Absolutely, but that is the perk of being *that* successful. He has an incredible network of relationships, especially based on the different boards he sits on. It is guys like this he has in that network: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marc-particelli/5/932/371

Current roles:
Director at IEP Technology
Director at Spinrite LLC
Operating Partner at Sentinel Capital Partners
Director at CIN Legal Data Services
Director at MKTG

He is a Harvard grad and is likely in the billionaire range. When you have these types of friends, why would you care who got you there?

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Let's say that Sam Zell didn't outwork or outsmart virtually every other human being to amass his fortune. This leaves two options.

1) He just got lucky.
2) He simply happened to have a good plan and executed it well.

If this is true, then what are you guys doing to work towards being a billionaire? I mean, if Zell could do it without simply being smarter or harder working, why can't you or me? I highly doubt I'll be able to work my way up to being a billionaire even if I get as lucky as I can. Are you guys working on being the next Sam Zell? If not, why not?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Wiki sez he went to Michigan?

_________________
Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Who is going to be the first to argue that it is right? My money is on Scorehead.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Can't it be both?

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As always, you see it in black and white when it's all gray

Hard work (not harder than any other hard worker) + Opportunity+ intelligence worked out well for Zell


But, the opportunity is a lot different for a lot of different people.

Probably no one. I think most people have me on ignore.

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Ive read your posts in this thread. Ive pretty much taken "hard work is more than just physical work" away.

Thats pretty much it, isnt it? I agree.

Not a chance. Ethics is preached constantly by my company, & on many occasions there have been business situations where either myself or a co-worker has said "that isn't right". Sometimes there is a gray area but in today's corporate world you better damn well do your best to be ethical, moral & fair.

Now excuse me while I take the afternoon off & go to the strip club on my expense account.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

It isn't gray though. Most people don't even attempt to put themselves in the situation he did. He started his own firm at the age of 27 years old.

Are you working to be the next Sam Zell? I know I'm not.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I didn't misconstrue it at all. I am in agreement with the WH and NYT assertion that it will allow people to follow their dreams instead of being trapped in a job. But that goal/benefit is incongruous with allowing others to follow their dreams of maximizing their incomes.

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Legendary drug dealing kingpin John Cappas is a good example of different kind of oppurtunity.


His parents had enough money to send him to Catholic school and he had enough pocket money toget into the Cocaine game. He was good at it. Then he got caught (Cops kids killed themselves and it was traced back to him)

He was sentenced to 45 years.

He served his time (let out after 15 years of good behavior)


Within months of getting released, his father purchased a well known hot dog stand on the south side and is very successful.


Nothing wrong with parents helping, but it's just a real good example of how different environments can shape our future. Id wager that 99% of people put in jail for dealing drugs are not making money hand over fist within months after getting out.

So he took a chance? Ok. That's cool. He's a risk taker. Good for him.

I know at least 100 guys who started their own (or attempted to) firms at the Board of trade. Maybe 2 of them are successful. Those other 98 guys were working just as hard.

Zell's dad was a big real estate investment guy!

_________________
Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Yeah, and he did it better than just about anyone.
Obviously not as smart though, unless we are saying that the rich are rich because they got lucky, which we aren't.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I'm sure that had nothing at all to do with Zell's success in.... uh, what field did Zell make his money in again?

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

You just made the argument against "working hard" to make yourself a billionaire. Congratulations.

_________________

Zell’s father entered the wholesale jewelry business and invested in Chicago-area real estate.

Poor immigrant

I'm sorry you don't work hard.

_________________

I always take my ethical cues from online training at a massive corporation.

_________________

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I wish I could live in your world. I truly do. The world would be much simpler. Everyone who is successful is smart and hard-working.

_________________

I don't think you understand what I was getting at.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Why is it so hard to give credit to those who truly did build something? There are thousands or hundreds of thousands of people who tried to be Sam Zell. For some reason, he did it while others failed.

Now, do you think he was just lucky? It seems like you, and others, are close to saying this but unwilling to come all the way out with it.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

It doesn't matter, Rick. You live in Pleasantville. The rest of us don't. Best of luck with your eternal optimism and simplicity.

_________________

Life is good.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I think he was fortunate to have a father in the real estate and jewelry business. You want to call that luck, be my guest.

I think if he grew up with truly poor immigrant parents, we likely would never have heard of him.


Do you disagree?

What is more likely- that none of those hundreds of thousands worked as hard or was as smart or as efficient? Or that none of them had the combination of hard work, good planning, and yeah, LUCK, that Zell had? I think it's pretty obvious that the thing that most likely separated him from many of those hundreds of thousands, was indeed good fortune.

If you really think he's so special, maybe we should just make him king. Go on, CROWN HIS ASS!

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I think he would have been a great success no matter what. He may not have been a billionaire.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

But he's telling you his hard work made him a billionaire. He's suggesting that if you work as hard, you will be one too. Stop arguing and get working!

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don