You’ve been there.  The speaker exudes confidence and wants you to know something, something usually quite simple: “If you persevere, network, etc. like me you will see the same sort of success.”

The not so secret truth is that there are people in audience who are more talented and more principled than the speaker, but their “success” pales in comparison.  And since those who struggle never get the microphone, we are left with a skewed view of reality.  Only successful people are given the opportunity to define reality!

We ought to listen to some folks without the microphone.  She may have something very important to tell us.  It takes discernment I grant, but then again it takes discernment to know who to listen to when they have the microphone!