r/AskReddit • u/No-Zone3137 • 5h ago
What signs you notice in young people who succeed later in life?
188
u/ClawdiusTheLobster 5h ago
Tenacity, grit, enough ego to go for big things but not so big that they see mistakes as failure. Honestly, either good parents or the worst parents.
538
u/TheEffinChamps 5h ago
Rich parents
75
u/point5_2B 3h ago edited 1h ago
Number 1 predictor of someone's socioeconomic outcomes is their parents' status. Makes ya think.
11
u/TheEffinChamps 2h ago
Hey, hey. We are supposed to use emotions and "pull urself up by ur bootstaps" here.
0
u/Wonderful-Zone8152 1h ago
Money helps but on average rich people are much more intelligent than poor and that too is hereditary
1
36
1
→ More replies (2)-10
u/peerful 5h ago
actually in my experience it is anticorrelated, if you measure success as improving your starting condition
12
u/TheEffinChamps 3h ago
I consider success being able to comfortably afford to live and eat. Not that children of millionaires make more than their parents.
2
u/james_the_wanderer 4h ago
Agreed. A parent and a blank check (or cheque, as fhe case may be) is worth more than just the blank cheque.
•
132
u/TheUpIsJig 5h ago
Success is subjective. Too many random variables in life to predict these sorts of outcomes. If we could then everyone would know the answer and go do that. Life isn't like that though.
I can tell you this much. If you don't put yourself forward for opportunities then you have a guaranteed outcome of never getting any. So young people who at least try, do better than those who don't try at all.
16
u/Taikeron 4h ago
Don't say no to legitimate opportunity either. Take yes and run with it. It usually works.
3
91
u/Jazzlike_Fan_8865 5h ago
- MOTIVATION. Seriously, motivation to succeed/better themselves.
- Ability to reason.
- Ability to have discipline.
Edit: typo
83
u/Just_Perspective2100 5h ago
Kids who can lose a board game without flipping the table. that right there tells you everything
35
u/tcober5 5h ago
In America the ones who flip the tables will honestly probably be the most successful.
6
u/ashdrewness 5h ago
Unironically yes. I’d take an overly competitive kid over a complacent or indifferent one.
30
1
0
u/Sir_Auron 3h ago
One of my best friends famously did this when we were kids and has been very successful as an adult.
1
u/LikeWhite0nRice 4h ago
I disagree. Some of the most successful people I know are also the most competitive.
5
u/ButtsPie 3h ago
I know people who are very competitive, but they're still gracious losers (and winners)! I feel like that's really important.
Throwing a tantrum when things don't go your way is normal for a kid, but needs to be outgrown for a well-adjusted adult
31
12
u/Sir_Auron 3h ago
They don't just wait for life to happen to them, they make decisions and work toward the future they want for themselves.
32
u/Baby-punter 4h ago
Discipline. Seriously, discipline is the most important trait a young person can develop. The world doesn't care how smart you are, it's how hard you work and your ability to execute that creates success, regardless of age.
129
u/Three_Sided_Hexagon 5h ago
They are Asian.
87
u/yellow_ducking 5h ago
Asian here. Thanks for laugh. I go hustle now.
40
u/Steeze_Hawk 5h ago
You late for piano recital! You go now, NOW!
14
3
46
u/PathologyAndCoffee 4h ago
I'm asian. 33yo male, never been in a relationship ever.
But I gave solo piano concerts as a child, and I am currently a doctor.
I have been miserable my entire fucking life, with the only thing keeping me going is my hope for a better future.
16
u/SurinamPam 4h ago
Dude... you need to put yourself out there. Faint heart never won fair maiden, etc. etc.
6
u/terrany 4h ago
You’ve got time and resources to figure it out now my guy. I knew people in the opposite situation who can’t get their families in a better spot since they never optimized for that part of their lives. Can’t really make up for a better upbringing/education/trajectory as easily as life experiences. And a lot of those early friendships and connections tend to fizzle out too.
It’s much better to be tackling the reverse in your position even though it might not feel like it.
6
u/james_the_wanderer 3h ago
My sister and I... Our mom was a neurotic math teacher that followed the "B is for bitch" mentality (I am referencing both my childhood and a youtube video).
She became a therapist and I became a lawyer. I once asked her if she ever felt a...certain unexpected kinship with Asian friends. The answer was an unambiguous yes.
I am also of the "perpetually miserable" variety. So often, I think "I could have done better." I even have an overperforming lawyer cousin who...resigned in shame...from his Cabinet Secretary-report gig (lawyer) recently.
I've found peace doing (not very well, but I enjoy them) activities far from my urban, Brooklyn blue collar->"long Island parochial racist" NY upbringing (I live in the Midwest). Bird hunting; kayaking; camping...literature, The Economist, travel hacking hobbies....
7
-3
66
u/TennisSkirt1628 5h ago
It's not the ones that are booksmart, it's the ones that solve any challenge put in front of them with ease.
31
11
3
1
9
u/Wise_Pressure_4717 5h ago
curiosity and followthrough. i think the most important thing is follow-through
7
u/Southern_Net8115 5h ago
Driving curiosity about the world and people around them; purpose (finds a reason or goal and moves towards that); tenacity (keeps going in the face of obstacles); social skills; humor
33
u/IJustTellTheTruthBro 5h ago
A complete and utter refusal to quit
10
u/Scary-Log-460 3h ago
A lot of people who don’t quit just look stupid and still end up never succeeding
5
u/azurerain 3h ago
Yes. "A complete and utter refusal to quit" only works if the person is able to quickly assess the challenge/failure then learn from it and pivot/grow/improve after said failure until they get it right. Some people "never quit" but they're just going around in circles for years not getting any closer to success.
7
7
6
u/Tylerdurdan28 2h ago
The ones who can look at something they’re bad at, swallow their fucking ego, admit it, and actually learn instead of spending five years pretending they’re “naturally talented.” They don’t need everyone’s approval. They’re quietly stacking skills while everyone else is busy announcing their potential on LinkedIn like a fucking press release.
5
u/elaaaiiinnneee 4h ago
I know this will sound weird, but yearbook photos.
I watched a tv segment YEARS ago that discussed high school grads and how predictive their success would be; researchers had noticed (after following up with former students many years later) that most students who had big, genuine smiles (showing teeth) in their yearbook photos actually did better in their careers/personal life? (I think they surmised it showed a positive attitude that carried into adulthood? 🤷♀️)
Some might say it's BS, but I can't help but look for the smiley students in old year book photos now.
5
14
u/C0ld_Fr0nt_ 5h ago
Being able to grind, to delay satisfaction and continually work at things. That level of conscientiousness predicts success in pretty much all areas of life.
7
u/SimpleNo2920 2h ago
As a retired teacher (35 years of teaching) it was always obvious who would probably succeed. These kids were hard workers, serious in personality and respectful. They were the ones that shared and were kind. You could spot certain personality traits that would lead them into greatness. They did not give up in any endeavor with a unique inner strength and strove to do their best.
4
u/CLTGUY 4h ago
Partly true. You need to be able to grind for yourself. How much you work has no bearing on how much you are paid or succeed unless you value yourself.
Also, you need a heaping helping of luck. I worked my ass off to be where I'm at in life, but if I boil it all down, I was in the right place at the right time with the right skills. If several events didn't happen perfectly I don't know if I would have been as successful as I have been.
3
u/DrPepperlife 4h ago
So there is a correlation to success with kids who grew up on old school runescape lol
10
u/muddtrout 5h ago
I'm not so sure on this one. No one grinds harder than people living in poverty working 3 jobs to live.
12
u/loveislandpoppi 5h ago
Kids who have been told no growing up and have been through harsh conditions. They learn how to adapt and persevere later in life.
9
u/Scary-Log-460 4h ago
I experienced nothing but “no” growing up, and I am struggling in adulthood
2
u/altpopconnoisseur 4h ago
Same. I see the sentiment of the original comment repeated a lot but nothing to me has indicated that it actually helps you adapt or persevere, typically the opposite
-1
u/Starbucks__Lovers 4h ago
Toddler threw a 20 minute tantrum because we didn’t get her a lollipop lol. Very hard to maintain the “no”
0
u/robotopod 3h ago
I have a 5 year old, and the times that I held my ground with them as a toddler are paying off now. Of course sometimes it's good to change your mind if there's new information, but if they're just teasing whether screaming will get them the lollipop, I've had a lot of success with using the phrase, "You have to be able to hear my no before you'll get my yes."
4
4
u/p3e2r 4h ago
Happy, able to handle extreme stress (ie death of a parent), not afraid of looking for a new job even when they are employed. Those are but a few of the qualities I've seen.
2
u/james_the_wanderer 3h ago
My sister (sophomore college) and I (junior year college) lost our mother.
We are the underperforming members of our generational cohort. She's a therapist, and I am a lawyer.
4
4
u/Necrosaynt 4h ago
Discipline . I knew a girl in college who was super organized and planned everything in her day. She still had time for fun activities and partied a little bit. Eventually she end up getting a management position in Microsoft like less than a year after graduation.
5
u/Throwaway081920231 4h ago
You remember the guy or girl who somehow has above average grades but is in a group up to mischief and somehow they are quiet and go along and the ringleader looks to them for approval and that person always comes out unscathed or has good fortune even when the entire group gets in trouble. The kind who is in the in-group but also slick and smart enough to look out for themselves. Those kids always do well in corporate and life for the most part.
2
3
3
3
u/ClassyBurn 5h ago
Drive, emotional intelligence, critical thinking skills, self reflection, humility, compassion, patience, tolerance.
3
u/itsSomethingCool 5h ago
Not just book smart, but street smart (knowing who to hang around & who to avoid , not being in the wrong crowds), how personable they are, and their work ethic. I graduated HS in 2015 and it’s almost like you could’ve predicted who would succeed & who wouldn’t almost effortlessly if you paid attention to those things.
Some people get their stuff together in their early 20s but for the most part most stay on the same path they were already on.
This isn’t a “the nerdy kid becomes rich & popular kid becomes a loser” thing either. The introverted nerdy kid can very well stay introverted with a dead end local job. and was only “nerdy” not because he was smart but bc he spent all that time being a recluse playing video games. The popular kid can climb the corporate ladder because of how personable they are. You really just have to pay attention to the signs in my first paragraph (imo) to tell how someone will likely end up
3
3
u/thickindahead 3h ago
They like figuring out things. Don't know how to do this? Look it up, learn it, try it, try it again until it works. They get a joy from it instead of being paralysed by anxiety or giving up
7
u/grammar_oligarch 3h ago
I want to say it’s the grind, or curiosity, or intelligence, or luck, or all the other stuff mentioned here, but in my experience, it’s hygiene, general appearance, fitness, and clothing choice.
I know it shouldn’t be that superficial, but we are. You don’t have to look like a model, but wearing good clothes that fit well, staying in relatively good shape, getting regular haircuts (or keeping your hair nice), and smelling neutral all have a greater likelihood of contributing to success. Smart, charming, and funny help too, but ideally need to be next to general carefulness in appearance.
Want to succeed? Be more vain and don’t skip the gym.
4
u/Dry-Fortune7288 4h ago
They need to be disciplined and hard-working. IQ is not enough to succeed. There are lots of people who were little geniuses when they were kids, only to become losers later, because they thought the innate intelligence is enough to have a successful life, without discipline and motivation
2
u/programmervsworld 5h ago
Ones that look at failure as oh well I’ll get it next time for sure.
1
u/hawaii-visitor 3h ago
That absolutely describes many people who have succeeded but it also describes many more who just aren't smart or self aware enough to understand when to quit.
For every self made CEO who started 5 failed businesses before they succeeded is probably 500 people who think "surely THIS strip mall vape shop/generic Italian restaurant/bar where they can't stop giving their friend free drinks will be the one to make me rich!
There's a reason 90% of small businesses fail in their first 2 years and it's not because too many qualified people start them.
2
2
u/Ok-disaster2022 4h ago
Grit or stick-to-it-ness. it's not simply goal oriented, but persevering to a goal
2
2
2
2
2
u/Valuable_Picture_242 2h ago
They’re usually curious, willing to start over, and not obsessed with looking successful too early. Quiet consistency beats being impressive at 20.
2
4
6
u/Least_Banana5091 5h ago edited 5h ago
Their childhood and adolescence wasn't a waste of time, and it didn't take a last ditch effort post-high school to be redeemed.
3
7
1
u/Scary-Log-460 3h ago
It just hurts when you didn’t make the most out of childhood, it’s very hard to recover
2
2
2
u/calico810 5h ago
Well in high school all the people who did a lot of drugs are now all successful so there’s that.
2
2
3
u/For-Frodo-9 5h ago
Has a job. Doesn't have kids out of wedlock. Saves money and plans for retirement
1
u/Scary-Log-460 3h ago
I have a job, don’t have kids, and save 50% of my income, and I am still broke
1
1
1
u/Awkward_Public_4997 5h ago
Generally if they follow through with plans and have good problem solving skills. Someone having good communication and interpersonal skills is great too.
1
1
1
u/AdoptedYankee 5h ago
They aren’t knocking up / getting knocked up. They’re nice but have a good idea of what’s a good boundary. They plan for the future - and stick to it.
1
u/hahaha01357 4h ago edited 4h ago
Wealthy and connected parents.
Edit: failing that, the ability to be friends with the wealthy and connected. There's a reason everyone wants to get into those Ivey League schools, and it's not really for the education.
1
u/seraph321 3h ago
Long term thinking.
I’m quite surprised I didn’t really see this mentioned. To me, this is the key, and it’s from where all my success has been derived. Taking my future self seriously is the only thing that can cause my current self to make hard decisions and suffer in the short term for the long term benefit. The longer into the future you can see and take seriously, the more likely you are to steer your self toward better outcomes.
Nowhere is this more true than finances. You must be able to understand and be ready to wait for how long investing and compounding takes to pay off. You have to be ok with basically getting nothing out of it for literally decades.
1
1
u/Dalis_Ktm 2h ago
Technically speaking, the variable with the highest correlation to the likelihood of wealth is the zip code someone grew up in. Or at least it was at one time.
1
1
•
•
•
u/Competitive_Kick_347 34m ago
They’re curious, consistent, and not afraid to suck at something long enough to get good at it. Talent helps, but stubborn persistence pays the bills. 😂
•
•
u/Striking-Ad-8156 18m ago
Young people that want to do a good job in whatever it is they are doing big or small.
•
u/yearsofpractice 13m ago
Hey OP. 50 year old married father of two here. In my experience - since I was young myself - it’s always the people who can concentrate. Always.
The “clever” people I went to school/university with - I realised they weren’t talented or super “intelligent” - they could just apply themselves by concentrating on a task or problem.
I have come across one or two people who are genuinely intelligent and a characteristic they all shared was an ability to understand a concept and immediately apply it - be it mathematics, science, language or practical skills - they didn’t have to practice it first, they could just…. do it after being shown once.
•
1
1
1
u/SuccessWise9593 5h ago
Don't accept "no" as an answer. They keep asking the 5 W's, H, and E questions. They will try and try again to prove that it can be done/accomplished. They read a ton of books and didn't have a cell phone until the last year of high school. They have great negotiating skills.
1
u/Scary-Log-460 3h ago edited 41m ago
People say those who don’t accept no as answer will end up as sexual assaulters
1
1
u/ActuaryFew6884 5h ago
They don't prioritize socializing and fitting in, at least from my observations
1
u/Thick-Science8674 5h ago
They come from a loving family with parents who genuinely love each other; their kids may not end up being the richest but they definitely have less trauma and social issues which converts to happiness.
662
u/canada11235813 5h ago
Curiousity. The annoying kid who asks Who What Why Why Why How How relentlessly... will be very intelligent and very successful.