Everyone wants some degree of success.
Everyone
wants
some
degree
of
success
.
Many people believe that they deserve success simply because they believe that they deserve success.
Many
people
believe
that
they
deserve
success
simply
because
they
believe
that
they
deserve
success
.
But there is a widespread belief that people who get on in life may be successful not because they deserve it, but because of influential friends or the right background.
But
there
is
a
widespread
belief
that
people
who
get
on
in
life
may
be
successful
not
because
they
deserve
it
,
but
because
of
influential
friends
or
the
right
background
.
Sometimes it may just be a comforting and harmless belief, while at the other extreme it can be very destructive.
Sometimes
it
may
just
be
a
comforting
and
harmless
belief
,
while
at
the
other
extreme
it
can
be
very
destructive
.
I once met a brilliant young engineer who worked in a chemical plant.
I
once
met
a
brilliant
young
engineer
who
worked
in
a
chemical
plant
.
Because of her knowledge and experience, she should have been promoted to Production Manager.
Because
of
her
knowledge
and
experience
,
she
should
have
been
promoted
to
Production
Manager
.
Instead, the job went to a man who was totally unsuited for the post.
Instead
,
the
job
went
to
a
man
who
was
totally
unsuited
for
the
post
.
Everyone knew that he only got it because he was politically acceptable to his superiors.
Everyone
knew
that
he
only
got
it
because
he
was
politically
acceptable
to
his
superiors
.
This injustice discouraged the young engineer and many of her colleagues.
This
injustice
discouraged
the
young
engineer
and
many
of
her
colleagues
.
It also meant that the factory was much less efficient than it could have been.
It
also
meant
that
the
factory
was
much
less
efficient
than
it
could
have
been
.
At the same time, we should not be pessimistic.
At
the
same
time
,
we
should
not
be
pessimistic
.
More and more the modern world depends on having people who are in the job because they are good enough, not just because their faces fit.
More
and
more
the
modern
world
depends
on
having
people
who
are
in
the
job
because
they
are
good
enough
,
not
just
because
their
faces
fit
.
There is a story of a factory owner who sent for an engineer to see to a machine which would not go.
There
is
a
story
of
a
factory
owner
who
sent
for
an
engineer
to
see
to
a
machine
which
would
not
go
.
He examined it, then took out a hammer and tapped, once.
He
examined
it
,
then
took
out
a
hammer
and
tapped
,
once
.
The machine started up immediately.
The
machine
started
up
immediately
.
When he presented his bill, the owner protested, "This can't be right!
When
he
presented
his
bill
,
the
owner
protested
,
``
This
ca
n't
be
right
!
$100 just for tapping a machine with a hammer?"
$
100
just
for
tapping
a
machine
with
a
hammer
?
''
The engineer wrote out a new bill: "For tapping a machine, $1; for knowing where to tap.
The
engineer
wrote
out
a
new
bill
:
``
For
tapping
a
machine
,
$
1
;
for
knowing
where
to
tap
.
$99."
$
99
.
''
Everyone wants some degree of success. Many people believe that they deserve success simply because they believe that they deserve success.  But there is a widespread belief that people who get on in life may be successful not because they deserve it, but because of influential friends or the right background. Sometimes it may just be a comforting and harmless belief, while at the other extreme it can be very destructive. I once met a brilliant young engineer who worked in a chemical plant. Because of her knowledge and experience, she should have been promoted to Production Manager. Instead, the job went to a man who was totally unsuited for the post. Everyone knew that he only got it because he was politically acceptable to his superiors. This injustice discouraged the young engineer and many of her colleagues. It also meant that the factory was much less efficient than it could have been.  At the same time, we should not be pessimistic. More and more the modern world depends on having people who are in the job because they are good enough, not just because their faces fit. There is a story of a factory owner who sent for an engineer to see to a machine which would not go. He examined it, then took out a hammer and tapped, once. The machine started up immediately. When he presented his bill, the owner protested, "This can't be right! $100 just for tapping a machine with a hammer?" The engineer wrote out a new bill: "For tapping a machine, $1; for knowing where to tap. $99."