If you can attribute your success entirely to your own mental

Host: The quiet of the evening hung in the air, creating a reflective space between the two. Jack sat at the table, his fingers lightly resting on his cup, absorbed in Barbara Ehrenreich's words. Jeeny stood near the window, her gaze directed outward as she considered the deeper meaning of the statement.

Jeeny: “I’ve been thinking about what Barbara Ehrenreich said: ‘If you can attribute your success entirely to your own mental effort, to your own attitude, to some spiritual essence that you have that is better than other people’s, then that must feel pretty good.’ It’s such an interesting perspective on success, isn’t it? The idea that success is sometimes seen as a personal achievement, the result of your own mental effort and attitude—almost as though it’s a reflection of your inherent superiority.”

Jack: “Yes, exactly. Ehrenreich is pointing out how some people see success as proof of their own personal excellence, something that’s entirely within their control. This mindset can be empowering in a way because it makes success feel like a reward for their unique qualities, their hard work, or their attitude. But at the same time, it can create a kind of arrogance, because it ignores the many other factors—luck, timing, privilege—that can play a role in someone’s success.”

Jeeny: “Right. It’s almost like Ehrenreich is challenging the idea of the ‘self-made’ person. Yes, mental effort and attitude matter, but success is rarely about one person’s internal qualities alone. It’s a combination of internal and external factors. When we attribute everything to our own effort, it can become self-congratulatory and ignore the broader, societal elements that influence success.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepened as they both considered how the belief in personal effort as the sole driver of success can sometimes overlook the complexity of what makes someone successful. Jack’s fingers rested on the table, while Jeeny’s expression softened, reflecting on how often people fail to see the broader picture when it comes to achievement.

Jack: “It makes me think about how the ‘self-made’ narrative is so popular, especially in today’s culture. We hear stories of people who have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and become successful based solely on their attitude and effort. But Ehrenreich is reminding us that this perspective can be narrow—it overlooks how much of success depends on circumstance and privilege. Not everyone starts from the same place, and not everyone has access to the same opportunities.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Ehrenreich is really pointing to the danger of individualism—this idea that success is only about your personal strength or merit. It ignores the fact that some people are born into privileged environments, have better connections, or simply get lucky. When we only focus on the personal effort behind success, we fail to recognize the broader, more complex forces at play. This can also breed a sense of guilt or shame in those who don’t succeed, as if it’s their fault for not having the ‘right attitude’ or not trying hard enough.”

Jack: “Yes, it’s a dangerous way of thinking. It places blame solely on individuals, rather than looking at the systemic factors that contribute to inequality. By focusing only on attitude or mental effort, we overlook the barriers that some people face, whether it’s socio-economic status, race, or education. Ehrenreich is calling us to acknowledge the bigger picture and not to reduce success to just a personal achievement.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. And I think that’s why Ehrenreich’s words are so important. They remind us that while attitude and effort are important, we also need to look at the broader context—the opportunities, the privileges, the luck—and recognize that success is often a complex combination of factors. It’s not just about the individual.”

Host: The quiet in the room grew deeper, as they both reflected on the complexity of success and the dangers of attributing it solely to personal qualities. Barbara Ehrenreich’s words had illuminated a key truth—that success is shaped by a multitude of factors, and that recognizing this complexity helps us foster a more compassionate and inclusive view of achievement. Jack leaned back slightly in his chair, while Jeeny’s gaze turned from the window back to him, both of them understanding the broader implications of how we view success.

Jack: “So, Ehrenreich is showing us that success isn’t just about personal merit—it’s about recognizing the larger, more complex forces that shape it. When we acknowledge these factors, we can create a more balanced and empathetic understanding of success, one that doesn’t place all the burden on the individual.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. By recognizing the systemic forces that contribute to success and failure, we stop seeing success as a simple measure of individual effort. Instead, we see it as something shaped by opportunity, privilege, and yes, a bit of luck, alongside personal effort. It’s about understanding that success is a shared experience, not just an individual one.”

Host: The evening had fully settled in, the quiet understanding between them a reminder that success is far more complex than simply individual effort. Barbara Ehrenreich had reminded them that to truly understand success, we must look at the larger context, the opportunities, and the systems in place. The world outside had darkened, but inside, there was light—a recognition that success is not just about mental effort or attitude, but about a multitude of factors that shape our lives and opportunities.