The idea that anyone can succeed through hard work alone has been repeated for generations.
But former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich says that message is not only misleading, it’s harmful.
“Casual reminder that the myth of ‘pulling yourself up by your bootstraps’ is a cruel hoax designed to convince poor people from all walks of life that the injustices they face are a result of their own actions, rather than an oppressive system rigged against them,” Reich posted recently on X.
This belief, that success or failure is always in your control, has deep roots in American culture. It’s tied to values like independence, determination, and self-reliance.
But critics argue that it ignores the realities of inequality, poverty, and how much of life is shaped by luck and circumstances beyond personal control.
Motivation Is Wired Into Us
Professor and author of Death’s Pale Flag, Dr. Gary R. Simonds, takes a closer look at what actually drives motivation.
He explains that motivation isn’t just about willpower or mindset; it’s shaped by how our brains are built, the way we were raised, and the environments we grew up in.
“We don’t choose our neuronal architecture and connectivity,” Simonds writes. This means we don’t get to pick how motivated, focused, or capable we are.
These traits are tied to how our brains are built and how they developed over time.
That development starts long before adulthood. Everything from prenatal care to childhood nutrition, stress levels, trauma, and education plays a role.
Many of these early influences are shaped by wealth, location, and family background, factors no one chooses for themselves.
Not Everyone Starts From The Same Place
Simonds also questions why society so often judges people’s worth based on how successful they are.
“Who am I to pass judgment on the quality of character, the quality of being, in my fellow travelers?” Simonds writes.
“How can I assert that anyone came by their qualities, or their foibles, by choice or personal design?”
Some people are born into families with stable incomes, good schools, safe neighborhoods, and strong support systems.
Others are raised in tough conditions, without enough food, decent schools, or safe surroundings.
Expecting everyone to reach the same outcomes just by telling them to “work harder” ignores how unfair the starting points are.
Blame Doesn’t Work—Incentives Might
Recognizing the importance of personal responsibility doesn’t mean ignoring how we motivate people in the first place.
Shaming or blaming people when they fall short often makes things worse; it adds stress, discouragement, and can actually weaken the chances of someone improving their situation.
Shame often reinforces negative emotions and stress responses, making it harder to change behavior.
Instead, the focus should be on positive incentives, things like encouragement, opportunity, support, and resources.
These can help reinforce brain pathways that lead to motivation and follow-through.
“The more we encourage and reinforce certain behaviors, the more we groove the necessary networks and connections to perpetuate such behaviors,” Simonds writes.
Rethinking the Bootstrap Message
The whole idea of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” sounds inspiring, but it leaves out a lot.
Reich and others point out that people don’t choose the families they’re born into, the kind of schools they go to, or how their brains are wired.
Yes, some folks manage to rise above tough situations. But that’s not the norm, and it’s not fair to expect everyone to do the same.
People start from very different places in life. Some have a head start, others are running uphill from day one.
Hard work matters, no doubt. But pretending it’s the only thing that does ignores reality.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also pushed back on the bootstrap myth. A few years ago, during a House committee meeting, she said, “It’s a physical impossibility to lift yourself up by a bootstrap, by your shoelaces. The whole thing is a joke.”
She later posted a video of Martin Luther King Jr. making a similar point, where he said it was a “cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself up by his own bootstraps.”
Ocasio-Cortez added that while she worked hard to get elected, it would be “narcissistic to pretend I ‘bootstrapped’ it alone and w/o others.”
She pointed to public schools, campaign volunteers, and community support as essential to her success.
If we want everyone to have a real chance, we need to stop blaming individuals and start fixing the system.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Robert Reich” by Albaum, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image adjusted for layout.