In venture capital, they talk about "pedigree" - a word that shares its sound with "dog food" but carries entirely different weight. The saying goes, "If you're an analyst in a VC firm, you need pedigree to keep going up in the hierarchy." And they say if you're wondering whether you have pedigree, you probably don't. I'll admit it: I have zero pedigree. Looking at my peers on Twitter and at work, it feels like I'm starting from scratch. I see these incredible individuals - absolute monsters in their field - who find things effortless because they've already done things I didn't even know existed. Recently, I've encountered former acquaintances who have developed real-world skills and achieved accomplishments I deeply desire. How does one compete with that? It's particularly challenging when you're still trying to find your own path. In situations like this, there seem to be two routes:
Work relentlessly to join these "monsters" - become one of them, learn from them, belong in their circle Take the opposite approach - chart your own course while still achieving similar success
History has shown winners from both paths. There are the apparent geniuses with ideal credentials and seemingly effortless success (though it never truly is), and there are the rebels who've taken unconventional routes, whose stories seem like rare strokes of luck (though they aren't). Here's the paradox: I doubt anyone truly feels like a genius. We're all looking at bigger fish in the sea, always wanting to be that next person. It's a peculiar human trait - this perpetual discontent. Yet interestingly, this isn't quite the same as ambition. Some people appear genuinely content with their current state, which baffles me. How can you know what you like if you haven't experienced everything? And how can you experience everything without having the hunger for it? This raises several questions:
Is this hunger limited to those with pedigree? Is it born from competing with brilliant peers? Is it purely individual - something you either have or don't?
I believe hunger is deeply personal, but it's also essential regardless of your circumstances. It's the driving force that pushes us beyond our current limitations, whether we start with pedigree or not.