Hard Work or Luck

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Form the Harriet Harpy thread. Do you think it's luck or hard work that makes you sucessful?

I reckon I was lucky to be born with a modicum of brains and talent - but I have put myself out and done stuff that (for example) my considerably brainier best mate wouldn't dream of doing - hence I earn more than him.

[shoes]

It's genetics and upbringing.

It could be argued that lazy people are lazy because they have a genetic predisposition to be lazy and so technically it is not their fault.

How much free will do you think you actually have? And would you have knocked the vase if I hadn't of said anything?

[TimberWolf]

I think in general the harder you work the less you get paid.

[Spacecadet]

work hard and work smarter... there might be a touch of luck but i do believe that people make their own luck when it comes to job hunting. Some people have a talent for being able to spot potential oportunies and follow them up. Might not always be successful but by spotting more oportunities the chance of getting a success is a lot greater

[Peoplesoft bloke]

It's genetics and upbringing.

It could be argued that lazy people are lazy because they have a genetic predisposition to be lazy and so technically it is not their fault.

How much free will do you think you actually have? And would you have knocked the vase if I hadn't of[sic] said anything?

Not sure what you mean about the vase. I can be lazy but it oddly doesn't seem to have harmed my career and that could mean I'm lucky.

I don't think I have too much free will, but I intend to make the most of the tiny bit I have.

[Sysman]

Please define "hard work".

"Choose a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life."
Confucius

[Spacecadet]

"Choose a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life."
Confucius

But that doesn't help reduce the class divide

[shoes]

Not sure what you mean about the vase.

It's from 'the matrix', fate versus free will is discussed briefly.

[TimberWolf]

Below is a list of professions roughly in salary order. The order seems to correspond (inversely) with how hard they are and also inversely with how well they are paid.

If all jobs paid the same, in which order would you choose these jobs if you had to do them yourself?

Slave
Toilet cleaner
Kitchen porter
Street cleaner
Caring for the elderly
Nurse
Teacher
IT worker
Airline pilot
Doctor
Chief executive
Politician
King

For some reason workers who work the hardest in the worst conditions in the most unfullfilling jobs are paid the least. Good innit?

[Sysman]

I can be lazy but it oddly doesn't seem to have harmed my career and that could mean I'm lucky.

I can be lazy too, especially when I have a computer sitting in front of me which can do repetitive work for me.

It's genetics and upbringing.

I'd add education there, as it's not necessarily part of your upbringing.

But what about the ability to sell yourself? Where does that fit into the original question?