Yesterday I listened to a podcast that mentioned a study in the U.S. showing that top university graduates, within 5 years of graduation, taller men and more attractive women tend to have significantly better incomes. However, after 10 or 20 years post-graduation, looks no longer become an important factor. Performance, leadership, and social networks become the key determinants of salary and career advancement. The podcast also mentioned a psychological study indicating that children who experience mild inferiority in childhood are often more likely to succeed than those who are confident. This is because those who lack early recognition tend to work harder to gain acknowledgment through long-term performance and become more observant of the world in order to receive recognition.