I was "born good at math," too, yet I've seen peers who are far, far less capable achieve much better financial and career success simply due to their head star

I was "born good at math," too, yet I've seen peers who are far, far less capable achieve much better financial and career success simply due to their head start. I'ma doing quite well. I often wonder how much better I'd be doing if I hadn't been on the verge of homelessness and hunger more or less constantly from kindergarten through undergrad. This isn't just an anecdote: plenty of studies have shown a correlation between starting socioeconomic position and success. Having skill and natural talent helps. I don't think it helps nearly as much as having the luck to be born in the right place to the right people.