# What is the number one reason why some people succeed in life? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 19, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994 "2008-12-19T23:23:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/21 "2008-12-20T00:48:53Z")
I would think that the thing that keeps a lot of people from succeeding is not trying. It is easy to procrastinate, think of reasons that “they” won’t let you be succesful, list all of the things that could go wrong. That would mean the key thing to being successful is trying. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/22 "2008-12-20T00:51:39Z")
The number one factor is circumstances. Number two is probably patience. Being able to delay gratification matters a lot. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/23 "2008-12-20T00:56:28Z")
> [@The Liberator](#): > > Just as gravity is said to be the main reason why objects fall to the Earth, I’m sure there must be one major factor that consistently moves people from rags to riches. But that is not the question of the OP. It’s asking about people who changed the lives of millions – that includes those like Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi. Also Lenin, Stalin, Hitler. Also Newton, Darwin, Einstein. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/24 "2008-12-20T01:01:37Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > But that is not the question of the OP. It’s asking about people who changed the lives of millions – that includes those like Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi. Also Lenin, Stalin, Hitler. Also Newton, Darwin, Einstein. Well, if _that’s_ the question, then I agree that there is no one factor. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/25 "2008-12-20T01:02:49Z")
Attitude. Having a set of values that you live by and acting in accord with them. It won’t ensure that you end up with shit loads of money and stuff but it will keep you happy most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/26 "2008-12-20T01:04:30Z")
There’s not one, there’s four: skill + Work ethic + attitude + perseverance. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/27 "2008-12-20T01:06:23Z")
> [@Vox\_Imperatoris](#): > > I think #1, or rather, determination is still the main ingredient. While it’s true that some (maybe even most) people just do not have the ability or the right circumstances, the overwhelming majority of people do not have the desire to push themselves everyday to gain what to them is a meaningless advancement over what they feel they need. The development of this feeling is usually called “settling down”. People who do succeed are usually more concerned with the “He who has the most gold when he dies wins,” rule than pure happiness. My coach instructor had a line which went that “Practice doesn’t make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect.” Lots of people work hard. Lots of people hold down multiple jobs. But regardless of how hard you work, if you piss that money away and don’t trust banks and so on and so forth, it doesn’t matter. You have to have the basic understanding of how to make money, specifically within your field and if you are lucky enough to come up with an innovation in your field at the right moment, then you’ll top out the chart. There could very well be a plethora of businessmen who are both better at high powered business deals and strategy than Bill Gates and harder workers than him as well, but they’ll likely still not be able to top Gates’ fortune because the odds of being in the right place at the right time–to take over the OS market–is gone and not every industry can grow as big as that one did. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/28 "2008-12-20T01:08:12Z")
Malcom Gladwell’s new book [Outliers](http://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell/dp/0316017922) discusses this very topic. I haven’t read it yet but will soon, he is an excellent writer. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/29 "2008-12-20T01:14:15Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > My coach instructor had a line which went that “Practice doesn’t make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect.” > > Lots of people work hard. Lots of people hold down multiple jobs. But regardless of how hard you work, if you piss that money away and don’t trust banks and so on and so forth, it doesn’t matter. You have to have the basic understanding of how to make money, specifically within your field and if you are lucky enough to come up with an innovation in your field at the right moment, then you’ll top out the chart. > > There could very well be a plethora of businessmen who are both better at high powered business deals and strategy than Bill Gates and harder workers than him as well, but they’ll likely still not be able to top Gates’ fortune because the odds of being in the right place at the right time–to take over the OS market–is gone and not every industry can grow as big as that one did. Sure, but if Bill Gates had not been as determined, someone else would have filled that niche, and he would be a moderately wealthy software developer. Look at what happens to lottery winners and how fast they piss it away. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![Spin\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Spin\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spin_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/30 "2008-12-20T01:16:18Z")
> [@B.Serum](#): > > There’s not one, there’s four: skill + Work ethic + attitude + perseverance. Prepare to have your mind blown. I think the most consistent reason for success is a mixture of three things: 1. A definite and constructive life purpose worth being passionate about 2. Exploitation of strengths 3. Persistence Just as nuclear fusion involves multiple atomic nuclei joining together to form a heavier nucleus that wouldn’t exist otherwise, the main reason for success is the joining together of those three things 99% of the time. And it doesn’t yet have a name. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/31 "2008-12-20T01:19:38Z")
Because it’s just so much platitudinous fooferaw. I know I’m being somewhat snarky, but why would anyone’s mind be blown by “Persistence is helpful”? ---
**Author:** ![Spin\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Spin\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spin_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/32 "2008-12-20T01:24:09Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > Because it’s just so much platitudinous fooferaw. I know I’m being somewhat snarky, but why would anyone’s mind be blown by “Persistence is helpful”? More importantly, a person wouldn’t really have persistence if he or she didn’t concentrate on one major purpose in life. If someone was indecisive about what he or she wanted to do, that person wouldn’t persist in going anywhere. And how can a person break the habit of following the line of least resistance without using her or her unique strengths? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/33 "2008-12-20T01:26:51Z")
Thing is, we could come up with a million different short lists of important traits (as evidenced by this thread); none of these lists are so distinguished as to warrant the significance you seem to want to attribute them (comparisons to physical laws, surprise at lack of a name for the combination, appreciation as a mind-blowing discovery, etc.) Discussing factors that often play into success can be worthwhile. Pretending there’s some special master list is silliness. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/34 "2008-12-20T01:36:01Z")
If you want a single reason, I’d say a good match of capabilities to the circumstances. This usually involves luck, but more importantly the ability to capitalize on the chances that nearly everyone gets. It also involves not shooting themselves in the foot. George Allen might have been on his way to the Republican nomination someday when he screwed up. I can personally testify that getting in on the ground floor of an area is really helpful. But it isn’t enough. Gates succeeded because he had some technical smarts, was smart enough to buy DOS, was smart enough to make a good deal with IBM, and was devious enough to smash competitors. Thats a lot of different skills in one person. ---
**Author:** ![Spin\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Spin\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spin_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/35 "2008-12-20T01:36:59Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > Thing is, we could come up with a million different short lists of important traits (as evidenced by this thread); none of these lists are so distinguished as to warrant the significance you seem to want to attribute them (comparisons to physical laws, surprise at lack of a name for the combination, appreciation as a mind-blowing discovery, etc.) > > Discussing factors that often play into success can be worthwhile. Pretending there’s some special master list is silliness. Sure, there’s a master list for achievement. All someone needs to do is list the reasons that are consistently the most self-evident and exclusive to the super successful. For example, exploiting one’s strengths is a much better answer than just being “nice.” ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/36 "2008-12-20T01:38:13Z")
> [@xanthous](#): > > **confidence** Beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Spin\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Spin\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spin_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/37 "2008-12-20T01:46:13Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Beat me to it. Confidence seems like a vague and meaningless term that people tell each other without really giving it second thought. Specifically, how could someone all of the sudden become confident? ---
**Author:** ![sovtawen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@sovtawen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sovtawen)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/38 "2008-12-20T02:24:13Z")
Living in the right place. I could be the smartest, most persistent guy in the world, but if I’m stuck in some third-world, totalitarian hellhole, my options are going to be severely limited. Likewise, if I live in a modern industrial democracy, I could (hopefully) still attain a nice standard of living without needing to be some kind of ubermensch. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/39 "2008-12-20T02:25:01Z")
> [@The Liberator](#): > > Confidence seems like a vague and meaningless term that people tell each other without really giving it second thought. Specifically, how could someone all of the sudden become confident? Be believing in your self, believing you’ll find a way to pull it off, and when the chance comes you’ll do it. How do you get that belief? By trying and dusting yourself off when you fail. Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994/40 "2008-12-20T02:30:25Z")
I have a friend that just had $7000 hair plug surgery. He’s absolutely convinced that his slightly thinning hair is what’s keeping him from rising to the top at his company. Maybe that’s it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-number-one-reason-why-some-people-succeed-in-life/477994.md?page=3)