Who you know vs what you know

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There are people who say everyone has the chance to get rich as long as they work hard, and there are people who say connections are a bigger factor to your income.

I know for a fact that both matter, but which one matters more? And how much more does it matter?

Are social skills a bigger factor to your income, or your work ethic? This is pretty vague since some jobs demand more social skills than others, but most of the jobs with big bucks comes from those involving leadership.

People get rich by hard work, but people also get rich by manipulation, deceit, and the opportunities they have from being connected. What I'm wondering is, is this the rule or the exception.

Is connections the same as manipulation or deceit? You seem to imply this, but I don't see how this is necessarily the case, as connections can just be ways of getting more opportunities.

No I wasn't implying that connections are the same as manipulation and deceit. Connections are associations with people in high positions of power. I'm not attaching any negative or positive connotations to em, I'm using em in the most literal sense.

You don't necessarily have to obtain them through manipulation and deceit, but if that's the way you get through life then they are good targets for that type of stuff.

Anyways I don't mean to come across as biased. The reason I created this thread is because I'm not sure about this whole issue, so I want to make up my mind up as objectively as possible. While hard work is a big factor to prosperity, I believe there's more to it than just that. What I'm trying to figure out is whether social skills (which can be used for manipulation and deceit, but not necessarily) or work ethics are the bigger factor.

I doubt there's a general answer that will apply to all employment and other such situations. I think it'll depend on the culture of the workplace, the values and personality of supervisors and bosses, the kind of work/industry, the "level" where you are in the industry, co-workers, peer review (formally or informally), and on and on.

Yeah I was pretty vague about this. It depends big time. But since we live in a society, power is given to you by other people. So social skills has a pretty broad application. I believe it's important for every job, but the leadership roles which are usually the highest paying require a degree of social skills. Not just communication, but social skills in general.

The bottom of the barrel is pure work ethic, but as you rise up in position, I believe the demand for social skills is greater. Social skills isn't a big priority if you're flipping burgers, but when it comes to public relations or leadership positions it becomes a bigger priority. In the top positions, I'm working whether work ethic or social skills are a bigger priority.

In Britain we are suppose to be a meritocracy. But here it is still more down to who you know. The rich send their kids to the top schools and universities and line them up for well paid jobs. You can work hard to get ahead, but the emphasies is on the 'working hard'.

Both help. Using connections is to mutual benefit (expected), but manipulation relies on deceiving the other party. Nepotism does give some people more advantages than others, so it can be unfair.

Them that's got shall get
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own

Yes, the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don't ever make the grade
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own

Money, you've got lots of friends
Crowding round the door
When you're gone, spending ends
They don't come no more
Rich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But don't take too much
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own

Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own
That's got his own
He just worry 'bout nothin'
Cause he's got his own

Who you know makes you more money. What you know makes it (more likely) a sustainable source.

My cousin was an aspiring film maker who wanted to make TV commercials.

He went around to all the advertising agencies with his resume and demo tape.
Result? Nothing.

Then he discovered that the top advertising people would hang out at a certain bar after work, so he started drinking there and meeting people.

Result? Now he drives a Porsche and gets sent to Tahiti with a dozen beautiful models to shoot fashion commercials.

In most cases people get rich because their parents are (called inheritance).

This shows that there are actually 3 things that need to be in place for career success:

1)connections- which your cousin cultivated at the bar

2)hard work- if his demo tape had been shoddy crap, having the right drinking buddies wouldn't have helped

3)hard work on a project or in a career that actually has a chance of advancement- hard work as a photographer can lead to this sort of career given the right connections. Hard work as a dishwasher won't.