June 14, 2003:

As she observed the apparent successes of her friends she became convinced that advancement in life follows not from what you contribute but from who you know. The keys are not talent, or skill, or hard work, but who you're introduced to, and what you do for them that makes them remember you.

This is a groupie's point of view. As if every challenge encountered on the road to achievement could be solved simply by smiling at the man with the backstage passes.

Doesn't her bitterness follow, at least in part, from the inevitable failure?