> The biggest factors in predicting long-term success are intelligence, knowledge, and conscientiousness I wouldn't dispute that those are important factors, b

> The biggest factors in predicting long-term success are intelligence, knowledge, and conscientiousness I wouldn't dispute that those are important factors, but what about: - initiative and/or risk-taking (which is very different from conscientiousness) - attractiveness (either physical or non-physical things like charm or schmoozing) - starting capital (it's easier turn $1 million into $2 million than starting with $0 and getting to $1 million) - general health and fitness (successful people are rarely sickly or unfit) - leadership - number and quality of connections Looking at the tech sector, it seems that a high level of intelligence, knowledge, and conscientiousness will get you a good job. But the most successful people in tech are not those with even higher levels of intelligence, knowledge, and conscientiousness -- for those people it's the other factors that dominate.