The Matthew Effect is Real, But Don't Let It Dictate Your Actions

For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
— Matthew 25:29, RSV.

I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
— Luke 19:26, RSV.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

We have all heard this old adage from time to time. This is the basic theory of the “Matthew effect”. This term came about in 1968 and was coined by a sociologist named Robert K. Merton.

Mr. Merton used this phrase to determine phenomena whereupon more established and well-known scientists will often get more credit than an unknown scientist for similar work. The principle can also apply to many other situations throughout our lives, and in some situations, its truth cannot be denied.

The problem is that many people use this adage to explain their own failures and if not outright failure then they use as a reason why they are remaining stationary. There can be no doubt that if you are already established, already successful, or have more contacts or more money that you are in a better starting position. It is not, however, an excuse to not put your best foot forward.

It is our responsibility to ourselves and to those around us that no matter the job or task that we find ourselves doing that we do it to the best of our ability, It doesn’t matter if it’s serving coffee for minimum wage. The fact of the matter is that if you are conscientious and hard-working someone will take notice.

I told the story once of helping out a friend by cutting the grass at one of his properties, and how I had two offers from passers-by to cut their grass as well strictly because I was noticed. I was outside on a hot day doing the task that I was assigned and was noticed for it. Nobody offered me the job of CEO at a Fortune 500 company, but opportunities were offered which would have Improved my situation in a small way.

Something that irritates me greatly is when people perform their jobs as if the job is beneath them. Yes, maybe your potential is greater than cooking french fries at McDonald's, but that is the job that you are doing right now. That is your station in life right now. Don’t act like it is beneath you. Perform that job like it is an important job that deserves your best effort, because it IS an important job, and it DOES deserve your best effort.

Perhaps there is some truth to the Matthew effect, but to use it as an excuse for where you find yourself in your own life is doing a disservice to yourself. You can bet that there are others at your workplace that feel the same way, and if you outperform them, outwork them, and shine brighter than they do, it will be noticed.

---

Image is from Pixabay.

My name is Scott. I write poetry and other stuff. I'd love it if you followed me.