"It really should have no impact on either your performance or your willingness to do something if someone else was this age or that when they did something imp

"It really should have no impact on either your performance or your willingness to do something if someone else was this age or that when they did something impressive." This is absolutely right. It's good to learn from role models, but just take what's helpful and leave the rest. Sure there were people who were younger, smarter, prettier, and smelled better, but as m_eiman said "If the timing is right and the idea and execution are excellent, it'll be big". It's impossible to compare your situation to anybody else anyway. For example, it's impossible to tell how successful somebody is by the $80,000 car they drive. They may own it outright, they may owe more than the car is worth, you can't tell. Actually, watch the Mixergy interview with Seth Godin, he specifically talks about being different.