remember that. Sometimes we aren’t as good as we think we are.
