With the widening gap between rich and poor I've seen many posts about unequal wealth distribution. I've seen a large number of people defending the capitalist status quo by suggesting that people who have succeeded are primarily responsible for their own success because they "worked hard".

Most of these 'entrepreneurs' started with an idea (which was often not theirs, or even necessarily original) and thought they would use that idea to make a lot of money. Having (or stealing) a good idea is not hard work.

To get these ideas off the ground, they probably had to develop a prototype. This may have involved many 15-hour days working on the product to make it saleable. Yes, this is hard work. But having a prototype does not equal success.

At some point, in order to take the idea from a cute hobby to a legitimate business, somebody had to fund production. This means running around town until you find somebody who will give/lend you the money you need to buy materials and equipment to get your business going. THIS IS NOT 'HARD WORK'. This is talking. About a subject that you love and are passionate about. Until you get lucky and find someone with money who will allow you to build your dream.

The next step is to put all the pieces in place. Once you have the money, this amounts to glorified catalogue shopping. This is not 'hard work'.

Success is not the result of hard work. The hard work is a very small part of the equation. Success is convincing other people to give you money so that together you can get MORE money from OTHER people.

Waiting tables is hard work. Firefighting is hard work. Nursing is hard work. Working a line in a manufacturing plant manipulating hundred-pound components for assembly is hard work. Swinging a hammer or shovel on a construction site is hard work.

Let's stop deifying successful people who are only successful because they met the right person at the right time. Or at least, let's stop pretending that 'hard work' is actually rewarded in our society.