You have to be capable, someone has to say you’re capable, and the person who says so has to be credible.

When someone says you’re capable, it means you hold value.

But having that perceived value isn’t enough — you also need the opportunity to be seen, and for many people to recognize your worth.

And even if you somehow manage to hit that incredibly rare sweet spot, whether you can sustain long-term success depends entirely on whether the people who champion you are actually capable themselves.

Human society is made up of interest groups. Behind every gain in benefit is a redistribution of the pie. When you make money, someone else doesn’t. So who’s bigger and stronger to settle things?