Lost Diamonds: How our current system is failing underprivileged talent
I wish I could remember where I read this, but I once heard it explained to me as this:<p>It&#x27;s easy to deride the journey of the rich college student:  80-hour internships at Goldman Sachs, unpaid positions in government, etc. But, the things that are done by successful people are hard, as hard as walking a tightrope. The difference is that rich students walk this tightrope over a bed of pillows. Poor students walk it over an open pit of spikes.<p>Obviously falling off onto a cushion is easier. What&#x27;s less obvious is how nerve-wracking it is to know that there are real consequences. Danger creates stress, and stress ruins results. Paradoxically, if you know you have more than one shot, you&#x27;re more likely to succeed on your first try.