We’ve all got to run our own race. Some people get a head start and it feels unfair. Being rich or connected doesn’t automatically confer joy or ability. There are hurdles that nepos have too. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for Miss Gates to see her father’s infidelities shown to the world.
thanks once again for such a thoughtful perspective! damn this really resonated.. i love the idea that "privilege is runway" because it's a more productive way to think about it vs constantly keeping score of who had it harder/easier. we all start from different places, but at some point the question becomes: what are we building with what we have today? that mindset feels empowering instead of discouraging.
Supporting people who are building their own runway is a great reminder that we can make a change in our own lives and in the lives of others! Great article!
I'm not sure what I was expecting from the headline for the article, but what I got was even better! This (to my eye at least) was the best piece you're ever written. Sharp, well-observed, kindhearted but still imploring, and best of all impassioned. Thanks for sharing!
Ah, I googled it. For other readers: “A "nepo baby" (or nepotism baby) is a popular cultural term used to describe someone who succeeds in a particular field, like entertainment or politics, due to their famous or well-connected parents.”
From context I gather that “nepo” means privilege, but the term is not explained or defined in the article. Is this a made-up word? Where does it come from? Seems like people in the comments are not confused by it so maybe it’s just me.
I see a couple of links to paywalled articles near the beginning, but nothing from which we can get a definition without setting up an account elsewhere. Just seems like an unusual term like this deserves some explanation in context!
So "runway" suggests that you have a length of pavement (like at an airport?) ahead of you that others don't have? Or is it alluding to a fashion runway, indoors? Or is like bandwidth but spatial?
I'm a word person, trying to understand this expression that is new to me.
Oh! It never occurred to me that it might be a financial term. I looked it up in the Urban Dictionary thinking it was that kind of slang, but it wasn't there.
I'll bet many other readers who are trying to gain financial literacy and perspective weren't familiar with this term, either...
I had to look up the term “nepo baby” - looks like it’s short for nepotism: “A "nepo baby" (or nepotism baby) is a popular cultural term used to describe someone who succeeds in a particular field, like entertainment or politics, due to their famous or well-connected parents.”
We’ve all got to run our own race. Some people get a head start and it feels unfair. Being rich or connected doesn’t automatically confer joy or ability. There are hurdles that nepos have too. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for Miss Gates to see her father’s infidelities shown to the world.
thanks once again for such a thoughtful perspective! damn this really resonated.. i love the idea that "privilege is runway" because it's a more productive way to think about it vs constantly keeping score of who had it harder/easier. we all start from different places, but at some point the question becomes: what are we building with what we have today? that mindset feels empowering instead of discouraging.
We all know the system is super broken so I often try to reframe things in ways where we can actually make a difference today
Supporting people who are building their own runway is a great reminder that we can make a change in our own lives and in the lives of others! Great article!
I'm not sure what I was expecting from the headline for the article, but what I got was even better! This (to my eye at least) was the best piece you're ever written. Sharp, well-observed, kindhearted but still imploring, and best of all impassioned. Thanks for sharing!
When we figured out how many really are
Ah, I googled it. For other readers: “A "nepo baby" (or nepotism baby) is a popular cultural term used to describe someone who succeeds in a particular field, like entertainment or politics, due to their famous or well-connected parents.”
From context I gather that “nepo” means privilege, but the term is not explained or defined in the article. Is this a made-up word? Where does it come from? Seems like people in the comments are not confused by it so maybe it’s just me.
I linked to the New York Magazine article that explains.
I see a couple of links to paywalled articles near the beginning, but nothing from which we can get a definition without setting up an account elsewhere. Just seems like an unusual term like this deserves some explanation in context!
"Privilege is runway." What does this mean? I'm a native English speaker but I've never come across this expression. Please explain.
Having access to money from family members allows you more time to not have to make your own money.
So "runway" suggests that you have a length of pavement (like at an airport?) ahead of you that others don't have? Or is it alluding to a fashion runway, indoors? Or is like bandwidth but spatial?
I'm a word person, trying to understand this expression that is new to me.
It works nicely as a metaphor for the airport type of runway, but in this case, I'm using it in the financial business sense. "Runway" is the number of months a business has before it runs out of cash: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/valuation/cash-runway-explained/
Oh! It never occurred to me that it might be a financial term. I looked it up in the Urban Dictionary thinking it was that kind of slang, but it wasn't there.
I'll bet many other readers who are trying to gain financial literacy and perspective weren't familiar with this term, either...
But thanks very much for explaining.
I had to look up the term “nepo baby” - looks like it’s short for nepotism: “A "nepo baby" (or nepotism baby) is a popular cultural term used to describe someone who succeeds in a particular field, like entertainment or politics, due to their famous or well-connected parents.”