UNFAIR ADVANTAGES
I often find myself in various social interactions, whether it be with friends, strangers, colleagues, or acquaintances, where the topic of one demographic dominating influential roles arises. It’s a subject that many ponder privately, and I’ve actively participated in such discussions, confidently sharing my perspectives. It’s an undeniable truth. Certain groups hold a noticeable monopoly on the most powerful positions. Some even openly acknowledge it. Take any prominent job, and chances are, 80% of those in it will come from the same demographic. This clear disparity has left many younger individuals feeling hopeless, told to simply accept the flawed system and wait for it to eventually change. Many attribute this situation to nepotism and corruption. But is nepotism and corruption the whole story? Can we truly reduce this issue to mere demographics? I don’t think so. To grasp the root of this disparity, we must delve into the concept of unfair advantages.
“I am a young, white, educated male … I got really, really lucky. And life isn’t fair.” These are words from Evan Spiegel, co-founder of Snapchat. For context, Evan was Raised in a wealthy environment in Los Angeles, he benefited from family connections, attended an exclusive school, and received guidance from influential mentors some of whom came from his parent’s circles who happen to be influential and successful lawyers. This is what Warren Buffet calls the “Ovarian Lottery”. It’s interesting to think about what could have been in a parallel universe where Evan didn’t take advantage of his parents’ connections. But instead of dwelling on that alternate reality, he strategically utilized his family’s status and wealth to his advantage. This undoubtedly played a pivotal role in his success. This goes to show that it is shortsighted to reduce situations to simple social constructs such as nepotism and corruption or favoritism. Since ancient times, society has been accustomed to favoring those within our circles. In the real world, it would be considered out of character for a CEO to reject a job candidate who is the child of a close associate in favor of a complete unknown. This idealistic scenario simply doesn’t align with reality, and this is true for every other sector from politics to families. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid blaming individuals from specific demographics for holding top positions or getting it easy in life solely due to their connections or their luck of being associated with a demographic that holds the power. Criticizing them for leveraging their connections is baseless; in fact, it is a practical strategy. Rather than placing blame, we should take a moment to reflect on our circumstances and ask ourselves, “What are my unfair advantages?” “How can I use them to my benefit?” and “Can I truly fault others for doing the same?”
To truly comprehend the underlying principles of this notion, I highly recommend immersing yourself in the pages of “The Unfair Advantage” by Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba. Unveiling the MILES Concept of Unfair Advantages — Money, Insight, Location, Education, and Status — the authors illuminate how these factors can profoundly impact one’s path to success. As an example, being born into a wealthy family bestows the benefit of MONEY, affording access to exemplary education and startup capital for ventures. The GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION of a person, whether in Europe or the USA, presents unique opportunities compared to someone situated in Africa. Furthermore, it encompasses recognizing one’s strengths; for instance, a woman may possess a natural INSIGHT into baby care, giving her an edge in launching a baby clothing business over a male competitor. The recommendation is to surround oneself with value-adding individuals and leverage these unfair advantages wisely. If you lack expertise despite having money, consider partnering with someone who possesses the needed EDUCATION. If your current location hinders progress, changing it may be worth considering. If you don’t hail from a wealthy family then you ought to take your EDUCATION more seriously. Networking becomes crucial to enhance STATUS and connect with influential individuals.
In summary, the prevalence of a certain group’s dominance often arises from their skillful manipulation of Unfair advantages. Despite societal disapproval, recognizing and utilizing your unfair advantages can significantly impact your success. Mastering the art of navigating and leveraging one’s advantageous position within the system is crucial. We all need to understand the system and work to beat it because it isn’t going to change anytime soon. Life is unfair, it will always be.
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