Additional Resources for The Self-Made Myth by Brian Miller and Mike Lapham

Please contact Cynthia Shannon, cshannon@bkpub.com, for more information on reprinting this material.

Society’s Contributions to Individual Success

Miller and Lapham point out in The Self-Made Myth (Berrett-Koehler; March 2012) that successful individuals and businesses have had help from government and society at many levels. The greater an individual’s success, the greater his/her dependence on these public structures:

• Public Infrastructure – Public education provides companies with an educated workforce, a huge aid in the success of businesses. Transportation infrastructure, such as roads and highways, paid for through the American tax system, dramatically reduces shipping and production costs, and opens up low-cost lands previously inaccessible for commerce.
• Public Investment in Research and Innovation – The federal government spends billions of dollars in research every year through grants and funding. Such innovation is the single most important determinant of economic growth and societal well  being.
• Regulations and Fair Rules – Public regulations are cited by many of the business leaders in the book as essential to their success. The Securities and Exchange Commission provides needed transparency and investor confidence for the stock market to operate. Food safety regulations provide confidence to both consumers and businesses.  

The Self-Made Myth: and the Truth About How Government Helps Individuals and Businesses Succeed

By Brian Miller and Mike Lapham

March 2012

Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Paperback; $17.95; 192 pages

978-1-60994506-0