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Throughout history, the most successful individuals and communities share one trait: they developed the talent of self-reliance before they needed it.
Self-reliance isn't something you're born with. It's not determined by your zip code, your parents' income, or your starting point in life. It's a skill—a talent that can be cultivated, practiced, and mastered like any other.
The Myth of "Self-Made"
We often hear about "self-made" millionaires or "self-made" success stories. But the term is misleading. No one succeeds entirely alone. The real distinction isn't between those who had help and those who didn't—everyone gets help somewhere.
The distinction is between those who:
- Built capability so they could recognize and use opportunities when they appeared
- Waited for rescue while opportunities passed them by
Self-reliance doesn't mean refusing help. It means being prepared to help yourself first, so that when assistance comes, you can multiply its effect rather than merely survive on it.
Why Schools Stopped Teaching This
For generations, American education emphasized practical skills: woodworking, home economics, agriculture, accounting, and trade skills. Students graduated knowing how to balance a checkbook, repair basic household items, and produce something of value.
Somewhere along the way, we decided that teaching capability was less important than teaching compliance. We replaced shop class with standardized test prep. We replaced home economics with more seat time. We replaced practical mathematics with abstract theory disconnected from daily life.
The result? Generations of adults who feel helpless in the face of ordinary life challenges—not because they lack intelligence, but because no one taught them the talent of self-reliance.
Self-Reliance as Civic Duty
Here's what many miss: self-reliance isn't selfish. It's the foundation of a healthy republic.
When citizens can provide for themselves and their families, they have the mental bandwidth to participate in civic life. When they're constantly in crisis mode, waiting for the next government program or charitable intervention, they have no capacity left for community engagement.
A republic of self-reliant citizens is a republic that governs itself well. A population of dependents becomes a population easily governed—and easily exploited.
The Good News
Self-reliance is a talent, and talents can be developed at any age. It's never too late to learn:
- How money actually works
- How to produce something of value
- How to solve problems without calling for help first
- How to delay gratification for greater rewards
- How to assess risk and make decisions under uncertainty
These aren't personality traits. They're skills. And skills can be taught.
That's why Global Sovereign University exists. We believe that teaching people to fish—rather than handing them fish—is the most profound act of respect we can offer.
Because self-reliance isn't about going it alone. It's about having something to contribute when you join with others.
Read the book: The Talent of Self-Reliance: The Case for the Republic over the Misery of the Collective
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