What makes a person succeed in America today?

[JDPriestly]

4. I think part of the secret of the people who succeed through associations is that they know from the

get-go that their friends will give them the benefit of the doubt if push comes to shove.

Those of us who lack the associations have less confidence going into a situation whether it be a new job, an interview or a classroom.

I don't thin that your view (with which I pretty much agree) contradicts the statement in the article. You go a little deeper. Associations make people confident.

But the really successful have to put in a lot of effort and have to have a lot of impulse control.

I think the article was measuring academic success primarily. That is not always the same as financial or social success.

But I agree, who you know is really important. It gives you opportunities that people who don't have those associations just don't get. Of course, you can still disappoint and fail if you don't have impulse control and can't perform.