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That's because (like many genres of literature that claim to know the secret to becoming rich and successful), the writers really don't know what makes that the
by CM30 9y ago
That's because (like many genres of literature that claim to know the secret to becoming rich and successful), the writers really don't know what makes that the case. So they're taking surface level qualities they see in successful people, and assuming that's at least part of the reason for their success. It's just cargo culting really, like those tribes who build airports out of wood because they think that causes supply planes to land.
- jwdunne 9y agoI remember a great comment on HN once about this very subject. They said it's like taking a 1000 people, having them flip a coin and eliminating anyone with tails. Once you're down to ten people, you ask them how they did it, what made them flip so many heads in a row. I think the name of it is called "survivorship bias".