Did anybody really get where they are in life from their own doing?

Question

for example, a successful business man who owns a multimillion dollar business says he's where he is today because he's hard working. But how did he become hard working? His parents probably taught him about the benefits of working hard when he was a child. A scientist who makes a discovery is where he is today because he's intelligent and uses his head. His environment as a child probably forced him to be intelligent and use his head to solve problems. When babies are born, are they just empty shells from which their environment molds them? Is anyone REALLY where they are today COMPLETELY from their own efforts? Isn't everyone's lives thus controlled by something beyond themselves? What do you think?

Answer 1

You are a product of your environment. It will influence (key word) what decisions you make throughout your life. That doesn't mean that someone who had a bad childhood will grow up to have a bad adulthood. They may chose to use that as a reason not to be that way. It might drive them to do better in life. And it works the other way around too.

Answer 2

There are two things. One the objects you come in contact and the your choice. Even you are born in an atmosphere which not conducive to success, you will search for it elsewhere and choose the right one. It all depends on the individual how he handles the environment. Environment alone cant force you to become successful. If it was so students from same school would not have achieved different degrees of success in life. Two sons of a mother get same environments but have a different life as for success is concerned so your handling of environment is more important than environment itself.

Answer 3

If a small child is lost in a forest and raised by a wild animal he never learns how to talk, let alone anything else. So yes, noone really got there all by themselves. But wait, that poor small child was also influenced by somethign beyond his control - that is being lost in the forest.
No, babies are not completely empty shells. Development starts before they are born. It is mostly physical, but it affects a lot of other things.

Answer 4

People get to where they are mainly because of their own hard work and the help of not few people. But one cannot give credit to the selves simply because they are hard working or intelligent or maybe even lucky. As the saying goes: "No man is an island"; so no man can really get anywhere without help. I agree with what you're saying completely. One man alone cannot make it all happen.

Answer 5

You are exactly where you are by your own doing. Doesn't matter what you know or who taught you, if you don't use it you're screwed. Knowledge is power, but if you don't use it you're powerless. The most educated people I've ever met are the dumbest asses I ever met. Hard working is just not sitting on your ***. I had no education, poverty forced me to use my head. I'm 56 years old now and one of the healthyest people I know. I don't have much money, but I own an acre of land with a small log cabin I built with my own hands. It ain't much, but it's mine and it's all from hard work and my own doing. There's a reason they say respect your elders, they're still alive. Get out there and do something, even if it's wrong...............

Answer 6

You are correct in a way - without guidence a child would never be molded. However, a child does NOT always have to listen to anyone. Therefore, a person who is successful is a person who listened and worked hard to get what they have today.
It's just like leading a horse to water - you can't make him drink the water - he has to want to drink the water and do that part on his own.

Answer 7

We are all just a bunch of pinballs on a tottally sweet table and God is the Pin-Ball Wizard.

Answer 8

everything in life is a time space continuim of syncronicities,all paths are already made thats why they are called paths, your interpretation of the environment u are in brings out the best in you, occupation is irrelivent. all humans recieve a pulse of info approx every 8 seconds.

Answer 9

you get what you deserve, and it is up to you to take advantage of what life offers you. you own your destiny and everything you do affects your future. there is nobody or nothing that can get in your way, unless you let them.