which will get you farther

[alsharid]

it's who you know

[puppetz]

good question. i think who you know is the more important thing. just look at some of the historical figures. like artists who where never praised in their lifetime because they were social outcasts but as soon as they died someone noticed them and became famous. some of the musical artist got where they are just by knowing people not by pure talent. thats why this world is run by morons while the people who should be actual leaders go unnoticed...

[Kanu]

Its difficult. 'What you know' will take you much further assuming your a super genius/ social manipulator who not only knows your stuff, but how to apply it. But that also broaches the 'who you know' category as clever people know to make good connections. Even if you do know your stuff, its quite easy to merely stagnate and not go anywhere in this day and age, whereas the people who know all the right people are more likely to be more motivated and catapaulted further.

But, speaking from the 'what you know' category, id say thats the best way to go about it, (she says, broke, bored and with nothing better do do that sit at my computer, lol)

[Xunlai]

Who you know, and no i will not explain my reasoning, i do not want to sound redundent by saying something already said

[Russkie]

Personaly, I think it could be both. Depends on what life throws at you.

[analogZero]

jesus got by on his skills alone. everybody else just followed him. what a success story!!!
then he got nailed to a cross...
Socrates is remembered for his deep philosophical insights and ability to make people question their own beliefs.
then he was forced to drink poison for corrupting the youth.
Orson Welles garnered most of his acclaim through grants from the government.
he lived a rather full life though...but he did manage to scare the crap out of the entire nation with one radio broadcast!

Not all great people made their way through life riding on the coat tails of others. And while we may get help from many people along the way, it's not to say that they are the sole cause of our success. The best of both worlds will make the best of yours.

[Nahmu]

Originally Posted by analogZero

jesus got by on his skills alone. everybody else just followed him. what a success story!!!
then he got nailed to a cross...
Socrates is remembered for his deep philosophical insights and ability to make people question their own beliefs.
then he was forced to drink poison for corrupting the youth.
Orson Welles garnered most of his acclaim through grants from the government.
he lived a rather full life though...but he did manage to scare the crap out of the entire nation with one radio broadcast!

all are brilliant examples... but in their own lifetimes, they couldn't even see the point of influence to which they rose after they died. they used what they know to get the attention of people who listened, but their popularity postmortem as more people knew of them. if their ideas had died out with them, they would not be remembered. while what they knew was enough to garner them attention, if they had known people of more power, they would have risen higher or even lived.

[HN~]

In my opinion, what you know will get you farther in most cases - Cases when you are not born into wealth, fame or family connections.
You have to be intelligent to gain the valuable connections that will help you along. Not so many people will be helpful in the 'who you know' if you seem to be in the lowest part of the IQ curve.
So ultimately knowledge is usually the initial step in furthering yourself and expanding the 'who you know'. After that, both who you know and what you know go hand in hand, both be more useful in certain situations.

[spirit]

Originally Posted by analogZero

jesus got by on his skills alone. everybody else just followed him. what a success story!!!
then he got nailed to a cross...
Socrates is remembered for his deep philosophical insights and ability to make people question their own beliefs.
then he was forced to drink poison for corrupting the youth.
Orson Welles garnered most of his acclaim through grants from the government.
he lived a rather full life though...but he did manage to scare the crap out of the entire nation with one radio broadcast!

That's something I do very often, question my own beliefs. Re-thinking things.

[Nahmu]

Originally Posted by HN~

In my opinion, what you know will get you farther in most cases - Cases when you are not born into wealth, fame or family connections.
You have to be intelligent to gain the valuable connections that will help you along. Not so many people will be helpful in the 'who you know' if you seem to be in the lowest part of the IQ curve.
So ultimately knowledge is usually the initial step in furthering yourself and expanding the 'who you know'. After that, both who you know and what you know go hand in hand, both be more useful in certain situations.

i can't help but think of people like van gogh who was brilliant but didn't know anybody during his life and died penniless and alone. only after connections were made with his art and those in the upper social strata did he "get anywhere."