I agree with the experience. I myself had a few nights that learned so much just by burning candles on tough projects (comparing to my skills). But for anyone

I agree with the experience. I myself had a few nights that learned so much just by burning candles on tough projects (comparing to my skills). But for anyone who wants to have such an experience for more than a few weeks, I believe they need to be strategic: - They need to figure out what area they need to work in early, like really early, preferably during/before college, because it is the first job that counts. They need to get in ASAP, because there is a hell lot of difference between someone starting at 10 and someone at 30; - They need to think strategically about which kind of people they want to marry to, or do they want a marriage at all. IMO, if they want to be high-achievers (it's not an accurate word, but you know what I mean), there are only two kinds of good partners -- comrades or servants. Comrades keep you motivated and can interact with you on the same page, while servants take away most of your distractions. Kids are 100% a time sinker even for the best of them, so don't get them too early; - They need to find a good mentor, or more, along the road, at least before they reach where they can grow by themselves. Or they are lucky to have an above average amount of perseverance (which I believe is defined by gene and early education -- again, mostly genetic) so they can throw themselves at any wall and still preserve; So basically, they need to be lucky. And if they are not that lucky, they need to be at least lucky enough to realize and think about it strategically at an earlier age (like, before 30, I think) and plan accordingly. They need to muscle into the positions they want. They need to push things and people around to make their own career paths.