Introduction: The Meritocracy Myth Growing up, I was taught that success was directly tied to merit—if you worked hard, followed the rules, and outperformed others, you’d rise to the top. I believed that to be true as I progressed through high school, earned a scholarship to the prestigious Air Force Academy, and eventually got accepted into the CIA. Every step of the way, I was convinced that achievement came from doing what you were told, better than anyone else, because that was the path to being empirically superior in competition. But reality, as I would later find out, was much more complex.

1. The Air Force Academy: A Test of Merit or Connections? At the Air Force Academy, I quickly realized that merit wasn’t the only factor determining success. While I pushed myself to be the best, outperforming others in both academics and physical training, I noticed something strange. Some of the people to my left and right, who were supposedly on the same track as me, had no business being there based on merit alone. They were there because of who they knew, not what they had achieved. They were the sons and daughters of influential people, or they came from families with money and connections. It was an early crack in the meritocracy I had been led to believe in.

2. The CIA and the Illusion of Meritocracy The idea that success was purely based on hard work and merit persisted until I joined the CIA. In many ways, the agency was the pinnacle of my understanding of achievement—I’d made it into one of the most elite organizations in the world. However, even at the CIA, the illusion started to fade. During my training, often referred to as “the farm,” I was taught that society conditions people to believe in a certain hierarchy, that hard work and loyalty will be rewarded. But in truth, it was clear that society wasn’t as merit-based as I’d been led to believe. The richest people weren’t the smartest, and the most successful weren’t always the hardest workers. It became obvious that the system was rigged in favor of those who were already privileged.

3. Understanding the Bigger Picture: A Rigged System Through my time at the Air Force Academy and the CIA, I learned that the world functions more like a giant economic machine. Society, through its education system, churches, and institutions, conditions people to fall into a hierarchy they believe is based on merit. The reality is that it’s often privilege and connections that open doors, not just hard work. The system is designed to maintain itself, ensuring that those who are born into power, wealth, or influence continue to thrive, while others are left working twice as hard for a fraction of the rewards.

Conclusion: Shifting Perspectives Looking back, the lessons I learned through my journey were invaluable. While merit and hard work still matter, they aren’t the only ingredients for success in a world where connections and privilege often hold more weight. Understanding this imbalance helped me break away from the illusion of a pure meritocracy, and instead, embrace a more nuanced understanding of success in the world.