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I think there is a lot to be said about parental support, genetics, the luck of where and when you were born, etc. but I don't believe you should discount free will entirely.
That is to say, I don't believe that so called great men like Bill Gates, Andrew Carnegie, Nelson Mandela, etc. go there simply because they tried hard and persevered. I can safely say that no person succeeds or fails alone. We are a product of our environment. However, to completely divest yourself of any agency is to strip, in my opinion, all meaning from life.
You can still have all the breaks, a great upbringing, excellent opportunities and great genetics and still fail. The individual has a choice to act or not act on that which he or she has been provided. Choices are made throughout a lifetime which influence future choices and actions.
We are a combination of all of these things, not the least of which is our own agency.
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke
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