The self-made man (or woman). There’s no such thing.

I was reading an article about a billionaire fashion mogul who was described as self-made, and it got me thinking.

Why are we enamored by that thought? Why do we elevate those who supposedly made it up the mountain alone (even though they didn’t)?

I know what you’re thinking. Why do I say they didn’t? 

Because no one makes anything alone. Behind every success, there are others. Family members give time and money. Friends, teachers, and mentors provide a wide range of resources and support. Various businesses or artisans provide goods and services. The list goes on. 

As early as the 17th century, John Donne knew it…

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.

While we may like the idea of the lone hero who can do it all, it’s just not real … or practical.

Humans may be able to outthink most of our fellow animal partners on the planet, but we certainly cannot outrun, outsize, or outdo them in terms of strength. To do any of that, we need help. 

If our ancient ancestors had relied on the individual hero to come along when encountering the saber-toothed tiger, our species would have never survived. 

Instead, we banded together. We worked together. We helped each other. Cooperation is our superpower … and we should revel in that. We should celebrate it and seize the opportunity it gives us to do great things and solve our most pressing issues. 

Gates, Musk, Jobs, and Bezos all had help. Not one is “self-made.” All got money, or had spousal support, or had a quiet partner, or had any number of other people who worked in the shadows to propel the vision forward. 

The moral here is this: going alone to be great may sound amazing, but it’s a myth, so go together with others and do something great instead. That’s real.

==> If you want to know when new posts are published, CLICK HERE to subscribe.