I think one of the key words in current use is ‘deserve’. Not used in the mentor story here but he bloody well deserves his success, having earned it despite a crap start.

The word is more often used in an opposite context. “I deserve better/more”, I don’t deserve this” etc – spoken by people who wish for an easier life to be handed to them by the state, provided by everyone but themselves.

Maybe they deserve some sympathy but mostly they need to get off their backsides get their own act together, and to stop praying for an act of god or government to save them from their predicament.

‘Deserve’ is also used in politics, like ‘everyone deserves a living wage’. The socialist’s dream, everyone else’s nightmare.

‘Deserve’ is the result of effort.