Also, it’s very very clear that ideas really don’t matter that much. At least not compared to what people you have around you!

Futhermore I think that the concept of “the Big Idea” in entrepreneurship is very limiting. People hear the stories you refer to and think they have to wait for a brilliant idea in order to start. In reality I think successful people just pick “an idea”, use that as a starting point, and then work damn hard to experiment and change the idea until they find a formula that works.

But when people later tell the story of how that success came about, they are biased by the fact that the formula is now clear. It becomes very easy to imagine the entrepreneur getting inspired and instantly dreaming up the finished idea.

You need luck to become successful, but you need to make that luck for yourself.

I think that knowing a little less in different areas, and perhaps as a consequence having a better developed social life, is more than good enough for almost all people. That’s why most people don’t find the motivation to go even further. As Jim Collins says, “good is the ‘enemy’ of great”.

…and all scientists are cool! ;)

In a world where the demand of general knowledge steadily increases the result of one or another’s specific performances can’t reach the same level of knowledge as of a person with a concentrated interest or an obsessity for a certain subject.

As Newton were studying mathematics and physics (and a majority of other subjects) he probably missed out the qualities of being a cool stylish single hog – converting girls in to shivering horny monsters (as one of the things), or he was a genius.

The difference between being a true genius and being mentally disrupted is just a slight such,
I reckon. And I do think that I’ve heard that Bill Gates got some kind of disruption as well?

So what’s the best; having a point competence or knowing a little less in many more different areas?

Success is something bittersweet. You can achieve many highlights during a career or having an active life, but the bitterness of it all is that you can’t reach success in every single subject area. In my opinion there is one way of attaining success; having a general interest of learning new things during your entire lifetime. But Newton was pretty cool anyway ;)!

Also, I interpret the “American dream” as just this — anyone can become anything. Yet, I can’t help but feel that given the equal opportunities in Sweden, the American dream is in some ways easier to achieve here than over there. Regarding if it’s something only successful people think about, I guess it all comes down to how people feel towards others who have a better life: are they envious or do they feel motivated to create something of their own?

I’m also wondering how, or if, this differs from one country to another? Isn’t the belief that you can become anything you want if you work hard almost the essence of the American national psyche? At least that’s the image I feel is being portrayed in American movies and media. Does this reflect in peoples actions as well or is it just that the people who are successful refer to this?

There is also a (big) difference between success and extreme success. As you say, Outliers explains the “luck” Gates had to have access to computers everywhere. The point I’m trying to make is rather that the work-component to success is still a lot greater than the luck-component.

Somehow it seems people only talk about luck, since work, as a means to success, is too great a responsibility.

Last part is interesting, I’ve thought of that. I don’t think the way someone was raised determines the handling of responsibility. It affects it, perhaps a lot, but I don’t think it’s conclusive. But yet, I’m not at all sure.

I think this is what mystifies people, they think that it takes the same kind of “luck” to achieve self-sustainability as becoming a billionare – this is simply wrong.

Anyone can sustain themselves on their own work and live perfectly successful enriched happy lives while doing it.

BUT – and I belive this is important – they can do this technically. I believe that many (not even close to most though) people would actually crack and mentally break down on having the kind of responsibility it requires to live off your own power and ability.
They are simply not raised to be able to handle that.