I feel sad for the author if he actually believes this. Sure your environment does influence you a bit, there is something to be said for self determination and

I feel sad for the author if he actually believes this. Sure your environment does influence you a bit, there is something to be said for self determination and individual character. I have throughout my life enjoyed friendships with amazing people who have driven me to succeed. On the other hand, I wouldn't have the depth/perspective in life where it not for my incredibly enjoyable friendships whom I have had with people who didn't exactly "succeed" in the conventional sense of the word. Friendship with those "less successful" people didn't exactly pull me down or make me "any less" than who I am right now. Sometimes one makes friends because one enjoys a dimension of a person's character and not just because they make a ton of money or start a bunch of companies.