bootstrap

In your discussion of cheating social death, you reference "bootstrapping," which you describe as “using the established part of an existing system to create a new one that serves a fundamentally different form or function.”

“Five years ago, I didn’t get any money at all. I had to bootstrap the company.”

Most Americans have a libertarian streak and a bootstrap mentality.

Producers follow “We the People” teams from schools that are amply funded and expect to win and others whose teachers and administrations bootstrap it through their preparations.

The narrative of “Just work harder!” or “Pull yourself up by the bootstraps” simply doesn’t apply to everyone.