Invert the classroom to deliver much more value to more people. College should be for socializing, small groups, labs and certification.
Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
241–250 of 374 posts
Re: Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
#242Earlier quoted context omitted.
>That's why you don't start a business dummy, you work with a money manager and have him invest it That's not what we are talking about. We are talking about people that built businesses. >You claim a child in China has the same access to opportunities as the son of a hedge fund manager? No one claimed that anywhere in this thread. Take your strawman fight elsewhere.
So we both agree that the wealthy have massive advantages and thus their successes mean less. If you get a few hour head start at the marathon you don't get to brag about how you won.
But, if you have a genetic advantage, you still do. Everyone starting at the same time, some are clearly in a different class. I guess the marathon analogy with regard to socioeconomic opportunity, then, is this: everyone gets to start at the same time, has to run the same distance, but not over the same course...some have the chance to purchase a downhill run; some can only afford a path of gently waving hills and valleys; others have no choice but to take the canyon route complete with stoplights and none of the ordinary traffic blocked for their course. Though 26.2 miles downhill is still hard, it's not as hard as some of the other courses available.
Re: Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
#243I wish I could remember where I read this, but I once heard it explained to me as this: It's easy to deride the journey of the rich college student: 80-hour internships at Goldman Sachs, unpaid positions in government, etc. But, the things that are done by successful people are hard, as hard as walking a tightrope. The difference is that rich students walk this tightrope over a bed of pillows. Poor students walk it o…
>> What's less obvious is how nerve-wracking it is to know that there are real consequences. Danger creates stress, and stress ruins results. Paradoxically, if you know you have more than one shot, you're more likely to succeed on your first try. I think this depends on the person. Some people work better under pressure, others not. There is a real danger of postponing, procrastination, and not taking things seriousl…
A successful person from a poor background an outlier, so you would expect the personalities and attitudes of their children to revert to the mean.
Re: Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
#244Earlier quoted context omitted.
I knew someone who was so aggressively proud of their success, having founded and grown a successful business. He'd talk your ear off about how people like him were the ones adding value to society and how unsuccessful people are just lazy and don't try hard enough or don't take enough risks, or are just deadbeats, and how successful, hard working people are punished with taxes--you know, the standard soapbox speech.…
Wealthy people tend to have different attitudes about money than others, which has a strong influence on their ability to accumulate wealth. This is expounded upon in the book "Rich Dad Poor Dad". It's worth a read, especially for people who are not wealthy but aspire to it.
If you're not wealthy and aspire to it, I'd suggest not starting with a book from somebody who uses a made-up story to explain luck, giving fundamentally flawed advice.
Instead, realize that the odds are against you: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/rich-kids-stay-rich-poor...
And then work to acquire basic financial literacy. Which requires reading quite a few books. Here's a good starter list: http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/03/07/building-a-pers...
Re: Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
#245Earlier quoted context omitted.
"everyone needs to be saved" Unfortunately, the prevailing social zeitgeist in the US is that not everyone deserves to be saved- you have to earn the right to be deemed worthy enough to be saved, and really if you find yourself in a position where you need to be saved then it's probably your own fault and you should bootstrap your way out of it. The puritanical mindset is very, very strong and all-prevailing in the U…
>>Unfortunately, the prevailing social zeitgeist in the US is that not everyone deserves to be saved- you have to earn the right to be deemed worthy enough to be saved, and really if you find yourself in a position where you need to be saved then it's probably your own fault and you should bootstrap your way out of it. The puritanical mindset is very, very strong and all-prevailing in the US. I wasn't sure how to par…
Maybe the people who took that survey are acting out of self interest?
Re: Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
#246Earlier quoted context omitted.
So, what they need is some sort of advocate to show them the ropes. Sounds doable, if approached respectfully. Vaguely reminds me of the book "Rich dad, poor dad."
Ehhh, I dunno: > The schtick behind the Rich Dad books was that Kiyosaki was sharing secret money-making strategies of the wealthy with his wage slave readers. The tips ran the gamut from ridiculous to illegal and downright hurtful and included advocating for insider trading, arguing for the purchase of multiple real estate properties with little or no money down and telling followers they could purchase stocks on ma…
I only read one of them, but it advocated no such things.
Basically it told the story of a father who encouraged entrepreneurship (thinking big) vs. one that focused on stability and benefits above all else (thinking small). In fact we see the same story play out day to day on HN.
Re: Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
#247Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's exactly what OP is trying to point out. It's easy to be "self-made" when you can get a million dollar loan from your dad to get your real-estate business off the ground. It's easy to be self-made when your dad works at Seattle's most prestigious law firm and can arrange an introduction with IBM's PC hardware division. It's significantly more difficult to be self-made when you have no connections and no capital…
I don't understand. none of those examples are 'self-made'
What's your definition of self-made? I like "Someone with significant wealth who didn't receive inheritance or trust fund money."
Re: Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
#248I wish I could remember where I read this, but I once heard it explained to me as this: It's easy to deride the journey of the rich college student: 80-hour internships at Goldman Sachs, unpaid positions in government, etc. But, the things that are done by successful people are hard, as hard as walking a tightrope. The difference is that rich students walk this tightrope over a bed of pillows. Poor students walk it o…
Sometimes, knowing that you have no fallback position, can be motivating. Someone growing up in a cushy life may never be motivated to try very hard at anything. Someone growing up with hardship may be highly motivated to create a better life for themselves.
Re: Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
#249Earlier quoted context omitted.
Because they're an asshole about it, and because they're ignoring the pure luck advantages they had which made their success possible. And it doesn't matter if they've offset the losses of their previous tries, they still took multiple tries (in and of itself not a problem), which is something most people don't get.
Let me ask a question - what does your attitude benefit you? It seems mostly to make you bitter about things that were never in your control, which seems like an unvarnished negative. Maybe you've found something more helpful.
I don't think many people have an attitude of "we need to recognize built-in advantages, and should call out people who try to play down or hide them" to benefit themselves - it's an attitude and position adopted to try to benefit those without those advantages. E.g. by showing a beneficial side of certain social safety net policies, or the downside of the default position becoming graduating with massive amounts of student debt, etc.
Re: Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
#250Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's why I wrote "respectfully".
Offering aid without first having been asked for it could be considered disrespectful, condescending, etc.
Do you honestly believe I'd advocate forcing or pressuring people? How bout a little less defeatism.
No, I'm thinking something like coaching for people who are looking for a way up.