Being around the right people is important.

My first assembler instructor at IBM went on to run all system software development at IBM and he pointed us in the right directions at a time when you made up directions as you went along.. there was no history. Being around someone like that is an important motivator.

Most golfers say that their game improves while playing with better players, but there are those who prefer to stay at the current level and are uncomfortable playing with better players.
You tend to pick your associates to match your aspirations.



>>On the motivation side...I agree....and that's a very complex subject. Some of that comes down to behavior. Some are motivated by necessity, some by natural intellectual curiosity and passion for the industry in general, and a few are just tenacious to the point of irritating the bejeezus out of everyone...I hope I don't pass that trait to my daughter. :)