The world is full of books that promise a secret sauce for success. However, what percentage of your success is based on your own performance? Most people completely overestimate their own contribution as Rolf Dobelli points out in his book “The Art of Good Life“. Fortune begins with your birth year and birth place that are totally the result of chance. It continues with your family and values, the school system, diseases, and other fates.
Therefore, according to Dobelli everybody should be modest, especially if you are successful. Additionally, you should pay your taxes and be generous i.e. spend money for the ones who didn’t have so much fortune regarding birth place or family situation.
Moreover, everybody should be aware that the “wheel of fortuna” can heavily impact ones own life. Rolf Dobelli describes the fate of Boethius in his book:
Dobellis four recommendations based on Boethius life are (see visualization in sketch):
- Accept fortune in life i.e. ups and downs in life.
- Everything that you own is not a given. Wealth, family, health can be taken away any time.
- If you have lost everything, the good will still have shaped the majority of your life.
- The only thing nobody can take away are your thoughts and reasoning – your inner citadel is essential.
“Happiness cannot consist in things governed by chance.” Boethius
Again, what percentage of your success is based on your own performance?
