A lot of people will say that success in entrepreneurship is primarily driven by luck. But what they leave out is that it’s input luck, not output luck. Inputs like a “small” $10k gift from a family member. Clean water and high nutrition during childhood that lead to above average intelligence. Literacy, citizenship, family wealth, and more. Not to mention having no mental or physical illnesses and a high capacity to endure stress.
I completely agree with your last sentence, “It’s ok to admit defeat and move on.” In life, you got to play with the hand you were dealt and not the hand someone else’s. It’s unfortunate that some social circles encourage self damaging behavior in pursuit of some idealized lifestyle that can never be accessed by everyone, and it wouldn’t even be good if it was.