Anthony Mackie, who has taken on the iconic role of Captain America in “Captain America: Brave New World,” has sparked debate with his candid thoughts on success. In a recent interview on The Pivot Podcast, Mackie challenged the common belief that hard work alone guarantees success, asserting that luck plays a pivotal role as well, CNBC reported.
“We are lying to our kids,” Mackie said. “We tell them that if they work hard and make good grades, success will automatically follow. But that’s not true.”
The New Orleans native, who graduated from Julliard in 2001, spent over a decade making a living in Hollywood before landing his breakout role as Sam Wilson in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” in 2014. He spent years writing letters to Marvel Studios, hoping for a role, before finally getting a fateful meeting with directors Anthony and Joe Russo, Fox News reported.
“They couldn’t even tell me what character I’d be playing,” Mackie recalled. “But I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance.”
Mackie’s sentiments echo the experiences of other successful figures. Billionaire Mark Cuban has said too that luck and timing are essential elements to running a lucrative business.
While Mackie attributes much of his success to luck, he also believes that staying ready and open to opportunities is essential. “When you’re given a huge opportunity, you have to take into consideration that you might fail,” he said in the podcast interview.
Mackie also shared his perspective on raising boys into men, emphasizing traditional values like respect, humility, and responsibility. The father of four sons face backlash after his comments on masculinity. Critics accused him of promoting outdated gender roles and leaning into “alpha male” ideology. However, Mackie responded by clarifying that his intention was not to glorify toxic masculinity but to highlight the importance of structure, accountability, and caring for others, Upworthy reported. He emphasized that teaching his sons to be respectful and dependable.
