People love to brag about their “support system,” about the connections they were born into, the capital they could access with one phone call, and the mentors who magically appear at the perfect moment. It sounds comforting, but it can also create a dangerous illusion that success is guaranteed if you just have the right people propping you up.

The startup world rarely talks about this, but not having a safety net can be your most unfair advantage. When there is no one to catch you, you either learn to land on your feet or you never get up at all.

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