self-made success
Earned without inheritance
Self-made success describes achievement or wealth attained primarily through one's own efforts rather than inheritance, family connections, or privilege.
The term carries connotations of bootstrap individualism and the American Dream: She's a self-made success who started with nothing.
Critics note that purely self-made success is largely myth—most achievers benefit from some combination of luck, timing, and assistance from others.
- entrepreneurOne who starts businesses
- bootstrapStart without external resources
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- side hustleSecondary income venture
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
ambition · rags-to-riches · driven · mogul · empire · grind · work ethic · determination · visionary · underdog · climb · breakthrough · tenacity · millionaire · sweat · perseverance · hunger · rise
- uplifting storiescomeback story, underdog story, redemption story, survival story, miracle story
self-made successtrust fund baby
One living off family money
old money · privileged upbringing · legacy admission · family connections · silver spoon
self-made successdependency
State of needing support
entitlement · free ride · moocher · kept man · kept woman
self, made, success, selves, selfhood, selfish, selfishly, selfishness, selfless